Greater Manchester cost guide
Solar panel cost in Greater Manchester
Fitted prices for the housing stock that actually exists across Greater Manchester — terraces, interwar semis, conservation-area villas and modern apartments — quoted by borough, from our depot in Salford.
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What you pay
Price ranges
| Specification | Price range |
|---|---|
| Victorian / Edwardian terrace (4 kWp on-roof) | £6,800 – £10,400 |
| Interwar semi (5–6 kWp on-roof) | £8,200 – £11,200 |
| Post-war / modern estate (5 kWp + 10 kWh battery) | £11,400 – £14,200 |
| Larger detached (7–10 kWp on-roof) | £11,800 – £16,400 |
| Conservation-area villa (in-roof / all-black, rear elevation) | £13,400 – £24,400 |
Where the money goes
Cost breakdown
| Component | % of cost |
|---|---|
| Panels | ~35% |
| Inverter | ~20% |
| Mounting + roof works | ~15% |
| Labour + scaffold | ~20% |
| Electrical, DNO + certification | ~10% |
What changes the price
Variables
- Housing era and roof covering Slate on period stock needs heritage fixings and more care than concrete tile on an interwar semi. It is the single biggest price driver across Greater Manchester.
- Conservation area Salford alone has 16 conservation areas, including Monton Green, Ellesmere Park, Barton-upon-Irwell and Roe Green — the largest in the city. Roof solar is usually still permitted development when not fronting a highway, but all-black flush design and rear-elevation siting add cost.
- Orientation and shading South-facing is ideal, but east/west roofs still deliver roughly 80–85% of peak output. A survey measures the real number rather than assuming it.
- Whether you add storage Solar alone typically lets you use about 30% of what you generate. Adding a battery lifts self-consumption past 80% and changes the payback more than any panel upgrade.
- Distance from our depot We are on Centenary Way in Salford. Eccles is 3 miles, Manchester 2.5, Trafford 3, Bury and Stockport 8, Bolton 10 — which is why same-week surveys are realistic across the whole conurbation.
Return on investment
Payback model
Annual savings and payback by tariff combination. Modelled against typical UK consumption profile.
| Setup | Annual saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Solar only, no battery | £900 – £1,300 | 6 – 8 years |
| Solar + 10 kWh battery | £1,300 – £1,800 | 7 – 9 years |
| Conservation-area in-roof + battery | £1,600 – £2,200 | 9 – 11 years |
Common questions
FAQs
How much do solar panels cost in Greater Manchester in 2026?
For the commonest local archetype — a three-bed interwar semi with a concrete-tile roof — expect £8,200 to £11,200 fitted for a 5–6 kWp system. Victorian terraces start nearer £6,800 for a 4 kWp array, and conservation-area villas needing in-roof or all-black rear-elevation design run £13,400 to £24,400. These are our own fitted prices by housing type, not national averages.
Does Greater Manchester get enough sun for solar to pay?
Yes. Greater Manchester averages around 3.4 hours of usable sun per day and a system here typically yields 850–900 kWh per kWp per year. Panels work on diffuse light, not direct sun, which is why the North West performs far closer to the South East than most people assume.
Will a conservation area stop us installing?
Rarely. Roof solar is generally still permitted development inside a conservation area when the panels do not front a highway — listed buildings are the genuine exception and always need consent. What changes is the design: all-black flush panels on a rear or side elevation, which is where the higher price band comes from.
Which boroughs do you cover from Salford?
All ten Greater Manchester boroughs plus the surrounding towns. Our depot is on Centenary Way in Salford: Manchester is 2.5 miles, Eccles 3, Trafford 3, Bury and Stockport 8, Bolton 10, Ashton-under-Lyne about 10. Every town page below carries its own pricing, housing stock and local planning position.
Is it cheaper to fit solar and a battery at the same time?
Yes, materially. Doing both together shares one scaffold, one survey, one set of electrical works and one MCS certificate. Retrofitting a battery later means paying for the access and commissioning twice.
Related guides
Compare other systems
Priced by borough
What it costs in your town
Every town below carries its own fitted pricing, housing stock and local planning position — the numbers on this page are the regional bands those pages sit inside.
Solar panels Salford
Solar panels Manchester
Solar panels Trafford
Solar panels Stockport
Solar panels Bolton
Solar panels Bury
Solar panels Tameside
Solar panels Oldham
Solar panels Rochdale
Solar panels Wigan
Solar panels Leigh
Solar panels Eccles
Solar panels Swinton
Solar panels Walkden
Solar panels Stretford
Solar panels Urmston
Solar panels Ashton-under-Lyne
Get a fixed-price quote
Free survey within 5 working days. MCS certified, RECC accredited. 11,000+ installations across the UK.
Where to go next
- On the commercial side, commercial solar installation.
- If an existing system is producing less than it used to, solar panel maintenance.
- Thinking about a system of your own? solar panels for your home.
- Most of the saving comes from storing what you generate — solar battery installation.
Is your system worth upgrading? Find out free.
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