The price per kilowatt of output (kWp) makes solar systems of different sizes comparable. For single-family home systems in Switzerland, CHF 2,000 to 2,800 per kWp is currently common, turnkey and before incentives – small systems are above that, large ones below. The figure is suitable for comparison, but only if the quotes contain the same thing. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- In reputable quotes, the kWp price covers the whole package: modules, inverter, mounting system, scaffolding, electrical work and administration.
- The modules themselves are by now far from the largest item – craft and infrastructure make the difference.
- The larger the system, the lower the price per kWp: fixed costs are spread over more output.
- In-roof systems, storage batteries included in the price, or missing scaffolding costs distort any kWp comparison.
- A low kWp price is a data point, not a verdict on quality.
What does the price per kWp mean?
Kilowatt-peak (kWp) denotes a solar system's rated output under standard test conditions – simplified: how much the system delivers at most under ideal conditions. Dividing the total price of a turnkey system by this output produces the industry's most common figure for comparison. A 10 kWp system for CHF 24,000 costs 2,400 francs per kWp; a 15 kWp system for CHF 33,000 comes in at 2,200 – making it the cheaper one per unit of output, even though the bill is higher.
What «kWp» technically means exactly and how it relates to actual annual production is explained in the article Watt-peak explained simply.
The reference basis is important: a meaningful kWp price refers to the turnkey system including VAT, before deducting incentives. Only that way are you comparing like with like.
Which line items are in the kWp price?
Anyone breaking down a quote typically finds these blocks:
| Item | What belongs to it | Share of the total price (rough) |
|---|---|---|
| Modules | Panels incl. delivery | around a fifth to a quarter |
| Inverter & electrical material | Inverter, cabling, protection devices | around a tenth to a fifth |
| Mounting system & roof work | Substructure, roof hooks, sealing | varies greatly depending on the roof |
| Installation & electrical work | Working hours on the roof and in the basement | the biggest block for small systems |
| Scaffolding & safety | Scaffolding, any road closure | fixed, independent of system size |
| Administration & acceptance | Grid connection request, notification procedure, Pronovo registration, safety certificate | small, but necessary |
Rough orientation, as of: July 2026. The actual distribution depends strongly on the roof and system size; the itemised quote is binding.
The most widespread misjudgement concerns the modules: their prices have fallen sharply in recent years, and their share of the total price has shrunk accordingly. What you pay in Switzerland is, to a good extent, craft at local wages – installation, electrical work, scaffolding construction. That also explains why Swiss systems aren't getting cheaper at the pace of module prices.
What guideline values per kWp currently apply?
| System size | Guideline price per kWp | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 kWp | CHF 2,400–3,000 | small roofs, partial coverage |
| 5–10 kWp | CHF 2,100–2,700 | classic single-family home |
| 10–15 kWp | CHF 2,000–2,500 | larger single-family home, with heat pump or EV |
| 15–30 kWp | CHF 1,800–2,300 | large single-family roofs, small apartment buildings |
| from 30 kWp | CHF 1,500–2,000 | apartment buildings, businesses |
Guideline prices as of July 2026, turnkey incl. installation and VAT, before incentives. The binding figure is the individual quote.
You'll find the example calculations for specific sizes in the articles on the 10 kWp system and in the comprehensive cost overview Switzerland.
Why does the price per kWp fall with size?
An everyday example calculation: for a 4 kWp system and a 12 kWp system on comparable roofs, you need the same scaffolding, the same site visit, the same paperwork and almost the same electrical work in the basement. These fixed costs quickly add up to several thousand francs. For the small system they're spread over 4 kWp, for the large one over 12 – per kilowatt, that makes the small system massively more expensive, even though not a single franc of it goes into better technology.
This leads to a recommendation we also give in consultations: if the roof allows for more and the budget permits it, full coverage is usually the more economical choice – especially since consumption tends to grow with a heat pump or electric car. How to derive the right size is shown in Calculating PV system size.
Where does the kWp comparison mislead?
The figure is only as good as its basis for comparison. The four most common distortions:
In-roof vs. on-roof. In-roof systems replace the roof skin and cost significantly more per kWp – but in return, tiles and part of the roofing work are omitted. An in-roof kWp price next to an on-roof price says nothing. Background: In-roof photovoltaics.
Storage in the package. If a battery storage system is included in the lump sum, the apparent kWp price explodes. Storage batteries are calculated per kilowatt-hour of capacity, not per kWp – so always subtract it for the comparison.
Missing line items. If the scaffolding, the meter-position adaptation or the administration is missing from the quote, the kWp price looks attractive – until the supplementary bills arrive. Check the scope of delivery item by item; the method for that: Comparing solar quotes.
Component class. All-black premium modules with long warranties cost more than standard ones. Either can be the right choice – it just can't be compared via the kWp price alone. Which equipment levels exist is shown in the article Price classes for solar systems.
Is a low price per kWp automatically good?
No – at first it's just a figure. A conspicuously low kWp price can come about cleanly, for instance through a simple roof, efficient processes or standard components. But it can also point to missing items, tightly calculated installation, or a company that no longer exists by the time of the first warranty question. We've written up how to tell the difference in the article on cut-price providers.
The reverse applies equally: a high kWp price isn't proof of quality. Ask for the breakdown – reputable companies provide it without hesitation.
When clients put two quotes side by side for us, the difference in the kWp price is rarely what it looks like. A typical case from the region: two offers for the same roof area, several hundred francs apart per kWp on paper. Going through them shows – the cheaper one was missing scaffolding and the meter conversion, the more expensive one had a top-price-class module included that the client hadn't even asked for. Calculated on the same basis, the two were almost level. The kWp price is the start of the comparison, not its result.
Frequently asked questions
Does the kWp guideline value also apply to apartment buildings and commercial premises?
The logic applies, the figures shift: from around 30 kWp, guideline values of CHF 1,500–2,000 per kWp are common, and even below that for large commercial systems (as of: July 2026). In return, topics like load management, flat-roof statics and more elaborate connection requests come into play.
How do I calculate the storage battery out of a lump-sum quote?
Ask for the storage battery's individual price including installation and subtract it from the total price; divide the rest by the kWp output. If a provider refuses to show this line item, that's a warning sign for us.
Why do I get such different kWp prices for the same house?
It's usually the scope of delivery, the component choice, or different assumptions about the roof. Less often pure margin. The prices become comparable once all quotes contain the same line items – that's why normalising before comparing pays off.
Will the cost per kWp keep falling?
The component prices tend to, yes, the craft share hardly does – it's tied to Swiss wages and scaffolding costs. Anyone waiting for sharply falling total prices loses years of production in the meantime. Our assessment of price trends follows in a separate article.
What's the difference between the price per kWp and the levelised cost?
The kWp price describes the investment, the levelised cost describes what the self-produced kilowatt-hour costs over the lifetime. For the question «is it worth it?», the levelised cost is the more meaningful figure – the assessment: Is a solar system worth it?
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What does the kWp cost for your roof?
Guideline values are statistics – your roof is concrete. We calculate a quote for you with all the line items, transparently broken down and without obligation.
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Sources: Pronovo AG (current EIV rates), Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE, Swissolar.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
