Solar Guide Chapter 4: What Does the Whole Thing Cost?

In this chapter, you'll learn

• what price range is realistic for a typical single-family home – and why «per kWp» is the honest comparison figure;
• why larger systems are cheaper per kilowatt than small ones;
• how the one-off incentive and tax deduction change the calculation.

The figures in three minutes

The framework. For typical single-family home systems between 5 and 15 kWp, the guideline figures are CHF 2,000 to 2,800 per kWp, turnkey including installation. Calculated for the whole project, that means: a 10 kWp system roughly CHF 20,000 to 27,000, a smaller 5 kWp system CHF 12,000 to 15,000 – in each case before incentives.

The most important rule behind this: the bigger the system, the lower the price per kWp. Scaffolding, travel, electrical work and registrations cost almost the same for a small system as for a large one – these fixed costs simply spread better over more kilowatts. That's why fully covering the roof is almost always worth it rather than a tightly sized system.

What moves the price in an individual case: the roof (pitch, covering, accessibility), the choice of components, and the condition of the electrical installation. Two systems with the same capacity can therefore differ by several thousand francs – and that's exactly why a site visit by the specialist company is more reliable than any remote assessment.

The offsetting calculation. Two things come off the gross cost: the federal one-off feed-in incentive is paid out via Pronovo after commissioning and covers a significant part of the investment. On top of that, in most cantons – including Zurich – there's the tax deduction: the investment can be deducted from taxable income for existing buildings. What this means in concrete terms is the topic of the next chapter on incentives.

And storage? A battery increases the investment by a significant amount and, in return, raises self-consumption. Whether that pays off depends on the consumption profile and the tariffs – blanket answers would be irresponsible. For now, this much is enough: it's optional, not mandatory, and, with good planning, can also be retrofitted later.

Go deeper on this topic

Further reading from the guide: – Solar system cost Switzerland: guideline prices, examples & price factors — the full figures with worked examples for 5, 10 and 15 kWp – Cost per kWp in detail — why this figure makes quotes comparable – What does a solar system with storage cost? — the package calculation, honestly broken down – Tax deduction for solar systems — how the investment lowers your tax bill

### Remember always compare solar systems by the price per kWp – and factor in incentives and the tax deduction from the start, before judging anything «expensive» or «cheap».

In brief

Can I know the cost reliably without a site visit? Only as a guideline. The roof, the electrics and accessibility move the price by thousands of francs, and both only become clear on site. Guideline figures are useful for putting quotes in context – the binding figure only comes from the quote after a site visit.

Is the cheapest quote the best? Not automatically. What matters is whether all items are stated – scaffolding, electrics, registrations – and whether specific makes are named. A seemingly cheap quote with missing items ends up more expensive on the final bill than an honestly complete one.

Do I have to buy the storage right away? No. Storage is optional and can be retrofitted – most cheaply if the system is prepared for it («storage-ready» with a hybrid inverter). Many people make a fresh decision after the first year of operation, once they have real consumption data.

Solar guide: ← Chapter 3: The system at a glance · To the guide overview · Chapter 5: Incentives in 5 minutes →

Sources: Pronovo AG (EIV rates), Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE); figures taken 1:1 from the cost guide (K01).

Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team