How Much Does Solar Battery Storage Cost?
Last updated February 15, 2026Adding battery storage to a solar system lets you store excess energy for nighttime use or power outages. Battery prices have dropped 40% since 2020. Here are 2026 costs for popular systems.
Typical Costs
Single Battery (10-13 kWh)
$8,000 avg $13,000
Dual Battery System (20-26 kWh)
$15,000 avg $24,000
Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh)
$9,500 avg $13,000
Enphase IQ Battery (15 kWh)
$10,000 avg $14,000
What Affects the Cost?
- Battery Capacity (kWh)
- A 10 kWh battery covers essential loads for 8-12 hours. Whole-home backup typically needs 20+ kWh.
- Chemistry Type
- Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries last longer (10,000+ cycles) than NMC but have lower energy density.
- Installation Complexity
- Retrofitting batteries to an existing solar system costs $1,000-$2,000 more than installing both together.
- Federal Tax Credit
- The 30% ITC applies to batteries installed with solar, reducing a $10,000 battery to $7,000 net cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Batteries make financial sense in areas with time-of-use rates, no net metering, or frequent outages. In states with strong net metering, the ROI is longer.
Most home batteries are warrantied for 10-15 years and retain 70-80% of original capacity at end of warranty.
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