Guide
How much plug-in solar costs
Plug-in solar kits on official stores range from $285.30 (a member price) to $8,199, with per-watt prices from $1.37 to $4.10 (prices checked October 14, 2026). Use the calculator to see production and savings for your address.
- CheckedOct 14, 2026
- Sources read11
- DataPVGIS · EIA · state bills
Price ranges and $/W
Kits on official stores checked October 14, 2026 cover a wide price range. The cheapest kit listed is $285.30 (a member price) and the most expensive is $8,199, both checked on October 14, 2026.
Grouping similar-size kits gives a quick way to compare dollar cost and $/W. Prices and $/W below come from the manufacturers’ official store listings checked October 14, 2026; see the kit cards for individual pages and full specs.
- Small kits (about 180–400 W of panels): prices from $285.30 to $1,195; median price $799. $/W in this group runs from $1.59 to $2.99, median $2.00 (prices checked October 14, 2026).
- 800 W kits (800 W panel systems and similar): prices from $1,099 to $1,595; median price $1,500. $/W runs from $1.37 to $1.99, median $1.88 (prices checked October 14, 2026).
- Large kits (1,200–2,000 W of panels): prices from $2,250 to $3,932; median price $2,698. $/W in this group runs from $1.88 to $2.25, median $1.97 (prices checked October 14, 2026).
- Kits that include a battery: Craftstrom’s 2,000 W + 3,000 Wh battery kit is $8,199 at $4.10/W (checked October 14, 2026).
| Kit | Panels | Battery | Price | Per watt | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter + 2 × 400 W rigid panels | 800 W | — | $1,099 | $1.37 | Oct 14, 2026, sold out |
| Bright Saver Balcony Solar Kit 180 W (one panel) | 180 W | — | $285.30 | $1.59 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Craftstrom 800 Watt Eco-Line Plug&Play Solar | 800 W | — | $1,500 | $1.88 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Craftstrom 1200 Watt Eco-Line Plug&Play Solar | 1,200 W | — | $2,250 | $1.88 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Craftstrom 1600 Watt Eco-Line Plug&Play Solar | 1,600 W | — | $3,000 | $1.88 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Zendure SolarFlow Kit | 2,000 W | 1.92 kWh | $3,932 | $1.97 | Oct 14, 2026, sold out |
| pluggedsolar 1,200 W plug-in kit (6 × 200 W, APsystems microinverter) | 1,200 W | — | $2,390 | $1.99 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| pluggedsolar 800 W plug-in kit (4 × 200 W, APsystems microinverter) | 800 W | — | $1,595 | $1.99 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter + 400 W solar panel | 400 W | — | $799 | $2.00 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Mango Power Mango Power S 1200W Plug-In Solar Kit | 1,200 W | — | $2,698 | $2.25 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| pluggedsolar 400 W plug-in kit (2 × 200 W, APsystems microinverter) | 400 W | — | $1,195 | $2.99 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Craftstrom 2kW Solar + 3kWh Battery Plug-In Kit | 2,000 W | 3.00 kWh | $8,199 | $4.10 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Bright Saver Balcony Solar Kit 360 W (two panels) | 360 W | — | not published | — |
What the kits include and extra costs
Most plug-in kits list panels plus a microinverter and a power cord. For example, Bright Saver’s Balcony Solar Kit includes one or two panels and a Hoymiles HiFlow Pro LV 360 W micro-inverter with a 15' power cord and smartphone monitoring (Bright Saver listing).
Sellers commonly state what they include and whether batteries or an outage/outlet are provided. Many listings note there is no outage/outlet feature; some kits explicitly include a battery (for example, Zendure’s kit lists a 1,920 Wh battery and Craftstrom offers a 3,000 Wh battery in a larger kit).
- Typical included items: panels, the micro-inverter, the inverter’s power cord, and a monitoring app where listed.
- Shipping and membership: Bright Saver states free shipping to the Continental U.S. and offers an at-cost member price starting at $285.30 with a $29 annual membership; the same panel shows a public price of $499 on their site (Bright Saver listings).
- Extra costs to check: specialized mounts if you want a permanent bracket (panels can also be leaned or mounted), any new outdoor outlet if you don’t already have one, and optional batteries or larger systems when offered.
Why $/W and $/kWh differ
Price per watt is a simple measure: cost divided by the panel DC watt rating, and sellers often list it (for example, an 800 W EcoFlow kit is listed at $1,099 or $1.37 per watt).
Price per kWh produced depends on where you put the panels and how much sun they get, and on the inverter’s AC limit. For example, a kit can list 2,000 W of panels while the inverter limits AC output to 900 W; that reduces how much AC power the system can supply compared with the panel DC rating (Zendure and other listings).
To compare expected energy you should convert panel watts and local sun into kWh with the calculator; the calculator gives production and estimated dollar savings for your address and will show the real $/kWh that matters to your bill.
How to compare offers fairly
Compare the same published date: prices here are checked October 14, 2026. Use the store check date on the product page when you compare quotes.
Match the technical limits, not just the panel watts. Compare the inverter’s AC output (for example, EcoFlow microinverters list up to 1,200 W AC on several listings) against the total panel DC watts, and note whether a kit is inverter-only or includes panels.
- Battery: note whether a battery is included and its capacity — some kits include no battery, Zendure lists a 1,920 Wh battery, and Craftstrom offers a 3,000 Wh battery in a large kit (official listings).
- Warranty: compare warranty length for the inverter and panels — some sellers list 10-year inverter warranties and others list 25-year inverter warranties on their pages.
- Safety/standards: check whether the seller lists UL 3700 or only UL 1741; several sellers list UL 1741 but have UL 3700 status not published, and some sellers state UL 3700 without a published UL listing (see individual kit pages).
- Availability: some kits were listed as sold out on October 14, 2026; check stock status before you buy.
Questions
Do I need a membership to buy a plug-in kit?
Not always. Bright Saver offers a public (no-membership) price of $499 and a member at-cost price starting at $285.30; membership costs $29 a year for access to the at-cost program (Bright Saver listings).
Do I need an electrician to install a plug-in solar kit?
Most sellers describe plug-in systems as connecting to a standard outdoor outlet and say no electrician is required; for example, Bright Saver’s product copy says 'no electrician' and describes plugging into an outdoor outlet. If you need a new outdoor outlet you may need to hire an electrician — check your situation and local rules.
Are batteries included with plug-in kits?
Most plug-in kits are sold as panels plus a micro-inverter and do not include an outage battery. Some kits list an included battery — for example, Zendure’s kit lists a 1,920 Wh battery and Craftstrom offers a 3,000 Wh battery in its larger kit (official listings).
What should I check besides price?
Compare inverter AC limits, whether the kit includes panels or is inverter-only, warranty length, and safety claims like UL listings. Prices on this page were checked October 14, 2026 — always compare the seller’s published date.