Solar Panel Cost in Illinois (2023 Local Savings Guide)
By Dan Simms /
In this guide on Illinois’ top solar installation companies, you’ll learn:
Illinois is home to nearly 100 solar panel installation companies, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).1 With so many options to choose from, deciding which company in your area is right for your solar project can be a challenge.
We’ve done extensive research on the top solar installers in Illinois, so a lot of the hard work is done for you already. Below, we’ll list what we believe are the best solar panel companies available in Illinois based on local needs, average system costs in the state and more:
You can click the drop-down menus below to get more information about each of these companies. There, you’ll find detailed information as to why we chose these providers for IL residents looking to convert to solar.
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
We’ve chosen GRNE Solar because of its robust product warranties, exceptional workmanship and because it is a local company that understands the needs of Illinois residents.
Perhaps most importantly, this company provides equipment warranties that last between 25 and 30 years. This is all but essential in Illinois, where heavy rain, thunderstorms and tornado activity can put your solar panels and roof at risk of damage.
The company is based in Illinois, and the techs are well-equipped and knowledgeable enough to help you take advantage of the local solar incentives. There are numerous solar benefit programs available in the Prairie State, and a locally-based company like GRNE is most likely to help you capitalize on all of them.
This provider has excellent technical knowledge, with an experienced team of consultants, technicians, engineers and electricians that have expertise in pitched roofs, ballasted arrays, ground-mounted panels and more.
EcoWatch Rating |
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4.5 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Maintenance & Repairs, System Monitoring |
Local Service
Average cost
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Cons
Windfree Solar comes in as a top pick as well, mostly because it offers extensive warranty coverage that can help your system stand up to the harsh weather conditions in Illinois.
It covers its equipment for 25 years and guarantees its labor for 15 years (five years more than the industry average). This is especially important in IL, where above-average rainfall — around 1.5x the national average — puts poor solar installation processes at high risk of leaking.
It’s clear that this company is committed to energy efficiency, as it provides home improvements and energy-efficient solutions above and beyond solar. This is a good sign that the company cares more about sustainability than profit, which means it’s more likely to stick around and keep your warranties intact.
Windfree Solar only services Chicago and the surrounding cities, but it’s an outstanding choice if you fall within its service area.
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
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Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades, Community Solar |
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Sun Badger Solar is a great regional company that serves all of Illinois. Although it was only just founded in 2018 and has only a few years of experience under its belt, its leadership team has decades of experience. Plus, its technicians are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), which helps ensure a professional installation.
Sun Badger provides outstanding warranty coverage that can provide ultimate peace of mind even through IL’s most extreme weather events. It covers equipment and labor for 25 years. Its response times to warranty claims are also fast, according to customer reviews.
Sun Badger is a young company, which can sometimes be concerning. New companies are more likely to go out of business and void your warranties in the process. However, given the reputation of the company, we still feel comfortable recommending this installer to IL residents.
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A- |
$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Maintenance & Repairs |
Regional Service
Average cost
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Straight Up Solar is based in St. Louis and serves Missouri and IL solar customers. It’s an outstanding choice for individuals looking for advanced technology and great customer service.
It carries some of the top panel brands, as well as a good selection of battery storage options, including Generac and Tesla Powerwall solar batteries.
The warranty coverage includes ten years of protection for the equipment and a 10-year warranty for power production. This is a bit below the industry standard, but the company’s fast response times to warranty claims still makes it a decent option for IL residents.
The company is B Corp-certified, which means it is committed to a high standard of social and environmental ethics. This is uncommon in IL (and for most solar companies, in fact), and it cuts through the noise of the 100 or so companies available to Illinois residents.
EcoWatch Rating |
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Community Solar, Maintenance & Repairs |
Pros
Cons
ADT Solar is a great option for Illinoisans because it provides some of the best warranty coverage in the entire industry. If you choose this installer, you’ll get 25 years of protection for the equipment, the labor and the performance of the panels. This is great news in Illinois, where extreme weather can put panels and penetrated roofs at risk of leaks.
ADT Solar provides some of the best solar panel brands available, including Silfab and Tesla — panels only, not solar roofs. All of the brands available should be plenty efficient to offset energy bills in IL, where the available sunlight is slightly below average.2
ADT outsources its installations to certified installers, which means the company has a massive service area and can cover all IL residents. That does also mean that your customer experience depends on the installer assigned to your solar array, but most customers have had positive experiences.
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4 |
A- |
2008 |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades |
Silfab, Panasonic and others depending on location |
25-year all-inclusive warranty |
Pros
Cons
We chose SunPower to finish up our top company picks in IL primarily because of the quality of its panels, but also its warranty coverage. It’s one of the only providers in the country that matches the warranties included with an ADT Solar solution.
You’ll get 25 years of coverage for your equipment, the panel efficiency and the workmanship. This is far above and beyond the industry standard in Illinois, which is usually only 25 years.
SunPower makes some of the most efficient solar panels in the industry. While they are more costly than most brands on a per-watt basis, you may end up needing fewer panels to cover your energy needs.
Despite the high solar panel cost, we believe SunPower is worth the investment for the warranty coverage, efficiency and experience you get with this company.
EcoWatch Rating |
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
5 |
A+ |
1985 |
$$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, System Monitoring |
SunPower Panels |
25-year all-inclusive warranty |
Going solar is expensive. On average, the cost of going solar in Illinois is $14,333 for a 7.5 kilowatt (kW) system after the federal tax credit. Without the credit, you’re looking at an average of $20,475. The reason for the high price tag is, in part, an above-average cost per watt. IIllinois residents pay around $2.73 per watt for panels, while the U.S. average is $2.66.
Overall, solar power systems in Illinois cost less than they do in most other states because energy needs are lower than average, so the total system size required is also below average. Still, paying nearly $15,000 for any home improvement can be hard to swallow. Below are some tips for saving money on your system when choosing a solar installer.
The most significant thing you can do to keep your long-term costs down in the Midwest is to choose a company that offers robust warranty coverage.
Illinois residents see extreme weather regularly, including tornadoes, intense thunderstorms and above-average precipitation. The tornadoes in Illinois, specifically, are known to cause massive property damage.2 The extreme weather events in the area can all contribute to panel damage, which means lengthy coverage can help you avoid paying for costly repairs.
Workmanship warranties are also great to have, as they help ensure that the installation is done properly. This is crucial in IL because the sometimes-excessive rainfall can put your roof at an elevated risk of leaking if the panels are installed improperly.
Next, we recommend you choose an experienced installer that has been completing installations in Illinois, specifically. The Prairie State has quite a few solar perks available, and companies that are familiar with the area are more likely to help you take advantage of these benefit programs. Ultimately, they can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
In the chart below, we’ll provide a list of some of the available solar rebates and incentives in Illinois.
Incentive | Description |
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | The federal solar ITC is a credit to your income tax burden for 30% of your entire system value, including the cost of labor, panels, inverters and batteries. In IL, this credit averages out to $6,143, making it the most crucial incentive to take. |
Illinois Shines Program | This is a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program. You earn credits for all solar production, and you can then sell those credits for a profit to help pay down your panel cost. |
IL Solar for All Program | This is a financing option for low-income households. It lets prospective customers install solar for no money down. They would then pay a nominal fee over time for the energy produced. |
Net Metering | This policy lets you overproduce energy with your panels and then use those extra kilowatt-hours (kWh) to pay down future utility bills. Solar net metering is one of the best incentives in the country, as it helps reduce your panel payback period and lets you take full advantage of all the electricity you generate. IL residents get access to great net energy metering terms: full retail value for all excess energy and credits that roll over for up to a year. |
Solar Property Tax Exemption | This is a property tax exemption that prevents the value that your panels add to your home — around 4.1% of your home value, on average — from pushing your tax bill higher.3 |
ComEd Solar Rebate | This is for customers of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) only. It’s a cash back perk of up to $250 per kW of solar capacity installed. The average rebate in IL is $1,875. |
You can also save money over time by choosing a company that offers quality, high-efficiency solar panel brands. These include SunPower — the most efficient — REC, Tesla, Panasonic, Q Cells and more.
PV panels usually pay for themselves by generating electricity that offsets your electric bills. Therefore, the more power your panels produce, the more of your energy bills they’ll offset and the more they’ll save over time.
High-efficiency panel brands are especially useful in Illinois because the state sees fewer sunny days than the national average. Getting an efficient solar panel brand that works on cloudy days will help ensure you see the maximum possible savings, even though your upfront costs can sometimes be higher.
Finally, you can keep your total system costs down by avoiding solar batteries. While energy storage solutions are often helpful in IL, given the high risk of power outages, they almost never pay for themselves like panels do.4
Batteries are worth the thousands of dollars they cost in states where robust net metering isn’t available. In those cases, they let you take full advantage of the energy you generate and maintain reduced energy bills even when production is low — like on cloudy days or at night.
Since this policy is mandated in IL and provided at the full retail cost for energy, installing a battery backup likely won’t increase your savings at all. Companies that push batteries (in Illinois at least) are probably less reputable and more interested in profit than helping you reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy the benefits of solar power.
Read Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar
Yes! Installing solar panels is expected to raise your home value by around 4.1%.5 In IL, where the average home value hovers around $270,000, that’s an expected value bump of $11,070.6
Home values in IL have also risen by over 10% in the past year, and they are expected to climb in the future. That means the value added by your panels should increase over time, making your investment more and more valuable.
It’s worth mentioning that this value increase and return on investment is usually most significant in high-cost areas. The cities below are some of the most expensive in IL, so customers in these areas will also see the greatest home value benefit.
It’s sometimes tempting to consider a DIY solar panel installation, mostly because the cost of installing panels yourself is much lower than hiring a professional would be. Unfortunately, the cost savings associated with a DIY installation aren’t always as appealing as they seem.
Below, we’ll list a few reasons why we typically recommend going with a professional for your solar conversion. We’ll also explain each of these in the sections below.
DIY solar kits usually come with equipment warranties that last for up to five years. In contrast, professionally-installed systems often get protection for up to 25 years. Plus, they can come with workmanship and efficiency warranties as well.
Warranty coverage is one of the most crucial things to consider in IL because of the extreme weather. Tornadoes, intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall can all contribute to panel and roof damage. You might save money installing your own panels, but you could end up paying more in the long run if you have to replace or repair damaged or underperforming equipment.
Roof leaking is one of the most common issues reported after solar installation. Even professionals who have years of history in the industry often can’t guarantee that your roof shingles will never leak because of the penetrations created during panel installation.
Homeowners who choose to install their own panels are, of course, even less experienced and are more likely to make mistakes. This leaves DIY installations at a higher risk of roof leaks. This is an especially prominent issue in IL, where the rainfall is above the national average.
You will pay less upfront for a DIY installation, but roof repairs and water damage mitigation over time could end up costing you far more in the long run.
Finally, DIY panels almost always have a lower efficiency rating than panels available to professional installers. Efficiency is an important consideration not only because it determines your long-term savings but also because solar equipment costs more per watt in IL than in most states.
With an above-average cost per watt, you can save more money than most U.S. residents by choosing a high-efficiency panel. A brand like Maxeon gives you the best chance of needing fewer panels to meet your energy needs, which means you could end up paying less in total for your solar panel system.
There are a few things that are important to look for in an IL solar installer that can help you get the most out of your system. We’ll list these below and explain in the following sections why each is so important.
The number one thing we recommend looking for in an IL solar installer is robust warranty coverage.
Physical protection is the most important, in our opinion, because it provides peace of mind and a lower risk of needing costly repairs or system maintenance. Unfortunately, these are required more often in IL than in most other states because of the extreme weather.
We also recommend considering workmanship warranty coverage. A company that guarantees that its installation techniques won’t lead to issues for years afterward is far more likely to leave you with a system that doesn’t lead to expensive roof leaks. Again, this is important in IL, specifically, because of the above-average precipitation.
Next, we recommend looking at how long the company you’re considering has been in business and, specifically, how long it has been serving IL.
The Prairie State is home to quite a few appealing solar incentives, and taking advantage of them could mean saving hundreds or, more likely, thousands of dollars. A company that has years of local experience is more likely to be familiar with the incentives and help you take as many as possible to keep costs down and savings up.
Finally, it’s important that you consider each company’s service area. IL is home to nearly 100 installation companies, many of which are small and serve just a portion of the state. Before you dive into researching a company and requesting a free quote, you should ensure that you fall within its service area to save time.
When we’re ranking solar providers to recommend the best of the best to you, we look at a bunch of different factors that can have an impact on your overall experience. In IL, we prioritize the characteristics below:
The extreme weather in IL means that warranty coverage is an absolute must for protecting your system from damage. We always give precedence to companies that provide robust and lengthy warranties, specifically for equipment.
We also love to see performance warranties, as these help maximize your long-term savings, as well as workmanship warranties, which are a clear sign your installer’s techs know what they’re doing.
Next, we look at positive and negative customer reviews to get a sense of how satisfied the majority of each company’s customers are. In an area like IL, where the local solar demand is increasing rapidly, many companies pop up just to take advantage and turn a profit. These providers often leave customers dissatisfied with poor communication and overall service.
We look for companies that maintain a high BBB rating and good consumer reviews, and those that often get referral business from customers. B Corp certification is another plus in our book, as it shows that the company is committed to providing quality service.
When narrowing down the best solar installers near you, we keep an eye out for distinctions and affiliations that reflect a reputable status within the industry.
For example, employing NABCEP-certified technicians or holding membership in the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) are good signs of a reliable company. We also like to see that installers are certified to install equipment from top solar brands.
While these affiliations don’t guarantee good service, they do signify that a company cares about the environment and the solar industry as a whole. This gives you a better-than-average chance of getting high-quality service.
Read More About Going Solar in Illinois
Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we see from IL residents about the prospect of going solar.
There is no one most reputable solar installer in IL, as each offers slightly different services. We feel confident in recommending any of the companies listed above as reputable solar installers in IL. Some other honorable mentions include Blue Raven Solar, Tesla Solar and Yellowlite.
IL may not jump to mind as a good state for solar energy, but its strong financial perks have generated plenty of growth in the solar industry. If you have the right home for it, solar is well worth the investment in IL.
Solar makes sense in almost any state of the country, IL included. Solar may not offer a blanket energy solution in IL as it does in Arizona, but the state’s clean energy goals still make solar energy a big part of the Prairie State’s future.
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