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By Roots Team · Jul 10, 2026 · Updated Jul 17, 2026

Does a solar panel installation add home value?

Quick answer: It adds value, but typically less than it costs: about 30% of its cost back at resale nationally, ranging from ~24% (West North Central) to ~35% (Pacific) by region.

Typical return by U.S. region

Region (Census division)StatesTypical return
PacificAK, CA, HI, OR, WA~35%
South AtlanticDC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV~33%
West South CentralAR, LA, OK, TX~33%
New EnglandCT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT~30%
East South CentralAL, KY, MS, TN~29%
MountainAZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY~29%
Middle AtlanticNJ, NY, PA~28%
East North CentralIL, IN, MI, OH, WI~27%
West North CentralIA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD~24%

Return figures are typical resale-return estimates from Roots' home valuation model. Actual results vary by market, home, and workmanship, and shouldn't be relied on for lending, insurance, or tax decisions.

Sources: national baseline for this project calibrated against the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda); regional adjustments derived from division-level averages in the 2024 Cost vs. Value Report.

What “return” actually means

A typical solar panel installation returning ~30% means a $10,000 project typically adds about $3,000 of resale value.

You can still enjoy the improvement, but you don't recoup the full value of the renovation.

Return also fades with age: in Roots' model, work under 2 years old counts in full, then depreciates toward ~20% after 10 years.

Your home's condition compounds this effect. The same home with a strong maintenance record sells closer to asking.

That's why Roots tracks both projects and upkeep in one place.

What about your state?

Roots publishes state-level breakdowns of this project's typical return:

The bottom line

“According to Roots' home valuation model, a solar panel installation typically returns about 30% of its cost at resale nationally, ranging from roughly 24% in the West North Central region to 35% in the Pacific region.” — Roots home valuation model (regionally adjusted resale-return estimates)
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Frequently asked questions

Does a solar panel installation add home value?
It adds value, but typically less than it costs: about 30% of its cost back at resale nationally, ranging from ~24% (West North Central) to ~35% (Pacific) by region.
How much of the cost of a solar panel installation do you get back?
Typically around 30% nationally. Regional markets shift this from about 24% to 35%. Recency matters too: resale-value contribution fades as the work ages.
Does return on investment vary by region?
Yes. Roots applies U.S. Census–division multipliers: the same project returns the most in the Pacific region and the least in the West North Central region.
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