How much does solar cost in Brisbane in 2026?

The short answer

Most Brisbane homes pay roughly $5,000 to $8,500 for a good-quality 6.6 kW solar system in 2026, after the federal rebate. Average Brisbane prices are about $6,400 for 6.6 kW, $9,700 for 10 kW and $12,600 for 13 kW.

Those prices already include the federal solar rebate, which takes about $1,710 off a 6.6 kW system installed in Brisbane this year. Brisbane also gets more sun than Sydney, about 4.2 kWh per kW of panels a day against 3.9, so each panel earns a little more here.

Typical prices by system size

Average Brisbane prices from Solar Calculator, rounded. The Solar Choice Price Index for 1 October 2026 is close: $6,210 for 6 kW and $9,460 for 10 kW. Rebates estimated for Brisbane (sunshine zone 3) at about $38 per certificate, rounded down to whole certificates.

Most Brisbane homes install between 6.6 kW and 13 kW. The right size depends on how much power you use and when, how much roof space you have, whether you plan to add a battery or an electric car, and how much Energex lets you export. We size systems from your actual power bills.

How the solar rebate works in Brisbane

The federal solar rebate comes from the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. Your system creates small-scale technology certificates (STCs), and we take their value off your price:

6.6 kW × 1.382 (Brisbane's zone rating) × 5 years left in the scheme = 45 certificates ≈ $1,710

Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan and Moreton Bay are all in sunshine zone 3, so the rebate is the same across South East Queensland. The "years left" part drops by one every 1 January until the scheme ends in 2030. The same 6.6 kW system installed in 2027 would get about 36 certificates, roughly $1,368. Try your own numbers in our rebate estimator.

There is no extra Queensland Government solar or battery rebate at the moment: the state's Battery Booster rebate closed to new applications in May 2024. The federal rebates still apply in full.

What pushes the price up or down

• Panels and inverter. Premium tier-one panels and well-known inverter brands cost more but come with stronger warranties and support. This is the biggest difference between a cheap quote and a mid-range one.
• Your roof. Tin roofs, common across Brisbane, are quicker to work on than tile. Two-storey homes, steep pitches and panels split across several roof faces take more time and equipment.
• Shade and layout. If trees or neighbouring buildings shade part of the roof, microinverters or optimisers can help but add cost.
• Switchboard and meter. Older switchboards sometimes need an upgrade, and some homes need a new meter. These are usually extra, so check whether a quote includes them.
• Single or three phase. Energex generally limits exports to about 5 kW per phase, so a single-phase home exports up to about 5 kW. Three-phase homes, or dynamic connections where Energex offers them, can export more, which affects the inverter and system size that make sense.
• Who installs it. Experienced, accredited installers who stand behind their work cost a little more than the cheapest operators, and give you someone to call later.

What solar and a battery costs together

A 6.6 kW system with a 13.5 kWh battery typically costs about $16,000 to $17,000 in Brisbane in 2026, with the federal solar and battery discounts already off. The federal battery rebate alone takes about $3,458 off a 13.5 kWh battery installed by the end of 2026; see how much the battery rebate is worth for each size.

A battery mainly pays off for homes that use a lot of power in the evening, which matters more in South East Queensland than most places (see below). Our guide Is a home battery worth it in 2026? goes through the numbers. You can also start with solar now and add a battery later: a battery-ready (hybrid) inverter today can make that cheaper.

What you will save

A 6.6 kW system in Brisbane typically saves about $800 to $1,100 a year, so it pays for itself in roughly 6 to 8 years. How much you save depends mostly on how much solar you use yourself rather than export.

The system makes about 10,100 kWh a year. Every unit you use at home saves the full grid price; every unit you export earns a feed-in credit of only a few cents.

Assumes the 2026–27 Energex flat-rate price cap of 27.97c per kWh (default market offer), a 4c feed-in tariff, and Brisbane's average output of 4.2 kWh per kW a day (SolarQuotes). Estimates, not a guarantee.

On a time-of-use plan the picture changes. Energex's 2026–27 time-of-use cap is 6.98c per kWh from 11am to 4pm but 47.79c from 4pm to 9pm, so midday solar saves less and evening power costs more. Running the dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump or EV charger in the middle of the day helps, and a battery covers the evening. Every home is different, so we show your expected output and savings in your quote, based on your own bills.

Free midday power plans in South East Queensland

Since 1 July 2026, retailers in South East Queensland have had to offer a Solar Sharer plan with three free hours of electricity, from 11am to 2pm on the Energex network. It is optional and needs a smart meter.

For most homes with solar these plans add little, because your panels already cover the middle of the day, and the rest of the day is often priced higher to pay for the free hours. Solar still covers the morning and afternoon, and a battery covers the evening, so we look at your bills and tell you honestly which plan and system make sense.

Feed-in tariffs in South East Queensland are set by each retailer, with no minimum. Offers mostly sit between 1c and 12c per kWh, and the higher rates usually apply only to the first few kWh you export each day.

How to compare solar quotes

1. Same size, same parts. Compare systems of a similar size, and check the exact panel and inverter brand and model on each quote.
2. Warranties. Look for the panel product and performance warranties, the inverter warranty and the installer's workmanship warranty. Ours is 10 years on installation and workmanship.
3. The rebate as a line item. The rebate should be shown clearly and already taken off the price.
4. What's not included. Check for exclusions such as switchboard upgrades, meter changes or Energex approval fees.
5. Export setting. Ask what export limit the system will be set to, and whether it can use a dynamic connection.
6. Accreditation. Make sure the system will be designed and installed by accredited installers, so it qualifies for the rebate.