There is no single price for solar, and any company that gives you one before looking at your usage and your roof is guessing. What we can do is explain exactly which variables move the number.
What the price is actually built from
System cost is driven by system size in kilowatts, the equipment selected, roof type and complexity, electrical work required at the panel, permitting and inspection in your jurisdiction, and whether storage is included.
Roof type matters more than most homeowners expect. Tile takes longer to work on than composition and requires different flashing detail. A steep or multi-plane roof takes longer than a simple south-facing plane.
Why financing changes the total as much as the equipment
Two proposals with identical panels can differ by thousands of dollars in total cost because of the finance product behind them. Dealer fees built into long-term low-rate loans are real money, even when they never appear as a line item.
This is the single most common place we see homeowners lose value. Ask every company for the cash price and the financed price side by side.
How to get a real number for your home
Send twelve months of usage from your utility account, not one bill. Seasonal swing in Northern California is large, and a July bill alone will oversize your system while a March bill will undersize it.
Solar production, bill offset and payment comparisons vary by home, usage, roof, shading, utility rate schedule and financing terms. Nothing on this site is a guarantee of savings. Pricing comparisons depend on system size, equipment, financing structure and contract terms. Any comparison is only meaningful between comparable systems and comparable financing.