The Solar Guys — your local residential and commercial solar pros

Buying Guide · 6 min read

How To Compare Two Solar Quotes

A practical framework for putting two solar proposals on equal footing.

Updated 2026-02-10

Most solar proposals are built to be hard to compare. Normalize them on a few fields and the differences become obvious.

Normalize these fields

Cost per watt at the cash price. System size in kW DC and the expected annual production in kWh. Exact panel, inverter and battery models. Financing term, rate and total amount financed. Workmanship term and what it covers.

Watch for the common tricks

Production estimates that assume no shading, escalators buried in a PPA, an equipment substitution clause with no approval requirement, and a monthly payment shown without the total financed amount next to it.

Because we lead with financing structure, our proposals are often competitive against comparable systems on comparable terms. We will not quote you a fixed percentage discount — bring us the other quote and we will go through it line by line with you.

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.

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