Solar financing tools
Work out whether to lease or buy, what a loan would cost each month and what solar returns over 25 years. Updated for 2026: the 30% federal credit for buying ended after 2025, and the tools reflect that.
Lease, loan or cash?
Most people start with lease vs buy, then check the monthly payment and long-term return of the option they prefer.
Lease vs buy calculator
Compare a lease, a PPA and buying with your own bill, rate escalator and term, using 2026 rules.
Compare options →Solar loan payment calculator
Monthly payment and total interest for a solar loan at the rate and term you enter.
Calculate payment →Solar ROI calculator
Payback and net gain over the years you choose, for cash or a loan, from your own production, bill value and assumptions.
See my ROI →Home equity calculator
See the room under a limit you enter and compare a HELOC with a fixed home equity loan. Rates are examples.
Check equity →Affordability check
See how a new solar payment changes your debt-to-income ratio. No credit check, no decision.
Check affordability →Financing options guide
Cash, loan, HELOC, PACE or lease: what each depends on, cash price vs financed price, and where well-known lenders stand.
Read the guide →Sizing and planning
State solar savings calculators
System size, cost, payback and savings with your utility's export rules and verified state incentives.
Choose my state →Roof-fit calculator
How many panels fit on your roof and how two panel models compare.
Fit my roof →Home battery calculator
Three separate checks with your own numbers: bill savings from shifting energy, backup runtime in kWh and kW, and payback over the warranty.
Check a battery →Power station size calculator
Watt-hours and output a portable power station needs for your devices, plus solar to recharge it.
Size a power station →Frequently asked questions
Should I lease or buy solar in 2026?
It depends on your numbers. Buying no longer gets the 30% federal homeowner credit for systems installed after 2025, while a lease or PPA company may still claim a business credit. Compare total payments, escalator and buyout terms in the lease vs buy calculator.
Do these tools include the federal solar tax credit?
For buying, no: the homeowner credit ended for installations completed after December 31, 2025, so the tools default to 0%. See incentives by state for what still applies.
Are the loan rates in these tools real offers?
No. Interest rates in the tools are examples you can change. Your actual rate depends on the lender, your credit and the loan type.