Get Panels: Price Guide
In the Philippines, buying solar panels is a lot like buying a car. You can buy a heap of parts for cheap, or you can buy a vehicle that actually drives.
If you browse Facebook Marketplace or Shopee, you will see 550W solar panels listed for as low as ₱5,000. You do the math: "I need 10 panels, that’s ₱50,000. Add an inverter for ₱30,000. I can go solar for under ₱100,000!"
Then you call a reputable installer, and they quote you ₱260,000 for the same capacity.
Why the massive gap? And what should you actually expect to pay in 2025?
This guide cuts through the marketing noise to give you realistic, "turnkey" pricing for residential solar in Luzon and the Visayas.
The "Per Watt" Benchmark
The industry standard for comparing prices is Pesos per Watt-peak (₱/Wp).
In 2024–2025, for a fully installed, grid-tied residential system using Tier 1 components, the realistic market rate is between ₱45 and ₱70 per watt.
₱45–₱55/watt: larger systems (10kW+), simple roofs (GI sheet), standard string inverters.
₱55–₱75/watt: smaller systems (3kW–5kW), complex roofs (tile), or premium hardware (microinverters like Enphase).
If you see a quote under ₱40/watt for a fully installed system, be very careful. Corners are being cut—usually in the mounting structure (using galvanized iron instead of aluminum), the wiring (undersized cables), or the labor (unlicensed electricians).
To understand how this scaling works, read our detailed breakdown of solar price per watt trends.
Realistic Turnkey System Costs
Most Filipino homeowners don't buy "watts"; they buy a package. Here is what you should expect to pay for the three most common system sizes. These estimates include panels, inverter, mounting, AC/DC protection, installation labor, and basic permitting assistance.
1. The "Starter" System: 3kW to 3.6kW
Target Bill: ₱4,000 – ₱8,000 per month.
Price Range: ₱160,000 – ₱210,000
What you get: Typically 6 to 8 panels (550W each) and a 3kW inverter.
Reality: This offsets your daytime base load—refrigerator, fans, and maybe one inverter aircon running during the day. It is often the minimum size respectable installers will accept because the mobilization costs are the same whether they install 6 panels or 20.
2. The "Sweet Spot": 5kW to 6kW
Target Bill: ₱9,000 – ₱15,000 per month.
Price Range: ₱250,000 – ₱350,000
What you get: 10 to 12 panels and a 5kW or 6kW inverter.
Reality: This is the standard for a middle-class household. It generates roughly 20–25 kWh per day. With Net Metering, this can zero out a significant portion of a typical bill.
3. The "Zero Bill" Contender: 10kW+
Target Bill: ₱20,000+ per month.
Price Range: ₱550,000 – ₱750,000
What you get: 18 to 24 panels and a 10kW inverter.
Reality: At this size, economies of scale kick in, dropping the price per watt. This is for larger homes with central air conditioning or pool pumps.
For a more granular look at these packages, check out our guide on residential solar costs.
Hardware: Why Prices Vary
Not all "5kW systems" are created equal. The hardware choices can swing the price by 20–30%.
The Panels (The Cheap Part)
Ironically, the solar panels themselves are now the least expensive part of the equation. Global oversupply has pushed raw panel prices down to record lows. Whether you choose Jinko, Trina, Longi, or Canadian Solar, the performance difference is often negligible for residential use. They are all "Tier 1" brands.
The price difference comes from the warranty and the aesthetics (e.g., all-black panels cost more). You can compare the top brands in our Tier 1 solar comparison guide.
The Inverter (The Brains)
This is where the money is.
String Inverters (Growatt, Huawei, Solis): The most common and affordable. Good reliability, lower cost.
Microinverters (Enphase): Significantly more expensive (add ₱50k–₱80k to a system). They offer panel-level monitoring and safety but extend the ROI period.
Hybrid Inverters (Deye, GoodWe): These allow you to add batteries later. They cost 30–50% more than standard grid-tie inverters.
The "Hidden" Costs: Permitting and Compliance
When you buy a DIY kit on Shopee, you get a box of parts. You do not get the paperwork. In the Philippines, the paperwork is half the battle.
To legally run a solar system and apply for Net Metering (selling excess power back to Meralco), you need:
Detailed Engineering Plans: Signed and sealed by a Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE).
LGU Permits: Building and Electrical permits from your city hall.
Capping: Meralco requires the system size to match your transformer capacity (Distribution Impact Study).
A "turnkey" quote from an installer usually includes the processing of these permits (the labor), but the actual fees are often billed to the client.
Net Metering Application: Can cost ₱15,000 – ₱30,000 in administrative and processing fees if you hire someone to do it.
Bill Deposit: Meralco often requires an updated bill deposit equivalent to your average monthly consumption, which can be a surprise cash-out.
If you skip this and just hook up a grid-tie inverter, you risk being flagged for "illegal injection," which can result in penalties or disconnection. See our walkthrough of the Net Metering application process to understand what you are paying for.
The Problem with "Hardware Only" Pricing
Be extremely wary of quotes that list "Materials Only."
A 5kW material kit might cost ₱180,000. But installing it requires:
DC Wiring: 4mm² or 6mm² UV-rated solar cables (not regular THHN wire).
Mounting: Anodized aluminum rails and stainless steel L-feet. If you use galvanized iron (GI) angular bars, they will rust and stain your roof within 2 years.
Protection: DC breakers, fuses, and surge protection devices (SPDs).
When you see a quote, look at the bottom line. Does it include installation? Commissioning? Warranty support? If not, you aren't buying a solution; you're buying a construction project.
For a line-by-line explanation of what should be in your contract, read our solar quote breakdown.
Conclusion: Is It Worth It?
With electricity rates in Luzon hovering around ₱13/kWh (and peaking higher), the math has never been better.
Even at a "premium" price of ₱300,000 for a 5kW system, if that system saves you ₱9,000 a month, your payback period is roughly 3 years. After that, you have free electricity for the remaining 20+ years of the panel's life.
Don't fixate on finding the absolute cheapest per-watt price. In the Philippine climate, you are paying for the waterproofing of your roof and the typhoon-resistance of the mounting as much as the panels themselves.
Get three quotes. Ask for the "Turnkey Installed Price." And make sure that price includes the Net Metering paperwork.