Tesla’s Solar Roof and solar panel systems produce clean energy while lowering your electric bill. Most homeowners pair their new solar array with a matching Powerwall battery system to store collected energy for later use. You can expect to spend between $12,850 to $29,550, or a national average of $21,200, for a Powerwall system.
Tesla introduced the Powerwall in 2015 to store collected solar power so your home can use it when your solar array cannot produce energy. The battery backup system and solar array are both building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Keep in mind that it is more cost-effective to install the Powerwall at the same time as your new solar system, and Tesla discounts the price per battery unit when coupled with a roof installation.
In this pricing guide, we’ll cover:
- Average Costs
- Cost Estimator By Units
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Related Services
- Cost By Location
- Tesla Powerwall Specs
- Other Brands to Consider
- FAQ
Average Costs of a Tesla Powerwall in 2024
| National Average Cost | $21,200 |
| Typical Price Range | $12,850 – $29,550 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $11,500 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $91,000 |
Most Powerwall systems fall into the $12,850 to $29,550 range, but many factors can impact your total costs. A single Powerwall unit installed alongside a Tesla solar array costs $11,500 after Tesla’s discount. However, Tesla’s maximum 10-unit system can cost as much as $91,000 before installation.
Tesla Powerwall Cost by Units
Tesla prices its solar battery systems based on units, with discounts offered for multiple units. Larger homes may require more than one battery to help offset 100% of electricity costs, and multiple Tesla Powerwalls work together to create circuits for greater storage capacity.
Tesla aims to offset just over 100% of a homeowner’s electric bills with every installation, and every Solar Roof installation requires at least one Powerwall unit.
Each unit stores collected solar power so your home can use it when your solar array cannot produce or collect energy. The battery backup system costs $12,850 per unit, and it is more cost-effective to install the unit at the same time as your new solar roof.
The Powerwall is eligible for the federal tax credit, and some states, like California, provide their own solar storage incentives.
Here is a breakdown of the number of units and the total cost, including Tesla’s multi-unit discount.
| Number of Powerwall Units | Cost*installation not included | Cost With Discount For Installing with a Solar Roof*installation not included |
| 1 | $12,850 | $11,500 |
| 2 | $21,200 | $18,500 |
| 3 | $29,550 | $25,500 |
| 4 | $37,900 | $32,500 |
| 5 | $46,750 | $40,500 |
Other Factors That Affect Cost
While Elon Musk and Tesla are famous for their electric vehicles, going solar is so much more than a shiny car. It is a big decision with large upfront costs, and it is more economical to install your new Tesla Powerwall at the same time as a solar array. Consider these additional factors affecting your total costs, including location, labor costs, incentives, and more.
Federal Solar Tax Credit
Tesla solar upgrades, including Tesla Solar Roof, Powerwall, and solar panel systems, are eligible for a government tax credit. The program runs from 2023 to 2035.
Solar power systems installed between 2023 to 2032 are eligible for a 30% credit. Systems installed in 2033 are only eligible for a 26% credit, and those installed in 2034 will receive a 22% credit. There is no maximum amount a homeowner can claim.
Expenses include:
- Tesla Solar Roof and solar panels
- Tesla Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+
- Solar shingles, tiles, or panels
- Contractor labor costs, including permitting fees and inspection costs
- Balancing equipment, including wiring, mounting equipment, and inverters
- Sales tax on expenses
Many states also have policies governing renewable energy, offering their own incentives and rebates. The federal tax credit expires in 2035 unless it receives a congressional extension.
| Year | 2023 – 2032 | 2033 | 2034 |
| Tax Credit | 30% | 26% | 22% |
Critical Load Panel
Most homeowners install a new critical load panel with their Powerwall system. The electrician routes important home technology such as lights, refrigerators, and freezers to the new load panel, ensuring they have priority and remain operational during power outages.
Typical home battery installations do not contain enough storage capacity to power every electronic in a home, especially energy-consuming air conditioners. Critical load panel installation and retrofitting typically cost between $1,100 to $3,000.
Labor Cost to Install Tesla Powerwall
Tesla Powerwall costs typically decrease when installed at the same time as a solar array, and you should be prepared to spend approximately 60% of your total project costs on labor.
The total cost of installation combines materials and labor, and most solar providers charge per hour, with the average cost of installation falling between $45 to $70 per hour.
Solar battery storage systems also require skilled electrical work. Your contractor will work with a local electrician to complete this portion of the job. Typically, electricians cost between $45 to $135 per hour.
Overall, labor rates depend on your location, the experience of the certified installer and electrician, the complexity of your installation, and other electrical work necessary to complete your job like a critical load panel or inverter installation.
| Specialty | Labor Cost |
| Solar installer per hr. | $45 – $70 |
| Electrician per hr. | $45 to $135 |
Related Services
Tesla and its certified installers handle most related services for you.
Solar Roof Installation
Tesla’s silicon solar shingles and panels use solar cells to harness the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity, and traditional solar panels are simply larger versions of solar shingles. Additionally, solar panels are one component of a roof, while Tesla’s Solar Roof is an entire solar roof system that replaces your existing roofing materials.
Tesla’s solar panel installation is significantly cheaper than the Solar Roof. However, the premium product costs more than other solar panels on the market. For an average one-story, 2,500-square-foot house, Tesla’s solar panel installation costs approximately $43,000 before incentives, while the solar shingles cost $111,400 for the same home.
Check out some other key differences:
| Tesla Solar Roof | Tesla Solar Panels | |
| Installation Cost Before Incentives*materials and labor included | $111,400 | $45,000 |
| Durability*for peak performance | 25 years | 25 years |
| Size | 15 inches x 45 inches and 5 millimeters thick | 41 inches x 82 inches x 1.57 inches |
| Weight | 4 pounds per square foot | 47 pounds each |
| Installation Time | 5 – 7 days | 1 – 2 days |
| Output | 71.67 watts per shingle | 400 watts per panel |
Roof Removal
If you opt for Tesla’s premium Solar Roof, chances are good you will need a complete roof replacement. Your Tesla-certified roofers will need to remove your existing roof materials for disposal. The company charges $5,700 for this service.
It is important to note that almost all Tesla Solar Roof installations require roof removal. Tesla contractors can only roof over new, or good-condition, 3-tab asphalt shingles that are less than 3/8-inch thick.
Cost of Tesla Powerwall By Location
Solar technology installation varies widely based on location and the cost of living. The cost estimator on Tesla’s website uses location-based electricity costs and your average monthly utility bills to help calculate the cost of your new solar system with a Powerwall battery backup.
There is no way to know exactly what your Tesla installation will cost without receiving a free quote.
Tesla Powerwall Specs
Tesla currently offers two versions of its popular home energy storage system: Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+. Let’s take a look at what makes these models unique and how the home batteries meet your energy demands.
Battery Chemistry
Most residential solar systems use lithium-ion batteries. Solar batteries use two main Li-ion chemistries: lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC).
Tesla’s Powerwall models use Li-ion batteries with NMC chemistry.
NMC battery technology has a high energy density making the physical size smaller than the same capacity LFP battery. NMC batteries perform better in cold temperatures and have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
Battery Capacity
Tesla’s Powerwall models store up to 13.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, providing a full day of battery backup for most homes on a cloudy day. This same battery can provide two full days of backup power when the sun is shining.
Tesla Powerwall installation allows up to 10 Powerwall units to be connected in a circuit. The average home’s energy needs can be met with one to two Powerwall 2 units, and to go off-grid, a home requires two or more Powerwall+ units.
Power Output
Continuous power and peak power are important considerations when installing a home solar battery system. Kilowatts (kW) of continuous power measures how much energy a solar battery can release over a period, while peak power measures the highest amount of energy the battery can output in a short period of time.
Typically, batteries operate at continuous power to provide power for longer periods of time, and peak power is used during a power outage. The higher a battery’s peak power, the more energy it can output in a short time period.
| Powerwall 2 | Powerwall+ | |
| Continuous Power On-Grid | 5.8 kW | 5.8 kW no sun7.6 kW full sun |
| Continuous Power Off-Grid | N/A | 7 kW no sun9.7 kW full sun |
| Peak Power Off-Grid | 7 kW | 10 kW no sun 22 kW full sun |
Depth of Discharge
Battery efficiency decreases the more a battery is drained before fully recharging it. Depth of discharge (DoD) measures how far a battery can discharge before its lifespan is affected. Typically, solar batteries’ DoD ranges between 80% to 100%, and Tesla Powerwalls have a DoD of 100%.
Efficiency
Round-trip efficiency measures how much stored energy a homeowner can retrieve later for use. Most home solar batteries have a round-trip efficiency of 80%. Tesla’s Powerwall models boast a higher efficiency of 90%, meaning you can use 90% of the energy your battery stores.
Compatibility
The largest difference in Tesla’s Powerwall models is their solar inverters. Powerwall+ models have a built-in inverter suitable for new solar installations, while Powerwall 2 models work with third-party inverters or a separate Tesla inverter. Tesla Powerwall 2 models work with existing solar installations.
Warranty
Tesla offers a 10-year warranty on both Powerwall models, including a four-year workmanship warranty. This workmanship warranty could vary depending on your certified installer. Tesla guarantees 70% end warranty capacity for both models with the industry standard sitting at 60% capacity.
Other Solar Battery Brands to Consider
Several U.S. brands manufacture solar storage systems, and as the technology continues to rise in popularity, we can expect to see more brands develop their own batteries.
Here are the most popular solar batteries and their average cost before tax incentives. Note that these costs will vary depending on your location and other factors.
| Brands | Capacity | Average Cost Before Incentives*includes installation |
| Enphase Encharge | 3.36 kWh & 10.8 kWh | $10,000 |
| Generac PWRcell | 9 kWh & 18 kWh | $11,500 |
| LG Chem RESU Prime | 9.6 kWh & 16 kWh | $9,500 |
| Panasonic EverVolt | 17.1 kWh & 25.65 kWh | $15,000 |
| Sonnen | 10 kWh – 30 kWh | $10,000 |
| SunPower Sunvault | 13 kWh, 19.5 kWh, 26 kWh, 39 kWh, 52 kWh | $12,000 |
Let’s look at the most popular solar storage systems:
- Enphase Encharge
- Generac PWRcell
- LG Chem RESU Prime
- Panasonic EverVolt
- Sonnen
- SunPower Sunvault
Enphase Encharge
Enphase has been the market leader in solar array microinverter technology for the last decade. The company offers a 3.36 kWh storage system and a larger 10.8 kWh system. While its modular storage systems are high quality, they won’t work with existing inverters, requiring an Enphase microinverter to operate.
Generac PWRcell
Generac offers three and six-module configurations with 9 kWh to 18 kWh of capacity. Each PWRcell inverter is easily upgradeable to meet growing energy demands. handling up to 36 kWh of storage capacity.
LG Chem RESU Prime
LG Chem’s RESU Prime batteries come in 9.6 kWh and 16 kWh capacities. The modular systems feature the highest round-trip efficiency of any home energy storage system with a rating of 96%.
Panasonic EverVolt
Panasonic’s EverVolt 2.0 helps homeowners achieve energy independence. The storage solution delivers an impressive 17.1 kWh and up to 25.65 kWh storage capacity for self-consumption, and homeowners can monitor the all-weather system from their phones with an intuitive mobile app.
Sonnen
The 100%-recyclable SonneCore+ and ecoLinx systems have storage capacities to fit your needs, ranging from 10 kWh to 30 kWh. The luxury-minded, German-engineered systems come with a 10- or 15-year, 10,000- to 15,000-cycle warranty, and the sleek designs pair with any new or existing solar array.
SunPower Sunvault
SunPower’s flexible solar energy storage system features a minimalistic design that comes in multiple capacities ranging from 13 kWh to 52 kWh. The smart, app-controlled system supplies backup power during blackouts and decreases energy and time of use during peak hours.
FAQ
No. Home solar systems are a complicated technology, requiring electrical and building permits to modify or install, and improper installation can void the manufacturer’s warranty. Tesla products require installation by a certified installer.
Tesla warranties Powerwall batteries for 10 years, guaranteeing 70% capacity at the end of the warranty. When your warranty period ends, there is no guarantee how long your Powerwall system will remain at 70% capacity or its additional lifespan.
Most home solar batteries power essential functions, not including electric heat or air conditioning. Tesla aims for enough stored energy to power a home for one day on cloudy days and up to two days on sunny days with every installation. You can add additional Powerwall units to increase this duration or power more load-heavy electronics like an air conditioner.
Final Thoughts
Installing a Powerwall storage system ensures you get the most out of your solar array. Tesla offers a discount when installed with its solar technologies, and the 30% tax credit makes Powerwall worth the high price tag. You can expect to spend between $12,850 to $29,550, or a national average of $21,200, for a Powerwall system.
If you are ready to decrease your home’s grid reliance, contact a LawnStarter solar installation professional in your area to learn about the brands and your options.
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
Main Photo by: Bryan Alexander / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
