How Much Does Rooftop Solar Cost in Delhi? A 1kW–5kW Price Guide

"What will rooftop solar actually cost me?" is the first question almost every customer asks when they walk into our Ashok Vihar shop. It's also the hardest to answer in one number, because the price moves with system size, panel and inverter quality, your roof, and the two subsidies a Delhi home can claim. So instead of a single figure, here's an honest, size-by-size price guide for 1 kW to 5 kW homes in Delhi NCR — what you'd pay before subsidy, what's included, and the net cost in your pocket after the central and Delhi state support.

What goes into the price of a rooftop system

When you compare two solar quotes in Delhi, you're usually looking at the same shopping list — the difference is in the quality of each item. A proper on-grid (grid-tied) installation includes:

• Solar panels — the largest cost; mono-PERC and newer modules cost more but generate more per square foot
• Grid-tied inverter (or a hybrid PCU if you also want backup during cuts) — converts panel DC to home-usable AC
• Mounting structure — galvanised steel that holds the panels at the right tilt against Delhi's wind and heat
• DC and AC cabling, earthing, and a lightning/surge arrestor for safety
• Installation labour and the net-metering application and liaison with your DISCOM
• GST and any structure customisation for your roof

Across all of these, an on-grid residential rooftop system in Delhi works out to roughly ₹55,000 to ₹85,000 per kW installed (2025). The spread is real: a budget set of panels with a basic inverter sits near the bottom, while better modules, a reputable inverter and a sturdier structure sit nearer the top. We stock multiple brands precisely so we can place you at the right point on that range rather than pushing one fixed package.

Price by system size: 1 kW to 5 kW

Here's how that per-kW range translates into typical system sizes for Delhi homes. The 'after-subsidy' column already subtracts both the PM Surya Ghar central subsidy and the Delhi state capital subsidy you'd claim (we break the maths down in the next section). All figures are indicative and as of 2025–26 — please confirm current subsidy rates on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and solar.delhi.gov.in before you budget.

The 3 kW system is far and away the most common choice for Delhi homes, and for good reason: it suits a typical 2–3 BHK's daytime usage, fits on most independent-house and builder-floor roofs, and it's the size where the central subsidy maxes out at ₹78,000 — covering roughly 45–50% of the system. Below 3 kW the subsidy is smaller; above 3 kW you keep adding panels but the central subsidy doesn't grow, so the cost per k8 after subsidy starts climbing again, which is exactly what you see in the 5 kW row.

How the subsidy maths actually works

A Delhi home is in the fortunate position of being able to stack TWO subsidies — a central one and a state one — and they're paid in different ways. Getting this clear is what turns a scary sticker price into a manageable net cost.

• Central — PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW, plus ₹18,000 for the 3rd kW, capped at ₹78,000 total for systems of 3 kW and above. It's paid by Direct Benefit Transfer straight to your bank account after commissioning.
• Delhi state — Solar Policy 2024 capital subsidy: ₹2,000 per kW, up to a maximum of ₹10,000 per home, credited via your first electricity bill after the system goes live.
• Delhi state — Generation Based Incentive (GBI): ₹3 per unit generated for domestic 1–3 kW systems (up from ₹2 in the old 2016 policy) — for a typical home that's roughly ₹700–₹900 a month, on top of the bill you save.

Notice the two caps. Beyond 3 kW the central subsidy stays frozen at ₹78,000 no matter how many panels you add (homes can go up to 10 kW, but the subsidy doesn't rise past the 3 kW figure), and the Delhi capital subsidy stops at ₹10,000, which a 5 kW system reaches. The GBI is separate from these one-time amounts — it's a running monthly credit on the units you generate, so it keeps quietly improving your payback for years. The Delhi policy itself talks about near-zero bills for many homes and an payback of around 4 years; we'd treat that as the policy's stated aim rather than a promise, because your real payback depends on your roof and how much power you use in daylight.

Will it fit on your roof?

Price is only half the question — the other half is whether your roof can hold the system. As a working rule, allow about 80–100 sq ft of shade-free roof per kW. So a 3 kW system needs roughly 250–300 sq ft clear of water tanks, parapet shadows and that neighbour's tree. On many Delhi builder floors and independent houses the usable area, not the budget, is what caps the system size — which is another reason 3 kW is so common here. When we survey, we measure the genuinely shade-free area through the day, not just the total roof, because a panel in shade for three hours is a panel you've half paid for.

Why our quotes vary — and why that's a good thing

We deliberately don't sell one fixed 'solar package'. Because we carry several brands, two homes wanting 3 kW can get quite different quotes from us: one prioritising the lowest upfront cost, another paying a bit more for higher-output panels and a better inverter that will age more gracefully on a hot Delhi roof. The right answer depends on your budget, your roof area and how long you plan to stay. The prices in this guide are ranges for exactly that reason — the live price of any specific panel, inverter or solar PCU is on its own product page, and a firm system price comes after we see your roof.

What we do, and what we don't promise

We assess your roof and electricity bill, size the system honestly, design it (grid-tied for maximum bill savings, or a hybrid PCU with batteries if you also want power during cuts), install it across Delhi NCR, and guide you through the DISCOM net-metering application so the paperwork doesn't stall. We'll also help you check, on the official portals, exactly which subsidy amounts apply to your connection on the day you apply — rather than quoting a figure that may have moved. If you'd like a real number for your home, send us a photo of your roof and a recent bill, or call the shop, and we'll take it from there.