Solar Quote Checker
Type in the numbers from a solar proposal. See the price per watt, whether the production estimate is realistic, what financing really adds, and which questions to take back to the installer. Nothing is uploaded.
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What the checker looks at
- Pricing. Cash price per watt, with a typical battery cost set aside first if the battery is not itemized.
- System sizing. Whether panel count, wattage and system size agree, and how the system compares with your annual usage.
- Production assumptions. The quote's kWh per installed kW against a regional figure, and its claimed offset against your own usage.
- Battery sizing. Whether the battery would carry the loads you care about for as long as you want.
- Financing. Total payments, the premium over cash, implied lender fees, escalators and cost per kWh for a loan, lease or PPA.
- Transparency. Which of the basics the proposal states and which it leaves out.
What the wording means
- Looks typical: within the range we would expect.
- Worth asking about: outside the usual range, or a term that deserves an explanation.
- Verify this: numbers that do not agree with each other or with an independent estimate.
- Potentially expensive: well above our planning range.
- Insufficient information: we cannot assess it from what was entered.
None of these is a judgment about an installer. A legitimately good roof can beat a regional production figure, and premium equipment legitimately costs more. The point is to know which questions to ask.
What it cannot see
Your roof, your shading, your electrical panel, your utility's rules and the full text of the contract. It also does not apply any tax credit or rebate: the federal residential credit does not apply to systems installed after December 31, 2025, and state or utility programs need to be confirmed directly. Before signing, read Solar Contract Red Flags and compare at least three itemized proposals.
Not sure solar is the right move at all? Start with a plan for your home.
Build My Power Plan →Common questions
It varies by region, roof and equipment. SentryVolt uses a planning range of $2.50 to $3.50 per watt for a cash purchase before incentives, with no battery. A quote outside that range is not wrong by definition; it is a reason to ask what is included.
Many solar loans advertise a low interest rate that the installer pays a fee to obtain. That fee is commonly added to the system price, so the amount you borrow is higher than the cash price. Asking for both numbers shows you what the low rate actually costs.
Divide the estimated annual kWh by the system size in kW. Compare that figure with a typical value for your area, or with a site-specific estimate if you have one. A result well above typical should come with a shade report and an explanation.
Not necessarily. The questions are how much you pay in total over the term, how fast payments rise, what each kWh ends up costing compared with your utility rate, and what happens if you sell the house. The checker calculates the first three; the contract answers the fourth.
It is saved in your own browser so it is still there if you come back. It is not sent to SentryVolt or to any installer.