Best Solar Companies In New York For 2025

• Momentum Solar: Best Overall
• Qcells: Best for Solar Equipment
• Sunrun: Best for Full System Price
• Trinity Solar: Best for Energy Savings

We compared 25 solar companies and found the five operating in New York that offered more perks than the rest. Here’s a breakdown of key strengths and why we awarded these New York solar installers the most points:

Momentum Solar

4.5

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From Participating Partners

Best For

Best Overall

Warranty Length

25-year workmanship warranty, panel warranty varies by manufacturer, but typically 25 years

Qcells

4.1

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From Participating Partners

Best For

Best for Solar Equipment

Warranty Length

25-year product and performance

Sunrun

4.0

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From Participating Partners

Best For

Best for Full System Price

Warranty Length

10- to 25-year performance, 25-year maintenance and repair, 10-year workmanship

Trinity Solar

3.8

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From Participating Partners

Best For

Best for Energy Savings

Warranty Length

25-year manufacturer, 10-year workmanship, 5-year roof penetration warranty

COMPANY	FORBES HOME RATING	BEST FOR	WARRANTY LENGTH	LEARN MORE
Momentum Solar	4.5	Best Overall	25-year workmanship warranty, panel warranty varies by manufacturer, but typically 25 years	Get Started From Participating Partners
Qcells	4.1	Best for Solar Equipment	25-year product and performance	Get Started From Participating Partners
Sunrun	4.0	Best for Full System Price	10- to 25-year performance, 25-year maintenance and repair, 10-year workmanship	Get Started From Participating Partners
Trinity Solar	3.8	Best for Energy Savings	25-year manufacturer, 10-year workmanship, 5-year roof penetration warranty	Get Started From Participating Partners

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While our team evaluated some of the biggest solar companies nationally that operate in New York, there are also some smaller, local New York solar contractors worthy of honorable mentions, including:

• NY State Solar. Serving Long Island and New York City, NY State Solar works with the New York State Energy and Research Authority (NYSERDA) to help homeowners finance their solar panels.
• Brooklyn Solar Works. Brooklyn Solar Works installs panels in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and surrounding areas, offers a 30-year system warranty and has a 24/7 monitoring portal to help customers track their energy systems.
• New York State Solar Farm. This solar company specializes in installing Tesla Powerwalls and high-quality SunPower solar panels. It has installed over 4,300 solar systems in New York.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are 219 solar installers and developer companies in New York. All of this competition can make it challenging to know which solar company is right for your home, so use these tips to help you with your decision:

• Check Google, the BBB, Yelp and other websites for customer reviews before settling on a company.
• Make sure that the solar panels sold by any particular company are Tier-1, high-quality panels.
• If you plan on installing a complete solar system, look for companies that sell a variety of solar batteries and other accompanying equipment.
• To get the most out of your system, search for a company that offers system monitoring through an app.
• Avoid companies that have short workmanship or performance warranties. The best solar panel companies in New York offer a 25-year warranty minimum.
• Don’t choose the first company you speak with. Instead, get at least three quotes to compare costs and services.

Most 6.5-kW solar panel systems cost between $16,600 and $20,500, but prices can go for as little as $7,700 for smaller systems or more than $34,700 for larger systems.

Solar Panel Cost Factors

Several factors can impact the cost of going solar, so it’s important to weigh your needs when budgeting for a solar system. Here are the most common cost factors:

• Size. Solar panels cost between $2.55 and $3.15 per watt. The bigger the system, the more you’ll spend.
• Brand. Solar panel brands vary in price by product quality and production capacity. Name-brand panels may cost more but come with higher reputations that make them worthwhile.
• Equipment. If you plan on installing a solar battery system, anticipate spending anywhere between $1,700 and $9,000, depending on the size and quality.
• Labor. Installers compete to offer the best quotes and win over prospective customers. That’s why we recommend comparing multiple companies.
• Location. Your location and cost of living can mean higher or lower prices depending on where you live.
• Quality. Tier-1 solar panels typically cost more than lower-quality Tier-2 or Tier-3 panels but have longer lifespans and perform better.

New York is one of the best places in the U.S. to go solar. The state has an ambitious goal to have 70% of its electricity powered by renewable energy by 2030, with the ultimate goal of obtaining a zero-emission grid. As such, the state has its own renewable energy tax credit on top of the national solar tax credit and several other initiatives, including:

• Federal solar tax credit. The federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a credit equal to 30% of your total solar system cost. You’ll see this credit on your tax return for that year. However, note that only systems installed before the end of 2025 will qualify.
• Megawatt Block Incentive Structure. Depending on your location, availability, system size and installer, you may receive an incentive per watt for your solar system. It’s currently set at 15 cents per watt, but it typically decreases annually.
• Net metering. New York has net metering in place, which allows you to receive bill credits for a set rate per kilowatt-hour of electricity your system sends to the electric grid. We recommend checking with your utility company and solar installer about the most up-to-date details.
• Property tax exemption. The New York property tax exemption prevents residents from seeing an increase in their property taxes after installing solar panels for 15 years.
• Sales tax exemption. New York has a 4% sales tax, but with the sales tax exemption, you can circumvent this extra expense, saving between $650 and $825 on average.
• Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS) Tax Abatement. The New York tax abatement is a New York City incentive that reduces the cost of a solar system by 7.5% per year for four years through January 1, 2035.
• Solar Energy System Equipment Credit. This New York state tax credit is an incentive for qualifying solar energy systems to receive a 25% credit for up to $5,000 that can be carried over from your tax return for up to five years.

Solar panels have become increasingly affordable over the years, and some payment plans are more beneficial than others, depending on your energy needs and budget. Here are the most common ways to finance solar panels:

• Cash. One of the best payment options for solar panels in New York is to pay upfront in cash. This method avoids interest rates that can raise the cost of your panels by 3% to 17%.
• Loan. Given the high cost of solar energy, most homeowners opt for a solar loan to pay off their panels over time. The best New York solar companies offer loans with $0 down, flexible terms, and low interest rates between 3% and 6%.
• Lease. Solar leases were more common than buying solar panels, but over time, this option became less popular. Solar leases nullify the 30% federal tax credit and don’t give you ownership. You also risk increases in your lease and early termination fees.
• Purchase Power Agreement. A purchase power agreement (PPA) is similar to a solar lease, except you pay a solar company for the energy you use rather than a fixed lease payment.

New York residents have unique benefits that can make going solar worth it. Here are some of the pros and cons of going solar in New York.

New York-Specific Factors To Consider When Going Solar

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) states that most homes spend 17.45 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on electricity as of April 2025. New York residents spend an average of 25.67 cents per kWh—8.22 cents per kWh more. On the other hand, EIA data shows that New York households consume around 6,900 kWh of electricity per year compared to 10,600 nationally.

Even though New York residents typically consume much less electricity on average, the higher electricity rate means that going solar can still save you significantly on energy bills.

Hidden Costs and Fees When Installing Solar in New York

Some solar companies in New York may have hidden fees that can affect just how affordable it is to go solar. Our survey suggests that a little over 50% of residents in the northeastern part of the country experience an unexpected fee for installing solar panels. Out of those respondents, 15% said that the fees were significant. To avoid hidden fees, read the contract before you sign and double-check with the company for a breakdown of all of the terms and conditions.

Our 2025 survey of 1,000 American homeowners who installed solar panels within the last five years revealed several insights. Here are the key takeaways for the northeastern region of the U.S., including New York:

• Nearly 90% of northeastern homeowners surveyed would recommend installing solar systems.
• Over 45% reported spending between $15,000 and $30,000 on solar panels.
• About 65% of northeastern respondents reported using a monitoring system from their solar installers to track how well their systems perform.
• Customer service was a positive experience for 85% of northeastern respondents.
• Over 40% of respondents said they installed solar panels for environmental concerns, which is a higher percentage than respondents in other regions of the country.
• Switching to solar led to monthly savings of more than $50 per month for nearly 70% of northeasterners.

To identify the best solar energy companies in New York, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 25 solar companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating 1,500 metrics, including performance, services, products and customer satisfaction reviews.

You can learn more about how Forbes Home selects solar companies in our detailed methodology page.