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Solar Installation in Tennessee

252 zip codes with active providers out of 634 total (39.7% coverage). Ranked #5 of 24 states by avg bid.

State Avg

$98.91

National Avg

$90.89

Coverage

39.7%

vs National

+8.8%

State vs National Average

Tennessee: $99+8.8% vs National Avg

Dashed line = National Avg ($91)

Solar Installation Costs in Tennessee

Typical cost range: $15,000–$30,000 before tax credits (6–10 kW system)

Residential solar system (6 kW)$12,000–$18,000

Residential solar system (10 kW)$20,000–$30,000

Battery storage (Tesla Powerwall or equivalent)$10,000–$16,000

Solar panel removal and reinstallation (for reroofing)$1,500–$3,000

EV charger add-on with solar$500–$1,500

Ground-mounted solar system$20,000–$40,000

When to Hire a Solar Installation

•Your monthly electric bill is consistently $150+ and your roof gets good south-facing sun exposure with minimal shading

•Your roof is in good condition with at least 15 years of life remaining — you don't want to remove panels for reroofing

•You want to lock in the 30% federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) while it's still available at the full rate

•You're building a new home and can integrate solar at a lower installed cost during construction

What to Look For

NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification — the gold standard for solar installers

A site-specific design based on your actual roof orientation, pitch, shading analysis (using tools like Aurora or Helioscope), and real energy usage

Experience with your local utility's interconnection process, permitting requirements, and net metering policies

Transparent pricing that separates equipment, labor, permitting, and any financing costs — watch for hidden dealer fees

Common Solar Installation Problems in Tennessee

Oversized or undersized systems because the installer used generic estimates instead of actual utility bills and site-specific production modeling

Roof leaks at panel mounting points from improper flashing — this is the most common installation defect

Inverter failures at 10–15 years requiring $1,000–$3,000 replacement (microinverters last longer but cost more upfront)

Production underperformance from shading that wasn't properly accounted for in the design phase

Utility interconnection delays — some utilities take months to approve and install the net meter

Misleading financing terms that make solar appear free but include escalator clauses or balloon payments

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Solar Installation in Tennessee

“Can you show me a production model specific to my roof, and what assumptions does it use?”

Reputable installers use satellite imagery and tools like Aurora Solar or Helioscope to model your specific roof, orientation, and shading. If they're quoting from generic averages or square footage alone, the estimate is unreliable.

“What's my all-in cost after the federal tax credit, and what's my expected payback period?”

The 30% federal ITC makes solar economics work for most homeowners. But you need to qualify (have enough tax liability). Ask for the total cost, net cost after credits, and a realistic payback calculation based on your actual rates and usage.

“What happens if I need to reroof in 10–15 years?”

Removing and reinstalling solar panels costs $1,500–$3,000. If your roof is older than 10 years, replacing it before solar installation saves money long-term. An honest installer will tell you this even though it delays their sale.

Red Flags When Hiring a Solar Installation

✖Pressures you to sign today with 'limited-time' discounts or claims the tax credit is expiring soon — the 30% ITC is locked through 2032
✖Cannot provide a site-specific production estimate using satellite imagery and shading analysis tools
✖Pushes a lease or PPA without clearly explaining purchase as an option — leases often have less favorable economics for the homeowner
✖No NABCEP certification and cannot show a portfolio of local installations with references
✖Quotes seem too good to be true — check for hidden dealer fees, escalator clauses in financing, or omitted costs like permit fees and interconnection

DIY vs Hiring a Professional Solar Installation

DIY solar is technically possible but inadvisable for most homeowners. Grid-tied solar requires electrical permits, interconnection agreements with your utility, structural engineering review, and compliance with NEC rapid-shutdown requirements. Incorrect installation can void panel warranties, cause roof leaks, create fire hazards from improper wiring, and may not qualify for the federal tax credit if not installed by a licensed contractor. The labor portion of solar installation is only about 10% of total cost — the savings from DIY don't justify the risks, complexity, and potential loss of the 30% federal tax credit.

Solar Installation Safety Tips

Solar panels produce electricity whenever the sun is shining and cannot be turned off — working on a solar array without proper training creates electrocution risk
Rooftop work without proper fall protection is dangerous — ensure your installer uses harnesses and anchor points per OSHA standards
Battery storage systems (lithium-ion) require proper ventilation and fire suppression considerations — they should be installed in compliance with local fire codes

Best Time to Hire a Solar Installation in Tennessee

Solar installation can happen year-round in most climates, but late summer and fall are often the best times to sign contracts — you'll be installed before winter utility bills peak and positioned for maximum spring/summer production. The solar industry is busiest in spring and early summer, which means longer wait times and less scheduling flexibility. Winter installations work fine in most states but may take longer due to shorter daylight hours. If you're planning a roof replacement, do that first — removing and reinstalling panels costs $1,500–$3,000.

Solar Installation Licensing in Tennessee

Solar installers need an electrical contractor's license in most states, with some states requiring additional solar-specific certifications. Many jurisdictions require separate permits for electrical, structural, and utility interconnection. NABCEP certification is voluntary but highly recommended as a quality indicator. Verify your installer carries liability insurance, workers' compensation, and is registered with your state's contractor licensing board.

City-by-City Costs (183 cities)

City	Avg Bid	Max Bid	Min Bid	Zip Codes
Afton	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Alcoa	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Andersonville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Apison	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Arthur	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Athens	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Bakewell	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Bean Station	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Benton	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Birchwood	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Blaine	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Blountville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Bluff City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Briceville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Bristol	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Bulls Gap	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Butler	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Bybee	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Calhoun	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Caryville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Charleston	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Chattanooga	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	15
Chuckey	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Church Hill	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Clairfield	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Cleveland	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	3
Coalfield	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Collegedale	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Coker Creek	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Conasauga	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Copperhill	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Crossville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	4
Corryton	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Cosby	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Crab Orchard	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Dandridge	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Cumberland Gap	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Dayton	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Decatur	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Elgin	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Deer Lodge	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Del Rio	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Delano	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Ducktown	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Duff	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Eagan	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Eidson	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Etowah	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Elizabethton	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Englewood	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Erwin	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Fall Branch	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Evensville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Farner	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Farragut	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Tellico Plains	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Flag Pond	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Friendsville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Gatlinburg	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Georgetown	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Grandview	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Graysville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Greenback	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Greeneville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	2
Guild	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Hampton	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Harriman	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Harrison	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Harrogate	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Hartford	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Heiskell	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Helenwood	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Hixson	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Huntsville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Jacksboro	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Jasper	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Jefferson City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Jellico	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Johnson City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	4
Jonesborough	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Kingsport	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	4
Kingston	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Kodak	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
La Follette	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Kyles Ford	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Lancing	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Laurel Bloomery	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Oakdale	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Lenoir City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	2
Limestone	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Lone Mountain	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Lookout Mountain	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Loudon	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Louisville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Lowland	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Lupton City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Luttrell	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Madisonville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mascot	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mc Donald	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Maynardville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Midway	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Milligan	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Norris	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mohawk	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mooresburg	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mosheim	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mountain City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mount Carmel	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Mountain Home	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
New Market	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Niota	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Newcomb	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Parrottsville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Ooltewah	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Oneida	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Oliver Springs	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Old Fort	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Ocoee	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Walland	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Ten Mile	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Signal Mountain	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Sneedville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Soddy Daisy	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
South Pittsburg	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Petros	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Philadelphia	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Pikeville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Piney Flats	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Pioneer	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Pleasant Hill	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Powell	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Powder Springs	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Pruden	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Reliance	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Rugby	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Riceville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Roan Mountain	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Robbins	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Rockford	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Rockwood	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Rocky Top	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Rogersville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Sequatchie	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Russellville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Rutledge	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Sale Creek	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Shady Valley	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Seymour	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Shawanee	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Sharps Chapel	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
White Pine	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Wartburg	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Thorn Hill	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Townsend	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Trade	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Turtletown	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Speedwell	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Spring City	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Strawberry Plains	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Sunbright	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Surgoinsville	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Sweetwater	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Talbott	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Tallassee	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Tazewell	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Telford	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Whiteside	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Whitesburg	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Washburn	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Watauga	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Unicoi	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Winfield	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Vonore	$100.00	$100.00	$100.00	1
Maryville	$96.88	$100.00	$87.50	4
Sevierville	$95.83	$100.00	$87.50	3
Knoxville	$94.58	$100.00	$87.50	30
Clinton	$93.75	$100.00	$87.50	2
Morristown	$93.75	$100.00	$87.50	4
Oak Ridge	$93.75	$100.00	$87.50	2
Newport	$93.75	$100.00	$87.50	2
New Tazewell	$93.75	$100.00	$87.50	2
Pigeon Forge	$93.75	$100.00	$87.50	2

Showing 183 of 183 rows

Coverage Gaps

418 zip codes without coverage

These areas in Tennessee have no active solar installation providers.

AdamsAdamsvilleAlamoAlexandriaAlgoodAllardtAllonsAllredAlpineAltamontAntiochArdmoreArlingtonArringtonAshland cityAtokaAtwoodAuburntownBartlettBath springsBaxterBeech bluffBeechgroveBeersheba springBelfastBell buckleBellevueBellsBelvidereBethel springsBethpageBig rockBig sandyBloomington spriBolivarBon aquaBone caveBradfordBradyvilleBrentwoodBrightonBrownsvilleBrucetonBrush creekBuchananBuena vistaBuffalo valleyBumpus millsBurlisonBurns

Compare Solar Installation Costs Across States

Lowest Avg Bid States

Missouri$44.40 Nevada$86.68 Florida$89.45 Texas$89.98 California$90.00

Highest Avg Bid States

New York$105.00 District of Columbia$105.00 Arizona$105.00 Maryland$100.98 New Jersey$94.36

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City Pages

Chattanooga Knoxville

Other Services in Tennessee

Siding Contractors$200 avg Biohazard Cleanup$192 avg Roofers$140 avg Bathroom Remodeling$124 avg Garage Doors$115 avg Mold Remediation$113 avg Kitchen Remodeling$107 avg Plumbers$99 avg Heating Contractors$86 avg Windows Installers$82 avg Exterminators$81 avg Air Conditioning Contractors$81 avg

View full Tennesseemarket overview →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does solar installation cost in Tennessee?

The average bid for solar installation in Tennessee is $98.91, compared to the national average of $90.89. Prices range from $87.5 to $100 depending on location. Typical cost range: $15,000–$30,000 before tax credits (6–10 kW system).

What cities in Tennessee have solar installation coverage?

Tennessee has solar installation providers in 183 cities across 252 zip codes, representing 39.7% coverage of the state. Top cities include Afton, Alcoa, Andersonville, Apison, Arthur.

How does Tennessee compare to the national average for solar installation?

Tennessee is 8.8% above the national average for solar installation. It ranks #5 out of 24 states by average bid.

Are there areas in Tennessee without solar installation providers?

Yes, 418 zip codes in Tennessee currently have no active solar installation providers. Underserved cities include Adams, Adamsville, Alamo, Alexandria, Algood.

When should I hire a solar installation in Tennessee?

Your monthly electric bill is consistently $150+ and your roof gets good south-facing sun exposure with minimal shading Solar installation can happen year-round in most climates, but late summer and fall are often the best times to sign contracts — you'll be installed before winter utility bills peak and positioned for maximum spring/summer production.

What should I look for in a solar installation in Tennessee?

NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification — the gold standard for solar installers. A site-specific design based on your actual roof orientation, pitch, shading analysis (using tools like Aurora or Helioscope), and real energy usage. Solar installers need an electrical contractor's license in most states, with some states requiring additional solar-specific certifications.

Can I do solar installation work myself instead of hiring a pro?

What warranty should I expect from a solar installation in Tennessee?

Expect a 25-year panel manufacturer warranty covering at least 80% production at year 25. Inverter warranties should be 12–25 years (microinverters) or 10–15 years (string inverters).