What an solar estimate is for
An estimate is not a quote, and the difference matters legally and financially. An estimate is your best assessment before everything is known — which means the document has to say, in writing, what could move the number and by how much.
For solar installers selling to homeowners and commercial property owners, the estimate is usually the only thing the customer compares side by side against two competitors. It is doing sales work whether you designed it to or not.
The unit that trips this trade up: Solar quotes are compared on price per watt, so the system size in kW DC belongs at the top of the document.
What every solar estimate must have
- The word estimate on the document, not quote — the distinction is legal in many states
- What specifically could change the price, named rather than implied
- A percentage or dollar range the final figure may vary within
- The conditions that would trigger a revised figure
- Whether the estimate converts to a firm quote after inspection, and when
What solar installers bill for
These are the lines that show up on most solar estimates, with the unit each is normally priced in. Ranges are illustrative planning figures, not market data — your own costs, region, and margin decide the real number.
| Line item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Solar modules, supplied and installed | watt DC | $2–$3 |
| Inverter or microinverters | each | $1,200–$4,500 |
| Battery storage | each | $8,000–$18,000 |
| Racking and mounting hardware | each | $800–$3,000 |
| Main panel upgrade (if required) | each | $2,200–$5,500 |
| Permit, plan set, and inspection | each | $500–$2,500 |
| Utility interconnection application | each | $250–$900 |
| Monitoring and commissioning | each | $300–$1,200 |
Typical deposit convention: Deposit at contract, progress payment at install, balance at PTO.
Solar estimate example
A realistic job, priced line by line, with the arithmetic shown the way a customer sees it:
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.2 kW DC modules — supplied and installed | 7,200 | $2.35 | $16,920.00 |
| Microinverters and rapid shutdown | 1 | $2,850.00 | $2,850.00 |
| Racking, flashing and roof penetration seal | 1 | $1,650.00 | $1,650.00 |
| Permit, structural plan set and inspection | 1 | $1,450.00 | $1,450.00 |
| Utility interconnection and PTO coordination | 1 | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Subtotal | $23,520.00 | ||
| Total | $23,520.00 | ||
Notice that every assumption is a line rather than a conversation. That is the whole difference between an estimate that holds up and one that gets renegotiated in a driveway.
Three mistakes that cost solar installers money
Quoting production as a promise
Estimated annual kWh is a model, not a guarantee. Label it as an estimate on the document, name the assumptions, and never let it read as a warranted number.
Not separating the incentive
Customers hear the net-of-tax-credit price and remember it as the price. Show gross system price, then the incentive as separate information, and state plainly that eligibility is between them and their tax advisor.
Silence on interconnection timing
Permission to operate is the utility's schedule, not yours. A solar quote that implies a completion date without naming the PTO dependency creates an angry customer sitting next to a dark array.
How to send an solar estimate in about a minute
A template is only half the job — the estimate still has to reach the customer in a form they can act on. With SendQuoteNow you add the customer, add your line items, and hit send. Your customer gets a branded PDF plus a link where they approve or decline with one click, and you get an email the moment they do.
- Your branding, not ours — your logo, business name, contact details, and terms on every document.
- From your phone — build and send the estimate before you leave the customer's property.
- One-click approval — no login or account needed on your customer's side.
- Automatic math — subtotal, tax, and discounts calculated as you type.
- Estimate → invoice — convert accepted work into an invoice without retyping it.