Solar water heater installation costs a published average of $3,706, with most homeowners paying $1,780 – $5,722 (HomeAdvisor; Angi publishes the same range — the two are corporate siblings, so matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration).1,2 Fixr publishes far higher figures: a $9,000 national average scoped to a fully installed 100-gallon active indirect system, an $8,000 – $10,000 average range, a $4,000 low end (60-gallon system fully installed), and a $13,000 high end (120-gallon tank with a dual heat exchanger and collector, fully installed).3 The publishers’ figures differ widely and their pages offer no explanation for the gap, so each publisher’s figures are presented separately and attributed throughout. Prices are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the system type, collector type, tank size, roof and plumbing conditions, and local labor and permit rates.
$3,706
average installation (HomeAdvisor)
$1,780 – $5,722
typical range (Angi/HomeAdvisor)
$9,000
average installation (Fixr)
$8,000 – $10,000
average range (Fixr)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Oct 2026) | Most homeowners pay $1,780 – $5,722; overall span cited as $357 – $12,000; no average published | Corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor; matching figures don’t establish independent corroboration |
| HomeAdvisor (updated Jun 2026) | Average $3,706; typical range $1,780 – $5,722; up to $12,000 | Corporate sibling of Angi; matching figures don’t establish independent corroboration |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | Average $9,000 (100-gallon active indirect system, fully installed); range $8,000 – $10,000; low $4,000; high $13,000 | Separately published, pages state no shared sourcing |
Cost by system type
Solar water heaters come in two main types: passive systems, which move water by gravity and convection, and active systems, which use pumps. Each publisher prices the two types separately:1,2,3
| System type | Angi (before labor) | HomeAdvisor (as published) | Fixr (unit only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive | $1,000 – $4,000 | $1,000 – $4,000 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Active | $2,000 – $4,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
Active-system numerical ranges match across all three publishers. For passive systems, the siblings publish a matching $1,000 – $4,000 (matching sibling figures), while Fixr’s range ends $1,000 lower; the pages state no explanation for the difference.1,2,3
Angi and Fixr also price the subtypes within each system type; their figures match exactly. These are separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing. HomeAdvisor does not publish a subtype table:1,3
| System subtype | Angi | Fixr (unit only) |
|---|---|---|
| Integral collector storage (passive) | $1,000 – $2,000 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Thermosyphon (passive) | $1,500 – $3,000 | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Direct / open loop (active) | $2,000 – $3,000 | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Indirect / closed loop (active) | $3,000 – $4,000 | $3,000 – $4,000 |
Angi notes that integral collector storage and thermosyphon systems are the passive styles, while direct and indirect circulation are the active styles.1
Collector cost by type
HomeAdvisor prices collectors at materials cost and adds per-type averages; Fixr prices the same three types at unit cost. Their ranges match exactly — separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing:2,3
| Collector type | Range (HomeAdvisor/Fixr) | HomeAdvisor average |
|---|---|---|
| Flat plate | $600 – $1,200 | $900 |
| Evacuated-tube | $1,200 – $4,500 | $2,850 |
| Integral / bulk | $3,000 – $4,000 | $3,500 |
Angi prices a solar collector component at $600 – $1,200 without a type breakdown, and solar panels (where a system uses them) at $800 – $1,500 each.1
Tank cost by size
Angi publishes tank pricing by capacity:1
| Tank size (Angi) | Average cost (Angi) |
|---|---|
| 30–60 gallons | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| 60–80 gallons | $1,400 – $2,800 |
| 80–100 gallons | $1,700 – $3,800 |
| 100+ gallons | $2,600 – $5,000 |
Angi also prices its tank component line at $1,000 – $5,000 overall.1 HomeAdvisor’s tank pricing is omitted: its general tank-price statement conflicts with its own tank size table and the page states no scope distinction that would reconcile the two, so neither figure set is used.
Fixr publishes its own tank table at unit-only pricing with different size bands and generally higher figures; it is presented separately and not compared row by row with Angi’s table:3
| Tank size (Fixr) | Tank cost (unit only) |
|---|---|
| 30-gallon | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| 60-gallon | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| 80-gallon | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| 100-gallon | $4,000 – $6,000 |
| 120-gallon | $5,000 – $8,000 |
For fully installed systems by size, Angi estimates a 50-gallon system at about $2,000, an 80-gallon at about $3,000, and a 120-gallon at about $4,000, including parts and labor.1
Parts and component costs
Angi and HomeAdvisor publish identical pricing for add-on parts (matching sibling figures):1,2
| Part | Average cost (Angi/HomeAdvisor) |
|---|---|
| Controller | $100 – $500 |
| Pump | $100 – $600 |
| Mounting hardware | $50 – $350 |
| Pump station | $500 – $900 |
Angi puts basic system parts at $1,000 – $4,000 overall, with active systems that add plumbing, a backup heater, or control switches adding another $1,000 – $2,500 to the parts budget. HomeAdvisor publishes the same $1,000 – $2,500 add-on for additional plumbing, a backup heater, or extra controls, listed under its labor section (matching sibling figures with different stated scopes).1,2
Labor costs
Angi and HomeAdvisor report installers charge $70 – $200 per hour (matching sibling figures).1,2 Angi puts total labor at least $1,000 – $2,000 depending on system size and complexity, and both Angi and Fixr report a general plumber runs $45 – $200 per hour if pipe work is subcontracted (separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing).1,3
Fixr reports solar contractors charge about $70 per hour on average, that most companies charge $2,000 – $4,000 for system installation and collector positioning, and that roughly $4,000 of its $9,000 average goes to labor and installation.3
By climate, Angi reports collectors installed in northern states run $1,000 – $4,000 versus $1,000 – $3,000 in southern states.1
Cost by brand
Fixr prices complete solar water heater units by brand (unit only):3
| Brand (Fixr) | Heater cost (unit only) |
|---|---|
| Sunbank | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Duda Diesel | $2,900 – $6,000 |
| Apricus Solar | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Sun Earth | $4,000 – $9,000 |
| Rheem | $5,000 – $9,500 |
Solar vs. other water heater types
HomeAdvisor compares installed costs across water heater types:2
| Water heater type (HomeAdvisor) | Average installed cost |
|---|---|
| Storage tank | $1,200 – $3,500 |
| Tankless | $1,300 – $3,700 |
| Solar | $1,700 – $5,500 |
Fixr publishes its own comparison for an 80-gallon installed tank:3
| Water heater type (Fixr, 80-gallon installed) | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Gas | $2,150 – $5,000 |
| Electric | $2,900 – $4,000 |
| Solar | $4,500 – $9,000 |
The publishers’ comparison figures differ, including for solar itself; they are kept separate and not reconciled.2,3
Related and additional costs
Angi prices removing an old water heater at $100 – $500, plumbing permits at $50 – $500 (solar panel permits averaging $450), and a tankless backup water heater at a $2,500 average.1 Fixr prices installing a backup water heating system at a $200 – $300 national average; the publishers’ backup figures cover different scopes and are not directly comparable.3
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a solar water heater?
HomeAdvisor publishes a $3,706 average, and Angi and HomeAdvisor both put the typical range at $1,780 – $5,722 (matching sibling figures).1,2 Fixr publishes an $8,000 – $10,000 range with a $9,000 average scoped to a fully installed 100-gallon active indirect system; the publishers’ figures differ widely and are presented separately.3
How much does a solar water heater tank cost?
Angi publishes capacity-based tank pricing from $1,000 – $2,000 for a 30–60-gallon tank up to $2,600 – $5,000 for 100+ gallons.1 Fixr prices tanks by single-gallon sizes from $1,000 – $2,000 (30-gallon) to $5,000 – $8,000 (120-gallon), unit only.3
How much does solar water heater installation labor cost?
Angi and HomeAdvisor report $70 – $200 per hour for installers (matching sibling figures); Angi puts total labor at least $1,000 – $2,000.1,2 Fixr reports about $70 per hour for solar contractors and $2,000 – $4,000 for full installation and collector positioning.3
Related guides
Solar Pool Heater Installation Cost: What You’ll Pay in 2026
See our guides to water heater installation costs, water heater replacement costs, tankless water heater costs, and solar panel installation costs.
Sources
- Angi – How Much Does a Solar Water Heater Cost? [2026 Data] (updated Oct 2026, accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- HomeAdvisor – How Much Does Solar Water Heater Installation Cost in 2026? (updated Jun 2026, accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Fixr – How Much Does It Cost to Install a Solar Water Heater? (updated Jan 2025, accessed Nov 3, 2026)