Three solar quotes on the kitchen bench, three different system sizes, three brands you've never heard of and three prices that don't line up. That's the normal state of affairs, and it's why a lot of people end up picking the cheapest or the friendliest rather than the best. You don't need to be an electrician to compare them properly. You need to know which lines matter and how to put them side by side.
How do you compare solar quotes?
Compare solar quotes line by line, not by the total. Check that each quote names the exact panel, inverter and battery models, shows the battery's usable kWh, itemises the STC discount and any battery rebate, prices any switchboard work, states the export limit, separates product warranties from the installer's workmanship warranty, says who will actually install it, and sets out the payment terms. Then convert each one to a cost per watt (and per usable kWh for batteries) so you're comparing like with like. A quote that leaves any of those out isn't cheaper; it's incomplete.
The federal government's consumer guide recommends getting quotes from at least three suppliers and asking for a site visit, so complications like switchboard issues, roof access, inverter location and shading are picked up before install day (energy.gov.au).
Last updated: 26 October 2026. Reference prices are Sunshine Coast installed bands as at August 2026; the battery rebate rate is the one in force since 1 May 2026.
The anatomy of a solar quote, line by line
This is the table to keep next to you while you read each quote.
| Line on the quote | What a good quote shows | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Panel model | Brand, exact model number, wattage and number of panels | "Tier 1 panels" or "or equivalent" with no model number |
| Inverter model | Brand, exact model, size in kW, single or three-phase, hybrid or not | A generic "premium inverter"; a single-phase inverter on a three-phase home with no explanation |
| Battery usable kWh | Brand, model and usable capacity, plus which circuits are backed up | Only the product name or nameplate size; no mention of backup |
| STC / battery rebate | The STC discount and the battery rebate as their own lines | A single "after rebates" price you can't check; an out-of-date battery rebate rate |
| Switchboard | Whether the board needs work, what it costs, who does it | Nothing at all, which often means a variation on install day |
| Export limit | The expected export limit and that the network application is included | No mention of Energex approval or export limits |
| Warranties | Product warranties (panels, inverter, battery) and a written workmanship warranty with a term | Only product warranties listed; workmanship missing or vague |
| Who installs | Whether the crew are employees or subcontractors, and that an accredited installer will be on site | "Our installation partner"; no answer when you ask |
| Payment terms | Deposit, progress and final payment, quote validity, cooling-off and exit terms | A large payment before anything is installed; pressure to sign today |
Panel and inverter models
Ask for model numbers, then check them yourself. The federal guide says to make sure the panels, inverter and any battery are on the Clean Energy Council's approved products list, and to look up user reviews of the specific models, noting that the inverter is the most common point of failure (energy.gov.au). A quote without models can't be checked against either.
Battery usable kWh
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate is calculated on usable capacity, and so is what you actually get to use each night. Since 1 May 2026 it's about $252 per usable kWh for the first 14 kWh, then 60% of that rate from 14 to 28 kWh. If two quotes both say "10 kWh" but, say, one battery is 9.6 kWh usable and the other a little over 10, they aren't the same battery, and the rebate won't be the same either.
The STC discount and the battery rebate
There's no Queensland-wide state rebate on solar panels. The discount on panels is the federal STC scheme, which an accredited installer takes off the invoice at the point of sale. You never see a cheque, which is exactly why it should be shown as its own line. The battery rebate works the same way. Our Queensland solar rebate guide explains both.
Export limit
Energex sets how much your system can export, and it's confirmed when your installer submits the network application, before the install. A quote that promises a big array and full export without mentioning the application is a guess dressed up as a design.
Warranties: product vs workmanship
Panels, inverters and batteries carry manufacturer warranties. The installation itself is covered only by the installer's workmanship warranty. If an installer closes down, the manufacturer warranties usually survive; the workmanship warranty is what's lost. So the number of years matters less than whether the company will still be around to honour it. Ours is 10 years.
Who actually installs
The federal guide describes two common models: buying from an accredited installer who installs it, or from a retailer that subcontracts an accredited installer (energy.gov.au). Neither is automatically bad, but you should know which you're signing up to, and who you call in year five.
Payment terms
Read the payment schedule as carefully as the price. The federal guide also says to check whether a cooling-off period or exit fees apply, to get any verbal promises written into the contract, and that feeling pressured is a sign to take more time. If you're financing the system, our guide to solar loans and green loans covers what to check.
Is my solar quote reasonable?
Start by converting each quote into the same units, then hold it against a reference.
For panels: divide the price after the STC discount by the system size in watts.
| System size | Sunshine Coast installed band (STC deducted, as at August 2026) | Rough cost per watt |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW | $5,000 to $7,000 (around $6,000 typical) | about 90 cents at $6,000 |
| 10 kW | $8,000 to $11,000 | about 80 cents to $1.10 |
For batteries: divide the installed price before the rebate by the usable kWh.
| Battery size | Installed, before rebate | After the federal rebate |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kWh | $8,500 to $9,500 | about $7,240 to $8,240 |
| 10 kWh | $13,000 to $14,500 | about $10,480 to $11,980 |
| 15 kWh | $17,500 to $19,500 | about $13,821 to $15,821 |
If a quote is well below those bands on a standard roof, look for what's missing: brand, switchboard work, backup wiring, a proper network application, or a workmanship warranty with someone behind it. If it's well above, look for what you're paying for: a premium inverter, a three-phase or hybrid inverter, a two-storey or tile roof, a switchboard upgrade, or whole-home backup. Either can be legitimate. It just needs to be written down.
The detail behind those bands is in our guides to solar panel cost on the Sunshine Coast and solar battery cost on the Sunshine Coast.
A side-by-side worksheet
Copy this into a notebook or spreadsheet and fill one column per quote. The gaps tell you as much as the numbers.
| Quote A | Quote B | Quote C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| System size (kW) | |||
| Panel brand, model, wattage, count | |||
| Inverter brand, model, kW, phase, hybrid? | |||
| Battery brand, model, usable kWh | |||
| Backed-up circuits | |||
| Price before STC | |||
| STC discount (itemised?) | |||
| Battery rebate (itemised? current rate?) | |||
| Switchboard work included? | |||
| Export limit stated? Network application included? | |||
| Expected output or savings, with assumptions | |||
| Product warranties (years) | |||
| Workmanship warranty (years) | |||
| Employees or subcontractors? | |||
| Deposit and payment schedule | |||
| Quote valid until | |||
| Cost per watt (panels) | |||
| Cost per usable kWh (battery) |
Ask each company to quote on the same system size as well as their own recommendation, which is also the government's advice. Comparing a 6.6 kW quote with a 10 kW quote on total price alone tells you nothing.
Red flags in a solar quote
- No model numbers, or "or equivalent" next to the main components
- No STC line, or a battery rebate at a rate that's since stepped down
- No mention of the switchboard or the Energex application
- A guaranteed payback, especially three years. Our modelling for solar plus a battery typically lands at 7 to 14 years. Anyone promising a guaranteed three-year payback is selling, not calculating
- An oversized battery. Most Sunshine Coast homes need 8 to 16 kWh based on their 4pm to 7am use; a 20 kWh battery on a 6.6 kW array will sit half-empty, and the rebate tapers above 14 kWh
- Pressure to sign today, cold calls or door-knockers, which the federal guide specifically warns about
- Nobody can tell you who will be on the roof
The Sunshine Coast details that belong on a quote
A few things are specific to where we live, and a local quote should cover them:
- Salt air. Within about a kilometre of the water, panel fixings, rails and inverter placement need to suit a salty environment. Ask what's being used and where the inverter goes.
- Storm backup. If you're adding a battery partly for blackouts, the quote should name the circuits that stay on. Not every battery package includes backup.
- Heat. Inverters and batteries should go somewhere shaded. The federal guide notes a cover may be needed if the location isn't shaded.
- After-sales support. The government's guide points out that a local accredited installer is likely to be readily available for follow-up service. On the Coast that matters when a storm takes out an inverter in January.
Comparing the installer, not just the quote
A perfect quote from a company that won't answer the phone in year three is a bad deal. Once your quotes pass the line-by-line test, check the companies behind them: accreditation, Queensland electrical contractor licence, reviews that mention after-sales support, and how long they've been trading locally. We've written that checklist up in how to choose a solar installer on the Sunshine Coast.
If you'd like a quote to hold the others against, we'll itemise every line in the table above. Our residential solar page explains how we assess the house, and you can request a free quote with a recent power bill.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare solar quotes?
Line by line. Check each quote for exact panel, inverter and battery models, the battery's usable kWh, itemised STC and battery rebates, switchboard work, export limit, product and workmanship warranties, who installs, and payment terms. Then convert each to cost per watt for panels and cost per usable kWh for batteries, and compare those numbers rather than the totals.
What should I look for in a solar quote?
Exact model numbers for every component, a site-specific design, the total with rebate deductions shown, any extra work such as switchboard upgrades and who does it, expected output or savings with the assumptions shown, export limit information, warranty details, payment options and the company's ABN and contact details. Those items match the federal government's checklist for solar quotes.
Is my solar quote reasonable?
Compare it with local bands. On the Sunshine Coast, as at August 2026, a 6.6 kW system typically costs $5,000 to $7,000 installed and a 10 kW system $8,000 to $11,000, with the STC discount deducted. A 10 kWh battery is $13,000 to $14,500 before the federal rebate. Well below that, check what's missing; well above, check what extras you're paying for.
How many solar quotes should I get?
At least three, ideally with a site visit or clear photos of your switchboard and roof. Ask each company to quote on the same system size as well as their recommended size, so you can compare like with like.
Should I always take the cheapest solar quote?
Only if it matches the others line for line on components, rebates, switchboard work, warranties and who installs. A much cheaper quote has usually left something out, and that something tends to turn up later as a variation or a warranty problem.
