How Much Does a Home Battery Cost in 2026? Prices by Brand, Size and State

A home battery cost about $15,650 before incentives for a typical 13.5 kWh system in the first half of 2026, according to EnergySage marketplace quotes. State averages varied widely, and EnergySage put whole-home backup with more storage at about $34,000. The federal residential clean energy credit no longer applies to expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so most buyers now pay the full price unless a state or utility program helps.

Key takeaways

• The typical installed price was about $15,647 for 13.5 kWh, per EnergySage data updated July 2026.
• Average brand prices ranged widely, from under $1,000 per kWh to well over $1,400 per kWh for popular brands.
• Equipment is roughly 50% to 60% of the price. Labor, wiring and permits make up most of the rest.
• Adding a battery to existing solar usually costs more than installing both at once.
• State and utility programs, not the federal credit, are now the main way to cut the price.

Average home battery cost in 2026

EnergySage, which collects installer quotes nationwide, reported in July 2026 that solar batteries typically cost $15,647 before incentives for 13.5 kWh of storage. That is about the size of one Tesla Powerwall. In an April 2026 update, EnergySage put the average battery installation at about $15,228.

Berkeley Lab's 2026 data update helps set the scene. It found the median residential battery installed in 2025 was 13.5 kWh, and 37% of new home solar systems in 2025 included storage, up from 25% in 2024. Among cash purchases, paired solar-plus-storage systems had a median price $2.10 per watt of solar higher than solar alone.

Single-product reviews give similar numbers. In a review updated May 2026, EnergySage put one FranklinWH aPower 2 (15 kWh) at about $17,655 installed and said a single Tesla Powerwall 3 averaged about $13,473 installed. It put two aPower 2 units (30 kWh) at roughly $35,300 and three Powerwall 3 units at about $40,400. These are averages, so your own quotes can land higher or lower.

Home battery cost by brand

Here are EnergySage's average prices for some of the most-quoted batteries in the first half of 2026. Each brand's typical size differs, so compare the price per kWh as well as the total.

Source: EnergySage, July 2026. For product details, see our guides to the Tesla Powerwall 3 and the Enphase IQ Battery.

Home battery cost by state and system size

Where you live changes the price. In EnergySage's first-half 2026 state data, average prices ran from about $563 per kWh in Alabama (about $7,601 for a 13.5 kWh system) to about $1,586 per kWh in Louisiana. A 13.5 kWh system averaged about $14,567 in California and $18,414 in Wyoming before incentives. Local labor rates, permit rules and installer competition all play a part.

Size changes the total more than anything else. EnergySage's figures for 2026 include:

• One battery (about 13.5 kWh): about $15,650
• Whole-home backup: about $34,000
• Off-grid systems: over $115,000

Most homes do not need whole-home backup. Backing up only essential circuits, such as the fridge, lights, internet and a well pump, can mean a smaller battery. Read whole-home vs essential-loads backup to compare.

What drives the cost of a home battery

EnergySage lists several factors that move the price up or down:

1. Equipment: About 50% to 60% of the total. The rest is mostly labor and planning.
2. Inverter: If a battery has no built-in hybrid inverter, a separate one can add "a couple of thousand dollars."
3. Retrofit vs new install: Adding a battery to existing solar usually costs more in labor and wiring than installing both together.
4. Electrical work: A critical-loads panel is not costly itself, but the wiring work can add up. A smart panel costs more but can replace the need for a separate critical-loads panel.
5. Chemistry: LFP batteries tend to be more efficient and longer-lasting, while NMC is more power-dense.
6. Installer choice: EnergySage advises getting multiple quotes, and notes that installers less familiar with batteries in some states may charge more for labor.

Our guide to the cost of solar panels with a battery covers combined pricing in more detail.

Questions to ask on every battery quote

• What is the battery model, usable kWh and continuous kW?
• Which circuits will be backed up, and is a new subpanel or gateway included?
• Is a main panel upgrade needed, and is it priced in?
• Who handles permits and the utility interconnection application?
• Who pays labor if the battery fails under warranty?
• What is the cash price, and how does it compare with the financed price?

Long-term costs: warranty, lifespan and replacement

The sticker price is not the only cost. Batteries lose capacity over time, and warranties set a floor on how much they must hold.

For planning, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL) models a typical home battery with a 15-year life. If you expect to keep your solar panels for 25 years or more, budget for a possible battery replacement during that time.

Read the warranty conditions too. Tesla says it may not honor the full 10 years if a Powerwall stays offline for an extended period. Enphase's warranty expects a continuous internet connection and excludes labor for removal and reinstallation. These details can add real cost later.

Incentives that can lower home battery cost

Federal tax credit: The residential clean energy credit covered battery storage of at least 3 kWh from 2023. The IRS now says the credit is not available for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and that the credit is tied to the year the property is installed, not when it is bought. A battery whose installation is completed in 2026 does not qualify, even if you signed the contract earlier.

State and utility programs: These vary widely. EnergySage cites California's Self-Generation Incentive Program, which can exceed $1,000 per kWh for some customers, and Connecticut's Energy Storage Solutions program offering up to $16,000. It also says ConnectedSolutions payments from Eversource and National Grid can cover a battery's full cost within five years. Rules, budgets and eligibility change often, so confirm current terms with the program itself or on DSIRE.

Is the cost worth it? Backup vs bill savings

A battery can pay you back in two ways: by keeping your home powered in outages, and by cutting bills when your utility's rates reward stored solar. EnergySage points to frequent outages, low payments for exported solar and strong state or utility incentives as the conditions that favor batteries. It also warns that adding batteries can double the cost of a solar project.

Rate design matters most. If your utility uses time-of-use rates, a battery can cover expensive evening hours. In California, the CPUC says customers on the net billing tariff get export credits that are usually lower than the retail rate, which makes storing solar more valuable. See our full breakdown in are solar batteries worth it.

Also budget for the long run. Tesla's Powerwall warranty runs 10 years, while Enphase and FranklinWH offer up to 15 years on current models, subject to cycle or throughput limits.

Next steps

Get at least two or three itemized quotes that list the battery model, kWh, kW, any panel upgrades and the warranty. Then run them through our solar quote checker and research installers in the solar company directory.