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Solar lead cost calculator: know your cost per install before you buy solar leads.
Enter what you pay per lead or appointment and your funnel rates. You’ll see cost per set, cost per sit, cost per install and acquisition cost per watt instantly.
Leads you reach
Contacts that book
Appointments that sit
Sits that sign
Optional, for $/W
Your numbers
- Cost per appointment set
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- Cost per sit
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- Cost per install
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- Add system size to see $/W
Results update as you type.
How it works
The math behind solar lead cost per install.
A lead’s price only matters after your funnel. Each step below divides by a conversion rate, so a cheap lead with weak rates can cost more per install than a premium one.
Step 1
Cost per appointment set
Price per lead ÷ (contact rate × set rate)
Step 2
Cost per sit
Cost per appointment set ÷ show rate
Step 3
Cost per install
Cost per sit ÷ close rate
Step 4
Acquisition cost per watt
Cost per install ÷ (system size kW × 1,000)
Example: a $175 exclusive lead at 60% contact, 50% set, 70% show and 20% close works out to about $583 per set, $833 per sit and $4,167 per install — roughly $0.52/W on an 8 kW system.
Before you buy solar leads
Compare programs by cost per install, not price per lead.
Residential Solar Leads
Exclusive homeowner leads filtered to your territory.
Solar Appointments
Confirmed appointments booked onto your closers’ calendars.
Commercial Solar Leads
C&I and multifamily solar inquiries, filtered by self-reported role.
See how lead consent records work on our TCPA & consent page.
FAQ
Solar lead cost questions
How much do solar leads cost in 2026?
Published 2026 ranges put exclusive residential solar leads at roughly $100–$250 each and booked appointments at roughly $150–$500. Shared leads cost less per lead but are sold to several installers, which usually lowers your contact and close rates.
How is cost per install calculated?
Divide your price per lead by contact rate × set rate to get cost per appointment set, divide that by show rate to get cost per sit, then divide by close rate to get cost per install. For appointments, start from the appointment price and apply show and close rates.
What is a good cost per install for solar leads?
It depends on your average system size and margin. Dividing cost per install by system size in watts gives an acquisition cost per watt you can compare to your gross margin per watt. If acquisition eats most of the margin, fix rates or price before scaling spend.
Should I buy solar leads or booked appointments?
Leads are cheaper per unit but need a setter team to reach and book homeowners. Appointments cost more up front and skip the setting step. Run both modes in the calculator with your real rates — the cheaper option is the one with the lower cost per install, not the lower unit price.
Do I need to sign up to use the calculator?
No. The calculator runs in your browser, needs no email or account, and doesn’t store or send the numbers you enter.
Where do the example inputs come from?
They are midpoints of published 2026 industry estimates, linked under the calculator. They are illustrative only — your own rates will give a more useful answer.
Want these numbers run against your territory? Book a strategy call.