Is My Solar Quotation Fair? A Line-by-Line Checklist with Today's Prices

You've had a solar company visit, and now there's a quotation in front of you, sometimes typed, sometimes handwritten, often with a single big number at the bottom. Is it fair? This checklist goes line by line through a typical home solar quote, shows today's market prices for the main parts (they update automatically from the dealer listings we track), and covers the safety items that are easy to skip and expensive to regret.

First rule: insist on an itemised quote

A fair quote lists every major item with its brand, exact model, quantity and price. "10 kW complete system, Rs X" tells you nothing. You can't compare it with other quotes or check it against the market. A good installer won't mind itemising, and one who refuses is telling you something.

At minimum you should see separate lines for:

1. Solar panels
2. Inverter
3. Batteries (if any)
4. Mounting structure
5. DC cables, AC cables and connectors
6. Protection: breakers, surge protection devices (SPDs), earthing
7. Distribution box and accessories
8. Labour and commissioning
9. Net-metering paperwork and meter costs (if applicable)

1. Panels: compare per watt

Panels are sold per watt, so convert the panel line: panel price ÷ (number of panels × panel wattage). Today's typical market rate for modern panels is Rs 38.0–42.2 per watt, based on the middle of the dealer listings we track.

Check that the quote names:

• the brand and exact model (for example a Jinko or Longi model code, not just "A-grade Tier 1")
• the wattage and whether it's N-type or older P-type
• whether it's bifacial, which only helps much on a raised structure

Panels well above the market rate should come with a reason, such as a premium model. Panels well below it deserve extra checks. Our guide on how to check original solar panels shows how to verify serial numbers before you pay. Live rates by brand and size are on the panel price page.

2. Inverter: model, size and type

The inverter line should name the exact model and its rated kW, and say whether it's on-grid or hybrid. Current market ranges:

• 6 kW hybrid: Rs 130,000 – 213,000
• 6 kW on-grid: current 6 kW on-grid prices
• 10 kW hybrid: Rs 290,400 – 436,000

Check that the inverter's maximum PV input can take the panels quoted, and that it can handle your heaviest loads running together. Ask about the warranty length and who honours it in Pakistan. Not sure which type you need? Read hybrid vs on-grid inverter, and compare all listings on the inverter price page.

3. Batteries: compare per kWh

Batteries should be listed with their chemistry (LiFePO4 lithium or lead-acid), voltage, capacity in kWh or Ah, brand and quantity. A standard 51.2 V 100 Ah (about 5 kWh) lithium battery currently lists at Rs 222,800 – 260,000, which is roughly Rs 43,516 – 50,781 per kWh.

Confirm the battery is compatible with the inverter (BMS communication) and get the warranty in writing. Batteries are often the biggest single swing in a quote. If you're unsure whether you need one, see lithium vs tubular battery and current lithium battery prices.

4. Structure: the most padded line

Mounting structures vary enormously, from simple low frames to tall raised structures you can walk under. That makes this line the easiest place to hide padding. Ask for:

• the type and height (flush, standard tilt, or raised/elevated)
• the material and finish: hot-dip galvanised steel or aluminium, and the channel thickness
• how it will be fixed to the roof, and how any holes will be waterproofed

Many installers avoid drilling through the roof slab and use concrete blocks or pillars bonded to the roof instead. Whatever method is used, your roof must not leak afterwards, so ask who is responsible if it does.

5. Cables

Cables are where corners get cut because nobody sees them once installed. The quote should state:

• DC cable from panels to inverter: purpose-made solar cable, its cross-section (mm²) and brand
• AC cable from the inverter to the distribution board: size and brand
• battery cables (if any): heavy enough for the battery current, with proper crimped lugs
• approximate lengths

Undersized cables waste power as heat, and loose or poorly crimped joints are a common cause of overheating and fires. Your installer should size cables from the current and distance involved, so ask how they chose them.

6. Protection and earthing: never optional

This is the section people skip to save money, and the one that protects an expensive inverter and your home. A proper installation includes:

• a DC isolator or breaker between the panels and the inverter, so the panels can be disconnected safely
• a DC surge protection device (SPD) on the panel side
• an AC breaker and an AC SPD between the inverter and your distribution board
• a breaker or fuse on the battery cables, if you have batteries
• earthing for the panel frames, structure and inverter body, with proper earth pits

Many installers use separate earth pits for the DC side, AC side and lightning protection. Practice varies, but there should be a clear earthing plan in the quote. If protection items are missing, or shown as a vague "accessories" line, ask for them to be listed.

7. Where the inverter and battery will go

Heat is one of the biggest enemies of inverters and batteries in Pakistan. A closed rooftop room or stairwell cabin can get far hotter than outside in summer. Ask the installer where they plan to mount the inverter and battery. A good spot is:

• shaded and well-ventilated, ideally on a lower floor
• close to the main distribution board, to keep AC cables short
• with the clearances the manual asks for around the inverter
• away from water, kitchens and anything flammable

8. Labour, commissioning and after-sales

Labour should be its own line. Ask what's included: installation, testing, setting up the inverter app, and showing you how to read it. Ask what after-sales support you get, how long the workmanship warranty is, and who you call if something stops working.

Our system estimates use a planning figure of Rs 18–30 per watt for structure, wiring, protection and labour together. Real quotes vary with roof type and structure height, but a combined figure far above that range deserves an explanation.

9. Net-metering and meter costs

If you want to export to the grid, the quote may include the DISCO application, the demand notice for the bidirectional meter, and other paperwork. Government charges should be shown separately from the installer's service fee. New connections are on NEPRA's net billing rules, where exports earn about Rs 8.13 per unit. Read net metering vs net billing before you size your system for export.

Check the total against the market

Once each line makes sense, compare the total with our live estimates, which add today's panel and inverter prices to the planning figure for installation (batteries excluded):

• 3 kW system: Rs 271,560 – 358,457
• 5 kW system: Rs 399,240 – 572,186
• 10 kW system: Rs 784,680 – 1,199,371

Not sure the size is right? The solar calculator sizes a system from your appliances or monthly units.

Red flags

• A single "complete system" price with no brands or models
• "A-grade" or "Tier 1" in place of a model number
• Missing SPDs, earthing or DC breakers
• No written warranty for workmanship
• Pressure to pay most of the money upfront before equipment arrives
• Batteries "delayed due to shortage" after you've paid in full
• A price far below every other quote. Something is usually being left out.

How to compare three quotes

Ask three installers for itemised quotes for the same specification: same system size, inverter type and battery capacity. Then put them side by side line by line. Differences usually show up in the structure, cables, protection and labour lines. Pick the one that explains its choices clearly and gives the strongest written warranty, not simply the cheapest. Our installer directory lists companies by city.

Paying in instalments? Make sure the quote is fair first, because financing an overpriced system costs you twice. See solar panels on installments.

Prices in this guide update automatically from the dealer listings we track (last refreshed 2 October 2026). They are indicative market ranges, not quotes.