Plug-in solar calculators and state guide
Plug-in solar — also called balcony solar — lets you plug a small, certified solar kit into an ordinary outlet and cut your electric bill, with no roof installer. Find out what it would save you, whether it's allowed where you live, and what to buy.
How plug-in solar works
A plug-in kit is one to three solar panels connected to a small inverter that plugs into a standard household outlet. The power it makes flows into your home's wiring and is used by whatever is running at that moment — your fridge, router, laptop or air conditioner — so you buy less electricity from your utility.
Kits typically range from about 400 to 1,200 watts and cost roughly $400 to $2,000, according to Fast Company's reporting. They became popular in Germany, where they're sold in mainstream stores, and US states began legalizing them in 2025.
Three things decide your savings
- Your electricity price. The same kit saves about twice as much in California (around 33¢ per kWh) as in Utah (around 13¢).
- Sun and placement. A panel tilted toward the south makes much more than one hanging flat against an east-facing railing.
- How much you use while the sun shines. Plug-in systems usually aren't paid for extra power sent to the grid, so savings come from power you use at the same time.