Net metering & utility rules
The rules that decide your payback change by utility and change often. We read your program and design to it — before you buy.
Design & consultation
Custom solar system design for self-install projects
Get a complete engineering design, equipment recommendation, and project quote built around your home, energy goals, and installation plans.
- 20 yrs in business
- 20,000+ systems installed
- 97% permanent approval
- 4.7★ · 570 reviews
20yrsdoing this
The professional-grade brands the pros install
Engineers love usHear from one →
This isn't a DIY kit
It's a prosumer self-install system
For homeowners who want to install solar themselves — and do it right. You save real money and skip the installer markup, without gambling on a cheap box of parts and figuring it out alone. Every system is engineered to pass inspection and built to last, so doing it yourself never means doing it wrong.
- Engineered, not assembledA DIY kit is a box of parts. Your project is a system designed around your home, your utility, and your goals — then QA'd by real engineers.
- Prosumer gear, not consumerIronRidge, Enphase, Sol-Ark, tier-one panels — the same components licensed installers spec, built to outlive a cheap online kit by decades.
- Complete, not cheapestWe're not the cheapest box online, and we don't pretend to be. We're the one that ships permit-ready, gets approved, and still has your back years later.
Everything you need.
One engineered package.
From design to interconnection, we handle every detail so your project is done right the first time.
Your projectOne engineered package
Professional consultationExpert guidance to make sure it's the right system for your goals.
Custom system designEngineered for your site, your usage, and your future.
Permit-ready plansAHJ-compliant plan sets that make approval simple and fast.
Utility interconnectionWe manage the process and paperwork to get you connected.
Prosumer-grade gearPremium components chosen for performance, reliability, and value.
Customized install guideStep-by-step guidance built specifically for your system.
Lifetime supportWe're here for you for the life of your system.
Built for homeowners who want more
Get your custom planAbout 95% of your system ships free to your door — racking, solar panels, inverter, and the major wiring, all engineered to fit. The last few local-sourced parts (a little conduit, a couple breakers, some junction boxes) come with a customized shopping list, since they're cheaper at your hardware store and often need a field adjustment anyway.
Let us carry you across the finish line
Net metering rules. Interconnection paperwork. The gotchas nobody warns you about. We've spent 20 years learning the headaches so you don't have to — you worry about the install, and you have real access to us for everything else.
The interconnection maze
Applications, revisions, utility back-and-forth — the part that stalls most DIY projects. We file it, chase it, and get you a permanent interconnection.
Shading & string design
One shaded panel can drag a whole string down. We route around chimneys, vents, and that oak tree so your real output matches the plan.
The stuff you can't Google
Setbacks, code changes, equipment gotchas, the order operations happen in. Twenty years of scar tissue, working for you instead of against you.
“You just worry about putting it on the roof. Everything between you and a permanent, permitted, net-metered system — that's on our shoulders.”
Real Unbound customersThe value of a real consultantBring your ideas.
Bring your ideas.
Or none at all.
The most valuable thing we do happens before any parts ship: a real design consultant works through the system with you. Wherever you're starting from, there's a way in.
- Have a plan already?Let's pressure-test it — panel count, inverter, layout — against code, your utility, and your budget before you spend a dollar.
- Starting from scratch?Perfect. You don't need to know anything about solar. Tell us your bill and your goals and we guide the whole design, in plain English.
- Somewhere in between?Most people are. You've got a rough idea and a lot of questions. We'll work through it together to a design you actually trust.
Then we build the accurate design and walk you through the cost of the complete package — the full solution for your self-install, start to finish.
Talk through my projectHow long getting a design & exact pricing takes
Two timelines matter, and we hold ourselves to both: how fast a human gets back to you, and how fast the finished design lands.
- 1
Talk to a real design tech (day 1)
Not a call center. Share your address, a recent bill, and your goals — they confirm the details and answer your questions.
- 2
We design & engineer your system
Energy evaluation, shade and site analysis, custom layout, and engineering QA — with permit-ready plan sets prepared.
- 3
Your complete quote lands (3–5 days)
Custom design, panel placement, equipment with itemized pricing, and an accurate total for your whole self-install package — free, no obligation.
Just want a quick estimate?
Open the solar cost calculator
See a realistic ballpark for a complete package in about 2 minutes — no form, no call.
Estimate my cost →Ready to get started?Get started with a consultant
Talk to a design consultant and get your system engineered with accurate pricing.
Start my design →Installer, parts retailer, or Unbound?
When you compare solar quotes, you're really comparing three business models — and the sticker price hides most of the difference.
| Feature | Turnkey Installer | Parts Retailer | Unbound Solar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom System Design | |||
| Transparent, Itemized Pricing | |||
| Prosumer-Grade Equipment | |||
| Installation Guidance & Support | |||
| Permitting & Interconnection Help | |||
| Lifetime Technical Support | |||
| 20 Years in Business |
Custom System Design
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
Transparent, Itemized Pricing
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
Prosumer-Grade Equipment
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
Installation Guidance & Support
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
Permitting & Interconnection Help
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
Lifetime Technical Support
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
20 Years in Business
Turnkey
Parts Retailer
Unbound Solar
The middle path — professional design, engineering, and permitting with you controlling the labor — is what we've spent 20 years building.
Hear it straight from homeowners
“Thanks to the materials you guys gave me, I found it far simpler than I thought. And your customer service after the sale is pretty rare — I'm super glad you guys are there.”— Verified customer · Grid-tied self-install
Real homeowners. Real self-installs. Zero actors.
What our customers say
20years in business
20,000+systems installed
97%permanent approval rate
4.7★verified Google rating
TGTim G. Repeat customer
You have certified engineers doing your designs — so they're safe electrically and structurally. I just have to read the plans and build them that way.
AGAshton G. Verified customer
The whole experience was very seamless. My customized plan was detailed and they took care of the permitting and the power-company approval.
VCVerified customer Grid-tied self-install
I found it far simpler than I thought. Your customer service after the sale is pretty rare — glad you're there as an option.
Start your design
Get your system designed — free.
Tell us a little about your home and a real design consultant takes it from there: a custom system design, panel placement, equipment selections with pricing, and an accurate quote for your complete self-install package.
- A design consultant follows up within 1 business day
- Your complete design & quote arrive in 3–5 business days
- Free, no obligation — the design is yours whether you buy or not
Not ready to talk to someone yet?Get a quick estimate first
“My customized plan was detailed, and they took care of the permitting and the power-company approval.”— Ashton G., verified Unbound customer
Solar quote FAQ
Solar panel quote questions, answered
The questions homeowners ask most before requesting a solar quote.
How do I get an accurate quote for solar panel installation?
An accurate quote needs more than your address and a bill — it needs a technician to evaluate your roof's angle and azimuth, run a shading analysis, and check the fire/ridge setbacks your local jurisdiction enforces. Fill out Unbound Solar's quote form and a design technician builds that into a custom system design and permit-ready plan set, with an accurate price attached — typically ready in 3-5 business days.
Can I get a free quote for solar panel installation at my home?
Yes. Unbound Solar's detailed quote is free, with no obligation to buy. A solar design advisor follows up within 1 business day, and if you just want a ballpark number first, the Solar Cost Estimator gives you one in about 2 minutes with no form required.
What's the difference between a solar cost estimate and a detailed quote?
An estimate is a fast, ballpark number based on general inputs like location and system size — good for budgeting. A detailed quote is built from your actual roof, shading, and local permitting requirements by a design technician, and includes the equipment, plan set, and pricing you'd actually buy against.
How long does it take to get a solar panel quote?
A design advisor typically follows up within 1 business day of your request. A complete, accurate quote — with custom system design and pricing — is usually ready within 3-5 business days.
How many solar quotes should I get before I buy?
Most solar shoppers compare 3-5 quotes, and doing so can save 10-25% versus accepting the first offer. Compare more than price: check equipment quality, what's included (permitting, interconnection, support), and warranty terms, not just the bottom-line number.
Does an Unbound Solar quote include permitting and interconnection?
Yes. Every detailed quote includes permitting and utility interconnection paperwork as part of the package, with no extra fees for standard revisions — it's not sold as a separate line item.
Do I have to install the system myself after I get a quote?
No. Unbound Solar's 'Do It Your Way' approach means you choose how much of the install to take on — full DIY, hiring a local crew, or a mix of both — and your quote and support are the same either way.
What information do I need to provide for an accurate quote?
Your address, a recent electric bill (or average monthly usage), and basic roof details get the process started. From there, a design technician evaluates roof angle, azimuth, shading, and your jurisdiction's permitting requirements to finalize the design and price.