You don’t need to
own a roof to go solar.
Plug-in solar (also called balcony solar) is a small panel that sits on your balcony or window ledge and connects to a regular wall outlet. It quietly lowers your electricity bill. No roof. No permits. No installer. Works in apartments and rentals.
plug-in solar
per panel
period
Plug-in solar is real
A new generation of solar kits plug into a standard outlet. No roof, no permits, no installer. Just clean power quietly cutting your bill every month.
Built for renters
Most solar guides assume you own your home. Solarly doesn’t. Everything here is built around the reality of renting — apartments, balconies, shared buildings.
Laws vary a lot
Some states have made plug-in solar effortless. Others still have utility red tape. Our state scorecard tells you exactly where you stand and what’s changing.
Plug-in solar in plain English
No roof. No permits. No installer. Here’s the whole thing in four steps.
Sunlight hits the panel
A solar panel is placed on your balcony railing, window ledge, or ground stand. It faces south if possible — but east or west works too. It quietly absorbs light all day.
A microinverter converts it
The panel generates DC electricity. A small box called a microinverter (usually included in the kit) converts it to the AC power your home already uses. Nothing special required.
It plugs into a regular outlet
The cable runs from the microinverter to a standard outdoor or indoor outlet — the same kind you’d use for a lamp. No electrician, no rewiring, no permits in most places.
Your bill goes down
The power your panel generates offsets what you pull from the grid. Most people see $5–$19 less per month per 400W panel. It’s not dramatic — but it compounds, and the panels last 25+ years.
Where are you starting from?
Pick your situation and we’ll take you straight to what actually applies to you.
🏚 Renter
I rent an apartment or house
Plug-in solar may work for you right now — no landlord permission needed in most states. Let’s figure out your setup and your savings.
🏡 Homeowner
I own my home and want to go solar
Compare rooftop solar vs. DIY panels. We break down costs, incentives, installers, and which path makes sense for your roof and budget.
🤔 Just curious
I’m not sure solar works for me
Start with the basics. What is plug-in solar? How does it work? Is it worth it in a cloudy state? All answered, honestly.
What could solar actually save you?
Plug in your bill, state, and panel count — get monthly savings, payback period, and 10-year ROI. Free, no email required.
Enter your monthly bill, pick your state, choose your panel count — see your real numbers instantly.
Now you know the numbers.
Here’s what to actually buy.
We researched every complete plug-in solar kit available in the US market. Two cleared the bar. One is the best hardware available at any price. The other ships via Amazon Prime tomorrow.
The numbers
A 400W panel generates about 54 kWh per month in average US sunlight. What that electricity is worth depends entirely on what you pay your utility.
kWh / month
Output of one 400W panel
at 4.5 peak sun hours / day
US average sun conditions
| State / region | Avg rate | Monthly savings | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $0.35/kWh | $18.90 | ~3 yrs |
| California | $0.25/kWh | $13.50 | ~4 yrs |
| US average | $0.16/kWh | $8.60 | ~6 yrs |
| Midwest | $0.10/kWh | $5.40 | 9+ yrs |
Based on 54 kWh/month output (400W × 4.5 peak sun hrs × 30 days). No federal tax credits currently available. Full methodology →
State scorecard
How solar-friendly is your state?
32 states allow plug-in solar. We track legality, electricity rates, sun hours, and net metering rules. Five states recently updated their laws to make it significantly easier.
Current
Reporting on the new economics of solar — for renters, homeowners, and everyone in between. No ads. No upsell. Just numbers.
5 states just made plug-in solar legal and easy. Here’s exactly what changed.
Utah, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland. What each law actually allows and what it means for renters on the ground.
The questions everyone asks first
Honest answers. No upsell.
Solar is no longer just
for homeowners.
Takes two minutes. No signup. Just clear numbers for your situation.
Solarly.io 