Home energy guide
How much does a home battery cost in the UK?
A home battery typically costs about £5,000 to £8,000 fitted, and there's currently no VAT on batteries installed in homes, with or without solar. Here's how to tell whether a quote is fair.
Last updated:
Work out your own numbers with the home battery calculator →
The price range
Expect about £5,000 to £8,000 fitted (Energy Saving Trust). Where you land depends on the size, the brand, whether it needs its own inverter, and how much electrical work your home needs.
VAT: 0% until March 2027
Batteries fitted in homes have no VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5% from 1 April 2027 (HMRC, since 1 February 2024). And it's not just for solar owners. It covers:
- a battery added to an existing solar, wind or water turbine system;
- a standalone battery charged from the grid, with no solar at all;
- a battery charged from both solar and the grid.
Buy one from a shop without installation and you pay the full 20%.
Guernsey has no VAT or GST. Jersey charges 5% GST, so check whether a Jersey quote includes it.
See the numbers
| Price before VAT | 0% (to 31 Mar 2027) | 5% (from 1 Apr 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| £5,000 | £5,000 | £5,250 |
| £6,500 | £6,500 | £6,825 |
| £8,000 | £8,000 | £8,400 |
The one sum that matters: price per usable kWh
Batteries are sold by size in kWh, but you can't use all of it. Find the usable capacity on the data sheet and divide the price by it. For example, £6,500 for 9.5 kWh usable is about £684 per usable kWh.
A cheaper battery with less usable space can turn out to be worse value.
What else to check
- Round-trip efficiency. A little energy is lost going in and out. Our calculator assumes 90%; check your model.
- Power (kW). How fast it can charge and discharge. A low rating may not cover an electric shower or oven, so the rest comes from the grid.
- Warranty. Check the years and how much capacity is promised at the end. They're often around 10 years, but read the small print.
- Inverter. A "hybrid" inverter runs solar and battery together. An AC-coupled battery has its own inverter and is easier to add to existing solar.
- Backup. Many batteries won't power the house in a power cut unless you pay for a backup function. Ask.
- Smart control. The battery's app or your supplier should be able to follow tariff times automatically.
Does it pay back?
Slowly. In our battery savings guide, a £6,500 battery saves about £512 a year and takes roughly 13 years to pay back. That's longer than many warranties, so the price you pay matters a lot. Every £1,000 off cuts payback by about two years.
See the numbers
Worked example: a 10 kWh battery at £6,500, charged on a 6.5p night rate (Intelligent Octopus Go, checked 31 Oct 2026) and storing 500 kWh of solar a year, saves about £512 a year.
Try your own quote in the home battery calculator.
How to get a fair quote
- Get at least three quotes from MCS-certified installers. If you have no panels, ask for a solar-plus-battery option too.
- Ask for the usable kWh, power rating, round-trip efficiency, warranty terms and whether backup is included.
- Check they'll register it with the network operator and set up tariff control.
- Be wary of savings claims that assume a full charge and empty every single day at the biggest price gap.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 10 kWh home battery cost?
The Energy Saving Trust gives a general range of £5,000 to £8,000 for battery storage. Our calculator uses £6,500 for a 10 kWh battery as a mid-range example; get quotes for your home.
Is there VAT on home batteries?
Installing a battery in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, including standalone batteries charged from the grid, then 5% from 1 April 2027 (HMRC).
Is there a grant for home batteries?
We have not found a dedicated government grant for batteries. The 0% VAT relief is the main support at the moment.
How long do home batteries last?
Our calculator assumes 12 years. Warranties are often around 10 years; check the warranty for capacity guarantees.
Related guides
- Home battery savings: night rates and stored solar
- What size home battery do I need?
- Is a home battery worth it without solar panels?
- Tariffs for home batteries: overnight, three-rate and export tariffs
- Home batteries in Guernsey and Jersey: do the numbers work?
- All home-energy calculators
Sources (checked 27 October 2026 unless stated)
- Energy Saving Trust: Solar panels: battery storage about £5,000–£8,000
- HMRC VAT Notice 708/6: energy-saving materials: batteries zero-rated from 1 Feb 2024 to 31 Mar 2027, including standalone grid batteries; 5% from 1 Apr 2027
- 90% round-trip efficiency, 12-year life and typical 10-year warranties: our assumptions, not verified
- Absence of a dedicated battery grant: based on EST and GOV.UK pages checked, not exhaustive