Free downloads
Solar bid comparison worksheet
Comparing solar bids can get confusing fast, especially when each quote uses different equipment, assumptions, and pricing terms. This free worksheet gives you a simple, plain-language way to line bids up side by side so you can ask better questions and make your own decision with less guesswork.
What’s inside the worksheet
The download is a homeowner-friendly comparison sheet for rooftop solar and solar-plus-battery quotes. It is meant to help you organize the details that often get buried in proposals, so you can see what is actually the same and what is different from one bid to the next.
The worksheet includes space to compare core items such as:
- System size in kW
- Estimated yearly production assumptions
- Battery size in kWh and what loads it is meant to back up
- Total price and what is included or excluded
- Roof condition notes and whether roof work is recommended first
- Equipment type, warranty terms, and monitoring details
- Installer license, insurance, and permit responsibility
- Proposed timeline, change-order terms, and cancellation language
There is also a section for notes in plain English. That helps if one installer explains something differently from another, or if a bid looks lower because it leaves out electrical work, roof repairs, battery backup setup, or other items you may still need.
If you want more homeowner planning resources, you can also browse other tools at our tools library.
How to use it when you have 2 or 3 bids
Start by putting each quote into the worksheet exactly as written. Do not try to guess or “normalize” the numbers at first. If one bid shows a 6 kW system and another shows 8 kW, write that down clearly. If one includes a 10 kWh battery and another has no battery at all, note that too. A lower price does not always mean the same scope.
Next, look for apples-to-apples differences. Ask each installer to confirm in writing:
- The kW size of the solar system
- The battery kWh capacity, if any
- Which appliances or essential circuits the battery is expected to support
- Whether the quote includes permits, utility paperwork, monitoring, and installation labor
- Whether roof repairs, main panel upgrades, trenching, or other electrical work are included
- Equipment model names and warranty lengths
Then use the notes section to flag anything that is unclear. For example, one installer may estimate a certain amount of backup time for essentials, but that depends on what you actually run during an outage. Another may mention tax credits or local incentives, but actual eligibility depends on your situation. The worksheet helps you slow down and confirm what is real, what is assumed, and what still needs clarification.
If you do not have bids yet, Voltariva also offers a free matching service at get matched. When you submit a request, you agree to be contacted so you can decide whether you want to speak with licensed local installers.
What this worksheet helps you catch
Many homeowners are not comparing bad bids versus good bids. They are comparing bids that describe the job in different ways. This worksheet helps you spot common gaps before you sign anything.
For example, it can help you catch whether one quote assumes your roof is ready for solar while another recommends roofing work first. It can also help you notice when a battery is sized for a few essential loads versus a larger backup plan. Backup is not one fixed number. It depends on the battery’s kWh capacity and what you want to run, for roughly how many hours.
It also helps with contract details that matter later, such as who handles permits, what happens if the project needs extra electrical work, whether monitoring is included, and how workmanship and equipment warranties are described. Those details are easy to skip when you are focused on the top-line price.
The goal is not to prove one installer is right and another is wrong. The goal is to help you compare scope, assumptions, and responsibilities in a more careful way. You are the decision-maker, and you should confirm equipment, warranty terms, price, and project scope in writing before work starts.
Who it’s for and what Voltariva does
This worksheet is for US homeowners who want a calmer way to review solar and battery proposals, including people who are new to the process or more comfortable reading in another language. The download is free for homeowners and available in 10 languages so more households can review bids without feeling rushed or left out.
Voltariva is not a solar installer, roofer, or electrician. We do not design systems, set prices, offer financing, or perform installation work. We are a free matching service that helps homeowners understand rooftop solar, roof-readiness, and battery backup, then connect with licensed local installers if they want to explore quotes.
Whether you use this worksheet on your own or after talking with installers, it is still important to verify that the company you hire is properly licensed and insured for the work involved. Ask for license and insurance details, read warranty documents, and make sure the final written agreement matches what you were told.
If you want more plain-language background before comparing bids, our guides can help. If you want to speak with local installers through our free service, you can use get matched.
In plain English
This worksheet helps you line up solar bids side by side so you can see what each quote really includes before choosing a licensed local installer.
Always hire licensed, insured installers — and verify the license, insurance, and warranties yourself.
Common questions
Is this worksheet really free?
Yes. It is a free download for homeowners.
Does the worksheet tell me which bid is best?
No. It helps you compare bids more clearly, but you make the final decision after reviewing scope, equipment, warranties, and price.
Can I use it for solar without a battery?
Yes. You can compare solar-only quotes or solar-plus-storage quotes, and note battery details only when they apply.
Does Voltariva install solar or sell equipment?
No. Voltariva is a free matching service, not an installer, seller, lender, or designer. If you submit a request for matching, you agree to be contacted about your project.