How much do solar leads cost in Australia in 2026?
The short answer: 2026 solar lead prices
Prices move by lead type, exclusivity, and how deep the qualification goes. Here is where the Australian market sits in 2026, based on figures reported across providers like Why Solar, LeadsHQ and QuoteLeads and our own delivery.
For reference, SolarQuotes lists solar-only leads to installers around $45 plus GST, and commercial up to $150. Exclusive providers price higher per lead because the lead goes to one installer, not a pool.
Why the price per lead is the wrong number
Every installer shops on cost per lead. It is the wrong metric, and it is why so many get burned. The number that pays your wages is cost per install.
Watch what a cheap shared lead actually costs. Say it is $30 and it goes to 3 installers. You win one job in three. So you paid for three leads to book one appointment, and you got there by out-racing two rivals and probably shaving your price to win. Your real cost per booked appointment is $90, before you have closed anything.
That is the whole game: pay more per lead, pay less per job, keep your margin. Industry data backs it. Exclusive leads convert at roughly 25% to 35%, shared leads at 8% to 15%. Same homeowner, very different economics.
What drives the price of a solar lead
Five things move the number. Understand them and you can tell a fair price from a rip-off in one phone call.
1. Exclusive or shared
Exclusive costs more because the provider cannot split the acquisition cost across buyers. Shared is cheaper on the sticker and more expensive per job. More on that in our exclusive vs shared breakdown.
2. Verification depth
A number typed into a form is not verified. A number confirmed with a two-factor SMS code the homeowner has to enter is. That gate costs the provider volume, which is why properly verified leads sit at the higher end. It is also why you should ask exactly how a lead is verified. See how to spot a fake solar lead.
3. Qualification
Ownership confirmed, bill size captured, roof type, postcode, purchase timeframe. Each qualification step trims the tyre-kickers and lifts the price. A lead qualified across 8-plus steps is worth more than a name and a number.
4. Vertical
Residential solar is the cheapest. Battery sits similar or slightly lower because the buyer already owns solar. Commercial is the dearest at $150 to $250 because the jobs are bigger and the decision-maker is harder to reach.
5. Territory and volume
Exclusive leads are capped per postcode, so tight patches can price higher, and volume discounts kick in when you buy more.
What you should actually pay
Use these as guardrails when a lead company quotes you.
- Exclusive residential: $50 to $80. Below $40 and it is probably shared or unverified. Above $100 and you are paying a brand premium.
- Shared marketplace: $30 to $60. Fine to test with, and you are sharing every one.
- Commercial: $150 to $250. Expect ABN verification and a real decision-maker.
- Agency retainer: a monthly fee plus ad spend, only worth it if you want to own your brand and can wait 60 to 90 days for a funnel to season.
How Capital Leads prices
Exclusive residential leads start from $40 in some metro areas, pay per lead, no retainer, no setup fee, no lock-in. Every lead is 2FA mobile verified and email verified, delivered to your CRM in about 1.4 seconds, with a personalised SMS sent in your name so the homeowner knows you before you call. Because 2FA blocks fake numbers before the form submits, there are no duds to send back. Close nothing on your first pack and we refund it.
Battery and commercial are priced separately. See residential solar leads, battery leads, and commercial solar leads, or read the full buyer's guide to solar lead providers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a solar lead cost in Australia in 2026?
Exclusive residential solar leads run roughly $50 to $80 each, with $50 to $70 the common sweet spot. Shared comparison leads sit around $50 to $100 but are split across 2 to 5 installers. Commercial solar leads cost $150 to $250. Capital Leads exclusive residential leads start from $40 in some metro areas and rise with system value and territory.
Why are exclusive solar leads more expensive than shared?
The provider carries the full ad cost for a lead sold to one installer, instead of splitting it across several buyers. You pay more per lead and usually less per booked job, because you are not racing 4 other installers to the same homeowner.
What is a good cost per solar lead?
Price per lead is the wrong yardstick. Aim for cost per booked appointment and cost per install. A $30 shared lead you win one time in three costs you $90 per booked call. Most Capital Leads partners land around $400 per install on jobs worth $12k to $18k.
How much do commercial solar leads cost?
Commercial solar leads run $150 to $250 in Australia, higher than residential because the jobs are bigger and the qualification is deeper (decision-maker, ABN, system size). Capital Leads commercial leads are ABN verified and sourced from Google Search intent.
Are cheap solar leads worth it?
Cheap usually means shared, aged, or unverified. You share the homeowner with other installers, and a portion of the numbers may be fake or wrong. Cheap per lead often works out expensive per job once you count the wasted dials.
Do you pay per lead or a monthly retainer?
It depends on the model. Exclusive providers like Capital Leads are pay per lead with no retainer and no lock-in. Ad agencies charge a retainer plus your ad spend. Marketplaces charge per shared lead.
Know your cost per install before you spend a cent.
Tell us your state, your postcodes, and your weekly volume. We will show you live pricing on exclusive, 2FA verified leads and what a realistic cost per install looks like for your patch.
Written by the Capital Leads team, who build exclusive lead flows for solar installers in every Australian state. Updated July 2026.