Home Battery Calculator: Is a Battery Worth It in Australia 2026?
A 10kWh home battery system costs $12,000 to $15,000 installed before rebates. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries program reduces that by around $3,700 at point of sale, and some states offer additional support on top. After rebates, most households are looking at $8,000 to $12,000 out of pocket.
At those prices, the typical payback period runs 8 to 12 years. That is not a bad return on a product that lasts 10 to 15 years, but it is a lot slower than solar. Battery value depends heavily on your situation: whether you already have solar, whether your feed-in tariff has dropped, and whether you can self-consume most of what you generate. A household exporting 60% of its solar to the grid at 5 cents per kWh will benefit much more from a battery than one already consuming most of its own generation.
Enter your details below. The calculator models battery value alongside solar and 13 other upgrade types, then tells you whether a battery belongs early or late in your upgrade sequence.
How the Battery Calculator Works
Why Tariff Type Changes Everything
Battery value depends on the spread between your feed-in tariff and your grid rate. If you export at 5 cents and pay 35 cents, storing that energy yourself saves 30 cents per kWh. If you are on a flat tariff with no solar, a battery is rarely worthwhile. The calculator models your specific tariff type and feed-in rate.
Degradation and Replacement Costs
The model applies 2% annual capacity degradation and includes a replacement cost in year 12 when running 15-year projections. This gives you a realistic long-run picture rather than one based on year-one performance alone.
Battery Plus Solar Interaction
Adding a battery after solar increases self-consumption and reduces grid exports at low feed-in tariffs. The calculator models this interaction explicitly, comparing battery-only, solar-only, and combined scenarios to find the sequence that maximises your net present value.
Home Battery FAQ
How much does a home battery cost?
A typical 10kWh home battery system costs $12,000 to $15,000 installed in Australia. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries program, which launched in 2025, reduces upfront costs by $370 per kWh of usable capacity, saving around $3,700 on a 10kWh system. Some states layer additional rebates on top. With rebates, most households pay $8,000 to $12,000 out of pocket depending on the battery brand and installer.
Is a home battery worth it without solar?
Rarely. A battery without solar can only charge from the grid at full retail rates, then discharge to offset grid usage. The round-trip efficiency loss (roughly 10 to 15%) means you are paying grid rates to get slightly less energy back. The economics only work if you are on a time-of-use tariff with very cheap overnight rates and expensive peak rates. For most households, solar comes first and a battery is added later when feed-in tariffs drop below 5 cents per kWh.
What government rebates are available for batteries?
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries program provides $370 per kWh of usable capacity, available from 2025 as a point-of-sale discount through approved installers. SA has the Home Battery Scheme offering zero-interest loans of up to $10,000. VIC has the Solar Homes Program covering up to $2,950 for batteries paired with solar. ACT offers interest-free loans for batteries under the Sustainable Household Scheme. WA, NSW, and QLD have smaller or time-limited incentives. Our calculator applies the rebates relevant to your postcode automatically.
How long do home batteries last?
Most lithium battery systems are warranted for 10 years or a specified number of charge cycles, typically 3,000 to 6,000. Real-world degradation varies by chemistry, usage pattern, and climate. A well-managed system in a moderate climate typically retains 70 to 80% capacity at 10 years. Our calculator models degradation at 2% per year and includes a replacement cost in year 12 when modelling 15-year returns, giving you a realistic long-term picture.
Should I get solar first or solar plus battery together?
In most cases, solar alone first is the better sequence. Solar has a higher net present value than battery alone, and the battery becomes more valuable once you have solar and your feed-in tariff is low. Installing solar first also lets you right-size the battery based on your actual export data. The exception is if you are doing a new home build or a major renovation where combined installation reduces labour costs significantly. Our calculator models both sequences and shows you which comes out ahead for your specific postcode and household.
Further Reading
State-by-state breakdown of battery costs, rebates, and whether the numbers stack up.
SA has the highest electricity rates in Australia and a dedicated Home Battery Scheme.
See how batteries rank for Victorian homes with current Solar Homes Program rebates.
Most households should consider solar before a battery. See the solar-first numbers.
Full explanation of the NPV model, degradation assumptions, and self-consumption modelling.
Under the Hood
Enter your postcode first
Assumptions like electricity rates, sun hours, and gas prices are tailored to your location.