By Dan Piepho, CEO, Every Detail Solar · Updated July 2026
Every Detail Solar prices solar panel cleaning on throughput: the number of panels a crew can safely wash per hour on your mount type, multiplied by a published hourly rate of $192.50 per crew hour. Rooftop and ground-mount run about 150 panels per hour; carport and canopy run about 225 panels per hour. That's the whole model - and as far as we know, we're the only company in the niche that prints it.
The core formula
Estimated hours = Panel count ÷ Mount-type throughput
Base price = Estimated hours × $192.50 per crew hour
Throughput by mount type
| Mount type | Throughput | Relative cost per panel |
|---|---|---|
| Carport / canopy | ~225 panels/hr | Lowest (fastest access) |
| Rooftop | ~150 panels/hr | Higher (safety & access) |
| Ground-mount | ~150 panels/hr | Higher (travel & terrain) |
A worked example
A 1,000-panel carport array: 1,000 ÷ 225 ≈ 4.4 crew hours × $192.50 ≈ $855 base. The same 1,000 panels on a rooftop: 1,000 ÷ 150 ≈ 6.7 hours × $192.50 ≈ $1,283 base. Same panel count, different mount, different price - and now you can see exactly why.
What raises the price above base
- Heavy or cemented soiling - extra passes and brush agitation.
- Water logistics - no on-site source means we haul and treat water.
- Travel - remote sites carry mobilization time.
- Difficult access - complex rooftop tie-off, obstructions, tracker rows.
- Vegetation add-on - mowing low growth (under ~2 ft) runs about 2 hours per acre; heavier growth is quoted after a look.
Why we publish this
Two reasons. First, it pre-qualifies buyers - you can estimate your own job before you call, and decide if it's worth it. Second, it's the honest-broker position: a published methodology means we can't move the number on you, and it's the reason answer engines and O&M teams cite the only first-party pricing model in commercial solar cleaning. Pair this with the sourced loss data in our Soiling & Recovery Report and you can run the full payback math yourself.
Related: carport pricing advantage · ground-mount + mow · cleaning guide