When a ground mount makes sense
A ground mount is a freestanding frame of steel or aluminum, anchored in the soil, that holds the panels in your yard instead of on the roof. It suits homes with open land and a roof that is shaded, faces the wrong way, is too small or is near the end of its life.
Because the frame doesn’t follow a roof, the panels can face due south at the best tilt for your latitude, and air flows behind them, which keeps them cooler and slightly more productive. They are also easy to reach for snow clearing and repairs. The costs are footings, a longer wire run to the house in a trench, and the yard space the array takes up.
Ground mounts in the public records
Ground-mounted systems are a small share of home solar. In public installation records for 2023–2025 (Tracking the Sun), about 2% of home systems were on the ground, and fewer than 1% used a tracker that follows the sun. They are far more common where lots are large:
| State | Home systems on the ground, 2023–2025 |
|---|---|
| Vermont | 17% |
| Illinois | 6% |
| New Mexico | 5% |
| Rhode Island | 3% |
| California | 1% |
Ground systems were also larger: a median of 11.3 kW against 6.4 kW for roof systems. With no roof limiting the size, owners tend to cover more of their usage. Even so, the median price per watt came out higher ($4.40 against $4.25), because the footings, racking and trench cost more than roof mounts.
How the installation works
- Site and soil: the installer picks an unshaded spot and checks the soil to choose the foundation.
- Engineering: the frame and footings are designed for local wind and snow loads.
- Foundations: posts are set in concrete footings or driven piles, depending on the soil.
- Trench: a trench runs from the array to the house for the buried conduit.
- Racking and panels: rails go on the posts, panels are mounted, and the wiring is connected to your main panel.
Cost factors
| Factor | Impact on cost |
|---|---|
| Frame | Steel posts and heavier racking cost more than roof rails. |
| Distance to the house | Every extra foot adds trenching, conduit and heavier copper wire. |
| Soil | Rock or a high water table may need special drilling or above-ground ballast. |
| Foundation type | Driven piles are faster in soft soil, while concrete footings take more labor. |
| Tracker | A tracker that follows the sun adds production but also cost and moving parts. |
Who it suits
- Rural and large suburban lots with open, unshaded land close to the house.
- Homes with poor roofs for solar: shaded, north-facing, small, cut up by dormers, or covered in slate or tile.
- Owners who want a bigger system than the roof can hold.
- Snowy climates, where an array within reach is easier to clear.
Questions to ask your installer
- Is the price based on a soil check, or can it change if you hit rock?
- How long and deep is the trench, and does the price include backfill and reseeding?
- How high is the lower edge of the panels, and is it above our usual snow depth?
- What warranty covers the frame against rust and corrosion?
- What permits and setbacks apply to a freestanding array on my lot?
- Would a tracker pay off here, or is a fixed mount the better value?
What to watch out for
- Quotes without a soil check. Rock or wet ground found during digging can lead to change orders.
- Trench cleanup. Confirm the price includes backfill and reseeding, not just digging.
- A low lower edge in snowy areas, where snow piled at the bottom covers the panels for weeks.
- Zoning. Many towns set setbacks and height limits for freestanding structures. Check before signing.