Solar Panel Cost & Savings Calculator
Enter your average monthly electric bill and state to get a rough estimate of the system size you'd need, what it might cost, your estimated annual savings, and how many years it could take to pay for itself.
How this calculator works
The calculator uses your monthly bill and your state's average electricity rate to estimate how much power your home uses in a year. It then uses your state's average peak sun hours to estimate how large a system you'd need to offset that usage, and applies a national average installed price per watt to estimate cost. Payback is calculated on the full pre-incentive price, since the federal residential tax credit ended in 2025 — state incentives can shorten it. Learn more in our guides on solar panel costs, state incentives, and how many panels you need.