Is solar worth it where you live?
Get an honest solar payback period and 25-year savings estimate using your real state electricity rate and the 30% federal tax credit. No sales call, no form — just an answer.
This is an independent estimate for guidance only — not a quote or financial advice. Real costs depend on your roof, shading and installer. Always get itemised quotes before buying.
Solar payback by state
Payback swings hugely by state because power prices and sunshine do. Pick yours for local numbers and net-metering notes.
How solar payback works
Solar “payback” is the number of years of electricity-bill savings it takes to recover what you paid for the system after incentives. Three things move it the most:
- Your electricity rate. The more you pay per kWh, the more each solar kWh saves you. This is why Hawaii and California pay off years faster than cheap-power states.
- Your sunshine. A kilowatt of panels in Arizona makes ~50% more power a year than the same panels in Washington.
- Incentives. The 30% federal credit alone cuts roughly a third off the price; state, utility and SREC programs can cut more.
See the full methodology and data sources.
Common questions
How is the solar payback period calculated?
We estimate the system size needed to cover your power use from your monthly bill and your state’s electricity rate, apply your installed cost per watt, subtract the 30% federal tax credit and any rebate you enter, then divide that net cost by your annual savings — adjusting each year for rising power prices and gradual panel wear.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit included?
Yes. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit is 30% of system cost through 2032, and we apply it to every estimate. It is a tax credit, not a rebate, so you need enough tax liability to use it — check with a tax professional.
Does this account for my state’s incentives?
We use your real state electricity rate and sunshine, which are the biggest drivers. State and utility rebates change constantly and vary by provider, so rather than guess we link you to DSIRE (the official incentives database) and let you type any rebate into the calculator.
Why does payback vary so much between states?
Two things dominate: how much you pay per kWh (Hawaii and California pay 2–4× what Washington or North Dakota pay) and how much sun your roof gets. High prices plus good sun mean fast payback; cheap power plus cloudy skies mean slow.
Is this a quote? Do you sell my details?
No to both. There’s no form, no email, nothing leaves your browser, and we are not a solar installer. It’s a free estimate to help you decide whether getting real quotes is worth your time.