Solar Calculator by State & Province

Why Solar Payback Differs So Much by State

Two homes with identical solar panels can see completely different returns depending on where they are. Three inputs drive almost the entire difference: your electricity rate, your peak sun hours, and your net metering rules. The calculator above loads all three for whichever state or province you pick.

The electricity rate matters most, because every kilowatt-hour your panels produce is worth the retail price you would otherwise pay for it. A homeowner in Hawaii paying over 40 cents per kWh saves roughly four times as much per panel as a homeowner in Wyoming paying about 10 cents — even with the same equipment. That is why high-rate states like California, Massachusetts, and New York tend to show the shortest payback periods in our state-by-state payback comparison.

Peak sun hours come second. Arizona and Nevada get 7+ daily peak sun hours while New England and the Pacific Northwest get around 4.5, which means the same system produces roughly 50% more energy in the desert Southwest. Net metering is the third lever: in states where your utility credits exported power at the full retail rate, oversized daytime production still pays you back; where credits are partial, right-sizing the system matters more. Our net metering guide explains how these policies work. Installation cost per kW also varies by region — labor markets, permitting complexity, and local competition move it roughly $2,650–$3,800/kW across the country — so the gross cost figure above is always computed from your specific region's inputs.

States marked ★ below have a dedicated page with local utility context, rate details, and FAQs. Every other region loads its verified rate and sun hours directly into the calculator above — no incentive is assumed unless it is currently verified, as documented in our methodology.