Location guides
Solar costs by state
Electricity prices, sunlight, export policies, incentives and installation markets all change the economics. The table compares our published assumptions for every state — click a column to sort, or open a state for the full guide and calculator.
Cheapest states for solar →Payback by state →Incentives by state →Savings & ROI by state →Solar cost per kWh →
| State | Electricity rate | Production (kWh/kW/yr) | Cost per watt | 8 kW system cost | Est. payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $0.16/kWh | 1,400 | $2.30–$3.05 | $18,400–$24,400 | 12–17 yrs |
| Alaska | $0.25/kWh | 950 | $2.90–$3.90 | $23,200–$31,200 | 15–20 yrs |
| Arizona | $0.16/kWh | 1,720 | $2.35–$3.10 | $18,800–$24,800 | 10–14 yrs |
| Arkansas | $0.13/kWh | 1,360 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 16–22 yrs |
| California | $0.31/kWh | 1,510 | $2.55–$3.35 | $20,400–$26,800 | 7–9 yrs |
| Colorado | $0.16/kWh | 1,490 | $2.55–$3.30 | $20,400–$26,400 | 13–17 yrs |
| Connecticut | $0.29/kWh | 1,220 | $2.80–$3.60 | $22,400–$28,800 | 10–12 yrs |
| Delaware | $0.17/kWh | 1,320 | $2.60–$3.40 | $20,800–$27,200 | 14–18 yrs |
| Florida | $0.15/kWh | 1,480 | $2.35–$3.10 | $18,800–$24,800 | 13–17 yrs |
| Georgia | $0.14/kWh | 1,400 | $2.35–$3.10 | $18,800–$24,800 | 15–19 yrs |
| Hawaii | $0.42/kWh | 1,580 | $2.90–$3.90 | $23,200–$31,200 | 5–7 yrs |
| Idaho | $0.11/kWh | 1,380 | $2.45–$3.20 | $19,600–$25,600 | 20–26 yrs |
| Illinois | $0.16/kWh | 1,270 | $2.60–$3.40 | $20,800–$27,200 | 16–20 yrs |
| Indiana | $0.15/kWh | 1,280 | $2.45–$3.20 | $19,600–$25,600 | 15–20 yrs |
| Iowa | $0.14/kWh | 1,300 | $2.50–$3.25 | $20,000–$26,000 | 17–22 yrs |
| Kansas | $0.14/kWh | 1,450 | $2.45–$3.20 | $19,600–$25,600 | 15–19 yrs |
| Kentucky | $0.13/kWh | 1,300 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 17–23 yrs |
| Louisiana | $0.12/kWh | 1,380 | $2.35–$3.10 | $18,800–$24,800 | 17–23 yrs |
| Maine | $0.27/kWh | 1,190 | $2.80–$3.60 | $22,400–$28,800 | 11–14 yrs |
| Maryland | $0.18/kWh | 1,300 | $2.60–$3.40 | $20,800–$27,200 | 13–18 yrs |
| Massachusetts | $0.30/kWh | 1,160 | $2.80–$3.60 | $22,400–$28,800 | 10–13 yrs |
| Michigan | $0.19/kWh | 1,160 | $2.55–$3.35 | $20,400–$26,800 | 14–18 yrs |
| Minnesota | $0.15/kWh | 1,250 | $2.60–$3.40 | $20,800–$27,200 | 17–22 yrs |
| Mississippi | $0.14/kWh | 1,380 | $2.35–$3.10 | $18,800–$24,800 | 15–19 yrs |
| Missouri | $0.13/kWh | 1,350 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 17–22 yrs |
| Montana | $0.12/kWh | 1,330 | $2.55–$3.35 | $20,400–$26,800 | 19–25 yrs |
| Nebraska | $0.12/kWh | 1,380 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 18–23 yrs |
| Nevada | $0.15/kWh | 1,670 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 12–15 yrs |
| New Hampshire | $0.28/kWh | 1,180 | $2.80–$3.60 | $22,400–$28,800 | 10–13 yrs |
| New Jersey | $0.19/kWh | 1,260 | $2.65–$3.45 | $21,200–$27,600 | 13–17 yrs |
| New Mexico | $0.15/kWh | 1,700 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 11–15 yrs |
| New York | $0.25/kWh | 1,180 | $2.75–$3.55 | $22,000–$28,400 | 11–15 yrs |
| North Carolina | $0.13/kWh | 1,380 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 16–21 yrs |
| North Dakota | $0.11/kWh | 1,320 | $2.50–$3.30 | $20,000–$26,400 | 21–28 yrs |
| Ohio | $0.16/kWh | 1,200 | $2.45–$3.20 | $19,600–$25,600 | 15–20 yrs |
| Oklahoma | $0.12/kWh | 1,470 | $2.35–$3.10 | $18,800–$24,800 | 16–21 yrs |
| Oregon | $0.14/kWh | 1,160 | $2.60–$3.40 | $20,800–$27,200 | 19–25 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | $0.18/kWh | 1,220 | $2.50–$3.30 | $20,000–$26,400 | 14–18 yrs |
| Rhode Island | $0.28/kWh | 1,230 | $2.80–$3.60 | $22,400–$28,800 | 10–13 yrs |
| South Carolina | $0.14/kWh | 1,400 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 15–20 yrs |
| South Dakota | $0.13/kWh | 1,370 | $2.45–$3.25 | $19,600–$26,000 | 17–22 yrs |
| Tennessee | $0.13/kWh | 1,340 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 17–22 yrs |
| Texas | $0.16/kWh | 1,515 | $2.35–$3.05 | $18,800–$24,400 | 12–15 yrs |
| Utah | $0.12/kWh | 1,450 | $2.40–$3.15 | $19,200–$25,200 | 17–22 yrs |
| Vermont | $0.21/kWh | 1,150 | $2.80–$3.60 | $22,400–$28,800 | 14–18 yrs |
| Virginia | $0.14/kWh | 1,330 | $2.50–$3.30 | $20,000–$26,400 | 16–22 yrs |
| Washington | $0.12/kWh | 1,050 | $2.60–$3.40 | $20,800–$27,200 | 25–33 yrs |
| Washington, D.C. | $0.18/kWh | 1,300 | $2.70–$3.55 | $21,600–$28,400 | 14–18 yrs |
| West Virginia | $0.14/kWh | 1,250 | $2.45–$3.25 | $19,600–$26,000 | 17–23 yrs |
| Wisconsin | $0.17/kWh | 1,220 | $2.55–$3.35 | $20,400–$26,800 | 15–20 yrs |
| Wyoming | $0.12/kWh | 1,420 | $2.50–$3.30 | $20,000–$26,400 | 18–24 yrs |
Assumptions last reviewed September 2026, informed by EIA, NREL, LBNL, DSIRE. System cost is before incentives; payback is a simple estimate with no federal credit (the Section 25D residential credit ended for systems installed after 2025) and conservative export value. Open a state page for details.
City guides
Where climate, utility and installer market differ enough from the state average to change the answer, we publish a local guide with its own production factor and named utility.
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