Independent solar estimates · Transparent assumptions · No sign-up
Solar planning, made clear

Know your solar savings.Before you buy.

Estimate rooftop or plug-in solar costs and payback with assumptions you can inspect. Start with your electric bill, then compare the numbers.

Prepared by Solar Panel CalculatorContent updated 2026-10-01Editorial standards
50 state starting pointsGross & net savingsCalculations stay in your browser
Use your quote; this default is an assumption.
Tariff & long-term assumptions
Share of generation used at home; include battery losses.
Use your utility tariff; zero is the conservative default.
Rooftop adds $0.55/Wh; plug-in cost is entered above.
Cost recurs at each interval within the 25-year model.

State rates and sun hours are illustrative defaults. Replace with your bill and a location-specific yield estimate. No homeowner §25D credit is assumed.

Your planning estimate

What could solar save?

Costs, tariffs and time all matter.

Your estimate
Enter your assumptions to see gross and net savings.
Understand the decision

A smarter starting point for solar

Compare production, utility rules and ownership costs before choosing equipment or signing a contract.

Explore all guides
Buying solar

Understand solar installation costs

Compare cash price, loan terms, exclusions and lifetime costs.

Read the guideUtility tariffs

How net metering changes savings

Separate electricity you use at home from electricity you export.

Read the guideBackup planning

Choose a battery that fits your needs

Estimate energy capacity and check continuous and startup power.

Read the guide
Why the export rate matters

Generating a kilowatt hour is not always the same as saving the retail price of a kilowatt hour. Electricity used at home avoids energy charges; electricity sent to the grid is paid under your utility’s export tariff. Our calculator separates the two.

Plan locally

Find your state calculator

Local context and editable planning defaults for every US state. Your own tariff takes priority.

All 50 states
Alabama16.4¢/kWh planning rateAlaska24.9¢/kWh planning rateArizona15.3¢/kWh planning rateArkansas13.8¢/kWh planning rateCalifornia32.0¢/kWh planning rateColorado16.7¢/kWh planning rateConnecticut29.6¢/kWh planning rateDelaware18.1¢/kWh planning rateFlorida15.8¢/kWh planning rateGeorgia15.3¢/kWh planning rateHawaii39.5¢/kWh planning rateIdaho12.5¢/kWh planning rateIllinois19.1¢/kWh planning rateIndiana17.3¢/kWh planning rateIowa14.8¢/kWh planning rateKansas15.2¢/kWh planning rateKentucky13.6¢/kWh planning rateLouisiana12.4¢/kWh planning rateMaine28.0¢/kWh planning rateMaryland21.1¢/kWh planning rateMassachusetts30.4¢/kWh planning rateMichigan21.2¢/kWh planning rateMinnesota17.1¢/kWh planning rateMississippi14.0¢/kWh planning rateMissouri15.8¢/kWh planning rateMontana14.6¢/kWh planning rateNebraska13.9¢/kWh planning rateNevada12.0¢/kWh planning rateNew Hampshire27.8¢/kWh planning rateNew Jersey23.4¢/kWh planning rateNew Mexico16.5¢/kWh planning rateNew York27.2¢/kWh planning rateNorth Carolina15.1¢/kWh planning rateNorth Dakota13.7¢/kWh planning rateOhio17.6¢/kWh planning rateOklahoma14.8¢/kWh planning rateOregon16.0¢/kWh planning ratePennsylvania20.5¢/kWh planning rateRhode Island28.3¢/kWh planning rateSouth Carolina15.3¢/kWh planning rateSouth Dakota14.8¢/kWh planning rateTennessee13.3¢/kWh planning rateTexas15.8¢/kWh planning rateUtah14.1¢/kWh planning rateVermont23.9¢/kWh planning rateVirginia16.6¢/kWh planning rateWashington13.8¢/kWh planning rateWest Virginia16.1¢/kWh planning rateWisconsin18.7¢/kWh planning rateWyoming15.0¢/kWh planning rate

Rooftop, balcony or battery?

Start with the choice that solves your actual energy need.

Plug-in solar

Compare balcony solar kit sizes

Look at usable output, mounting, safety and total ownership cost.

Read the guideTax rules

Residential solar tax credit in 2026

Understand the §25D expiration and avoid misleading installer claims.

Read the guideBefore you buy

Your plug-in solar readiness checklist

Check local rules, product instructions and your electrical installation.

Read the guide

Questions before you start

Does solar eliminate my entire bill?

Usually you still pay fixed charges and any imported energy. Export credits and minimum bills vary by utility; solar output alone does not determine the bill.

Are these current state-average rates?

No. The defaults were inherited from an earlier planning table without an exact reporting period. They are clearly labeled illustrative. Enter your bill rate or check the EIA source linked in our methodology.

What is included in net savings?

Modeled gross bill savings minus upfront cost, annual maintenance and recurring replacement costs. Financing, taxes, changes in consumption and detailed tariff settlement are excluded.

Do I get a 30% residential solar credit in 2026?

The IRS says §25D is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. This tool applies a zero homeowner credit.

Planning estimates are not financial, tax or electrical advice. Read the methodology and confirm your project with qualified local professionals.