Solar savings by state (2026)
All 50 states and DC ranked by how fast a solar system pays for itself on a typical $150/mo electricity bill, using each state's 2026 electricity rate, peak sun hours and installed cost per watt.
Fastest payback
4.7 yrs
Hawaii
Most sun
6.5 h
Arizona
Priciest power
42.2¢/kWh
Hawaii
Cheapest install
$2.50/W
Arizona
| # | State | Payback @ $150/mo | Installed cost | System | Sun h/day | Rate | $/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 4.7 yrs | $8,380 | 2.7 kW | 5.4 | 42.2¢/kWh | $3.10 |
| 2 | California | 5.3 yrs | $9,479 | 3.2 kW | 5.8 | 33.4¢/kWh | $3.00 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 7.4 yrs | $13,297 | 4.4 kW | 4.7 | 29.9¢/kWh | $3.00 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 7.6 yrs | $13,634 | 4.4 kW | 4.6 | 30.5¢/kWh | $3.10 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 7.6 yrs | $13,751 | 4.4 kW | 4.6 | 30.2¢/kWh | $3.10 |
| 6 | Maine | 8 yrs | $14,346 | 4.9 kW | 4.4 | 28.3¢/kWh | $2.90 |
| 7 | Arizona | 8.4 yrs | $15,092 | 6 kW | 6.5 | 15.6¢/kWh | $2.50 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 8.5 yrs | $15,266 | 5.1 kW | 4.5 | 26.9¢/kWh | $3.00 |
| 9 | New York | 8.5 yrs | $15,387 | 5 kW | 4.3 | 28.5¢/kWh | $3.10 |
| 10 | Texas | 8.9 yrs | $15,937 | 6.4 kW | 5.9 | 16.4¢/kWh | $2.50 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 8.9 yrs | $16,022 | 5.5 kW | 4.8 | 23.5¢/kWh | $2.90 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 9.2 yrs | $16,611 | 5.2 kW | 4.8 | 25.0¢/kWh | $3.20 |
| 13 | New Mexico | 9.4 yrs | $16,909 | 6.5 kW | 6.4 | 14.8¢/kWh | $2.60 |
| 14 | Maryland | 9.4 yrs | $16,953 | 5.8 kW | 4.8 | 22.2¢/kWh | $2.90 |
| 15 | Vermont | 9.8 yrs | $17,633 | 5.9 kW | 4.3 | 24.1¢/kWh | $3.00 |
| 16 | Alabama | 10.4 yrs | $18,663 | 6.9 kW | 5.2 | 17.2¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 17 | Michigan | 10.4 yrs | $18,716 | 6.7 kW | 4.3 | 21.2¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 18 | Colorado | 10.4 yrs | $18,747 | 6.7 kW | 5.5 | 16.7¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 10.4 yrs | $18,781 | 6.5 kW | 4.5 | 20.9¢/kWh | $2.90 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 10.6 yrs | $19,090 | 7.1 kW | 5.3 | 16.4¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 21 | Florida | 10.7 yrs | $19,260 | 7.4 kW | 5.6 | 14.9¢/kWh | $2.60 |
| 22 | Nevada | 10.7 yrs | $19,335 | 7.4 kW | 5.8 | 14.2¢/kWh | $2.60 |
| 23 | Mississippi | 10.8 yrs | $19,449 | 7.2 kW | 5.3 | 16.3¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 24 | Kansas | 11.3 yrs | $20,280 | 7.5 kW | 5.3 | 15.3¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 25 | Illinois | 11.3 yrs | $20,384 | 7 kW | 4.7 | 18.9¢/kWh | $2.90 |
| 26 | Delaware | 11.3 yrs | $20,385 | 7.3 kW | 4.8 | 17.6¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 27 | North Carolina | 11.3 yrs | $20,397 | 7.6 kW | 5.1 | 16.0¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 28 | Ohio | 11.3 yrs | $20,424 | 7.3 kW | 4.5 | 18.8¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 29 | Virginia | 11.4 yrs | $20,451 | 7.3 kW | 5.0 | 17.1¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 30 | Indiana | 11.4 yrs | $20,574 | 7.3 kW | 4.7 | 17.8¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | 11.5 yrs | $20,631 | 7.4 kW | 4.5 | 18.8¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | 11.7 yrs | $21,106 | 8.1 kW | 5.6 | 13.6¢/kWh | $2.60 |
| 33 | Georgia | 11.8 yrs | $21,324 | 7.9 kW | 5.2 | 15.0¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 34 | Utah | 11.9 yrs | $21,350 | 8.2 kW | 5.7 | 13.2¢/kWh | $2.60 |
| 35 | Tennessee | 12.3 yrs | $22,074 | 8.2 kW | 5.0 | 15.1¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 36 | Louisiana | 12.6 yrs | $22,604 | 8.4 kW | 5.2 | 14.2¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 13 yrs | $23,431 | 8.4 kW | 4.5 | 16.4¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.1 yrs | $23,530 | 8.7 kW | 5.0 | 14.3¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 39 | Kentucky | 13.2 yrs | $23,799 | 8.8 kW | 4.7 | 14.9¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 40 | Arkansas | 13.3 yrs | $23,943 | 8.9 kW | 5.1 | 13.6¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 41 | Alaska | 13.8 yrs | $24,751 | 8.3 kW | 2.8 | 27.2¢/kWh | $3.00 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 13.8 yrs | $24,903 | 8.9 kW | 5.1 | 13.6¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 43 | Missouri | 14 yrs | $25,273 | 9.4 kW | 4.9 | 13.4¢/kWh | $2.70 |
| 44 | Oregon | 14.2 yrs | $25,477 | 9.1 kW | 4.5 | 14.9¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 45 | Idaho | 14.2 yrs | $25,513 | 9.1 kW | 5.2 | 13.0¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 46 | Minnesota | 14.3 yrs | $25,721 | 9.2 kW | 4.5 | 15.1¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 47 | Nebraska | 14.4 yrs | $25,835 | 9.2 kW | 5.1 | 13.1¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 48 | Iowa | 15.2 yrs | $27,365 | 9.8 kW | 4.7 | 13.4¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 49 | Washington | 15.3 yrs | $27,555 | 9.8 kW | 4.3 | 14.4¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 50 | Montana | 16 yrs | $28,774 | 10.3 kW | 4.5 | 13.5¢/kWh | $2.80 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 17.4 yrs | $31,399 | 11.2 kW | 4.6 | 11.9¢/kWh | $2.80 |
Payback = installed cost ÷ first-year savings for a south-facing, unshaded roof and a $150/mo bill; no federal credit (2026). State inputs verified 2026-09-02.
How to read this table
Payback depends on three things: how much sun a state gets (production per kilowatt), what its households pay for electricity (the value of each kilowatt-hour offset), and what installers charge per watt. A sunny state with cheap power can pay back slower than a cloudier state with expensive power. Click any state for its own page and a calculator with that state's figures preselected.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the fastest solar payback?
For a $150/mo bill, Hawaii pays back fastest at about 4.7 yrs — high electricity prices and strong sun do more for payback than cheap installation alone.
Which state gets the most sun?
Arizona averages 6.5 peak sun hours a day; Alaska the least at 2.8. Sun hours set how much each installed kilowatt produces.
Where is electricity most expensive?
Hawaii at about 42.2¢/kWh, versus North Dakota at 11.9¢/kWh. A higher rate makes every solar kilowatt-hour worth more.
Where is solar cheapest to install?
Arizona at about $2.50 per watt before incentives; the most expensive is District of Columbia at $3.20/W.
Does the 30% federal credit apply in any state?
Not for systems paid for in 2026 or later — the federal residential credit (IRC §25D) was repealed for costs after December 31, 2025, nationwide. State and utility incentives are separate and are not included in these estimates.