Solar Savings Calculator
See system size, install cost, payback period, and the 25-year savings on solar at your address. Adjust state, electric bill, roof area, and sun hours. The calculator misses one thing installers will not tell you: an escalator clause in a lease or PPA can erase the savings entirely. Read the contract.
Live · Updates as you type Solar Calculator
Your solar details
Average peak sun hours a day where you live
25-Year Savings
$42,000
System Size
7.2 kW
Install Cost
$20,160
After Tax Credit
$14,918
Payback Period
7.1 yr
State Info
California has some of the highest electricity rates in the country and the deepest stack of solar incentives. Translation: the payback math works fast.
Annual Savings
| Year | Annual Savings | Cumulative | Net (after install) |
|---|
Estimates assume the 30% federal tax credit (IRA 2023+), 20% system efficiency, and a 3% annual climb in your electric rate. Install costs and incentives vary by location and installer, so quotes from three installers will sharpen the number.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average residential solar install runs $2.50 to $3.50 per watt before incentives. A typical 7 kW system comes in at $17,500 to $24,500. After the 30% federal tax credit (Inflation Reduction Act), net cost lands at $12,250 to $17,150. Several states stack additional incentives on top, which can shave thousands more off the price.
The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) cuts 30% of your install cost off your federal tax bill. Translation: it is a dollar-for-dollar credit, not a deduction. On a $20,000 system, that is $6,000 lifted off your taxes. The 30% rate runs through 2032, then drops to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034. Stack a state credit on top where one exists.
Most solar panels carry a 25-year warranty and keep producing for 30 or more years. Output drops about 0.5% a year, so panels at 25 years are still cranking out about 87% of original capacity. The inverter usually needs replacing every 10 to 15 years at $1,000 to $2,500. Bake that into the lifetime numbers.
The best roofs face south and stay mostly unshaded between 9 AM and 3 PM. Flat and south-facing work best. East and west-facing work fine at slightly lower efficiency. Your roof should have at least 10 to 15 years of life left before you install, or you will be pulling panels off to replace shingles. Get a site assessment before you sign.