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2026 U.S. Solar Cost & Payback Dataset (Free)

A free, open dataset of estimated 2026 solar panel cost, payback period, and 25-year savings for all 50 states + D.C. — modeled after the federal tax credit's expiry for purchases. Reuse it with attribution (CC BY 4.0).

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StateRateSun (hrs)SystemCostPayback25-yr savings
Hawaii41.0¢5.86.8 kW$19,4644.2 yr$131,493
California31.0¢5.57.2 kW$20,5255.8 yr$93,613
Massachusetts30.0¢49.9 kW$28,2228 yr$82,234
Connecticut28.0¢49.9 kW$28,2228.5 yr$74,870
Rhode Island28.0¢49.9 kW$28,2228.5 yr$74,870
Nevada15.0¢6.36.3 kW$17,9199.9 yr$37,309
Arizona14.5¢6.56.1 kW$17,3689.9 yr$36,020
Maine23.0¢49.9 kW$28,22210.1 yr$56,461
New Hampshire23.0¢49.9 kW$28,22210.1 yr$56,461
New Mexico14.0¢6.56.1 kW$17,36810.2 yr$34,179
New York23.0¢3.810.4 kW$29,70810.6 yr$54,975
Colorado15.0¢5.57.2 kW$20,52511.1 yr$34,703
Vermont21.0¢3.910.2 kW$28,94611.2 yr$48,373
Texas15.0¢5.37.5 kW$21,30011.5 yr$33,928
Florida14.5¢5.37.5 kW$21,30011.9 yr$32,087
Maryland17.5¢4.39.2 kW$26,25312.1 yr$38,179
Alaska24.5¢313.2 kW$37,63012.3 yr$52,576
New Jersey17.5¢4.29.4 kW$26,87912.3 yr$37,554
Delaware16.5¢4.39.2 kW$26,25312.7 yr$34,498
Michigan18.5¢3.810.4 kW$29,70812.8 yr$38,407
Kansas14.0¢57.9 kW$22,57812.9 yr$28,968
Alabama15.5¢4.58.8 kW$25,08712.9 yr$31,982
South Carolina14.5¢4.88.3 kW$23,51912.9 yr$29,869
Georgia14.0¢4.88.3 kW$23,51913.3 yr$28,028
Washington D.C.16.0¢4.29.4 kW$26,87913.3 yr$32,032
Pennsylvania17.0¢3.910.2 kW$28,94613.5 yr$33,646
Wisconsin16.5¢49.9 kW$28,22213.5 yr$32,529
Illinois16.0¢49.9 kW$28,22213.9 yr$30,688
Virginia14.5¢4.49 kW$25,65713.9 yr$27,730
North Carolina13.5¢4.78.4 kW$24,01914 yr$25,686
Wyoming12.5¢57.9 kW$22,57814.2 yr$23,446
Oklahoma12.0¢5.27.6 kW$21,71014.2 yr$22,473
Minnesota14.5¢4.29.4 kW$26,87914.5 yr$26,509
Ohio15.5¢3.910.2 kW$28,94614.6 yr$28,123
Indiana15.0¢49.9 kW$28,22214.7 yr$27,006
Mississippi13.0¢4.68.6 kW$24,54114.7 yr$23,323
South Dakota13.0¢4.68.6 kW$24,54114.7 yr$23,323
Utah11.0¢5.37.5 kW$21,30015 yr$19,201
Tennessee13.0¢4.49 kW$25,65715.3 yr$22,208
Iowa13.5¢4.29.4 kW$26,87915.4 yr$22,827
Louisiana12.0¢4.78.4 kW$24,01915.4 yr$20,163
Arkansas12.5¢4.58.8 kW$25,08715.5 yr$20,937
Montana12.5¢4.58.8 kW$25,08715.5 yr$20,937
West Virginia14.0¢3.910.2 kW$28,94615.9 yr$22,600
Idaho11.5¢4.78.4 kW$24,01916 yr$18,322
Nebraska11.5¢4.78.4 kW$24,01916 yr$18,322
Missouri12.0¢4.58.8 kW$25,08716 yr$19,096
Kentucky12.5¢4.29.4 kW$26,87916.4 yr$19,145
Oregon13.0¢49.9 kW$28,22216.5 yr$19,642
North Dakota11.0¢4.58.8 kW$25,08717.2 yr$15,414
Washington11.0¢3.511.3 kW$32,25421 yr$8,246

About this dataset

Figures are modeled for an average U.S. home using 10,800 kWh/year, average shading, cash purchase. Assumptions: national-average install cost $2.85/watt, 0.83 system-loss derate, 3%/yr electricity price escalation, 0.5%/yr panel degradation, 25-year horizon, and $0 federal residential tax credit (Section 25D expired for 2026 purchases). Electricity rates and peak sun hours are state averages. Estimates only — not financial advice.

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Free to use, adapt, and republish with attribution and a link to WorthCrunch. Journalists and researchers covering the 2026 solar tax-credit change are welcome to cite it.

Cite as: “WorthCrunch, 2026 U.S. Solar Cost & Payback by State, https://worthcrunchhq.github.io/solar/dataset/”.

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