Have you wondered if solar makes sense for you?
Find out. Use your average electric bill and monthly kWh to estimate the system size you’d need, typical installation cost, and how long until you break even—then decide if you plan to be in the home that long.
When does solar pay for itself?
Solar payback is how many years it takes for your savings on electric bills to equal what you paid for the system. After that, you’re effectively saving money (minus any ongoing maintenance or inverter replacement). Payback depends on: what you pay for electricity now, how much you use, how much sun your roof gets, the cost of the system and any batteries, and incentives (tax credits, rebates). Higher electric rates and more sun usually shorten payback; low rates or shade lengthen it.
What makes solar worth it—or not?
Solar often makes more sense when your electric rate is high, you use a lot of kWh, and you expect to stay in the home long enough to pass the payback period. It makes less sense when your rate is low, usage is small, or you might move soon. Net metering (getting credit for sending excess solar to the grid) also affects the math. Our calculator uses your bill and usage so you can see a ballpark system size, cost, and payback for your situation.
Other reasons may affect whether solar is worthwhile for you—such as redundancy and power security during outages (especially with a battery), environmental benefits (reducing grid reliance or carbon footprint), home valuation (many buyers value solar), or locking in a portion of your energy cost. The calculator focuses on payback and NPV; your own priorities may make solar worth it beyond the numbers.
Not sure what you pay per kWh or how much you use? Check your bill or look up your city’s typical rate on our city pages—we show electric rates and assumptions so you can plug in numbers that match your area.
What about adding a battery?
A home battery (e.g. for backup power or to use stored solar at night) adds cost and can extend payback. Whether a battery is “worth it” depends on how much you value backup during outages, whether your utility has time-of-use rates you can shift against, and the price of the battery. The calculator will let you see solar-only vs solar + battery so you can compare payback and savings.
Solar + battery payback calculator
Enter your average monthly electric bill and kWh used per month. We’ll estimate the system size you’d need, typical installation cost (solar only and solar + battery), and how long until you break even. Toggle “Include a battery” to compare. You can then decide if you expect to be in the home that long and whether solar makes sense for you.
Adds cost; can extend payback. Toggle to compare solar-only vs solar + battery.
Advanced assumptions
This model estimates production from peak sun hours and system losses, then savings from your $/kWh. It does not model roof shading, orientation, time-of-use intricacies, demand charges, or interconnection fees.