Solar by State
Residential solar in all 50 states.
Independent snapshots — average installed cost, sun hours, net metering policy and state incentives. Updated for the current federal 30% tax credit window.
Alabama
4.8 sun hrs · 15.4¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Alaska
3.4 sun hrs · 24.5¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Arizona
6.5 sun hrs · 14.8¢/kWh · Net billing
Arkansas
5.0 sun hrs · 12.3¢/kWh · Full retail
California
5.6 sun hrs · 32.4¢/kWh · Net billing
Colorado
5.5 sun hrs · 15.1¢/kWh · Full retail
Connecticut
4.4 sun hrs · 30.1¢/kWh · Net billing
Delaware
4.5 sun hrs · 15.7¢/kWh · Full retail
Florida
5.4 sun hrs · 15.2¢/kWh · Full retail
Georgia
5.0 sun hrs · 14.5¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Hawaii
6.0 sun hrs · 42.4¢/kWh · Net billing
Idaho
5.0 sun hrs · 11.5¢/kWh · Net billing
Illinois
4.2 sun hrs · 16.6¢/kWh · Full retail
Indiana
4.2 sun hrs · 15.7¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Iowa
4.4 sun hrs · 13.6¢/kWh · Full retail
Kansas
5.0 sun hrs · 14.2¢/kWh · Full retail
Kentucky
4.5 sun hrs · 13.6¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Louisiana
4.9 sun hrs · 12.6¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Maine
4.2 sun hrs · 24.8¢/kWh · Net billing
Maryland
4.5 sun hrs · 17.5¢/kWh · Full retail
Massachusetts
4.3 sun hrs · 32.6¢/kWh · Full retail
Michigan
4.0 sun hrs · 18.5¢/kWh · Net billing
Minnesota
4.3 sun hrs · 14.6¢/kWh · Full retail
Mississippi
4.9 sun hrs · 13.6¢/kWh · Net billing
Missouri
4.7 sun hrs · 12.4¢/kWh · Full retail
Montana
5.0 sun hrs · 12.1¢/kWh · Full retail
Nebraska
4.8 sun hrs · 11.9¢/kWh · Full retail
Nevada
6.4 sun hrs · 15.8¢/kWh · Net billing
New Hampshire
4.3 sun hrs · 22.9¢/kWh · Net billing
New Jersey
4.4 sun hrs · 17.5¢/kWh · Full retail
New Mexico
6.2 sun hrs · 14.6¢/kWh · Full retail
New York
4.2 sun hrs · 24.5¢/kWh · Net billing
North Carolina
4.9 sun hrs · 14.1¢/kWh · Net billing
North Dakota
4.5 sun hrs · 12.2¢/kWh · Full retail
Ohio
4.1 sun hrs · 16.6¢/kWh · Full retail
Oklahoma
5.1 sun hrs · 12.9¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Oregon
4.0 sun hrs · 13.7¢/kWh · Full retail
Pennsylvania
4.2 sun hrs · 18.5¢/kWh · Full retail
Rhode Island
4.3 sun hrs · 27.4¢/kWh · Full retail
South Carolina
5.0 sun hrs · 14.4¢/kWh · Net billing
South Dakota
4.7 sun hrs · 13.0¢/kWh · Avoided cost
Tennessee
4.6 sun hrs · 12.9¢/kWh · None
Texas
5.3 sun hrs · 14.7¢/kWh · Net billing
Utah
5.6 sun hrs · 11.7¢/kWh · Net billing
Vermont
4.1 sun hrs · 21.6¢/kWh · Net billing
Virginia
4.6 sun hrs · 15.1¢/kWh · Full retail
Washington
3.8 sun hrs · 11.6¢/kWh · Full retail
West Virginia
4.2 sun hrs · 15.0¢/kWh · Full retail
Wisconsin
4.2 sun hrs · 17.3¢/kWh · Full retail
Wyoming
5.4 sun hrs · 11.7¢/kWh · Full retail
Featured metros
Start with a guide
The 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit, Explained
How the Residential Clean Energy Credit works, what it covers, who qualifies, and how to actually claim it on your return.
Net Metering vs. Net Billing vs. Avoided Cost
The single biggest driver of solar payback after the federal credit — how your utility credits the power you export back to the grid.
How Much Do Solar Panels Actually Cost?
National and state cost benchmarks in $/watt, what drives the range, and how to spot inflated bids.
Do You Need a Home Battery?
When a battery pays for itself, when it doesn't, and how the 30% federal credit changes the math on storage.
How to Choose a Solar Installer (Without Getting Burned)
The vetting checklist we run on every SolarPros installer — licensing, insurance, financing disclosure and warranty reality.
Solar Payback Period: What's Realistic in 2026
How to model payback honestly — sun hours, utility rate, escalation and net-metering policy all matter more than sticker price.