Solar economics for all 50 states + DC
Is solar worth it where you live?
We pair NREL irradiance, EIA installed-capacity, and the DSIRE incentive database into one comparable picture per state, sunshine, electricity rates, modeled payback, and the rebates, tax credits, and net-metering rules that actually move the math.
Free, no sign-up. Built on public federal data, see how we score states.
The national picture
U.S. installed solar capacity reached about 124 GW in 2024 - roughly 126× its 2010 level, yet the payback math still turns on your state: only 7 of 51 states pay back a typical system in under a decade.
- 124 GW
- U.S. installed solar, 2024 (EIA)
- 5.2 yr
- fastest payback - Hawaii
- 41/51
- states with full retail net metering
- 137
- tracked incentive programs
Figures are derived from public EIA, NREL, and DSIRE data; payback is modeled, not guaranteed.
National solar overview
4.82
avg irradiance (kWh/m²/day)
15.98¢
avg electricity rate (per kWh)
$17k
avg 6 kW system cost
14.2 yr
avg modeled payback
137
incentive programs
51
states + DC covered
U.S. solar capacity, 1990–2024
Total installed solar nameplate capacity reported to the EIA. The curve is nearly flat for two decades, then bends sharply upward after the 2006 federal tax-credit extension.
Top 10 states by installed solar capacity
Nameplate MW reported to the EIA, 2024
- CA
California
22,563 MW
- TX
Texas
22,466 MW
- FL
Florida
10,952 MW
- NC 6,785
North Carolina
6,785 MW
- AZ 5,337
Arizona
5,337 MW
- NV 5,285
Nevada
5,285 MW
- GA 5,014
Georgia
5,014 MW
- VA 4,691
Virginia
4,691 MW
- OH 3,238
Ohio
3,238 MW
- IL 2,954
Illinois
2,954 MW
What this shows California and Texas alone account for the largest share of U.S. capacity, sunshine matters, but so do utility-scale build-out and state policy.
Sunshine isn't what makes solar pay off
Each dot is a state, placed by its sunshine (left to right) and how fast a typical system pays back (faster toward the bottom). The fast-payback states sit on the left, not the right: high electricity rates, not raw sun, drive the return.
Hawaii (highlighted) clears payback in 5.2 years on 5.9 kWh/m²/day, not the sunniest, but among the priciest grid power.
Where solar pays off first
Three lenses on the same dataset, overall potential, value after payback, and incentive depth. Every figure links to the full state profile.
What decides whether solar pays off
Four levers determine the payback math, and each one varies enormously by state.
Solar irradiance
How much sun reaches your roof. The sunniest states clear 6+ kWh/m²/day; the cloudiest sit near 3.4. More sun means more kilowatt-hours per panel.
Compare states →Electricity rate
Higher bills mean faster payback. Hawaii's ~38¢/kWh versus Louisiana's ~10¢/kWh changes the answer entirely, solar offsets your retail rate.
Run the numbers →State incentives
Net metering, rebates, SRECs, and property/sales-tax exemptions all stack. Their depth is the single biggest controllable variable in payback.
Find incentives →Installation cost
A typical 6 kW system runs in the mid-teens to ~$20k before incentives. Local cost per watt and available rebates can move net cost by a third.
Estimate cost →How to use this
Start with your state, then pressure-test the payback with your own bill.
- Open your state profile for its irradiance, rate, modeled payback, and the exact incentive programs you can claim. Find your state
- Run the savings calculator with your real electricity rate and system size, defaults are state averages, not your bill. Solar calculator
- Check net-metering and SREC rules before you sign, export compensation, not panel price, often decides the return. Net-metering guide
Payback and savings here are modeled estimates from public data; a binding quote requires a site-specific assessment from a licensed installer.
Solar guides
Plain-language explainers, plus the full guides library, state rankings, and all state profiles.
Solar after the federal tax credit
How the federal ITC has changed and which state incentives carry the most weight now.
Net metering by state
How bill credits for exported solar work, and which states still offer full retail value.
SRECs explained
Where solar certificates add real annual income, and how the compliance markets work.
Home battery storage
When pairing a battery with solar pays off, especially under net-billing rules like NEM 3.0.