Solar Panel Calculator for Atlanta, GA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Atlanta, GA, using local NREL sunshine data, Georgia prices and electricity rates.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Atlanta gets about 5.06 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,381 kWh a year. That ranks #60 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in May and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Atlanta by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Atlanta
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.67 | 736 kWh | $114 |
| Feb | 4.16 | 736 kWh | $114 |
| Mar | 5.11 | 976 kWh | $151 |
| Apr | 5.61 | 1,008 kWh | $156 |
| May | 6.36 | 1,152 kWh | $178 |
| Jun | 5.88 | 1,008 kWh | $156 |
| Jul | 6.31 | 1,112 kWh | $172 |
| Aug | 5.87 | 1,040 kWh | $161 |
| Sep | 5.50 | 944 kWh | $146 |
| Oct | 5.10 | 944 kWh | $146 |
| Nov | 3.81 | 720 kWh | $111 |
| Dec | 3.35 | 672 kWh | $104 |
| Year | 5.06 | 11,048 kWh | $1,710 |
Savings at 15.48¢ per kWh (Georgia average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.50 per watt, the Georgia average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,000 | $855 | 12.0 yrs | $10,143 |
| 6 kW | $15,000 | $1,283 | 12.0 yrs | $15,215 |
| 8 kW | $20,000 | $1,710 | 12.0 yrs | $20,286 |
| 10 kW | $25,000 | $2,138 | 12.0 yrs | $25,358 |
| 12 kW | $30,000 | $2,565 | 12.0 yrs | $30,429 |
How many panels you need in Atlanta
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.34 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.52 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.69 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.03 kW | 33 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.38 kW | 44 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,381 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Atlanta?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,000 before incentives, saves about $1,710 in its first year and pays back in about 12.0 years.
How many peak sun hours does Atlanta get?
About 5.06 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.4 in Dec to 6.4 in May, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Atlanta?
About 1,381 kWh a year, or 115 kWh a month on average.
Is there a federal solar tax credit?
Not for homeowners who buy their system. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- EnergySage, Solar panel cost by state (updated November 6, 2026): https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (residential price, Jan–Aug 2026): https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b