Solar Panel Calculator for Austin, TX
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Austin, TX, using local NREL sunshine data, Texas prices and electricity rates.
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Austin gets about 5.43 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,489 kWh a year. That ranks #39 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Aug and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Austin by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Austin
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.04 | 800 kWh | $128 |
| Feb | 4.56 | 808 kWh | $130 |
| Mar | 4.94 | 944 kWh | $151 |
| Apr | 5.90 | 1,072 kWh | $172 |
| May | 6.10 | 1,112 kWh | $178 |
| Jun | 6.36 | 1,112 kWh | $178 |
| Jul | 6.80 | 1,216 kWh | $195 |
| Aug | 6.88 | 1,216 kWh | $195 |
| Sep | 5.93 | 1,048 kWh | $168 |
| Oct | 5.22 | 984 kWh | $158 |
| Nov | 4.62 | 864 kWh | $138 |
| Dec | 3.78 | 760 kWh | $122 |
| Year | 5.43 | 11,912 kWh | $1,909 |
Savings at 16.03¢ per kWh (Texas average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.26 per watt, the Texas average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,040 | $955 | 9.7 yrs | $13,450 |
| 6 kW | $13,560 | $1,432 | 9.7 yrs | $20,175 |
| 8 kW | $18,080 | $1,909 | 9.7 yrs | $26,900 |
| 10 kW | $22,600 | $2,387 | 9.7 yrs | $33,625 |
| 12 kW | $27,120 | $2,864 | 9.7 yrs | $40,350 |
How many panels you need in Austin
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.03 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.04 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.06 kW | 21 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.09 kW | 31 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.12 kW | 41 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,489 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Austin?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,080 before incentives, saves about $1,909 in its first year and pays back in about 9.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Austin get?
About 5.43 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.8 in Dec to 6.9 in Aug, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Austin?
About 1,489 kWh a year, or 124 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