Solar Panel Calculator for Baltimore, MD
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Baltimore, MD, using local NREL sunshine data, Maryland prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Baltimore gets about 4.93 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,407 kWh a year. That ranks #63 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Baltimore by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Baltimore
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.12 | 656 kWh | $140 |
| Feb | 4.22 | 792 kWh | $169 |
| Mar | 5.28 | 1,064 kWh | $227 |
| Apr | 5.61 | 1,064 kWh | $227 |
| May | 6.18 | 1,168 kWh | $249 |
| Jun | 6.25 | 1,112 kWh | $237 |
| Jul | 6.57 | 1,200 kWh | $256 |
| Aug | 6.04 | 1,104 kWh | $235 |
| Sep | 5.02 | 912 kWh | $194 |
| Oct | 4.37 | 864 kWh | $184 |
| Nov | 3.52 | 696 kWh | $148 |
| Dec | 3.01 | 632 kWh | $135 |
| Year | 4.93 | 11,256 kWh | $2,399 |
Savings at 21.31¢ per kWh (Maryland average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.55 per watt, the Maryland average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,200 | $1,199 | 8.7 yrs | $18,051 |
| 6 kW | $15,300 | $1,799 | 8.7 yrs | $27,077 |
| 8 kW | $20,400 | $2,399 | 8.7 yrs | $36,103 |
| 10 kW | $25,500 | $2,998 | 8.7 yrs | $45,128 |
| 12 kW | $30,600 | $3,598 | 8.7 yrs | $54,154 |
How many panels you need in Baltimore
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.26 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.40 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.53 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.79 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.06 kW | 43 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,407 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Baltimore?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,400 before incentives, saves about $2,399 in its first year and pays back in about 8.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Baltimore get?
About 4.93 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.0 in Dec to 6.6 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Baltimore?
About 1,407 kWh a year, or 117 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