Solar Panel Calculator for Buffalo, NY
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Buffalo, NY, using local NREL sunshine data, New York prices and electricity rates.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Buffalo gets about 4.34 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,225 kWh a year. That ranks #98 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Buffalo by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Buffalo
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.23 | 472 kWh | $138 |
| Feb | 3.11 | 584 kWh | $171 |
| Mar | 4.31 | 872 kWh | $255 |
| Apr | 5.18 | 976 kWh | $286 |
| May | 6.01 | 1,120 kWh | $328 |
| Jun | 6.27 | 1,112 kWh | $325 |
| Jul | 6.76 | 1,224 kWh | $358 |
| Aug | 5.84 | 1,064 kWh | $311 |
| Sep | 5.21 | 936 kWh | $274 |
| Oct | 3.37 | 664 kWh | $194 |
| Nov | 2.13 | 416 kWh | $122 |
| Dec | 1.72 | 360 kWh | $105 |
| Year | 4.34 | 9,800 kWh | $2,867 |
Savings at 29.26¢ per kWh (New York average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.77 per watt, the New York average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $11,080 | $1,434 | 7.9 yrs | $22,693 |
| 6 kW | $16,620 | $2,151 | 7.9 yrs | $34,040 |
| 8 kW | $22,160 | $2,867 | 7.9 yrs | $45,386 |
| 10 kW | $27,700 | $3,584 | 7.9 yrs | $56,733 |
| 12 kW | $33,240 | $4,301 | 7.9 yrs | $68,079 |
How many panels you need in Buffalo
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.90 kW | 13 |
| 750 kWh | 7.35 kW | 19 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.80 kW | 25 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.69 kW | 37 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.59 kW | 49 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,225 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Buffalo?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $22,160 before incentives, saves about $2,867 in its first year and pays back in about 7.9 years.
How many peak sun hours does Buffalo get?
About 4.34 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.7 in Dec to 6.8 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Buffalo?
About 1,225 kWh a year, or 102 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