Solar Panel Calculator for Burlington, VT
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Burlington, VT, using local NREL sunshine data, Vermont prices and electricity rates.
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Burlington gets about 4.32 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,212 kWh a year. That ranks #102 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Burlington by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Burlington
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.40 | 512 kWh | $123 |
| Feb | 3.52 | 672 kWh | $161 |
| Mar | 4.66 | 944 kWh | $226 |
| Apr | 5.18 | 968 kWh | $232 |
| May | 5.52 | 1,016 kWh | $243 |
| Jun | 5.97 | 1,040 kWh | $249 |
| Jul | 6.22 | 1,112 kWh | $266 |
| Aug | 5.83 | 1,056 kWh | $253 |
| Sep | 5.19 | 928 kWh | $222 |
| Oct | 3.08 | 592 kWh | $142 |
| Nov | 2.38 | 464 kWh | $111 |
| Dec | 1.94 | 408 kWh | $98 |
| Year | 4.32 | 9,696 kWh | $2,320 |
Savings at 23.93¢ per kWh (Vermont average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.78 per watt, the Vermont average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $11,120 | $1,160 | 9.8 yrs | $16,208 |
| 6 kW | $16,680 | $1,740 | 9.8 yrs | $24,312 |
| 8 kW | $22,240 | $2,320 | 9.8 yrs | $32,416 |
| 10 kW | $27,800 | $2,900 | 9.8 yrs | $40,520 |
| 12 kW | $33,360 | $3,480 | 9.8 yrs | $48,624 |
How many panels you need in Burlington
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.95 kW | 13 |
| 750 kWh | 7.43 kW | 19 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.90 kW | 25 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.85 kW | 38 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.80 kW | 50 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,212 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Burlington?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $22,240 before incentives, saves about $2,320 in its first year and pays back in about 9.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Burlington get?
About 4.32 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.9 in Dec to 6.2 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Burlington?
About 1,212 kWh a year, or 101 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