Solar Panel Calculator for Charlotte, NC
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Charlotte, NC, using local NREL sunshine data, North Carolina prices and electricity rates.
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Charlotte gets about 5.28 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,467 kWh a year. That ranks #45 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Charlotte by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Charlotte
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.04 | 832 kWh | $124 |
| Feb | 4.65 | 840 kWh | $125 |
| Mar | 5.28 | 1,032 kWh | $154 |
| Apr | 5.92 | 1,088 kWh | $163 |
| May | 6.39 | 1,184 kWh | $177 |
| Jun | 6.51 | 1,136 kWh | $170 |
| Jul | 6.48 | 1,160 kWh | $173 |
| Aug | 5.95 | 1,064 kWh | $159 |
| Sep | 5.73 | 1,024 kWh | $153 |
| Oct | 4.71 | 896 kWh | $134 |
| Nov | 4.26 | 808 kWh | $121 |
| Dec | 3.43 | 696 kWh | $104 |
| Year | 5.28 | 11,736 kWh | $1,753 |
Savings at 14.94¢ per kWh (North Carolina average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.44 per watt, the North Carolina average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,760 | $877 | 11.4 yrs | $10,891 |
| 6 kW | $14,640 | $1,315 | 11.4 yrs | $16,337 |
| 8 kW | $19,520 | $1,753 | 11.4 yrs | $21,782 |
| 10 kW | $24,400 | $2,192 | 11.4 yrs | $27,228 |
| 12 kW | $29,280 | $2,630 | 11.4 yrs | $32,673 |
How many panels you need in Charlotte
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.09 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.13 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.18 kW | 21 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.27 kW | 31 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.36 kW | 41 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,467 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Charlotte?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $19,520 before incentives, saves about $1,753 in its first year and pays back in about 11.4 years.
How many peak sun hours does Charlotte get?
About 5.28 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.4 in Dec to 6.5 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Charlotte?
About 1,467 kWh a year, or 122 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