Solar Panel Calculator for Cincinnati, OH
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Cincinnati, OH, using local NREL sunshine data, Ohio prices and electricity rates.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Cincinnati gets about 4.70 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,278 kWh a year. That ranks #74 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Cincinnati by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Cincinnati
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.94 | 608 kWh | $114 |
| Feb | 3.49 | 632 kWh | $119 |
| Mar | 4.19 | 824 kWh | $155 |
| Apr | 5.25 | 944 kWh | $178 |
| May | 5.98 | 1,072 kWh | $202 |
| Jun | 6.39 | 1,080 kWh | $203 |
| Jul | 6.18 | 1,064 kWh | $200 |
| Aug | 6.36 | 1,104 kWh | $208 |
| Sep | 5.36 | 936 kWh | $176 |
| Oct | 4.50 | 832 kWh | $156 |
| Nov | 3.22 | 608 kWh | $114 |
| Dec | 2.58 | 528 kWh | $99 |
| Year | 4.70 | 10,224 kWh | $1,923 |
Savings at 18.81¢ per kWh (Ohio average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.56 per watt, the Ohio average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,240 | $962 | 10.9 yrs | $12,411 |
| 6 kW | $15,360 | $1,442 | 10.9 yrs | $18,616 |
| 8 kW | $20,480 | $1,923 | 10.9 yrs | $24,821 |
| 10 kW | $25,600 | $2,404 | 10.9 yrs | $31,027 |
| 12 kW | $30,720 | $2,885 | 10.9 yrs | $37,232 |
How many panels you need in Cincinnati
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.69 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 7.04 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.39 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.08 kW | 36 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.78 kW | 47 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,278 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Cincinnati?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,480 before incentives, saves about $1,923 in its first year and pays back in about 10.9 years.
How many peak sun hours does Cincinnati get?
About 4.70 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.6 in Dec to 6.4 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Cincinnati?
About 1,278 kWh a year, or 106 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