Solar Panel Calculator for Cleveland, OH
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Cleveland, OH, using local NREL sunshine data, Ohio prices and electricity rates.
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Cleveland gets about 4.53 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,307 kWh a year. That ranks #88 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Cleveland by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Cleveland
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.21 | 472 kWh | $89 |
| Feb | 3.36 | 640 kWh | $120 |
| Mar | 4.25 | 872 kWh | $164 |
| Apr | 5.31 | 1,024 kWh | $193 |
| May | 6.06 | 1,160 kWh | $218 |
| Jun | 6.75 | 1,232 kWh | $232 |
| Jul | 6.59 | 1,224 kWh | $230 |
| Aug | 6.34 | 1,192 kWh | $224 |
| Sep | 5.33 | 976 kWh | $184 |
| Oct | 3.81 | 760 kWh | $143 |
| Nov | 2.47 | 496 kWh | $93 |
| Dec | 1.92 | 400 kWh | $75 |
| Year | 4.53 | 10,456 kWh | $1,967 |
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 | $983 | 10.7 yrs | $12,925 |
| 6 kW | $15,360 | $1,475 | 10.7 yrs | $19,387 |
| 8 kW | $20,480 | $1,967 | 10.7 yrs | $25,849 |
| 10 kW | $25,600 | $2,458 | 10.7 yrs | $32,312 |
| 12 kW | $30,720 | $2,950 | 10.7 yrs | $38,774 |
How many panels you need in Cleveland
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.59 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.89 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.18 kW | 23 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.77 kW | 35 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.36 kW | 46 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,307 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Cleveland?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,480 before incentives, saves about $1,967 in its first year and pays back in about 10.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Cleveland get?
About 4.53 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.9 in Dec to 6.8 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Cleveland?
About 1,307 kWh a year, or 109 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