Solar Panel Calculator for Colorado Springs, CO
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Colorado Springs, CO, using local NREL sunshine data, Colorado prices and electricity rates.
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Colorado Springs gets about 5.99 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,682 kWh a year. That ranks #18 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Colorado Springs by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Colorado Springs
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.21 | 864 kWh | $145 |
| Feb | 4.83 | 888 kWh | $149 |
| Mar | 6.17 | 1,208 kWh | $203 |
| Apr | 6.70 | 1,248 kWh | $210 |
| May | 7.12 | 1,328 kWh | $223 |
| Jun | 7.52 | 1,320 kWh | $222 |
| Jul | 7.27 | 1,304 kWh | $219 |
| Aug | 7.12 | 1,288 kWh | $216 |
| Sep | 6.61 | 1,192 kWh | $200 |
| Oct | 5.68 | 1,104 kWh | $185 |
| Nov | 4.62 | 896 kWh | $151 |
| Dec | 3.99 | 824 kWh | $138 |
| Year | 5.99 | 13,456 kWh | $2,261 |
Savings at 16.80¢ per kWh (Colorado average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.63 per watt, the Colorado average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,520 | $1,130 | 9.5 yrs | $16,105 |
| 6 kW | $15,780 | $1,695 | 9.5 yrs | $24,158 |
| 8 kW | $21,040 | $2,261 | 9.5 yrs | $32,211 |
| 10 kW | $26,300 | $2,826 | 9.5 yrs | $40,263 |
| 12 kW | $31,560 | $3,391 | 9.5 yrs | $48,316 |
How many panels you need in Colorado Springs
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.57 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 5.35 kW | 14 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.13 kW | 18 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.70 kW | 27 |
| 2,000 kWh | 14.27 kW | 36 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,682 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Colorado Springs?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $21,040 before incentives, saves about $2,261 in its first year and pays back in about 9.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Colorado Springs get?
About 5.99 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.0 in Dec to 7.5 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Colorado Springs?
About 1,682 kWh a year, or 140 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