Solar Panel Calculator for Columbus, OH
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Columbus, OH, using local NREL sunshine data, Ohio prices and electricity rates.
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Columbus gets about 4.62 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,320 kWh a year. That ranks #79 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Columbus by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Columbus
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.69 | 576 kWh | $108 |
| Feb | 3.64 | 688 kWh | $129 |
| Mar | 4.09 | 832 kWh | $156 |
| Apr | 5.16 | 984 kWh | $185 |
| May | 5.97 | 1,128 kWh | $212 |
| Jun | 6.43 | 1,144 kWh | $215 |
| Jul | 6.15 | 1,128 kWh | $212 |
| Aug | 6.03 | 1,112 kWh | $209 |
| Sep | 5.52 | 1,008 kWh | $190 |
| Oct | 4.28 | 848 kWh | $160 |
| Nov | 3.01 | 600 kWh | $113 |
| Dec | 2.47 | 520 kWh | $98 |
| Year | 4.62 | 10,560 kWh | $1,986 |
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 | $993 | 10.6 yrs | $13,155 |
| 6 kW | $15,360 | $1,490 | 10.6 yrs | $19,733 |
| 8 kW | $20,480 | $1,986 | 10.6 yrs | $26,310 |
| 10 kW | $25,600 | $2,483 | 10.6 yrs | $32,888 |
| 12 kW | $30,720 | $2,980 | 10.6 yrs | $39,465 |
How many panels you need in Columbus
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.55 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.82 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.09 kW | 23 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.64 kW | 35 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.18 kW | 46 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,320 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Columbus?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,480 before incentives, saves about $1,986 in its first year and pays back in about 10.6 years.
How many peak sun hours does Columbus get?
About 4.62 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.5 in Dec to 6.4 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Columbus?
About 1,320 kWh a year, or 110 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