Solar Panel Calculator for Denver, CO
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Denver, CO, using local NREL sunshine data, Colorado prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Denver gets about 5.42 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,527 kWh a year. That ranks #41 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Denver by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Denver
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.86 | 800 kWh | $134 |
| Feb | 4.59 | 848 kWh | $142 |
| Mar | 5.64 | 1,112 kWh | $187 |
| Apr | 6.09 | 1,152 kWh | $194 |
| May | 6.36 | 1,200 kWh | $202 |
| Jun | 6.96 | 1,224 kWh | $206 |
| Jul | 6.79 | 1,216 kWh | $204 |
| Aug | 6.15 | 1,112 kWh | $187 |
| Sep | 6.04 | 1,080 kWh | $181 |
| Oct | 4.83 | 928 kWh | $156 |
| Nov | 4.08 | 792 kWh | $133 |
| Dec | 3.70 | 760 kWh | $128 |
| Year | 5.42 | 12,216 kWh | $2,052 |
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 | $1,026 | 10.5 yrs | $13,652 |
| 6 kW | $15,780 | $1,539 | 10.5 yrs | $20,478 |
| 8 kW | $21,040 | $2,052 | 10.5 yrs | $27,304 |
| 10 kW | $26,300 | $2,565 | 10.5 yrs | $34,129 |
| 12 kW | $31,560 | $3,078 | 10.5 yrs | $40,955 |
How many panels you need in Denver
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.93 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.89 kW | 15 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.86 kW | 20 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.79 kW | 30 |
| 2,000 kWh | 15.72 kW | 40 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,527 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Denver?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $21,040 before incentives, saves about $2,052 in its first year and pays back in about 10.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Denver get?
About 5.42 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.7 in Dec to 7.0 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Denver?
About 1,527 kWh a year, or 127 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