Solar Panel Calculator for Houston, TX
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Houston, TX, using local NREL sunshine data, Texas prices and electricity rates.
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Houston gets about 5.22 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,437 kWh a year. That ranks #50 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Houston by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Houston
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.97 | 784 kWh | $126 |
| Feb | 4.05 | 712 kWh | $114 |
| Mar | 5.34 | 1,024 kWh | $164 |
| Apr | 5.46 | 992 kWh | $159 |
| May | 6.10 | 1,120 kWh | $180 |
| Jun | 6.19 | 1,096 kWh | $176 |
| Jul | 6.35 | 1,136 kWh | $182 |
| Aug | 6.32 | 1,144 kWh | $183 |
| Sep | 5.59 | 984 kWh | $158 |
| Oct | 5.30 | 976 kWh | $156 |
| Nov | 4.41 | 824 kWh | $132 |
| Dec | 3.53 | 704 kWh | $113 |
| Year | 5.22 | 11,496 kWh | $1,843 |
Savings at 16.03¢ per kWh (Texas average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.26 per watt, the Texas average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,040 | $921 | 10.0 yrs | $12,665 |
| 6 kW | $13,560 | $1,382 | 10.0 yrs | $18,997 |
| 8 kW | $18,080 | $1,843 | 10.0 yrs | $25,329 |
| 10 kW | $22,600 | $2,304 | 10.0 yrs | $31,661 |
| 12 kW | $27,120 | $2,764 | 10.0 yrs | $37,994 |
How many panels you need in Houston
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.18 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.26 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.35 kW | 21 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.53 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.70 kW | 42 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,437 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Houston?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,080 before incentives, saves about $1,843 in its first year and pays back in about 10.0 years.
How many peak sun hours does Houston get?
About 5.22 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.5 in Dec to 6.3 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Houston?
About 1,437 kWh a year, or 120 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