Solar Panel Calculator for Kansas City, MO
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Kansas City, MO, using local NREL sunshine data, Missouri prices and electricity rates.
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Kansas City gets about 5.10 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,448 kWh a year. That ranks #56 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Kansas City by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Kansas City
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.53 | 752 kWh | $107 |
| Feb | 4.10 | 768 kWh | $110 |
| Mar | 4.69 | 936 kWh | $134 |
| Apr | 5.58 | 1,048 kWh | $150 |
| May | 6.00 | 1,136 kWh | $162 |
| Jun | 6.70 | 1,200 kWh | $171 |
| Jul | 6.45 | 1,168 kWh | $167 |
| Aug | 6.37 | 1,144 kWh | $163 |
| Sep | 5.85 | 1,064 kWh | $152 |
| Oct | 4.80 | 944 kWh | $135 |
| Nov | 3.72 | 736 kWh | $105 |
| Dec | 3.38 | 704 kWh | $101 |
| Year | 5.10 | 11,584 kWh | $1,654 |
Savings at 14.28¢ per kWh (Missouri average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.49 per watt, the Missouri average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,960 | $827 | 12.4 yrs | $9,523 |
| 6 kW | $14,940 | $1,241 | 12.4 yrs | $14,285 |
| 8 kW | $19,920 | $1,654 | 12.4 yrs | $19,046 |
| 10 kW | $24,900 | $2,068 | 12.4 yrs | $23,808 |
| 12 kW | $29,880 | $2,481 | 12.4 yrs | $28,569 |
How many panels you need in Kansas City
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.14 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.22 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.29 kW | 21 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.43 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.57 kW | 42 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,448 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Kansas City?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $19,920 before incentives, saves about $1,654 in its first year and pays back in about 12.4 years.
How many peak sun hours does Kansas City get?
About 5.10 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.4 in Dec to 6.7 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Kansas City?
About 1,448 kWh a year, or 121 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