Solar Panel Calculator for Little Rock, AR
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Little Rock, AR, using local NREL sunshine data, Arkansas prices and electricity rates.
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Little Rock gets about 5.12 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,409 kWh a year. That ranks #54 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Little Rock by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Little Rock
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.53 | 712 kWh | $98 |
| Feb | 4.21 | 760 kWh | $104 |
| Mar | 4.89 | 952 kWh | $131 |
| Apr | 5.52 | 1,008 kWh | $138 |
| May | 5.87 | 1,080 kWh | $148 |
| Jun | 6.73 | 1,168 kWh | $160 |
| Jul | 6.57 | 1,152 kWh | $158 |
| Aug | 6.22 | 1,096 kWh | $151 |
| Sep | 5.89 | 1,032 kWh | $142 |
| Oct | 4.74 | 896 kWh | $123 |
| Nov | 4.13 | 784 kWh | $108 |
| Dec | 3.20 | 640 kWh | $88 |
| Year | 5.12 | 11,272 kWh | $1,549 |
Savings at 13.74¢ per kWh (Arkansas average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.37 per watt, the Arkansas average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,480 | $774 | 12.6 yrs | $8,761 |
| 6 kW | $14,220 | $1,162 | 12.6 yrs | $13,142 |
| 8 kW | $18,960 | $1,549 | 12.6 yrs | $17,523 |
| 10 kW | $23,700 | $1,936 | 12.6 yrs | $21,904 |
| 12 kW | $28,440 | $2,323 | 12.6 yrs | $26,284 |
How many panels you need in Little Rock
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.26 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.39 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.52 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.78 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.03 kW | 43 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,409 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Little Rock?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,960 before incentives, saves about $1,549 in its first year and pays back in about 12.6 years.
How many peak sun hours does Little Rock get?
About 5.12 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.2 in Dec to 6.7 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Little Rock?
About 1,409 kWh a year, or 117 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