Solar Panel Calculator for Long Beach, CA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Long Beach, CA, using local NREL sunshine data, California prices and electricity rates.
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Long Beach gets about 5.97 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,656 kWh a year. That ranks #19 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Aug and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Long Beach by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Long Beach
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.26 | 832 kWh | $271 |
| Feb | 4.89 | 856 kWh | $279 |
| Mar | 6.15 | 1,168 kWh | $381 |
| Apr | 6.84 | 1,248 kWh | $407 |
| May | 6.87 | 1,280 kWh | $417 |
| Jun | 7.04 | 1,280 kWh | $417 |
| Jul | 7.20 | 1,320 kWh | $430 |
| Aug | 7.27 | 1,328 kWh | $433 |
| Sep | 6.62 | 1,184 kWh | $386 |
| Oct | 5.65 | 1,056 kWh | $344 |
| Nov | 5.00 | 928 kWh | $302 |
| Dec | 3.90 | 768 kWh | $250 |
| Year | 5.97 | 13,248 kWh | $4,316 |
Savings at 32.58¢ per kWh (California average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.52 per watt, the California average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,080 | $2,158 | 4.7 yrs | $40,756 |
| 6 kW | $15,120 | $3,237 | 4.7 yrs | $61,134 |
| 8 kW | $20,160 | $4,316 | 4.7 yrs | $81,512 |
| 10 kW | $25,200 | $5,395 | 4.7 yrs | $101,890 |
| 12 kW | $30,240 | $6,474 | 4.7 yrs | $122,268 |
How many panels you need in Long Beach
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.62 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.43 kW | 14 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.25 kW | 19 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.87 kW | 28 |
| 2,000 kWh | 14.49 kW | 37 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,656 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Long Beach?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,160 before incentives, saves about $4,316 in its first year and pays back in about 4.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Long Beach get?
About 5.97 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.9 in Dec to 7.3 in Aug, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Long Beach?
About 1,656 kWh a year, or 138 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