Solar Panel Calculator for Montreal, QC
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Montreal, QC, using local NREL sunshine data, provincial prices and the local electricity rate.
Your result
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Montreal gets about 4.34 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,267 kWh a year. That ranks #100 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Montreal by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Montreal
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.52 | 560 kWh | C$46 |
| Feb | 3.43 | 680 kWh | C$56 |
| Mar | 4.97 | 1,032 kWh | C$86 |
| Apr | 4.96 | 960 kWh | C$80 |
| May | 5.95 | 1,136 kWh | C$94 |
| Jun | 5.92 | 1,088 kWh | C$90 |
| Jul | 6.11 | 1,152 kWh | C$96 |
| Aug | 5.86 | 1,104 kWh | C$92 |
| Sep | 5.14 | 960 kWh | C$80 |
| Oct | 3.15 | 640 kWh | C$53 |
| Nov | 2.23 | 448 kWh | C$37 |
| Dec | 1.81 | 392 kWh | C$32 |
| Year | 4.34 | 10,136 kWh | C$840 |
Savings at 8.29¢ per kWh, with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At C$2.94 per watt, the midpoint of the Quebec range, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | C$11,760 | C$420 | over 25 | −C$1,863 |
| 6 kW | C$17,640 | C$630 | over 25 | −C$2,795 |
| 8 kW | C$23,520 | C$840 | over 25 | −C$3,727 |
| 10 kW | C$29,400 | C$1,050 | over 25 | −C$4,658 |
| 12 kW | C$35,280 | C$1,260 | over 25 | −C$5,590 |
How many panels you need in Montreal
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.74 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 7.10 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.47 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.21 kW | 36 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.94 kW | 48 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,267 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Montreal?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about C$23,520 before incentives, saves about C$840 in its first year and does not pay back within 25 years without incentives.
How many peak sun hours does Montreal get?
About 4.34 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.8 in Dec to 6.1 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Montreal?
About 1,267 kWh a year, or 106 kWh a month on average.
Are there solar incentives in Canada?
Programs change often and differ by province and utility. Check with your provincial energy department and your utility before you buy.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- Hydro-Québec, Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities, 2025 (1,000 kWh a month, before tax): https://www.hydroquebec.com/data/documents-donnees/pdf/comparaison-prix-2025-en.pdf
- Green Building Canada, Solar panel costs in Canada by province (2026): https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/solar-panels-cost-canada/