Solar Panel Calculator for Nashville, TN
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Nashville, TN, using local NREL sunshine data, Tennessee prices and electricity rates.
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Nashville gets about 4.86 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,352 kWh a year. That ranks #65 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Jan.
Sunshine in Nashville by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Nashville
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.98 | 608 kWh | $84 |
| Feb | 3.80 | 696 kWh | $96 |
| Mar | 4.75 | 936 kWh | $129 |
| Apr | 5.38 | 984 kWh | $136 |
| May | 6.19 | 1,152 kWh | $159 |
| Jun | 6.55 | 1,144 kWh | $158 |
| Jul | 6.04 | 1,088 kWh | $150 |
| Aug | 5.84 | 1,040 kWh | $144 |
| Sep | 5.42 | 968 kWh | $134 |
| Oct | 4.41 | 832 kWh | $115 |
| Nov | 3.81 | 736 kWh | $102 |
| Dec | 3.12 | 640 kWh | $88 |
| Year | 4.86 | 10,816 kWh | $1,493 |
Savings at 13.80¢ per kWh (Tennessee average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $3.48 per watt, the Tennessee average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $13,920 | $746 | 19.5 yrs | $3,660 |
| 6 kW | $20,880 | $1,119 | 19.5 yrs | $5,490 |
| 8 kW | $27,840 | $1,493 | 19.5 yrs | $7,320 |
| 10 kW | $34,800 | $1,866 | 19.5 yrs | $9,150 |
| 12 kW | $41,760 | $2,239 | 19.5 yrs | $10,980 |
How many panels you need in Nashville
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.44 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.66 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.88 kW | 23 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.31 kW | 34 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.75 kW | 45 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,352 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Nashville?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $27,840 before incentives, saves about $1,493 in its first year and pays back in about 19.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Nashville get?
About 4.86 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.0 in Jan to 6.5 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Nashville?
About 1,352 kWh a year, or 113 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