Solar Panel Calculator for New York, NY
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in New York, NY, using local NREL sunshine data, New York prices and electricity rates.
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New York gets about 4.59 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,291 kWh a year. That ranks #82 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in New York by month
What an 8 kW system makes in New York
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.92 | 616 kWh | $180 |
| Feb | 3.95 | 744 kWh | $218 |
| Mar | 4.56 | 912 kWh | $267 |
| Apr | 4.89 | 904 kWh | $265 |
| May | 5.92 | 1,112 kWh | $325 |
| Jun | 6.22 | 1,096 kWh | $321 |
| Jul | 6.18 | 1,112 kWh | $325 |
| Aug | 5.54 | 992 kWh | $290 |
| Sep | 5.24 | 928 kWh | $272 |
| Oct | 4.08 | 784 kWh | $229 |
| Nov | 3.06 | 600 kWh | $176 |
| Dec | 2.54 | 528 kWh | $154 |
| Year | 4.59 | 10,328 kWh | $3,022 |
Savings at 29.26¢ per kWh (New York average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.77 per watt, the New York average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $11,080 | $1,511 | 7.5 yrs | $24,513 |
| 6 kW | $16,620 | $2,266 | 7.5 yrs | $36,769 |
| 8 kW | $22,160 | $3,022 | 7.5 yrs | $49,025 |
| 10 kW | $27,700 | $3,777 | 7.5 yrs | $61,282 |
| 12 kW | $33,240 | $4,533 | 7.5 yrs | $73,538 |
How many panels you need in New York
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.65 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.97 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.30 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.94 kW | 35 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.59 kW | 47 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,291 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in New York?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $22,160 before incentives, saves about $3,022 in its first year and pays back in about 7.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does New York get?
About 4.59 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.5 in Dec to 6.2 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in New York?
About 1,291 kWh a year, or 108 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