Solar Panel Calculator for Oakland, CA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Oakland, CA, using local NREL sunshine data, California prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Oakland gets about 5.61 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,571 kWh a year. That ranks #26 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Oakland by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Oakland
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.35 | 672 kWh | $219 |
| Feb | 3.94 | 704 kWh | $229 |
| Mar | 5.68 | 1,104 kWh | $360 |
| Apr | 6.73 | 1,240 kWh | $404 |
| May | 7.21 | 1,368 kWh | $446 |
| Jun | 7.72 | 1,392 kWh | $454 |
| Jul | 7.34 | 1,360 kWh | $443 |
| Aug | 7.04 | 1,304 kWh | $425 |
| Sep | 6.20 | 1,104 kWh | $360 |
| Oct | 4.96 | 936 kWh | $305 |
| Nov | 3.95 | 744 kWh | $242 |
| Dec | 3.22 | 640 kWh | $209 |
| Year | 5.61 | 12,568 kWh | $4,095 |
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 | $2,047 | 5.0 yrs | $38,147 |
| 6 kW | $15,120 | $3,071 | 5.0 yrs | $57,220 |
| 8 kW | $20,160 | $4,095 | 5.0 yrs | $76,293 |
| 10 kW | $25,200 | $5,118 | 5.0 yrs | $95,367 |
| 12 kW | $30,240 | $6,142 | 5.0 yrs | $114,440 |
How many panels you need in Oakland
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.82 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.73 kW | 15 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.64 kW | 20 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.46 kW | 29 |
| 2,000 kWh | 15.28 kW | 39 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,571 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Oakland?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,160 before incentives, saves about $4,095 in its first year and pays back in about 5.0 years.
How many peak sun hours does Oakland get?
About 5.61 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.2 in Dec to 7.7 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Oakland?
About 1,571 kWh a year, or 131 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