Solar Panel Calculator for Phoenix, AZ
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Phoenix, AZ, using local NREL sunshine data, Arizona prices and electricity rates.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Phoenix gets about 6.51 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,751 kWh a year. That ranks #6 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Phoenix by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Phoenix
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.88 | 944 kWh | $145 |
| Feb | 5.58 | 976 kWh | $150 |
| Mar | 6.64 | 1,240 kWh | $190 |
| Apr | 7.73 | 1,376 kWh | $211 |
| May | 7.96 | 1,424 kWh | $219 |
| Jun | 8.07 | 1,360 kWh | $209 |
| Jul | 7.37 | 1,288 kWh | $198 |
| Aug | 7.26 | 1,264 kWh | $194 |
| Sep | 6.88 | 1,184 kWh | $182 |
| Oct | 6.10 | 1,128 kWh | $173 |
| Nov | 5.38 | 992 kWh | $152 |
| Dec | 4.28 | 848 kWh | $130 |
| Year | 6.51 | 14,008 kWh | $2,152 |
Savings at 15.36¢ per kWh (Arizona average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.25 per watt, the Arizona average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,000 | $1,076 | 8.5 yrs | $16,342 |
| 6 kW | $13,500 | $1,614 | 8.5 yrs | $24,513 |
| 8 kW | $18,000 | $2,152 | 8.5 yrs | $32,684 |
| 10 kW | $22,500 | $2,690 | 8.5 yrs | $40,855 |
| 12 kW | $27,000 | $3,227 | 8.5 yrs | $49,025 |
How many panels you need in Phoenix
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.43 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 5.14 kW | 13 |
| 1,000 kWh | 6.85 kW | 18 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.28 kW | 26 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.71 kW | 35 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,751 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Phoenix?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,000 before incentives, saves about $2,152 in its first year and pays back in about 8.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Phoenix get?
About 6.51 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.3 in Dec to 8.1 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Phoenix?
About 1,751 kWh a year, or 146 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