Solar Panel Calculator for Pittsburgh, PA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Pittsburgh, PA, using local NREL sunshine data, Pennsylvania prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Pittsburgh gets about 4.43 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,206 kWh a year. That ranks #94 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Pittsburgh by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Pittsburgh
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.53 | 520 kWh | $110 |
| Feb | 3.29 | 600 kWh | $127 |
| Mar | 4.46 | 880 kWh | $186 |
| Apr | 5.34 | 960 kWh | $203 |
| May | 5.93 | 1,064 kWh | $225 |
| Jun | 5.97 | 1,016 kWh | $215 |
| Jul | 6.17 | 1,072 kWh | $227 |
| Aug | 5.81 | 1,016 kWh | $215 |
| Sep | 5.10 | 880 kWh | $186 |
| Oct | 3.83 | 720 kWh | $152 |
| Nov | 2.92 | 552 kWh | $117 |
| Dec | 1.82 | 368 kWh | $78 |
| Year | 4.43 | 9,648 kWh | $2,039 |
Savings at 21.13¢ per kWh (Pennsylvania average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the Pennsylvania average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $1,019 | 10.4 yrs | $13,611 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,529 | 10.4 yrs | $20,416 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $2,039 | 10.4 yrs | $27,222 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $2,548 | 10.4 yrs | $34,027 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $3,058 | 10.4 yrs | $40,833 |
How many panels you need in Pittsburgh
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.98 kW | 13 |
| 750 kWh | 7.46 kW | 19 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.95 kW | 25 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.93 kW | 38 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.90 kW | 50 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,206 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Pittsburgh?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $2,039 in its first year and pays back in about 10.4 years.
How many peak sun hours does Pittsburgh get?
About 4.43 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.8 in Dec to 6.2 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Pittsburgh?
About 1,206 kWh a year, or 100 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