Solar Panel Calculator for Raleigh, NC
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Raleigh, NC, using local NREL sunshine data, North Carolina prices and electricity rates.
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Raleigh gets about 5.13 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,369 kWh a year. That ranks #53 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Raleigh by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Raleigh
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.78 | 744 kWh | $111 |
| Feb | 4.28 | 744 kWh | $111 |
| Mar | 5.25 | 984 kWh | $147 |
| Apr | 6.14 | 1,072 kWh | $160 |
| May | 6.10 | 1,080 kWh | $161 |
| Jun | 6.30 | 1,048 kWh | $157 |
| Jul | 6.37 | 1,088 kWh | $163 |
| Aug | 5.82 | 1,000 kWh | $149 |
| Sep | 5.52 | 944 kWh | $141 |
| Oct | 4.54 | 840 kWh | $125 |
| Nov | 4.27 | 784 kWh | $117 |
| Dec | 3.21 | 632 kWh | $94 |
| Year | 5.13 | 10,952 kWh | $1,636 |
Savings at 14.94¢ per kWh (North Carolina average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.44 per watt, the North Carolina average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,760 | $818 | 12.3 yrs | $9,511 |
| 6 kW | $14,640 | $1,227 | 12.3 yrs | $14,267 |
| 8 kW | $19,520 | $1,636 | 12.3 yrs | $19,023 |
| 10 kW | $24,400 | $2,045 | 12.3 yrs | $23,779 |
| 12 kW | $29,280 | $2,454 | 12.3 yrs | $28,534 |
How many panels you need in Raleigh
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.38 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.57 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.77 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.15 kW | 33 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.53 kW | 44 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,369 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Raleigh?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $19,520 before incentives, saves about $1,636 in its first year and pays back in about 12.3 years.
How many peak sun hours does Raleigh get?
About 5.13 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.2 in Dec to 6.4 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Raleigh?
About 1,369 kWh a year, or 114 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