Solar Panel Calculator for Sacramento, CA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Sacramento, CA, using local NREL sunshine data, California prices and electricity rates.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Sacramento gets about 5.87 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,618 kWh a year. That ranks #20 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Sacramento by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Sacramento
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.96 | 592 kWh | $193 |
| Feb | 4.48 | 792 kWh | $258 |
| Mar | 5.71 | 1,104 kWh | $360 |
| Apr | 6.68 | 1,232 kWh | $401 |
| May | 7.19 | 1,336 kWh | $435 |
| Jun | 8.02 | 1,416 kWh | $461 |
| Jul | 8.18 | 1,472 kWh | $480 |
| Aug | 7.77 | 1,392 kWh | $454 |
| Sep | 7.05 | 1,240 kWh | $404 |
| Oct | 5.67 | 1,072 kWh | $349 |
| Nov | 3.74 | 704 kWh | $229 |
| Dec | 2.95 | 592 kWh | $193 |
| Year | 5.87 | 12,944 kWh | $4,217 |
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 | $2,109 | 4.8 yrs | $39,590 |
| 6 kW | $15,120 | $3,163 | 4.8 yrs | $59,384 |
| 8 kW | $20,160 | $4,217 | 4.8 yrs | $79,179 |
| 10 kW | $25,200 | $5,271 | 4.8 yrs | $98,974 |
| 12 kW | $30,240 | $6,326 | 4.8 yrs | $118,769 |
How many panels you need in Sacramento
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.71 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.56 kW | 14 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.42 kW | 19 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.12 kW | 28 |
| 2,000 kWh | 14.83 kW | 38 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,618 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Sacramento?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,160 before incentives, saves about $4,217 in its first year and pays back in about 4.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Sacramento get?
About 5.87 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.0 in Dec to 8.2 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Sacramento?
About 1,618 kWh a year, or 135 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