Solar Panel Calculator for Salt Lake City, UT
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Salt Lake City, UT, using local NREL sunshine data, Utah prices and electricity rates.
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Salt Lake City gets about 5.38 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,503 kWh a year. That ranks #42 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Salt Lake City by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Salt Lake City
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.17 | 656 kWh | $87 |
| Feb | 3.98 | 720 kWh | $95 |
| Mar | 5.16 | 1,016 kWh | $134 |
| Apr | 6.01 | 1,128 kWh | $149 |
| May | 6.94 | 1,296 kWh | $171 |
| Jun | 7.68 | 1,344 kWh | $177 |
| Jul | 7.33 | 1,304 kWh | $172 |
| Aug | 6.83 | 1,232 kWh | $163 |
| Sep | 6.24 | 1,112 kWh | $147 |
| Oct | 4.98 | 968 kWh | $128 |
| Nov | 3.53 | 688 kWh | $91 |
| Dec | 2.72 | 568 kWh | $75 |
| Year | 5.38 | 12,024 kWh | $1,586 |
Savings at 13.19¢ per kWh (Utah average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the Utah average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $793 | 13.5 yrs | $8,279 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,189 | 13.5 yrs | $12,419 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $1,586 | 13.5 yrs | $16,559 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $1,982 | 13.5 yrs | $20,699 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $2,379 | 13.5 yrs | $24,838 |
How many panels you need in Salt Lake City
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.99 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.99 kW | 15 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.98 kW | 20 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.98 kW | 30 |
| 2,000 kWh | 15.97 kW | 40 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,503 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Salt Lake City?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $1,586 in its first year and pays back in about 13.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Salt Lake City get?
About 5.38 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.7 in Dec to 7.7 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Salt Lake City?
About 1,503 kWh a year, or 125 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