Solar Panel Calculator for Scottsdale, AZ
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Scottsdale, AZ, using local NREL sunshine data, Arizona prices and electricity rates.
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Scottsdale gets about 6.51 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,750 kWh a year. That ranks #5 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Scottsdale by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Scottsdale
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.86 | 936 kWh | $144 |
| Feb | 5.70 | 1,000 kWh | $154 |
| Mar | 6.86 | 1,272 kWh | $195 |
| Apr | 7.53 | 1,336 kWh | $205 |
| May | 8.08 | 1,456 kWh | $224 |
| Jun | 8.19 | 1,384 kWh | $213 |
| Jul | 7.24 | 1,248 kWh | $192 |
| Aug | 7.19 | 1,248 kWh | $192 |
| Sep | 6.83 | 1,176 kWh | $181 |
| Oct | 6.14 | 1,128 kWh | $173 |
| Nov | 5.29 | 976 kWh | $150 |
| Dec | 4.27 | 840 kWh | $129 |
| Year | 6.51 | 14,000 kWh | $2,150 |
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 | $1,075 | 8.5 yrs | $16,327 |
| 6 kW | $13,500 | $1,613 | 8.5 yrs | $24,491 |
| 8 kW | $18,000 | $2,150 | 8.5 yrs | $32,655 |
| 10 kW | $22,500 | $2,688 | 8.5 yrs | $40,818 |
| 12 kW | $27,000 | $3,226 | 8.5 yrs | $48,982 |
How many panels you need in Scottsdale
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.43 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 5.14 kW | 13 |
| 1,000 kWh | 6.86 kW | 18 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.29 kW | 26 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.71 kW | 35 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,750 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Scottsdale?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,000 before incentives, saves about $2,150 in its first year and pays back in about 8.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Scottsdale get?
About 6.51 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.3 in Dec to 8.2 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Scottsdale?
About 1,750 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