Solar Panel Calculator for Sioux Falls, SD
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Sioux Falls, SD, using local NREL sunshine data, South Dakota prices and electricity rates.
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Sioux Falls gets about 4.81 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,393 kWh a year. That ranks #67 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Sioux Falls by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Sioux Falls
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.77 | 600 kWh | $87 |
| Feb | 3.41 | 656 kWh | $96 |
| Mar | 4.62 | 944 kWh | $138 |
| Apr | 5.90 | 1,136 kWh | $166 |
| May | 5.81 | 1,120 kWh | $163 |
| Jun | 6.63 | 1,200 kWh | $175 |
| Jul | 7.04 | 1,296 kWh | $189 |
| Aug | 6.07 | 1,128 kWh | $164 |
| Sep | 5.32 | 992 kWh | $145 |
| Oct | 4.42 | 888 kWh | $129 |
| Nov | 3.26 | 664 kWh | $97 |
| Dec | 2.49 | 536 kWh | $78 |
| Year | 4.81 | 11,144 kWh | $1,625 |
Savings at 14.58¢ per kWh (South Dakota average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the South Dakota average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $812 | 13.2 yrs | $8,737 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,219 | 13.2 yrs | $13,105 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $1,625 | 13.2 yrs | $17,474 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $2,031 | 13.2 yrs | $21,842 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $2,437 | 13.2 yrs | $26,210 |
How many panels you need in Sioux Falls
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.31 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.46 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.61 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.92 kW | 33 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.23 kW | 44 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,393 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Sioux Falls?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $1,625 in its first year and pays back in about 13.2 years.
How many peak sun hours does Sioux Falls get?
About 4.81 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.5 in Dec to 7.0 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Sioux Falls?
About 1,393 kWh a year, or 116 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