Solar Panel Calculator for Tampa, FL
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Tampa, FL, using local NREL sunshine data, Florida prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Tampa gets about 5.66 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,558 kWh a year. That ranks #25 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Apr and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Tampa by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Tampa
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.72 | 928 kWh | $142 |
| Feb | 5.44 | 944 kWh | $145 |
| Mar | 6.17 | 1,160 kWh | $178 |
| Apr | 6.71 | 1,200 kWh | $184 |
| May | 6.56 | 1,200 kWh | $184 |
| Jun | 5.90 | 1,040 kWh | $159 |
| Jul | 5.66 | 1,016 kWh | $156 |
| Aug | 5.90 | 1,072 kWh | $164 |
| Sep | 5.57 | 992 kWh | $152 |
| Oct | 5.73 | 1,088 kWh | $167 |
| Nov | 5.21 | 976 kWh | $150 |
| Dec | 4.41 | 856 kWh | $131 |
| Year | 5.66 | 12,464 kWh | $1,909 |
Savings at 15.32¢ per kWh (Florida average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.12 per watt, the Florida average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $8,480 | $955 | 9.1 yrs | $14,010 |
| 6 kW | $12,720 | $1,432 | 9.1 yrs | $21,015 |
| 8 kW | $16,960 | $1,909 | 9.1 yrs | $28,020 |
| 10 kW | $21,200 | $2,387 | 9.1 yrs | $35,025 |
| 12 kW | $25,440 | $2,864 | 9.1 yrs | $42,030 |
How many panels you need in Tampa
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.85 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.78 kW | 15 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.70 kW | 20 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.55 kW | 29 |
| 2,000 kWh | 15.40 kW | 39 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,558 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Tampa?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $16,960 before incentives, saves about $1,909 in its first year and pays back in about 9.1 years.
How many peak sun hours does Tampa get?
About 5.66 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.4 in Dec to 6.7 in Apr, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Tampa?
About 1,558 kWh a year, or 130 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