Solar Panel Calculator for Tucson, AZ
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Tucson, AZ, using local NREL sunshine data, Arizona prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Tucson gets about 6.48 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,769 kWh a year. That ranks #9 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in May and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Tucson by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Tucson
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.98 | 984 kWh | $151 |
| Feb | 5.85 | 1,024 kWh | $157 |
| Mar | 6.97 | 1,320 kWh | $203 |
| Apr | 7.65 | 1,376 kWh | $211 |
| May | 8.08 | 1,472 kWh | $226 |
| Jun | 7.88 | 1,336 kWh | $205 |
| Jul | 6.51 | 1,152 kWh | $177 |
| Aug | 6.80 | 1,200 kWh | $184 |
| Sep | 6.82 | 1,192 kWh | $183 |
| Oct | 6.30 | 1,168 kWh | $179 |
| Nov | 5.19 | 976 kWh | $150 |
| Dec | 4.78 | 952 kWh | $146 |
| Year | 6.48 | 14,152 kWh | $2,174 |
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 | $1,087 | 8.4 yrs | $16,602 |
| 6 kW | $13,500 | $1,630 | 8.4 yrs | $24,904 |
| 8 kW | $18,000 | $2,174 | 8.4 yrs | $33,205 |
| 10 kW | $22,500 | $2,717 | 8.4 yrs | $41,506 |
| 12 kW | $27,000 | $3,261 | 8.4 yrs | $49,807 |
How many panels you need in Tucson
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.39 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 5.09 kW | 13 |
| 1,000 kWh | 6.78 kW | 17 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.18 kW | 26 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.57 kW | 34 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,769 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Tucson?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,000 before incentives, saves about $2,174 in its first year and pays back in about 8.4 years.
How many peak sun hours does Tucson get?
About 6.48 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.8 in Dec to 8.1 in May, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Tucson?
About 1,769 kWh a year, or 147 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