Solar Panel Calculator for Wichita, KS
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Wichita, KS, using local NREL sunshine data, Kansas prices and electricity rates.
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Wichita gets about 5.35 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,514 kWh a year. That ranks #43 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Wichita by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Wichita
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.84 | 792 kWh | $121 |
| Feb | 4.00 | 744 kWh | $114 |
| Mar | 5.38 | 1,072 kWh | $164 |
| Apr | 6.02 | 1,120 kWh | $171 |
| May | 6.42 | 1,216 kWh | $186 |
| Jun | 6.94 | 1,232 kWh | $188 |
| Jul | 6.92 | 1,240 kWh | $189 |
| Aug | 6.58 | 1,208 kWh | $184 |
| Sep | 5.74 | 1,032 kWh | $157 |
| Oct | 4.83 | 944 kWh | $144 |
| Nov | 4.00 | 784 kWh | $120 |
| Dec | 3.50 | 728 kWh | $111 |
| Year | 5.35 | 12,112 kWh | $1,848 |
Savings at 15.26¢ per kWh (Kansas average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.66 per watt, the Kansas average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,640 | $924 | 11.8 yrs | $11,129 |
| 6 kW | $15,960 | $1,386 | 11.8 yrs | $16,694 |
| 8 kW | $21,280 | $1,848 | 11.8 yrs | $22,258 |
| 10 kW | $26,600 | $2,310 | 11.8 yrs | $27,823 |
| 12 kW | $31,920 | $2,772 | 11.8 yrs | $33,387 |
How many panels you need in Wichita
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.96 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.94 kW | 15 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.93 kW | 20 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.89 kW | 30 |
| 2,000 kWh | 15.85 kW | 40 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,514 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Wichita?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $21,280 before incentives, saves about $1,848 in its first year and pays back in about 11.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Wichita get?
About 5.35 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.5 in Dec to 6.9 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Wichita?
About 1,514 kWh a year, or 126 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