2026 solar verdict calculator
Is Solar Worth It in 2026? Run the Numbers
Start with your usage, state, and roof assumptions. The calculator estimates gross cost, annual savings, and payback before any quote request, then you can decide whether the proposal deserves a deeper review.
No email required
Check whether solar still works for your home
Enter monthly kWh or electric bill. The calculator uses state-level assumptions and shows the math behind the result.
Your estimate
Example resultYou likely need 18-22 panels
Estimated system size: 7.8 kW. This is an estimate, not an installer quote.
Confidence
Medium
Planning estimate only — not an installer quote, engineering design, or tax advice.
Payback uses gross system cost before verified incentives, financing fees, batteries, and roof work.
- Estimated system size
- 7.8 kW
- Sized for your target offset and system loss assumption.
- Likely panel count
- 18-22
- Centered around 20 panels at 400W equivalent.
- Roof space
- 483 sq ft
- Includes a spacing factor, not a final layout plan.
- Annual production
- 10,800 kWh
- Modeled first-year output at the selected offset; not a production guarantee.
- Gross cost
- $18,445 - $23,939
- Before verified incentives, financing, or battery costs.
- Gross cost per watt
- $2.35 - $3.05
- Before incentives. Useful for comparing installer quotes.
- Annual savings
- $2,693
- Based on state residential rate and self-consumption assumption.
- Payback
- 6.8 years - 8.9 years
- Simple gross-cost payback estimate.
Annual usage: 10,800 kWh
Annual production target: 10,800 kWh
State rate: 35.25 cents/kWh
Export assumption: Partial export credit
Direct solar use: 5,940 kWh
Modeled exports: 4,860 kWh
Panel count view
18-22 panels
Estimate shape
Production, savings, and payback
Privacy note: the printable report link stores estimate inputs in the URL, including ZIP and usage or bill values. Keep it private if those details are sensitive.
Local scenarios
Save estimates on this device
Compare a few assumptions without creating an account.
Saved scenarios stay in this browser only and may include ZIP, bill, and usage inputs. SolarCalcNow does not sync them or send those values to analytics.
No saved scenarios yet.
Assumptions behind this estimate
- California state-level electricity rate and solar production defaults are used.
- 100% bill offset target.
- 400W solar panels.
- 14% system loss assumption.
- Roof area uses about 21 sq ft per panel plus spacing factor.
- Gross cost range excludes verified incentives, financing, batteries, roof work, and panel upgrades.
- 55% of annual solar production is modeled as directly used before export.
- Export value assumption: Partial export credit.
- Savings are energy-only and exclude fixed charges, minimum bills, demand charges, and time-of-use detail.
- You provided monthly kWh usage.
- State production defaults are used for this estimate.
Confidence drivers
- Overall confidence: Medium.
- You provided monthly kWh usage.
- State production defaults are used for this estimate.
Expected production: 10,800 kWh
System loss: 14%
Export value: Partial export credit
Direct solar use: 5,940 kWh
Modeled exports: 4,860 kWh
State production default: 1,600 kWh/kW/year
SolarCalcNow provides planning estimates only. Results are not installer quotes, engineering designs, tax advice, financing recommendations, or utility interconnection approval.
Optional next step
Want installer quotes based on this estimate?
Your estimate stays visible. This form is optional and uses explicit consent.
Installer quote matching is not active yet. You can still calculate, save, and print your estimate before contacting installers directly.
Usually stronger
High electric rates, good sun, usable roof area, long ownership horizon, and a gross $/W quote inside a reasonable range.
Needs more checking
Battery bundle, lease/PPA escalator, low export credit, roof work, panel upgrade, or a net-price pitch after assumed incentives.
Usually weaker
Heavy shade, short homeownership timeline, very high gross price, major roof replacement, or a quote that cannot explain assumptions.
How to read the verdict
Shorter payback and higher confidence usually mean the project deserves real quotes and roof-specific design.
Long payback does not always mean no; backup, resilience, or future rate increases may matter, but separate those from simple bill savings.
For a quote that uses a net price after incentives, compare the gross price first and verify every incentive source.
For a lease or PPA, review escalators, transfer terms, buyout rules, and who receives any provider-owned tax benefits.
FAQ
Common solar calculator questions
Is solar worth it in 2026?
It depends on your gross installed cost, electricity rate, roof condition, shade, export-credit rules, and how long you plan to keep the home. SolarCalcNow starts with gross cost and does not assume an automatic federal homeowner credit in 2026.
When might solar not be worth it?
Be cautious if the roof needs major work, shade is high, utility rates are low, export credits are weak, you plan to move soon, or the quote relies on unverified incentives.
Should I use net price or gross price?
Start with gross price per watt. Net prices can hide expired credits, assumed rebates, dealer fees, or financing effects. Verify every incentive before treating it as savings.
What to do next
If the calculator looks promising, compare installer quotes against the same gross-cost assumptions before trusting a sales proposal.