Is solar worth it?
For many homes, yes. For many others, not at today's prices. With the federal tax credit gone for buyers, the honest answer depends on six things you can check in a few minutes.
- Alaska: Close call, 14 yr payback
- Alabama: Not worth it, 18.8 yr payback
- Arkansas: Close call, 14.5 yr payback
- Arizona: Worth it, 12.7 yr payback
- California: Worth it, 10.9 yr payback
- Colorado: Worth it, 12.4 yr payback
- Connecticut: Worth it, 8.7 yr payback
- District of Columbia: Worth it, 4.7 yr payback
- Delaware: Worth it, 12.3 yr payback
- Florida: Worth it, 10.5 yr payback
- Georgia: Not worth it, 17.2 yr payback
- Hawaii: Worth it, 6.7 yr payback
- Iowa: Not worth it, 22.7 yr payback
- Idaho: Not worth it, 18.3 yr payback
- Illinois: Worth it, 13.5 yr payback
- Indiana: Not worth it, 16.9 yr payback
- Kansas: Close call, 15.2 yr payback
- Kentucky: Not worth it, 18.7 yr payback
- Louisiana: Not worth it, 17.8 yr payback
- Massachusetts: Worth it, 7.6 yr payback
- Maryland: Worth it, 8.9 yr payback
- Maine: Worth it, 9 yr payback
- Michigan: Close call, 16 yr payback
- Minnesota: Not worth it, 16.8 yr payback
- Missouri: Close call, 15.5 yr payback
- Mississippi: Not worth it, 16.5 yr payback
- Montana: Not worth it, 19.6 yr payback
- North Carolina: Close call, 14.2 yr payback
- North Dakota: Not worth it, 20.3 yr payback
- Nebraska: Not worth it, 19.7 yr payback
- New Hampshire: Worth it, 10 yr payback
- New Jersey: Worth it, 7.8 yr payback
- New Mexico: Close call, 12.9 yr payback
- Nevada: Not worth it, 17 yr payback
- New York: Worth it, 6.8 yr payback
- Ohio: Worth it, 12.8 yr payback
- Oklahoma: Close call, 14.4 yr payback
- Oregon: Close call, 14.2 yr payback
- Pennsylvania: Worth it, 9.9 yr payback
- Rhode Island: Worth it, 5 yr payback
- South Carolina: Worth it, 11.8 yr payback
- South Dakota: Not worth it, 21.8 yr payback
- Tennessee: Not worth it, 24 yr payback
- Texas: Close call, 14 yr payback
- Utah: Not worth it, 22.7 yr payback
- Virginia: Worth it, 12.3 yr payback
- Vermont: Worth it, 11.5 yr payback
- Washington: Close call, 16.2 yr payback
- Wisconsin: Worth it, 13.2 yr payback
- West Virginia: Close call, 14.2 yr payback
- Wyoming: Close call, 15 yr payback
The six things that decide it
Your electricity price
The more you pay per kWh, the more each solar kWh saves. The U.S. average is 18.0¢; Hawaii and California are far higher, the Southeast and Northwest far lower.
What exports earn
Full retail net metering credits midday surplus at the price you pay. Net billing may credit a third or less, which favors smaller systems and batteries.
Your roof and sun
A south-facing, unshaded roof in a sunny state produces 30–50% more than a shaded, east-facing roof in the Northeast.
The price you pay
Cash prices around $2.50–3.50 per watt are typical. Dealer-fee loans and pushy sales models can add thousands.
How long you'll stay
Most systems take 8–15 years to pay back. If you'll move in five, the answer depends on loan payoffs and what buyers will pay.
Your roof's age
Panels outlast most roofs. Replacing a roof under panels means paying to remove and reinstall them.
Fastest payback
- District of Columbia 4.7 yrs · $76,463 over 25 yrs
- Rhode Island 5 yrs · $63,893 over 25 yrs
- Hawaii 6.7 yrs · $35,912 over 25 yrs
- New York 6.8 yrs · $54,900 over 25 yrs
- Massachusetts 7.6 yrs · $60,167 over 25 yrs
- New Jersey 7.8 yrs · $55,248 over 25 yrs
- Connecticut 8.7 yrs · $57,412 over 25 yrs
- Maryland 8.9 yrs · $57,979 over 25 yrs
- Maine 9 yrs · $49,322 over 25 yrs
- Pennsylvania 9.9 yrs · $47,617 over 25 yrs
Slowest or no payback
- Tennessee 24 yrs
- Utah 22.7 yrs
- Iowa 22.7 yrs
- South Dakota 21.8 yrs
- North Dakota 20.3 yrs
- Nebraska 19.7 yrs
- Montana 19.6 yrs
- Alabama 18.8 yrs
- Kentucky 18.7 yrs
- Idaho 18.3 yrs
Typical home in each state, paying cash at local prices, best-value system size, no federal credit. See every state.
When solar is usually not worth it
- Your electricity costs well under 13¢ per kWh and exports earn little.
- Your roof faces north, is heavily shaded, or needs replacing soon.
- You expect to move within 5–7 years and would finance with a dealer-fee loan.
- The only offer you have is a lease with a 2.9%+ escalator priced near your current rate.
When it usually is
- Electricity costs 20¢+ per kWh, or exports earn near retail.
- A sunny, unshaded roof with 15+ years of life left.
- You can pay cash or borrow cheaply and plan to stay 10+ years.
The full reasoning, with worked examples, is in our guide Is solar worth it in 2026?