Solar data

2026 U.S. Solar Cost Index

Name: 2026 U.S. Residential Solar Cost Index
Creator: SolarInstallers.io
License: https://solarinstallers.io/terms.html

Residential solar, state by state: what people pay per watt, how big a typical system is, the local electricity rate, and roughly how long solar takes to pay for itself. A reference we keep current so you don't have to piece it together.

Updated —

How to read this

$/W is the typical all-in installed price before incentives (low–high midpoint).
Typical system and payback assume that state's average electricity bill, a 100% offset, the 2026 federal tax credit (0% for residential), and modeled state incentives.
Incentives is a one-line summary — the state incentive pages have the structured detail with sources.

Run the numbers for your home State cost pages