Solar Calculator USA 2026
Estimate your solar savings and payback by state — with the honest 2026 tax-credit reality, your net-metering situation, and battery economics. US solar value is driven by three things, all of which vary: the federal credit, your state's net metering, and your electricity rate.
1 Your location & bill
Sets a representative residential rate and sun-hours for your state — edit the rate below to match your actual bill.
US average is ~17.5¢/kWh (2026), from ~12¢ (ND) to ~43¢ (HI). The higher your rate, the faster solar pays back.
2 Federal credit
For owned systems installed in 2026, the calculator applies no federal credit (the 25D residential credit expired end-2025). For a lease/PPA, it applies the credit the provider passes on — set the effective amount below.
Defaults to 0% for owned (2026 reality) and 30% for lease/PPA. Edit if your situation differs (e.g. a state credit, or future federal changes).
3 Net metering
Net metering varies hugely by state and utility. California's NEM 3.0 pays roughly a quarter of retail for exports, which is why self-consumption and batteries matter so much there. Pick what matches your utility.
Share of your solar used on-site (saves full retail). The rest is exported. A battery raises this toward ~70–80%, which matters most under reduced-export rules.
4 System & cost
US residential averages ~$2.50–3.50/W before any credit. Enter your quoted price.
Indicative estimates only. Federal, state and utility rules change and vary widely — net-metering terms and rates differ by utility even within a state. The federal credit situation is in flux; confirm current rules (and your ownership type's eligibility) before deciding. Not tax advice.
How this is calculated
Federal credit (2026): the residential 30% ITC (Section 25D) expired for owned systems placed in service after 31 December 2025. So this defaults to 0% for cash/loan purchases. A lease or PPA can still pass through ~30% because the provider claims the commercial 48E credit (through ~2027) — selecting "Lease/PPA" applies that. Net cost = gross cost − federal credit applied.
Payback = net cost ÷ annual savings; 25-year savings applies modest rate escalation and panel degradation. State rates and sun-hours are representative defaults (EIA-based) — edit them to your actual figures. Verify current federal/state/utility rules before purchasing.
Solar in the USA: what changed for 2026
Solar economics in the United States shifted significantly at the start of 2026, and understanding the change is essential to an honest estimate. For two decades, homeowners could claim a 30% federal tax credit on a solar purchase. That credit — the Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit — expired for owned systems placed in service after 31 December 2025, terminated early by the 2025 federal tax legislation. So a home system you buy with cash or a loan in 2026 no longer qualifies for the 30% federal credit. Many online calculators haven't caught up and still apply it, which now overstates savings — this one doesn't.
The figures here were re-verified for 2026. Because federal and state rules are in flux, treat them as dated references and confirm current rules before deciding.
The credit isn't entirely gone — it depends on ownership
There's an important nuance. While the 25D credit for owned systems is gone, the commercial Section 48E credit remains available through 2027 — and it's accessible to homeowners indirectly through third-party ownership. With a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), the company that owns the system on your roof can claim the 48E credit and pass the savings on through lower rates. So the practical 2026 picture is: buy the system yourself and there's no federal credit; lease it or sign a PPA and roughly 30% can still reach you via the provider. That's why this calculator asks how you'll pay — it changes the answer materially.
Why your state matters more than ever
With the federal credit gone for owners, state and local factors now dominate US solar economics, and they vary enormously. Electricity rates range from around 11¢/kWh in the cheapest states to over 40¢ in Hawaii and around 30¢ in California — and the higher your rate, the faster solar pays back regardless of any credit. On top of that, many states have their own incentives: SRECs in the Mid-Atlantic, performance payments like Massachusetts SMART, state rebates, and battery programs in California, New York and elsewhere. Net-metering policy also differs by state and utility, from full retail credit to far less. This is why the calculator centres on your state's rate and net-metering model rather than a national average.
Is solar still worth it in 2026?
For many homeowners, yes — and this is the honest, non-alarmist takeaway. The federal credit was a bonus, not the foundation. Solar's core value has always been two to three decades of reduced electricity bills, and in high-rate states that case remains strong even without the 30% credit. Where rates are low and net metering weak, the loss of the credit lengthens payback and the decision is closer. The right approach is to run your actual state rate, net-metering situation and ownership choice — which is what this tool does — rather than relying on a generic "solar saves X" claim built on an expired incentive.
Frequently asked questions
Not for systems you buy outright — the 30% residential credit (Section 25D) expired for owned systems placed in service after 31 December 2025. The commercial 48E credit continues through 2027 and can reach homeowners indirectly through a lease or PPA, where the provider claims it and passes on the savings.
In high-rate states, often yes — the savings on 25–30 years of electricity bills are the main return, and they don't depend on the credit. In low-rate areas with weak net metering, the loss of the credit lengthens payback, so run your specific numbers rather than assuming.
A lease or PPA can pass through roughly 30% via the provider's 48E credit, but leasing generally delivers lower long-term savings than owning, since the provider keeps part of the value. Compare the lifetime savings of owning (no credit) against leasing (credit passed through) for your situation — neither is automatically better.
Because it reflects the 2026 reality that owned systems no longer get the 30% federal credit. Calculators still applying 30% to purchases overstate savings and shorten payback. Using your real state rate, net-metering model and ownership type gives an honest figure.