US Solar Statistics & Data 2026
Research-grade solar data for homeowners, journalists, and analysts. Sourced from NREL, LBNL, EIA, SEIA, and EPA — updated for 2026 including the expiry of the federal 30% tax credit.
Market Size
175 GW
Total US solar capacity installed (end of 2025)
Source: SEIA
4.1 million
US homes with rooftop solar installations
Source: SEIA / Wood Mackenzie
30%
Annual residential solar market growth rate (2024–2025)
Source: Wood Mackenzie
$24B
Residential solar market value in 2025
Source: SEIA
System Costs
$2.90/W
US median installed cost for residential solar (2025, before incentives)
Source: LBNL Tracking the Sun
$24,000
Typical 8 kW system gross cost in 2026 (national median)
Source: LBNL / Wattcrunch analysis
$0.90/W
Hardware cost (panels + inverter) as share of total installed cost
Source: NREL
48%
Soft cost share of residential solar price (permitting, labor, margin)
Source: NREL
$0.05/W
Reduction in panel prices per year since 2010 (learning curve)
Source: BloombergNEF
Savings & Payback
9–14 yrs
Typical solar payback period in 2026 (without federal tax credit)
Source: Wattcrunch analysis
$20,000–$40,000
Typical 25-year net savings for US homeowner with 8 kW system
Source: Wattcrunch analysis
$167/mo
Average US household electricity bill (2025)
Source: EIA
80–100%
Portion of electricity bill offset by a well-sized solar system
Source: NREL
2.5%
Annual US electricity rate increase (20-year average)
Source: EIA
Solar Production
4.5 hrs/day
US average peak sun hours (national average)
Source: NREL PVWatts
6.5 hrs/day
Peak sun hours in Phoenix, AZ (highest in US)
Source: NREL PVWatts
3.5 hrs/day
Peak sun hours in Seattle, WA (lowest continental US)
Source: NREL PVWatts
1,200–1,700
Production ratio range (kWh/kW/yr) across US locations
Source: NREL PVWatts
0.5%/yr
Median solar panel degradation rate (crystalline silicon)
Source: NREL (2023 meta-analysis)
30–40 yrs
Real-world solar panel lifespan (beyond 25-yr warranty)
Source: NREL field data
Equipment
400W
Typical modern residential solar panel wattage (2026)
Source: Industry average
21–23%
Efficiency range for premium residential solar panels (2026)
Source: NREL Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart
13.5 kWh
Tesla Powerwall 3 usable capacity
Source: Tesla
$800–$1,200
Cost to replace a string inverter (every 10–15 years)
Source: Industry data
25 yrs
Enphase IQ8 microinverter warranty period
Source: Enphase
Top States for Solar
#1 California
97 GW installed capacity, 1.5M+ homes with solar
Source: SEIA
#2 Texas
28 GW installed, fastest-growing residential market
Source: SEIA
#3 Florida
18 GW installed, strong growth post-NEM policy change
Source: SEIA
#4 Arizona
13 GW, highest average peak sun hours in contiguous US
Source: SEIA / NREL
Highest rate
Hawaii at $0.41/kWh avg residential electricity rate (2025)
Source: EIA
Incentives & Policy
$0
Federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) in 2026 — expired Dec 31, 2025
Source: IRS / One Big Beautiful Bill (PL 119-21)
25%
New York state solar tax credit (still active 2026)
Source: DSIRE
15%
Massachusetts solar tax credit (still active 2026)
Source: DSIRE
42 states
States with some form of net metering policy (2026)
Source: DSIRE
20 states
States with community solar programs available (2026)
Source: NREL
Environment
8–12 tons
CO₂ offset per year by a typical 8 kW US solar system
Source: EPA / Wattcrunch analysis
200–300 tons
Lifetime CO₂ offset over 25 years for an 8 kW system
Source: Wattcrunch analysis
428 kg CO₂/MWh
US grid average carbon intensity (2024)
Source: EPA eGRID
20–50 g CO₂/kWh
Lifecycle carbon intensity of solar PV (vs 820g for coal)
Source: IPCC / NREL
Citing this page
You are welcome to use these statistics in articles, reports, and research. Please cite as:
Data is compiled from publicly available sources (NREL, EIA, SEIA, LBNL, EPA) and Wattcrunch's own calculator analysis. Individual data points should be verified against primary sources for formal academic use. Last updated: June 2026.
Calculate your own solar numbers
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