Solar panels in Chicago, IL
Roofs in Chicago get about 1,469 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 61% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Chicago → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Chicago solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Chicago home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,988 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,996 | $6,384 | $651 | 9.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,994 | $9,576 | $977 | 9.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,991 | $12,768 | $1,303 | 9.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,989 | $15,960 | $1,628 | 9.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,986 | $20,748 | $1,849 | 11.2 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Chicago gets 1,469 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Chicago — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Chicago reaches about 1,589 hours, roughly 8% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,469 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,589 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Illinois avg) | 16.3¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
Nearby cities
See all of Illinois → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Chicago solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Chicago?
About 22 panels for an average home. Chicago roofs get 1,469 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 499 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Chicago?
At 16.3¢/kWh and 1,469 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.9 years and returns roughly $26,646 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Chicago?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Illinois electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.