Solar panels in Dallas, TX
Roofs in Dallas get about 1,675 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 70% 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 Dallas → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Dallas solar system costs
A 19-panel system (7.6 kW) is about right for an average Dallas home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,821 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,556 | $6,384 | $688 | 9.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,834 | $9,576 | $1,032 | 9.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,112 | $12,768 | $1,376 | 9.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,390 | $15,960 | $1,653 | 9.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,807 | $20,748 | $1,782 | 11.6 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 Dallas gets 1,675 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Dallas — 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 Dallas reaches about 1,767 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,675 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,767 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Texas avg) | 15.1¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
Nearby cities
See all of Texas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Dallas solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Dallas?
About 19 panels for an average home. Dallas roofs get 1,675 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 570 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Dallas?
At 15.1¢/kWh and 1,675 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.3 years and returns roughly $25,627 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Dallas?
A 7.6 kW system costs about $21,660 before incentives and $15,162 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 Texas 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.