Solar panels in Lansing, MI
Roofs in Lansing get about 1,308 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 94% 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 Lansing → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Lansing solar system costs
A 25-panel system (10 kW) is about right for an average Lansing home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,118 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,558 | $6,384 | $680 | 9.4 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,337 | $9,576 | $1,019 | 9.4 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,116 | $12,768 | $1,359 | 9.4 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,894 | $15,960 | $1,699 | 9.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,563 | $20,748 | $2,099 | 9.9 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 Lansing gets 1,308 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Lansing — 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 Lansing reaches about 1,484 hours, roughly 13% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,308 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,484 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Michigan avg) | 19.1¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
Nearby cities
See all of Michigan → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Lansing solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Lansing?
About 25 panels for an average home. Lansing roofs get 1,308 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 445 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Lansing?
At 19.1¢/kWh and 1,308 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.6 years and returns roughly $32,000 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Lansing?
A 10 kW system costs about $28,500 before incentives and $19,950 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 Michigan 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.