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Solar panels in Oklahoma City, OK

Roofs in Oklahoma City get about 1,778 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 79% 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.

1,778Sun hours / yr
18Panels typical
$14,364Cost after credit
11 yrPayback
Solar is reasonable in Oklahoma City, not spectacular. A 11-year payback still beats most savings accounts over the panel's 25-year life, but it is not the slam dunk you'll see advertised.

Check your specific roof in Oklahoma City → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Oklahoma City solar system costs

A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average Oklahoma City home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,881 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Oklahoma City, at 12.1¢/kWh after the 30% federal tax credit
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 4,836$6,384 $585 10.9 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 7,254$9,576 $878 10.9 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 9,672$12,768 $1,170 10.9 yrs
20 panels8 kW 12,090$15,960 $1,346 11.9 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 15,718$20,748 $1,456 14.3 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 Oklahoma City gets 1,778 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Oklahoma City — 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 Oklahoma City reaches about 1,839 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,778 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,839 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Oklahoma avg)12.1¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Federal tax credit30%
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated35%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here14
Google imagery from2023

Nearby cities

See all of Oklahoma → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.

Oklahoma City solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Oklahoma City?

About 18 panels for an average home. Oklahoma City roofs get 1,778 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 605 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Oklahoma City?

At 12.1¢/kWh and 1,778 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11 years and returns roughly $18,368 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Oklahoma City?

A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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 Oklahoma 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.