Solar panels in Raleigh, NC
Roofs in Raleigh get about 1,448 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 67% 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 Raleigh → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Raleigh solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Raleigh home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,831 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,939 | $6,384 | $520 | 12.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,908 | $9,576 | $780 | 12.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,877 | $12,768 | $1,040 | 12.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,846 | $15,960 | $1,300 | 12.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,800 | $20,748 | $1,492 | 13.9 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 Raleigh gets 1,448 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Raleigh — 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 Raleigh reaches about 1,713 hours, roughly 18% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,448 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,713 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (North Carolina avg) | 13.2¢/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 | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of North Carolina → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Raleigh solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Raleigh?
About 22 panels for an average home. Raleigh roofs get 1,448 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 492 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Raleigh?
At 13.2¢/kWh and 1,448 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.3 years and returns roughly $18,110 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Raleigh?
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 North Carolina 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.