Solar panels in Winston-Salem, NC
Roofs in Winston-Salem get about 1,363 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 87% 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 Winston-Salem → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Winston-Salem solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Winston-Salem home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,122 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,707 | $6,384 | $489 | 13 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,561 | $9,576 | $734 | 13 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,415 | $12,768 | $979 | 13 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,268 | $15,960 | $1,223 | 13 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,049 | $20,748 | $1,467 | 14.1 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 Winston-Salem gets 1,363 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Winston-Salem — 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 Winston-Salem reaches about 1,517 hours, roughly 11% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,363 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,517 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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
Nearby cities
See all of North Carolina → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Winston-Salem solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Winston-Salem?
About 24 panels for an average home. Winston-Salem roofs get 1,363 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 463 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Winston-Salem?
At 13.2¢/kWh and 1,363 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 13.3 years and returns roughly $16,754 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Winston-Salem?
A 9.6 kW system costs about $27,360 before incentives and $19,152 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.