Solar panels in Baltimore County, MD
Roofs in Baltimore County get about 1,468 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 55% 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 Baltimore County → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Baltimore County solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Baltimore County home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,981 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,993 | $6,384 | $731 | 8.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,989 | $9,576 | $1,096 | 8.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,986 | $12,768 | $1,461 | 8.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,982 | $15,960 | $1,827 | 8.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,977 | $20,748 | $2,076 | 10 yrs |
How we worked this out for Baltimore County
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Baltimore County rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,468 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
499 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 499 kWh per panel |
22 panels |
| 3 | System size 22 panels × 400W |
8.80 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 8.80 kW × 1,468 hrs × 0.85 |
10,981 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 8,800 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$17,556 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 18.3¢ + 7,201 kWh exported × 18.3¢ |
$1,985/yr |
| 7 | Payback $17,556 ÷ $1,985 per year |
8.8 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Baltimore County is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,201 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 8.7 years against the 8.8 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 18.3¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.
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 Baltimore County gets 1,468 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Baltimore County — 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 Baltimore County reaches about 1,635 hours, roughly 11% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,468 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,635 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Maryland avg) | 18.3¢/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 | 14 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
When Baltimore County actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Baltimore County's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67 | |
| Feb | 90 | |
| Mar | 119 | |
| Apr | 149 | |
| May | 171 | |
| Jun | 179 | |
| Jul | 175 | |
| Aug | 157 | |
| Sep | 130 | |
| Oct | 98 | |
| Nov | 72 | |
| Dec | 61 |
Baltimore County produces about 3.0× as much in Jun as in Dec — a normal mid-latitude swing. Expect real winter shortfall and summer surplus rather than steady year-round output.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Baltimore County's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Baltimore County compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Baltimore County | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,468 hrs | 432nd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 10% | 69th most |
| Median roof size | 243 m² | 236th largest |
| Electricity rate | 18.3¢ | 276th highest |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 212th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 654 kg/MWh | 317th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Baltimore County:
- Shading is a real problem here. Baltimore County loses 10% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 69th-worst of the 788 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 88 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Baltimore County.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Baltimore County's 1,468 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.
| City | Sun hrs | Rate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | 1,468 | 15.3¢ | 10.6 yrs |
| Warren, MI | 1,468 | 19.1¢ | 8.5 yrs |
| Chicago, IL | 1,469 | 16.3¢ | 9.9 yrs |
| Peoria, IL | 1,467 | 16.3¢ | 9.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Maryland → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Baltimore County solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Baltimore County?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Baltimore County roofs get 1,468 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 499 kWh annually. A typical Baltimore County roof fits about 88 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Baltimore County?
At 18.3¢/kWh and 1,468 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.8 years and returns roughly $32,061 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Baltimore County?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Maryland 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.