Solar panels in Beaumont, TX
Roofs in Beaumont get about 1,637 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 68% 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 Beaumont → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Beaumont solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Beaumont home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,132 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,453 | $6,384 | $672 | 9.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,679 | $9,576 | $1,009 | 9.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,905 | $12,768 | $1,345 | 9.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,132 | $15,960 | $1,643 | 9.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,471 | $20,748 | $1,769 | 11.7 yrs |
How we worked this out for Beaumont
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Beaumont rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,637 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
557 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 557 kWh per panel |
20 panels |
| 3 | System size 20 panels × 400W |
8.00 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 8.00 kW × 1,637 hrs × 0.85 |
11,132 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 8,000 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$15,960 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.1¢ + 7,352 kWh exported × 15.1¢ |
$1,643/yr |
| 7 | Payback $15,960 ÷ $1,643 per year |
9.7 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Beaumont is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,352 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 — 9.5 years against the 9.7 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, 15.1¢/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 Beaumont gets 1,637 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Beaumont — 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 Beaumont reaches about 1,694 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,637 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,694 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Texas avg) | 15.1¢/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 | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
When Beaumont actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 32% of Beaumont's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 17% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 92 | |
| Feb | 112 | |
| Mar | 137 | |
| Apr | 159 | |
| May | 173 | |
| Jun | 178 | |
| Jul | 175 | |
| Aug | 164 | |
| Sep | 144 | |
| Oct | 119 | |
| Nov | 97 | |
| Dec | 86 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.1× between Jun and Dec. Beaumont is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Beaumont's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Beaumont compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Beaumont | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,637 hrs | 256th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 592nd most |
| Median roof size | 352 m² | 54th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.1¢ | 493rd highest |
| Payback | 9.7 yrs | 320th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 540 kg/MWh | 485th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Beaumont:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 108 panels — roughly 5× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Beaumont.
- Large roofs. At a median of 352 m², Beaumont has the 54th-largest typical roof footprint we've measured.
- Dimmer than the rest of Texas. Beaumont roofs get 7% less usable sunlight than the typical Texas city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Beaumont's 1,637 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 1,636 | 12.4¢ | 11.8 yrs |
| Redding, CA | 1,636 | 31.2¢ | 9.7 yrs |
| Yakima, WA | 1,640 | 11.3¢ | 13 yrs |
| Rock Hill, SC | 1,632 | 14.2¢ | 10.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Texas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Beaumont solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Beaumont?
About 20 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Beaumont roofs get 1,637 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 557 kWh annually. A typical Beaumont roof fits about 108 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Beaumont?
At 15.1¢/kWh and 1,637 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.7 years and returns roughly $25,123 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 Beaumont?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 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 Texas 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.