Solar panels in Cheyenne, WY
Roofs in Cheyenne get about 1,788 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 81% 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 Cheyenne → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Cheyenne solar system costs
A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average Cheyenne home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,943 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,863 | $6,384 | $588 | 10.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,295 | $9,576 | $883 | 10.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,727 | $12,768 | $1,177 | 10.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,158 | $15,960 | $1,348 | 11.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,806 | $20,748 | $1,458 | 14.2 yrs |
How we worked this out for Cheyenne
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Cheyenne rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,788 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
608 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 608 kWh per panel |
18 panels |
| 3 | System size 18 panels × 400W |
7.20 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 7.20 kW × 1,788 hrs × 0.85 |
10,943 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 7,200 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$14,364 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 12.1¢ + 7,163 kWh exported × 12.1¢ |
$1,311/yr |
| 7 | Payback $14,364 ÷ $1,311 per year |
11 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in Cheyenne is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,163 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 — 10.8 years against the 11 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, 12.1¢/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 Cheyenne gets 1,788 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Cheyenne — 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 Cheyenne reaches about 1,866 hours, roughly 4% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,788 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,866 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Wyoming avg) | 12.1¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Cheyenne actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Cheyenne's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78 | |
| Feb | 106 | |
| Mar | 144 | |
| Apr | 184 | |
| May | 212 | |
| Jun | 223 | |
| Jul | 217 | |
| Aug | 194 | |
| Sep | 158 | |
| Oct | 117 | |
| Nov | 84 | |
| Dec | 70 |
Cheyenne produces about 3.2× 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 Cheyenne's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Cheyenne compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Cheyenne | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,788 hrs | 146th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 4% | 501st most |
| Median roof size | 215 m² | 313th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.1¢ | 699th highest |
| Payback | 11 yrs | 424th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 228th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Cheyenne:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 78 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Cheyenne.
- Sunnier than the rest of Wyoming. Cheyenne roofs get 6% more usable sunlight than the typical Wyoming city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Wyoming power costs about 12.1¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Cheyenne dates from 2014. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Cheyenne's 1,788 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 1,788 | 15.2¢ | 8.7 yrs |
| Honolulu, HI | 1,787 | 42.1¢ | 3.1 yrs |
| Palm Bay, FL | 1,789 | 15.3¢ | 8.7 yrs |
| Wichita, KS | 1,790 | 14.1¢ | 9.4 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Wyoming → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Cheyenne solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Cheyenne?
About 18 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Cheyenne roofs get 1,788 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 608 kWh annually. A typical Cheyenne roof fits about 78 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Cheyenne?
At 12.1¢/kWh and 1,788 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11 years and returns roughly $18,414 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Cheyenne?
A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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 Wyoming 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.