Solar panels in Cookeville, TN
Roofs in Cookeville get about 1,527 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 54% 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 Cookeville → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Cookeville solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Cookeville home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,903 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,153 | $6,384 | $503 | 12.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,230 | $9,576 | $754 | 12.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,307 | $12,768 | $1,005 | 12.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,384 | $15,960 | $1,256 | 12.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,499 | $20,748 | $1,388 | 14.9 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 Cookeville gets 1,527 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Cookeville — 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 Cookeville reaches about 1,622 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,527 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,622 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Tennessee 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 | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Cookeville actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Cookeville's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75 | |
| Feb | 98 | |
| Mar | 125 | |
| Apr | 153 | |
| May | 172 | |
| Jun | 179 | |
| Jul | 175 | |
| Aug | 160 | |
| Sep | 135 | |
| Oct | 105 | |
| Nov | 81 | |
| Dec | 69 |
Cookeville produces about 2.6× 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 Cookeville's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Cookeville compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Cookeville | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,527 hrs | 361st |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 290th most |
| Median roof size | 138 m² | 555th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.1¢ | 611th highest |
| Payback | 12.8 yrs | 551st fastest |
| Grid carbon | 802 kg/MWh | 154th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Cookeville:
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Tennessee power costs about 12.1¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Cookeville's 1,527 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 1,527 | 14.2¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Appleton, WI | 1,527 | 17.3¢ | 8.9 yrs |
| Monroe, LA | 1,527 | 12.1¢ | 12.8 yrs |
| Moses Lake, WA | 1,526 | 11.3¢ | 13.7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Tennessee → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Cookeville solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Cookeville?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Cookeville roofs get 1,527 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 519 kWh annually. A typical Cookeville roof fits about 48 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Cookeville?
At 12.1¢/kWh and 1,527 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.8 years and returns roughly $15,990 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 Cookeville?
A 8.4 kW system costs about $23,940 before incentives and $16,758 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 Tennessee 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.