Solar panels in Dover, DE
Roofs in Dover get about 1,462 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 66% 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 Dover → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Dover solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Dover home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,936 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,977 | $6,384 | $684 | 9.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,965 | $9,576 | $1,026 | 9.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,953 | $12,768 | $1,368 | 9.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,942 | $15,960 | $1,710 | 9.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,924 | $20,748 | $1,949 | 10.6 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 Dover gets 1,462 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Dover — 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 Dover reaches about 1,616 hours, roughly 11% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,462 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,616 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Delaware avg) | 17.2¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Dover actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Dover'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 | 170 | |
| Jun | 178 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 156 | |
| Sep | 129 | |
| Oct | 98 | |
| Nov | 72 | |
| Dec | 61 |
Dover produces about 2.9× 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 Dover's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Dover compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Dover | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,462 hrs | 442nd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 10% | 88th most |
| Median roof size | 170 m² | 456th largest |
| Electricity rate | 17.2¢ | 207th highest |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 299th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 654 kg/MWh | 340th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Dover:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Dover 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 Dover's 1,462 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland, MD | 1,462 | 18.3¢ | 8.9 yrs |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,461 | 15.2¢ | 10.7 yrs |
| Brainerd, MN | 1,461 | 14.8¢ | 11 yrs |
| Mankato, MN | 1,461 | 14.8¢ | 11 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Delaware → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Dover solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Dover?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Dover roofs get 1,462 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 497 kWh annually. A typical Dover roof fits about 56 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Dover?
At 17.2¢/kWh and 1,462 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.4 years and returns roughly $29,030 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 Dover?
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 Delaware 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.