Solar panels in Gillette, WY
Roofs in Gillette get about 1,689 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 Gillette → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Gillette solar system costs
A 19-panel system (7.6 kW) is about right for an average Gillette home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,911 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,594 | $6,384 | $556 | 11.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,891 | $9,576 | $834 | 11.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,188 | $12,768 | $1,112 | 11.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,485 | $15,960 | $1,328 | 12 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,931 | $20,748 | $1,432 | 14.5 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 Gillette gets 1,689 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Gillette — 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 Gillette reaches about 1,756 hours, roughly 4% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,689 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,756 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 | 7 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Gillette actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Gillette's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66 | |
| Feb | 95 | |
| Mar | 134 | |
| Apr | 176 | |
| May | 207 | |
| Jun | 220 | |
| Jul | 214 | |
| Aug | 188 | |
| Sep | 149 | |
| Oct | 107 | |
| Nov | 73 | |
| Dec | 59 |
Gillette produces about 3.8× 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 Gillette's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Gillette compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Gillette | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,689 hrs | 215th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 4% | 472nd most |
| Median roof size | 57 m² | 666th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.1¢ | 601st highest |
| Payback | 11.6 yrs | 467th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 770 kg/MWh | 180th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Gillette:
- Roof space is the binding constraint. A typical Gillette roof fits about 19 panels and a typical home needs 19 — so there is little room to oversize. If you add an EV or heat pump later, plan the array for it now.
- Small roofs. The median Gillette roof is 57 m², smaller than 99% of cities measured — worth checking your own footprint before assuming a standard system fits.
- 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.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Gillette's 1,689 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 1,688 | 15.1¢ | 9.3 yrs |
| Orlando, FL | 1,692 | 15.3¢ | 9.1 yrs |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,686 | 15.1¢ | 9.3 yrs |
| West Valley City, UT | 1,686 | 11.2¢ | 12.5 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Wyoming → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Gillette solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Gillette?
About 19 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Gillette roofs get 1,689 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 574 kWh annually. A typical Gillette roof fits about 19 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Gillette?
At 12.1¢/kWh and 1,689 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11.6 years and returns roughly $17,592 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 Gillette?
A 7.6 kW system costs about $21,660 before incentives and $15,162 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.