Solar panels in Hattiesburg, MS
Roofs in Hattiesburg get about 1,707 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 74% 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 Hattiesburg → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Hattiesburg solar system costs
A 19-panel system (7.6 kW) is about right for an average Hattiesburg home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,027 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,643 | $6,384 | $618 | 10.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,965 | $9,576 | $926 | 10.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,286 | $12,768 | $1,235 | 10.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,608 | $15,960 | $1,463 | 10.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,090 | $20,748 | $1,579 | 13.1 yrs |
How we worked this out for Hattiesburg
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Hattiesburg rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,707 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
580 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 580 kWh per panel |
19 panels |
| 3 | System size 19 panels × 400W |
7.60 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 7.60 kW × 1,707 hrs × 0.85 |
11,027 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 7,600 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$15,162 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 13.3¢ + 7,247 kWh exported × 13.3¢ |
$1,444/yr |
| 7 | Payback $15,162 ÷ $1,444 per year |
10.5 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Hattiesburg is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,247 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 — 10.3 years against the 10.5 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, 13.3¢/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 Hattiesburg gets 1,707 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Hattiesburg — 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 Hattiesburg reaches about 1,735 hours, roughly 2% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,707 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,735 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Mississippi avg) | 13.3¢/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 | 2013 |
When Hattiesburg actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 33% of Hattiesburg's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 16% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 94 | |
| Feb | 116 | |
| Mar | 142 | |
| Apr | 167 | |
| May | 183 | |
| Jun | 189 | |
| Jul | 185 | |
| Aug | 173 | |
| Sep | 151 | |
| Oct | 123 | |
| Nov | 99 | |
| Dec | 87 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.2× between Jun and Dec. Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Hattiesburg compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Hattiesburg | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,707 hrs | 204th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 2% | 742nd most |
| Median roof size | 242 m² | 240th largest |
| Electricity rate | 13.3¢ | 610th highest |
| Payback | 10.5 yrs | 374th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 663 kg/MWh | 297th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Hattiesburg:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 2% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Hattiesburg — better than all but 46 of the 788 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Sunnier than the rest of Mississippi. Hattiesburg roofs get 6% more usable sunlight than the typical Mississippi city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Hattiesburg dates from 2013. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Hattiesburg's 1,707 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskogee, OK | 1,707 | 12.1¢ | 11.5 yrs |
| Denver, CO | 1,708 | 14.8¢ | 9.4 yrs |
| Carrollton, TX | 1,705 | 15.1¢ | 9.3 yrs |
| Logan, UT | 1,705 | 11.2¢ | 12.5 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Mississippi → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Hattiesburg solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Hattiesburg?
About 19 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Hattiesburg roofs get 1,707 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 580 kWh annually. A typical Hattiesburg roof fits about 74 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Hattiesburg?
At 13.3¢/kWh and 1,707 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.5 years and returns roughly $20,937 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 Hattiesburg?
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 Mississippi 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.