Solar panels in Hays, KS
Roofs in Hays get about 1,871 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 86% 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 Hays → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Hays solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Hays home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,814 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,089 | $6,384 | $718 | 8.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,634 | $9,576 | $1,076 | 8.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,178 | $12,768 | $1,435 | 8.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,723 | $15,960 | $1,591 | 10 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 16,540 | $20,748 | $1,725 | 12 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 Hays gets 1,871 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Hays — 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 Hays reaches about 1,882 hours, roughly 1% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,871 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,882 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Kansas avg) | 14.1¢/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 | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Hays actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Hays's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86 | |
| Feb | 115 | |
| Mar | 152 | |
| Apr | 190 | |
| May | 216 | |
| Jun | 227 | |
| Jul | 221 | |
| Aug | 200 | |
| Sep | 165 | |
| Oct | 126 | |
| Nov | 93 | |
| Dec | 79 |
Hays 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 Hays's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Hays compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Hays | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,871 hrs | 96th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 1% | 668th most |
| Median roof size | 300 m² | 122nd largest |
| Electricity rate | 14.1¢ | 479th highest |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 234th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 909 kg/MWh | 11th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Hays:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 1% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Hays — better than all but 5 of the 673 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 118 panels — roughly 6× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Hays.
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Hays emits 909 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 673 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
- Sunnier than the rest of Kansas. Hays roofs get 14% more usable sunlight than the typical Kansas city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Hays's 1,871 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 1,875 | 31.2¢ | 8.4 yrs |
| Vallejo, CA | 1,865 | 31.2¢ | 8.7 yrs |
| Stockton, CA | 1,879 | 31.2¢ | 8.4 yrs |
| Lawton, OK | 1,863 | 12.1¢ | 10.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Kansas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Hays solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Hays?
About 17 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Hays roofs get 1,871 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 636 kWh annually. A typical Hays roof fits about 118 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Hays?
At 14.1¢/kWh and 1,871 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.9 years and returns roughly $24,517 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 Hays?
A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 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 Kansas 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.