Solar panels in Henderson, NV
Roofs in Henderson get about 2,045 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 98% 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 Henderson → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Henderson solar system costs
A 16-panel system (6.4 kW) is about right for an average Henderson home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,125 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,562 | $6,384 | $851 | 7.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 8,344 | $9,576 | $1,277 | 7.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 11,125 | $12,768 | $1,665 | 7.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,906 | $15,960 | $1,771 | 9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 18,078 | $20,748 | $1,931 | 10.7 yrs |
How we worked this out for Henderson
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Henderson rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 2,045 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
695 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 695 kWh per panel |
16 panels |
| 3 | System size 16 panels × 400W |
6.40 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 6.40 kW × 2,045 hrs × 0.85 |
11,125 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 6,400 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$12,768 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.3¢ + 7,345 kWh exported × 15.3¢ |
$1,665/yr |
| 7 | Payback $12,768 ÷ $1,665 per year |
7.7 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Henderson is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,345 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 — 7.5 years against the 7.7 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, 15.3¢/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 Henderson gets 2,045 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Henderson — 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 Henderson reaches about 2,105 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 2,045 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,105 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Nevada avg) | 15.3¢/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 | 2023 |
When Henderson actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Henderson's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 101 | |
| Feb | 131 | |
| Mar | 168 | |
| Apr | 205 | |
| May | 230 | |
| Jun | 239 | |
| Jul | 234 | |
| Aug | 214 | |
| Sep | 181 | |
| Oct | 141 | |
| Nov | 108 | |
| Dec | 93 |
Henderson 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 Henderson's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Henderson compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Henderson | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 2,045 hrs | 11th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 647th most |
| Median roof size | 184 m² | 420th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.3¢ | 360th highest |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 57th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 631 kg/MWh | 421st dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Henderson:
- Sunnier than the rest of Nevada. Henderson roofs get 6% more usable sunlight than the typical Nevada 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 Henderson's 2,045 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clarita, CA | 2,045 | 31.2¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| Tucson, AZ | 2,043 | 15.2¢ | 7.7 yrs |
| El Paso, TX | 2,043 | 15.1¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| Carlsbad, NM | 2,051 | 14.8¢ | 7.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Nevada → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Henderson solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Henderson?
About 16 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Henderson roofs get 2,045 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 695 kWh annually. A typical Henderson roof fits about 61 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Henderson?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 2,045 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.7 years and returns roughly $28,853 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 Henderson?
A 6.4 kW system costs about $18,240 before incentives and $12,768 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 Nevada 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.