Solar panels in Hot Springs, AR
Roofs in Hot Springs get about 1,534 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 52% 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 Hot Springs → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Hot Springs solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Hot Springs home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,953 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,172 | $6,384 | $517 | 12.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,259 | $9,576 | $776 | 12.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,345 | $12,768 | $1,035 | 12.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,431 | $15,960 | $1,293 | 12.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,561 | $20,748 | $1,425 | 14.6 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 Hot Springs gets 1,534 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Hot Springs — 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 Hot Springs reaches about 1,652 hours, roughly 8% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,534 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,652 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Arkansas avg) | 12.4¢/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 | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Hot Springs actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Hot Springs's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79 | |
| Feb | 100 | |
| Mar | 126 | |
| Apr | 152 | |
| May | 170 | |
| Jun | 176 | |
| Jul | 172 | |
| Aug | 159 | |
| Sep | 136 | |
| Oct | 108 | |
| Nov | 84 | |
| Dec | 73 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.4× between Jun and Dec. Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Hot Springs compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Hot Springs | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,534 hrs | 353rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 7% | 188th most |
| Median roof size | 180 m² | 422nd largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.4¢ | 542nd highest |
| Payback | 12.5 yrs | 527th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 540 kg/MWh | 488th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Hot Springs:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs's 1,534 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FL | 1,534 | 15.3¢ | 10.1 yrs |
| Kansas City, KS | 1,532 | 14.1¢ | 11 yrs |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,531 | 12.2¢ | 12.7 yrs |
| Paducah, KY | 1,537 | 12.2¢ | 12.7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Arkansas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Hot Springs solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Hot Springs?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Hot Springs roofs get 1,534 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 522 kWh annually. A typical Hot Springs roof fits about 34 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Hot Springs?
At 12.4¢/kWh and 1,534 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.5 years and returns roughly $16,840 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 Hot Springs?
A 8.4 kW system costs about $23,940 before incentives and $16,758 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 Arkansas 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.