Solar panels in Jonesboro, AR
Roofs in Jonesboro get about 1,573 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 54% 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 Jonesboro → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Jonesboro solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Jonesboro home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,231 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,279 | $6,384 | $531 | 12 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,418 | $9,576 | $796 | 12 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,557 | $12,768 | $1,061 | 12 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,696 | $15,960 | $1,326 | 12 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,905 | $20,748 | $1,435 | 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 Jonesboro gets 1,573 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Jonesboro — 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 Jonesboro reaches about 1,672 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,573 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,672 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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Jonesboro actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Jonesboro's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78 | |
| Feb | 101 | |
| Mar | 129 | |
| Apr | 157 | |
| May | 176 | |
| Jun | 184 | |
| Jul | 180 | |
| Aug | 164 | |
| Sep | 139 | |
| Oct | 109 | |
| Nov | 84 | |
| Dec | 72 |
Jonesboro produces about 2.5× 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 Jonesboro's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Jonesboro compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Jonesboro | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,573 hrs | 312th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 281st most |
| Median roof size | 130 m² | 577th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.4¢ | 541st highest |
| Payback | 12.4 yrs | 518th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 540 kg/MWh | 487th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Jonesboro:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro's 1,573 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 1,573 | 14.1¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Topeka, KS | 1,573 | 14.1¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Champaign, IL | 1,572 | 16.3¢ | 9.4 yrs |
| Meridian, MS | 1,572 | 13.3¢ | 11.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Arkansas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Jonesboro solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Jonesboro?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Jonesboro roofs get 1,573 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 535 kWh annually. A typical Jonesboro roof fits about 47 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Jonesboro?
At 12.4¢/kWh and 1,573 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.4 years and returns roughly $17,056 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 Jonesboro?
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.