Solar panels in Kansas City, KS
Roofs in Kansas City get about 1,532 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 55% 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 Kansas City → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Kansas City solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Kansas City home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,938 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,167 | $6,384 | $588 | 10.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,251 | $9,576 | $881 | 10.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,334 | $12,768 | $1,175 | 10.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,418 | $15,960 | $1,469 | 10.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,543 | $20,748 | $1,619 | 12.8 yrs |
How we worked this out for Kansas City
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Kansas City rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,532 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
521 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 521 kWh per panel |
21 panels |
| 3 | System size 21 panels × 400W |
8.40 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 8.40 kW × 1,532 hrs × 0.85 |
10,938 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 8,400 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$16,758 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 14.1¢ + 7,158 kWh exported × 14.1¢ |
$1,528/yr |
| 7 | Payback $16,758 ÷ $1,528 per year |
11 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in Kansas City is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,158 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 — 10.9 years against the 11 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, 14.1¢/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 Kansas City gets 1,532 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Kansas City — 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 Kansas City reaches about 1,639 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,532 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,639 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 | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Kansas City actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Kansas City's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70 | |
| Feb | 94 | |
| Mar | 124 | |
| Apr | 156 | |
| May | 178 | |
| Jun | 186 | |
| Jul | 182 | |
| Aug | 164 | |
| Sep | 135 | |
| Oct | 103 | |
| Nov | 76 | |
| Dec | 64 |
Kansas City 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 Kansas City's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Kansas City compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Kansas City | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,532 hrs | 354th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 7% | 242nd most |
| Median roof size | 115 m² | 672nd largest |
| Electricity rate | 14.1¢ | 590th highest |
| Payback | 11 yrs | 427th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 909 kg/MWh | 4th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Kansas City:
- Roof space is the binding constraint. A typical Kansas City roof fits about 26 panels and a typical home needs 21 — so there is little room to oversize. If you add an EV or heat pump later, plan the array for it now.
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Kansas City emits 909 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 788 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
- Dimmer than the rest of Kansas. Kansas City roofs get 7% less usable sunlight than the typical Kansas city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Kansas City's 1,532 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,531 | 12.2¢ | 12.7 yrs |
| Gainesville, FL | 1,534 | 15.3¢ | 10.1 yrs |
| Hamilton, OH | 1,530 | 15.2¢ | 10.2 yrs |
| Hot Springs, AR | 1,534 | 12.4¢ | 12.5 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Kansas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Kansas City solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Kansas City?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Kansas City roofs get 1,532 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 521 kWh annually. A typical Kansas City roof fits about 26 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Kansas City?
At 14.1¢/kWh and 1,532 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11 years and returns roughly $21,434 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 Kansas City?
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 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.