Solar panels in Kansas City, MO
Roofs in Kansas City get about 1,531 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 10,931 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,164 | $6,384 | $508 | 12.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,246 | $9,576 | $762 | 12.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,329 | $12,768 | $1,016 | 12.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,411 | $15,960 | $1,270 | 12.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,534 | $20,748 | $1,401 | 14.8 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 × 1,531 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 × 1,531 hrs × 0.85 |
10,931 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 × 12.2¢ + 7,151 kWh exported × 12.2¢ |
$1,322/yr |
| 7 | Payback $16,758 ÷ $1,322 per year |
12.7 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 7,151 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 — 12.6 years against the 12.7 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, 12.2¢/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 1,531 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 1,636 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,531 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,636 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Missouri avg) | 12.2¢/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 | 2023 |
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 | 177 | |
| 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 | 1,531 hrs | 355th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 257th most |
| Median roof size | 157 m² | 518th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.2¢ | 672nd highest |
| Payback | 12.7 yrs | 615th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 909 kg/MWh | 3rd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Kansas City:
- 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.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Kansas City's 1,531 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, KS | 1,532 | 14.1¢ | 11 yrs |
| Hamilton, OH | 1,530 | 15.2¢ | 10.2 yrs |
| Gainesville, FL | 1,534 | 15.3¢ | 10.1 yrs |
| Hot Springs, AR | 1,534 | 12.4¢ | 12.5 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Missouri → 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 1,531 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 521 kWh annually. A typical Kansas City roof fits about 46 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Kansas City?
At 12.2¢/kWh and 1,531 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.7 years and returns roughly $16,282 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 Missouri 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.