Solar panels in Lancaster, PA
Roofs in Lancaster get about 1,449 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 69% 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 Lancaster → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Lancaster solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Lancaster home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,839 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,941 | $6,384 | $713 | 8.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,912 | $9,576 | $1,070 | 8.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,883 | $12,768 | $1,427 | 8.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,853 | $15,960 | $1,783 | 8.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,809 | $20,748 | $2,046 | 10.1 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 Lancaster gets 1,449 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Lancaster — 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 Lancaster reaches about 1,599 hours, roughly 10% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,449 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,599 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Pennsylvania avg) | 18.1¢/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 | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
Nearby cities
See all of Pennsylvania → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Lancaster solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Lancaster?
About 22 panels for an average home. Lancaster roofs get 1,449 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 493 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Lancaster?
At 18.1¢/kWh and 1,449 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9 years and returns roughly $31,358 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Lancaster?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Pennsylvania 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.