Solar panels in Lansing, MI
Roofs in Lansing get about 1,308 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 80% 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 Lansing → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Lansing solar system costs
A 25-panel system (10 kW) is about right for an average Lansing home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,118 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,558 | $6,384 | $680 | 9.4 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,337 | $9,576 | $1,019 | 9.4 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,116 | $12,768 | $1,359 | 9.4 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,894 | $15,960 | $1,699 | 9.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,563 | $20,748 | $2,099 | 9.9 yrs |
How we worked this out for Lansing
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Lansing rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,308 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
445 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 445 kWh per panel |
25 panels |
| 3 | System size 25 panels × 400W |
10.00 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 10.00 kW × 1,308 hrs × 0.85 |
11,118 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 10,000 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$19,950 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 19.1¢ + 7,338 kWh exported × 19.1¢ |
$2,078/yr |
| 7 | Payback $19,950 ÷ $2,078 per year |
9.6 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Lansing is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,338 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 — 9.4 years against the 9.6 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, 19.1¢/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 Lansing gets 1,308 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Lansing — 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 Lansing reaches about 1,484 hours, roughly 13% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,308 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,484 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Michigan avg) | 19.1¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Lansing actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Lansing's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | |
| Feb | 76 | |
| Mar | 105 | |
| Apr | 135 | |
| May | 158 | |
| Jun | 167 | |
| Jul | 162 | |
| Aug | 144 | |
| Sep | 116 | |
| Oct | 84 | |
| Nov | 59 | |
| Dec | 48 |
Lansing produces about 3.5× 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 Lansing's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Lansing compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Lansing | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,308 hrs | 628th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 12% | 36th most |
| Median roof size | 122 m² | 645th largest |
| Electricity rate | 19.1¢ | 259th highest |
| Payback | 9.6 yrs | 311th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 824 kg/MWh | 122nd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Lansing:
- Shading is a real problem here. Lansing loses 12% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 36th-worst of the 788 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Roof space is the binding constraint. A typical Lansing roof fits about 38 panels and a typical home needs 25 — so there is little room to oversize. If you add an EV or heat pump later, plan the array for it now.
- Dimmer than the rest of Michigan. Lansing roofs get 7% less usable sunlight than the typical Michigan 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 Lansing's 1,308 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | 1,310 | 30.1¢ | 6.1 yrs |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 1,311 | 11.2¢ | 16.4 yrs |
| Beaverton, OR | 1,302 | 12.4¢ | 14.8 yrs |
| New Bedford, MA | 1,315 | 30.1¢ | 6.1 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Michigan → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Lansing solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Lansing?
About 25 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Lansing roofs get 1,308 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 445 kWh annually. A typical Lansing roof fits about 38 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Lansing?
At 19.1¢/kWh and 1,308 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.6 years and returns roughly $32,000 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Lansing?
A 10 kW system costs about $28,500 before incentives and $19,950 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 Michigan 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.