Solar panels in Las Vegas, NV
Roofs in Las Vegas get about 1,992 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 96% 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 Las Vegas → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Las Vegas solar system costs
A 16-panel system (6.4 kW) is about right for an average Las Vegas home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,836 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,418 | $6,384 | $829 | 7.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 8,127 | $9,576 | $1,243 | 7.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,836 | $12,768 | $1,654 | 7.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,546 | $15,960 | $1,757 | 9.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 17,609 | $20,748 | $1,913 | 10.8 yrs |
How we worked this out for Las Vegas
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Las Vegas rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,992 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
677 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 677 kWh per panel |
16 panels |
| 3 | System size 16 panels × 400W |
6.40 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 6.40 kW × 1,992 hrs × 0.85 |
10,836 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 6,400 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$12,768 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.3¢ + 7,056 kWh exported × 15.3¢ |
$1,654/yr |
| 7 | Payback $12,768 ÷ $1,654 per year |
7.7 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in Las Vegas is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,056 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 — 7.7 years against the 7.7 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, 15.3¢/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 Las Vegas gets 1,992 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Las Vegas — 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 Las Vegas reaches about 2,044 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,992 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,044 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Nevada avg) | 15.3¢/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 | 2023 |
When Las Vegas actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Las Vegas's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 98 | |
| Feb | 127 | |
| Mar | 163 | |
| Apr | 200 | |
| May | 224 | |
| Jun | 233 | |
| Jul | 228 | |
| Aug | 209 | |
| Sep | 176 | |
| Oct | 138 | |
| Nov | 105 | |
| Dec | 90 |
Las Vegas produces about 2.6× 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 Las Vegas's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Las Vegas compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Las Vegas | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,992 hrs | 30th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 678th most |
| Median roof size | 199 m² | 369th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.3¢ | 350th highest |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 54th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 631 kg/MWh | 416th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Las Vegas:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 69 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Las Vegas.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Las Vegas's 1,992 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale, AZ | 1,994 | 15.2¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| Prescott, AZ | 1,996 | 15.2¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 1,997 | 15.2¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| St. George, UT | 1,986 | 11.2¢ | 10.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Nevada → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Las Vegas solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Las Vegas?
About 16 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Las Vegas roofs get 1,992 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 677 kWh annually. A typical Las Vegas roof fits about 69 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Las Vegas?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 1,992 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.7 years and returns roughly $28,577 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 Las Vegas?
A 6.4 kW system costs about $18,240 before incentives and $12,768 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 Nevada 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.