Solar panels in Marquette, MI
Roofs in Marquette get about 1,426 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 74% 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 Marquette → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Marquette solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Marquette home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,151 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,879 | $6,384 | $741 | 8.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,818 | $9,576 | $1,111 | 8.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,757 | $12,768 | $1,482 | 8.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,697 | $15,960 | $1,852 | 8.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,606 | $20,748 | $2,149 | 9.7 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 Marquette gets 1,426 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Marquette — 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 Marquette reaches about 1,494 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,426 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,494 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 | 14 |
| Google imagery from | 2019 |
When Marquette actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 39% of Marquette's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | |
| Feb | 77 | |
| Mar | 112 | |
| Apr | 151 | |
| May | 180 | |
| Jun | 192 | |
| Jul | 186 | |
| Aug | 162 | |
| Sep | 126 | |
| Oct | 87 | |
| Nov | 57 | |
| Dec | 45 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Marquette produces roughly 4.3× as much in Jun as in Dec. A system sized to cover your annual usage will overproduce badly in summer and fall well short in winter, so how your utility credits exported power matters more here than in most places.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Marquette's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Marquette compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Marquette | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,426 hrs | 499th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 5% | 404th most |
| Median roof size | 218 m² | 296th largest |
| Electricity rate | 19.1¢ | 154th highest |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 217th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 794 kg/MWh | 159th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Marquette:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Marquette dates from 2019. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Marquette's 1,426 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor, ON | 1,426 | 15.2¢ | 15.8 yrs |
| St. Cloud, MN | 1,426 | 14.8¢ | 11.4 yrs |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,425 | 15.2¢ | 11.1 yrs |
| Erie, PA | 1,425 | 18.1¢ | 9.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Michigan → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Marquette solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Marquette?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Marquette roofs get 1,426 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 485 kWh annually. A typical Marquette roof fits about 71 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Marquette?
At 19.1¢/kWh and 1,426 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.8 years and returns roughly $33,635 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 Marquette?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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.