Solar panels in McAllen, TX
Roofs in McAllen get about 1,784 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 78% 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 McAllen → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical McAllen solar system costs
A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average McAllen home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,918 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,852 | $6,384 | $733 | 8.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,279 | $9,576 | $1,099 | 8.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,705 | $12,768 | $1,465 | 8.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,131 | $15,960 | $1,681 | 9.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,771 | $20,748 | $1,818 | 11.4 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 McAllen gets 1,784 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across McAllen — 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 McAllen reaches about 1,824 hours, roughly 2% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,784 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,824 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Texas avg) | 15.1¢/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 | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of Texas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
McAllen solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in McAllen?
About 18 panels for an average home. McAllen roofs get 1,784 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 607 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in McAllen?
At 15.1¢/kWh and 1,784 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.8 years and returns roughly $26,517 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in McAllen?
A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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 Texas 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.