Solar panels in Minot, ND
Roofs in Minot get about 1,432 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 Minot → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Minot solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Minot home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,198 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,895 | $6,384 | $432 | 14.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,843 | $9,576 | $649 | 14.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,790 | $12,768 | $865 | 14.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,738 | $15,960 | $1,081 | 14.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,659 | $20,748 | $1,250 | 16.6 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 Minot gets 1,432 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Minot — 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 Minot reaches about 1,526 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,432 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,526 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (North Dakota avg) | 11.1¢/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 | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
Nearby cities
See all of North Dakota → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Minot solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Minot?
About 23 panels for an average home. Minot roofs get 1,432 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 487 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Minot?
At 11.1¢/kWh and 1,432 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 15.2 years and returns roughly $11,892 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Minot?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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 North Dakota 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.