Solar panels in Myrtle Beach, SC
Roofs in Myrtle Beach get about 1,589 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 63% 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 Myrtle Beach → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Myrtle Beach solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Myrtle Beach home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,805 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,322 | $6,384 | $614 | 10.4 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,483 | $9,576 | $921 | 10.4 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,644 | $12,768 | $1,227 | 10.4 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,805 | $15,960 | $1,534 | 10.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,047 | $20,748 | $1,649 | 12.6 yrs |
How we worked this out for Myrtle Beach
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Myrtle Beach rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,589 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
540 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 540 kWh per panel |
20 panels |
| 3 | System size 20 panels × 400W |
8.00 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 8.00 kW × 1,589 hrs × 0.85 |
10,805 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 8,000 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$15,960 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 14.2¢ + 7,025 kWh exported × 14.2¢ |
$1,534/yr |
| 7 | Payback $15,960 ÷ $1,534 per year |
10.4 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in Myrtle Beach is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,025 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 — 10.4 years against the 10.4 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, 14.2¢/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 Myrtle Beach gets 1,589 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Myrtle Beach — 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 Myrtle Beach reaches about 1,798 hours, roughly 13% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,589 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,798 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (South Carolina avg) | 14.2¢/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 | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2020 |
When Myrtle Beach actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 33% of Myrtle Beach's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 16% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83 | |
| Feb | 105 | |
| Mar | 131 | |
| Apr | 157 | |
| May | 174 | |
| Jun | 181 | |
| Jul | 177 | |
| Aug | 163 | |
| Sep | 140 | |
| Oct | 112 | |
| Nov | 88 | |
| Dec | 77 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.3× between Jun and Dec. Myrtle Beach is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Myrtle Beach's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Myrtle Beach compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Myrtle Beach | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,589 hrs | 295th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 12% | 40th most |
| Median roof size | 249 m² | 213th largest |
| Electricity rate | 14.2¢ | 556th highest |
| Payback | 10.4 yrs | 363rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 649 kg/MWh | 350th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Myrtle Beach:
- Shading is a real problem here. Myrtle Beach loses 12% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 40th-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.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Myrtle Beach dates from 2020. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Myrtle Beach's 1,589 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, MO | 1,591 | 12.2¢ | 12.1 yrs |
| Iowa City, IA | 1,591 | 13.2¢ | 11.2 yrs |
| Joplin, MO | 1,591 | 12.2¢ | 12.1 yrs |
| Sheridan, WY | 1,591 | 12.1¢ | 12.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of South Carolina → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Myrtle Beach solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Myrtle Beach?
About 20 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Myrtle Beach roofs get 1,589 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 540 kWh annually. A typical Myrtle Beach roof fits about 78 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Myrtle Beach?
At 14.2¢/kWh and 1,589 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.4 years and returns roughly $22,385 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Myrtle Beach?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 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 South Carolina 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.