Solar panels in Sheboygan, WI
Roofs in Sheboygan get about 1,388 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 83% 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 Sheboygan → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Sheboygan solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Sheboygan home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,854 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,775 | $6,384 | $653 | 9.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,663 | $9,576 | $980 | 9.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,551 | $12,768 | $1,306 | 9.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,438 | $15,960 | $1,633 | 9.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,270 | $20,748 | $1,932 | 10.7 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 Sheboygan gets 1,388 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Sheboygan — 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 Sheboygan reaches about 1,576 hours, roughly 14% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,388 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,576 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Wisconsin avg) | 17.3¢/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 | 5 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Sheboygan actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Sheboygan's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | |
| Feb | 79 | |
| Mar | 110 | |
| Apr | 144 | |
| May | 169 | |
| Jun | 180 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 154 | |
| Sep | 123 | |
| Oct | 88 | |
| Nov | 61 | |
| Dec | 49 |
Sheboygan produces about 3.6× 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 Sheboygan's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Sheboygan compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Sheboygan | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,388 hrs | 558th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 12% | 35th most |
| Median roof size | 297 m² | 127th largest |
| Electricity rate | 17.3¢ | 204th highest |
| Payback | 9.8 yrs | 328th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 794 kg/MWh | 162nd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Sheboygan:
- Shading is a real problem here. Sheboygan loses 12% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 35th-worst of the 673 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 95 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Sheboygan.
- Dimmer than the rest of Wisconsin. Sheboygan roofs get 7% less usable sunlight than the typical Wisconsin city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Sheboygan dates from 2014. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Sheboygan's 1,388 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg, MB | 1,389 | 10.1¢ | 24 yrs |
| London, ON | 1,389 | 15.2¢ | 15.9 yrs |
| Bridgeport, CT | 1,386 | 29.2¢ | 5.8 yrs |
| Portland, ME | 1,386 | 24.8¢ | 6.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Wisconsin → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Sheboygan solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Sheboygan?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Sheboygan roofs get 1,388 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 472 kWh annually. A typical Sheboygan roof fits about 95 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Sheboygan?
At 17.3¢/kWh and 1,388 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.8 years and returns roughly $28,415 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 Sheboygan?
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 Wisconsin 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.