Solar panels in Stillwater, OK
Roofs in Stillwater get about 1,732 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 72% 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 Stillwater → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Stillwater solar system costs
A 19-panel system (7.6 kW) is about right for an average Stillwater home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,189 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,711 | $6,384 | $570 | 11.2 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,067 | $9,576 | $855 | 11.2 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,422 | $12,768 | $1,140 | 11.2 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,778 | $15,960 | $1,336 | 11.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,311 | $20,748 | $1,443 | 14.4 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 Stillwater gets 1,732 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Stillwater — 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 Stillwater reaches about 1,791 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,732 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,791 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Oklahoma avg) | 12.1¢/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 | 13 |
| Google imagery from | 2016 |
When Stillwater actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Stillwater's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86 | |
| Feb | 111 | |
| Mar | 142 | |
| Apr | 173 | |
| May | 195 | |
| Jun | 203 | |
| Jul | 198 | |
| Aug | 181 | |
| Sep | 153 | |
| Oct | 120 | |
| Nov | 91 | |
| Dec | 79 |
Stillwater produces about 2.6× 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 Stillwater's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Stillwater compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Stillwater | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,732 hrs | 190th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 526th most |
| Median roof size | 102 m² | 631st largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.1¢ | 608th highest |
| Payback | 11.5 yrs | 455th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 758 kg/MWh | 202nd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Stillwater:
- Small roofs. The median Stillwater roof is 102 m², smaller than 94% of cities measured — worth checking your own footprint before assuming a standard system fits.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Oklahoma power costs about 12.1¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Stillwater dates from 2016. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Stillwater's 1,732 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenner, LA | 1,732 | 12.1¢ | 11.5 yrs |
| Hialeah, FL | 1,734 | 15.3¢ | 9.1 yrs |
| Sunrise, FL | 1,730 | 15.3¢ | 9.1 yrs |
| Rapid City, SD | 1,734 | 12.3¢ | 11.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Oklahoma → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Stillwater solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Stillwater?
About 19 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Stillwater roofs get 1,732 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 589 kWh annually. A typical Stillwater roof fits about 37 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Stillwater?
At 12.1¢/kWh and 1,732 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11.5 years and returns roughly $17,802 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 Stillwater?
A 7.6 kW system costs about $21,660 before incentives and $15,162 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 Oklahoma 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.