Solar panels in Tempe, AZ
Roofs in Tempe get about 1,934 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 90% 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 Tempe → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Tempe solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Tempe home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,179 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,260 | $6,384 | $800 | 8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,891 | $9,576 | $1,199 | 8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,521 | $12,768 | $1,599 | 8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,151 | $15,960 | $1,731 | 9.2 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 17,097 | $20,748 | $1,881 | 11 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 Tempe gets 1,934 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Tempe — 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 Tempe reaches about 2,046 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,934 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,046 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Arizona avg) | 15.2¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of Arizona → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Tempe solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Tempe?
About 17 panels for an average home. Tempe roofs get 1,934 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 658 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Tempe?
At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,934 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.2 years and returns roughly $27,834 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Tempe?
A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 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 Arizona 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.