Solar panels in Wausau, WI
Roofs in Wausau get about 1,365 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 87% 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 Wausau → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Wausau solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Wausau home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,138 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,713 | $6,384 | $642 | 9.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,569 | $9,576 | $963 | 9.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,426 | $12,768 | $1,285 | 9.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,282 | $15,960 | $1,606 | 9.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,067 | $20,748 | $1,923 | 10.8 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 Wausau gets 1,365 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Wausau — 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 Wausau reaches about 1,424 hours, roughly 4% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,365 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,424 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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2021 |
When Wausau actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Wausau's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | |
| Feb | 76 | |
| Mar | 108 | |
| Apr | 143 | |
| May | 169 | |
| Jun | 180 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 153 | |
| Sep | 121 | |
| Oct | 85 | |
| Nov | 58 | |
| Dec | 46 |
Wausau produces about 3.9× 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 Wausau's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Wausau compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Wausau | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,365 hrs | 586th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 4% | 442nd most |
| Median roof size | 205 m² | 340th largest |
| Electricity rate | 17.3¢ | 202nd highest |
| Payback | 10.2 yrs | 353rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 794 kg/MWh | 161st dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Wausau:
- Dimmer than the rest of Wisconsin. Wausau roofs get 9% 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 Wausau dates from 2021. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Wausau's 1,365 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | 1,365 | 24.3¢ | 7.2 yrs |
| Toronto, ON | 1,366 | 15.2¢ | 16.5 yrs |
| Charleston, WV | 1,364 | 14.3¢ | 12.3 yrs |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 1,363 | 13.2¢ | 13.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Wisconsin → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Wausau solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Wausau?
About 24 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Wausau roofs get 1,365 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 464 kWh annually. A typical Wausau roof fits about 78 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Wausau?
At 17.3¢/kWh and 1,365 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.2 years and returns roughly $27,924 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 Wausau?
A 9.6 kW system costs about $27,360 before incentives and $19,152 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.