Solar panels in West Palm Beach, FL
Roofs in West Palm Beach get about 1,775 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 80% 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 West Palm Beach → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical West Palm Beach solar system costs
A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average West Palm Beach home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,863 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,828 | $6,384 | $739 | 8.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,242 | $9,576 | $1,108 | 8.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,656 | $12,768 | $1,477 | 8.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,070 | $15,960 | $1,701 | 9.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,691 | $20,748 | $1,839 | 11.3 yrs |
How we worked this out for West Palm Beach
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from West Palm Beach rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,775 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
604 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 604 kWh per panel |
18 panels |
| 3 | System size 18 panels × 400W |
7.20 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 7.20 kW × 1,775 hrs × 0.85 |
10,863 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 7,200 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$14,364 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.3¢ + 7,083 kWh exported × 15.3¢ |
$1,655/yr |
| 7 | Payback $14,364 ÷ $1,655 per year |
8.7 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in West Palm Beach is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,083 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 — 8.6 years against the 8.7 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, 15.3¢/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 West Palm Beach gets 1,775 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across West Palm 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 West Palm Beach reaches about 1,846 hours, roughly 4% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,775 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,846 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Florida avg) | 15.3¢/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 | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
When West Palm Beach actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 31% of West Palm Beach's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 18% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 106 | |
| Feb | 126 | |
| Mar | 149 | |
| Apr | 170 | |
| May | 182 | |
| Jun | 186 | |
| Jul | 183 | |
| Aug | 174 | |
| Sep | 156 | |
| Oct | 132 | |
| Nov | 110 | |
| Dec | 100 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 1.9× between Jun and Dec. West Palm 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 West Palm Beach's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How West Palm Beach compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | West Palm Beach | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,775 hrs | 157th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 4% | 535th most |
| Median roof size | 269 m² | 175th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.3¢ | 364th highest |
| Payback | 8.7 yrs | 186th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 541 kg/MWh | 456th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about West Palm Beach:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 105 panels — roughly 5× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in West Palm Beach.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to West Palm Beach's 1,775 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Falls, ID | 1,773 | 11.2¢ | 11.9 yrs |
| Lihue, HI | 1,777 | 42.1¢ | 3.2 yrs |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,778 | 12.1¢ | 11 yrs |
| Brownsville, TX | 1,770 | 15.1¢ | 8.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Florida → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
West Palm Beach solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in West Palm Beach?
About 18 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. West Palm Beach roofs get 1,775 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 604 kWh annually. A typical West Palm Beach roof fits about 105 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in West Palm Beach?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 1,775 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.7 years and returns roughly $27,006 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 West Palm Beach?
A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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 Florida 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.