Solar panels in Zanesville, OH
Roofs in Zanesville get about 1,451 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 69% 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 Zanesville → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Zanesville solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Zanesville home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,853 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,947 | $6,384 | $600 | 10.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,920 | $9,576 | $900 | 10.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,893 | $12,768 | $1,200 | 10.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,867 | $15,960 | $1,500 | 10.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,827 | $20,748 | $1,719 | 12.1 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 Zanesville gets 1,451 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Zanesville — 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 Zanesville reaches about 1,526 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,451 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,526 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Ohio 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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2021 |
When Zanesville actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Zanesville's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65 | |
| Feb | 88 | |
| Mar | 117 | |
| Apr | 148 | |
| May | 170 | |
| Jun | 178 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 156 | |
| Sep | 128 | |
| Oct | 96 | |
| Nov | 70 | |
| Dec | 59 |
Zanesville produces about 3.0× 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 Zanesville's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Zanesville compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Zanesville | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,451 hrs | 463rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 5% | 366th most |
| Median roof size | 173 m² | 445th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.2¢ | 337th highest |
| Payback | 10.7 yrs | 389th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 883 kg/MWh | 72nd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Zanesville:
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Zanesville emits 883 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 673 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Zanesville 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 Zanesville's 1,451 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,451 | 15.3¢ | 10.6 yrs |
| Hammond, IN | 1,451 | 15.3¢ | 10.6 yrs |
| Rockford, IL | 1,453 | 16.3¢ | 10 yrs |
| Rockville, MD | 1,453 | 18.3¢ | 8.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Ohio → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Zanesville solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Zanesville?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Zanesville roofs get 1,451 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 493 kWh annually. A typical Zanesville roof fits about 65 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Zanesville?
At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,451 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.7 years and returns roughly $23,535 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 Zanesville?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 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 Ohio 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.