States where solar pays for itself fastest
Hawaii pays back fastest at 4.7 years, then Maine and Massachusetts. The median state takes 14.6 years and Washington takes 19.5.
The table
| # | State | Payback | 8 kW price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii* | 4.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 2 | Maine* | 8.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 9.0 yrs | $29,920 |
| 4 | New York | 9.7 yrs | $31,840 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 9.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 6 | California | 10.5 yrs | $34,880 |
| 7 | District of Columbia* | 10.5 yrs | $30,000 |
| 8 | New Hampshire* | 10.5 yrs | $30,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey* | 10.6 yrs | $30,000 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 11.0 yrs | $30,000 |
| 11 | Delaware | 12.1 yrs | $25,440 |
| 12 | Michigan* | 12.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 13 | New Mexico* | 12.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 14 | Maryland* | 12.2 yrs | $30,000 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania* | 12.2 yrs | $30,000 |
| 16 | Vermont* | 12.3 yrs | $30,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | 12.4 yrs | $28,960 |
| 18 | Colorado* | 13.0 yrs | $30,000 |
| 19 | Alaska* | 13.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 20 | Virginia* | 13.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 13.7 yrs | $29,840 |
| 22 | Illinois* | 13.8 yrs | $30,000 |
| 23 | Texas | 13.8 yrs | $27,680 |
| 24 | Ohio* | 13.9 yrs | $30,000 |
| 25 | Georgia* | 14.3 yrs | $30,000 |
| 26 | South Carolina* | 14.6 yrs | $30,000 |
| 27 | Kansas* | 14.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 28 | Alabama* | 15.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 29 | Missouri* | 15.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 30 | Nevada* | 15.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 31 | Wyoming* | 15.1 yrs | $30,000 |
| 32 | Minnesota* | 15.2 yrs | $30,000 |
| 33 | Oklahoma* | 15.2 yrs | $30,000 |
| 34 | Iowa* | 15.4 yrs | $30,000 |
| 35 | Indiana* | 15.5 yrs | $30,000 |
| 36 | North Carolina* | 15.6 yrs | $30,000 |
| 37 | Mississippi* | 16.0 yrs | $30,000 |
| 38 | South Dakota* | 16.0 yrs | $30,000 |
| 39 | Florida | 16.3 yrs | $32,640 |
| 40 | Arkansas* | 16.4 yrs | $30,000 |
| 41 | Idaho* | 16.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 42 | Montana* | 16.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 43 | West Virginia* | 16.9 yrs | $30,000 |
| 44 | Utah* | 17.0 yrs | $30,000 |
| 45 | Nebraska* | 17.3 yrs | $30,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana* | 17.7 yrs | $30,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky* | 17.9 yrs | $30,000 |
| 48 | Tennessee* | 18.0 yrs | $30,000 |
| 49 | Oregon | 18.9 yrs | $31,200 |
| 50 | North Dakota* | 19.5 yrs | $30,000 |
| 51 | Washington* | 19.5 yrs | $30,000 |
* Priced at the national median. Years for an 8 kW system's avoided electricity bills to cover its price, with no federal credit, 25-year horizon, 0.5% a year panel degradation and 2.5% a year electricity price growth. Only 11 states have enough reported installations for Berkeley Lab to publish a local price, so the rest are priced at the national median of $3.75 a watt and marked with an asterisk. Their position reflects sunshine and power prices, not a measured local price. Full method on the methodology page.
Questions
Which state has the fastest solar payback?
Hawaii, at 4.7 years for an 8 kW system costing $30,000, computed from Berkeley Lab installed prices, PVGIS production and the EIA's July 2026 residential electricity price, with no federal tax credit. Maine (8.7 years) and Massachusetts (9.0 years) follow.
How long does solar take to pay back in a typical state?
The median across the 51 states where a system pays back inside 25 years is 14.6 years for an 8 kW system, now that the 30% federal credit no longer applies to a system you buy. 5 states come in at 10 years or under.
Where does solar take longest to pay back?
Washington, at 19.5 years for an 8 kW system, mostly because electricity there is cheap at 14.7 cents per kWh.
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