What does home solar actually save you now?
The 30% federal tax credit expired at the end of 2025. Enter your bill to see your real payback in 2026, driven by your rate, your sun, and your state's net-metering rules.
- ~$2.75/W
- Avg installed cost
- 0%
- Federal credit (2026)
- Net metering
- Main savings driver
- 25 yrs
- Panel lifespan
Free · No sign-up · Based on EnergySage, EPA & IRS data
Where your money goes
Your 25-year money curve
What the planet gets
Net metering credits exported power against what you draw from the grid. Rates vary by state, California's NEM 3.0 pays much less for exports than 1:1 states.
Enter a valid monthly bill and tariff greater than zero to see your results.
Read this first
What changed in 2026
The economics of home solar shifted meaningfully this year. Here's the honest picture, no inflated savings, no credits that no longer exist.
The 30% credit is gone
Section 25D expired Dec 31, 2025. If you buy a system in 2026, there's no federal income-tax credit. This calculator does not assume one.
Lease / PPA still discounts
Third-party-owned solar rides the commercial 48E credit (through 2027), so a lease or PPA can still price in a subsidy you no longer get by buying outright.
Net metering rules the payback
With the credit gone, your export policy matters more than ever. 1:1 net metering ≈ great; California's NEM 3.0 net billing pays far less for exports.
The numbers
US home solar at a glance
Data reviewed July 2026
Cost & savings by system size (US average)
| Size | Installed cost | Annual savings | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4kW | ~$11,000 | ~$1,036 | ~10.6 yrs |
| 6kW | ~$16,500 | ~$1,553 | ~10.6 yrs |
| 8kW | ~$22,000 | ~$2,071 | ~10.6 yrs |
| 10kW | ~$27,500 | ~$2,589 | ~10.6 yrs |
At ~$2.75/W, national-average rate and sun, no federal credit. Your state changes these numbers a lot.
Simple by design
Three steps to your answer
Enter your bill
Type your average monthly electric bill, that's all we need to start.
See your numbers
Get system size, net cost, net-metering savings, and payback instantly.
Weigh your options
Compare buying outright vs. a lease/PPA, and check your state's net-metering rules.
State by state
Payback depends heavily on your state
Your electricity rate, local sun, and net-metering policy swing the numbers more than anything else. Pick your state for an estimate tuned to local conditions.
California
32¢Net billing (reduced export rate)
Texas
15¢Net billing (reduced export rate)
Florida
15¢Full retail net metering (1:1)
New York
24¢Full retail net metering (1:1)
Arizona
15¢Net billing (reduced export rate)
Massachusetts
30¢Full retail net metering (1:1)
New Jersey
18¢Full retail net metering (1:1)
North Carolina
14¢Net billing (reduced export rate)
Learn before you buy
Guides for the 2026 rules
Is solar worth it?
An honest take now that the 30% federal credit is gone, when rooftop solar still pays off, and when it doesn't.
Lease vs. buy vs. PPA
With the residential credit expired, how you pay for solar matters more than ever. The three routes, compared.
Net metering explained
How exported power is credited, and why NEM 3.0-style net billing changes the whole calculation.
What solar costs
US solar prices by system size and what drives them, panels, inverter, labor, and the dealer fee to watch for.
Solar & home value
What the research says about the resale premium from owned solar, and why leased systems are different.
Batteries & NEM 3.0
Why net billing made batteries central to California solar, and how to tell if storage pays for your home.
Frequently asked questions
Is there still a 30% federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No, not for homeowners who buy their own system. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Systems placed in service on or after January 1, 2026 don't qualify. The commercial credit (48E) that underpins third-party-owned solar (leases and PPAs) still exists through 2027, which is why a lease or PPA can still deliver a discount you no longer get by buying.
So does solar still pay off without the tax credit?
Often yes, but the math is tighter. With the 30% credit gone, your payback now depends mostly on your electricity rate, how much sun your roof gets, and your state's net-metering policy. High-rate states (California, Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii) still make a strong case; low-rate states are more marginal.
What is net metering and why does it matter so much?
Net metering credits the power you export to the grid against the power you draw. Under full 1:1 net metering, a right-sized system can nearly zero out your bill. But some states have moved to 'net billing' (California's NEM 3.0), which pays only about 5-8¢/kWh for exports instead of the full retail rate, cutting the value of exported power by roughly 75%.
What about SRECs and state rebates?
Some states run Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) markets or upfront rebates that can meaningfully improve the return, these vary widely by state and utility. This calculator lets you enter a per-kW state/utility rebate if yours offers one.
How accurate is this estimate?
It's a planning estimate built on national-average cost per watt, generation, and grid data. Your real numbers depend on an installer's quote, your roof's orientation and shading, and your utility's exact rate and net-metering terms. Always confirm with a local installer.
Where our numbers come from
Every default in the calculator traces back to a public source. Figures last reviewed July 2026.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act, §25D repeal
U.S. Congress / IRS
Confirmation the 30% residential solar tax credit ends for systems placed in service after 31 Dec 2025.
Solar Panel Cost data
EnergySage marketplace
2026 national average installed cost per watt (~$2.75/W).
eGRID emission factors
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National average grid CO2 emission factor per kWh.