solarpaybackcheck

See how fast solar pays back at your address

Enter your ZIP code and roughly what you pay for electricity. You get an estimate of what a system would produce, what it would save, and how many years it takes to earn back what it costs.

  • No email or phone number needed to see your estimate
  • Built on NREL weather data for your location, not a national average
  • Every assumption is written down where you can read it
Check my payback

Takes about a minute. Free.

How it works

Three steps. You see the numbers before we ask you anything personal.

  1. Tell us where and how much

    Your ZIP code and your average monthly electric bill. That is enough to work out how much power you use in a year and how much sun your roof gets.

  2. See your estimate

    Production, yearly savings and payback, shown as a range. We also show you exactly which assumptions produced those numbers.

  3. Get the full report

    Answer three quick questions about your home and we will put together the full breakdown, plus an option to be matched with solar companies that cover your area.

Why you can trust the numbers

Solar quotes have a reputation for being optimistic. Here is what this calculator does differently.

Real weather data

Production comes from NREL's PVWatts model, the same tool used across the US solar industry. It uses typical weather for your location rather than a national figure.

Ranges, not one number

Install prices vary, and utilities pay different amounts for the power you export. A single number would hide that. We show the spread instead.

No hidden tax credit

The 30% federal credit expired for systems purchased after 31 December 2025, so we do not apply it. Estimates that still include it are quietly making solar look better than it is.

Find out what solar would actually do for your bill

Your estimate is free and you do not have to give an email address to see it.

Check my payback