Solar Panel Cost in Illinois (2026)
Installed solar in Illinois runs about $2.85 per watt — roughly 10% above the national average of $2.58/W. With the federal residential tax credit (25D) gone as of 2026, payback here rests on a $0.18/kWh power price and 4.1 daily peak sun hours.
Worked example: a typical $150/month home in Illinois
A $150/month electric bill in Illinois works out to about 9,890 kWh a year. Sizing a cash-purchase system to cover 100% of that:
Last updated June 30, 2026
Illinois solar numbers
- Installed price
- $2.85 / watt
- Electricity price
- $0.18 / kWh
- Peak sun hours
- 4.1 hrs/day
- State incentive
- 10%
- Net-metering value
- 100% of retail
$/W: industry pricing surveys · electricity: U.S. EIA, 12-month average through April 2026 · sun hours: NREL.
Local context: Illinois Shines (SRECs) and net metering combine to offset the state's moderate sun.
Estimate your own Illinois system
Adjust the bill, ownership, and battery options below — it's pre-set to Illinois's pricing and sun hours.
Monthly shape modeled with NREL PVWatts® v8 (NSRDB 2020 TMY) — updated July 18, 2026.
Electricity 18.2¢/kWh — U.S. EIA, 12-month average through April 2026.
Data: U.S. EIA · OpenEI URDB · Google Solar · NREL PVWatts · DSIRE · IRS · ENERGY STAR · industry surveys — see all sources