Ballpark Lab
Michigan solar estimate

Solar Panel Cost in Michigan (2026)

Installed solar in Michigan runs about $2.95 per watt — roughly 14% above the national average of $2.58/W. With the federal residential tax credit (25D) gone as of 2026, payback here rests on a $0.21/kWh power price and 4.0 daily peak sun hours.

Worked example: a typical $150/month home in Michigan

A $150/month electric bill in Michigan works out to about 8,780 kWh a year. Sizing a cash-purchase system to cover 100% of that:

System size
7.6 kW
Panels
19
Annual offset
101%
Gross cost
$24,920
Federal credit (25D)
$0
Expired 12/31/2025 — $0
State incentive
$0
Net cost
$24,920
Payback
13.8 yr
25-year savings
$29,359

Last updated June 30, 2026

Michigan solar numbers

Installed price
$2.95 / watt
Electricity price
$0.21 / kWh
Peak sun hours
4.0 hrs/day
State incentive
0%
Net-metering value
70% of retail

$/W: industry pricing surveys · electricity: U.S. EIA, 12-month average through April 2026 · sun hours: NREL.

Local context: Michigan's distributed-generation tariff pays below retail for exports, lengthening paybacks.

Michigan credits exported power at about 70% of the retail rate (NEM 3.0-style), so a battery to store and self-use your generation usually improves the return here.

Estimate your own Michigan system

Adjust the bill, ownership, and battery options below — it's pre-set to Michigan's pricing and sun hours.

Tell us about your home

Average monthly electric bill$210
Estimated system cost
$29,893$38,827
10.8 kW27 panels
Low $30kMost likely ~$34,360High $39k
Federal tax credit
— expired Dec 2025, we won't pretend otherwise
$0
State & utility incentives
$0
Est. annual savings
$2,120
Payback period
~13.4 yr
Net cost
$30k–$39k
25-year net savings
+$42,774
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Monthly shape modeled with NREL PVWatts® v8 (NSRDB 2020 TMY) — updated July 18, 2026.

Electricity 20.5¢/kWh — U.S. EIA, 12-month average through April 2026.

iA ballpark estimate for planning — not a final quote.

Data: U.S. EIA · OpenEI URDB · Google Solar · NREL PVWatts · DSIRE · IRS · ENERGY STAR · industry surveys see all sources

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