Ballpark Lab
Texas solar estimate

Solar Panel Cost in Texas (2026)

Installed solar in Texas runs about $2.20 per watt — roughly 15% below the national average of $2.58/W. With the federal residential tax credit (25D) gone as of 2026, payback here rests on a $0.16/kWh power price and 5.3 daily peak sun hours.

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

A $150/month electric bill in Texas works out to about 11,392 kWh a year. Sizing a cash-purchase system to cover 100% of that:

System size
7.6 kW
Panels
19
Annual offset
103%
Gross cost
$19,220
Federal credit (25D)
$0
Expired 12/31/2025 — $0
State incentive
$0
Net cost
$19,220
Payback
9.1 yr
25-year savings
$48,379

Last updated June 30, 2026

Texas solar numbers

Installed price
$2.20 / watt
Electricity price
$0.16 / kWh
Peak sun hours
5.3 hrs/day
State incentive
0%
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: Cheap installs and strong sun give Texas fast paybacks; export buyback plans vary by retailer.

Estimate your own Texas system

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

Tell us about your home

Average monthly electric bill$210
Estimated system cost
$22,081$28,679
10.4 kW26 panels
Low $22kMost likely ~$25,380High $29k
Federal tax credit
— expired Dec 2025, we won't pretend otherwise
$0
State & utility incentives
$0
Est. annual savings
$2,543
Payback period
~8.9 yr
Net cost
$22k–$29k
25-year net savings
+$67,124
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Monthly shape modeled with NREL PVWatts® v8 (NSRDB 2020 TMY) — updated July 18, 2026.

Electricity 15.8¢/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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