Ballpark Lab
Washington solar estimate

Solar Panel Cost in Washington (2026)

Installed solar in Washington runs about $2.75 per watt — roughly 7% above the national average of $2.58/W. With the federal residential tax credit (25D) gone as of 2026, payback here rests on a $0.14/kWh power price and 3.7 daily peak sun hours.

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

A $150/month electric bill in Washington works out to about 13,043 kWh a year. Sizing a cash-purchase system to cover 100% of that:

System size
12.4 kW
Panels
31
Annual offset
103%
Gross cost
$36,600
Federal credit (25D)
$0
Expired 12/31/2025 — $0
State incentive
$0
Net cost
$36,600
Payback
15.8 yr
25-year savings
$30,651

Last updated June 30, 2026

Washington solar numbers

Installed price
$2.75 / watt
Electricity price
$0.14 / kWh
Peak sun hours
3.7 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: The cheapest power in the country and low sun make Washington one of the slowest solar paybacks.

Estimate your own Washington system

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

Tell us about your home

Average monthly electric bill$210
Estimated system cost
$43,326$56,274
17.2 kW43 panels
Low $43kMost likely ~$49,800High $56k
Federal tax credit
— expired Dec 2025, we won't pretend otherwise
$0
State & utility incentives
$0
Est. annual savings
$2,564
Payback period
~15.5 yr
Net cost
$43k–$56k
25-year net savings
+$43,483
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Monthly shape modeled with NREL PVWatts® v8 (NSRDB 2020 TMY) — updated July 18, 2026.

Electricity 13.8¢/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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