Free Solar Savings Calculator
Estimate how much solar panels could save you, your potential solar payback period, and your 25-year return on investment. This calculator can be used by homeowners in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Calculate Your Solar Panel Savings
Enter your electricity usage and solar system details below. For the most accurate estimate, use the electricity rate shown on your latest utility bill and information from a local solar quote.
Not sure which values to enter? Read our complete UK solar panel calculator guide for help estimating system size, cost, battery requirements and payback.
Your Estimated Solar Results
How to Use the Solar Savings Calculator
This free solar savings calculator is designed to provide a quick estimate of the financial impact of installing solar panels on a home. It combines your electricity consumption, electricity price and proposed solar system size to estimate solar production and potential electricity bill savings.
- Select your country: United States, United Kingdom or Canada.
- Enter your average monthly electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- Enter the electricity price shown on your utility bill.
- Enter the proposed size of your solar panel system in kilowatts (kW).
- Adjust the estimated annual solar production for your location if you have a local estimate.
- Add the installed system cost if you want to calculate solar payback and ROI.
- Enter only rebates or incentives that you have verified are available to you.
The calculator then estimates first-year solar savings, the percentage of your annual electricity use that could be covered by solar, your simple payback period and estimated savings over 25 years.
What Does a Solar Savings Calculator Estimate?
A solar panel savings calculator helps estimate how the electricity produced by a photovoltaic system could affect your future energy costs. It does not predict an exact electricity bill. Instead, it provides a planning estimate based on the information you enter.
Estimated Solar Production
Annual solar production is estimated by multiplying the size of the solar system by the expected yearly electricity production for each installed kilowatt.
Solar production can vary substantially depending on geographic location, roof angle, roof direction, shading, weather conditions, panel efficiency and system losses.
Estimated Solar Savings
Solar savings depend on how much of the generated electricity replaces electricity that would otherwise have been purchased from the grid. Electricity exported to the grid may also have a different financial value from electricity consumed directly inside the home.
The “Solar Energy Value” setting allows you to make the estimate more conservative rather than assuming that every solar-generated kilowatt-hour is worth the full retail electricity price.
Solar Payback Period
The solar payback period estimates how many years it may take for electricity savings to recover the net cost of the solar installation.
This is a simplified payback calculation. Financing costs, maintenance, equipment replacement, taxes and other expenses are not automatically included.
Solar ROI and 25-Year Savings
Solar panels are long-term energy assets, so looking only at first-year savings can provide an incomplete picture. This calculator also models estimated savings over 25 years.
The long-term estimate accounts for the electricity price growth and panel degradation assumptions entered above. If electricity prices increase over time, each unit of electricity generated by your solar panels could become more valuable. At the same time, photovoltaic panels normally produce slightly less electricity as they age, which is represented by the degradation setting.
Solar return on investment (ROI) compares estimated net lifetime savings with the amount invested in the system. It should be used as a planning metric rather than a guaranteed financial return.
What Can Affect Your Actual Solar Panel Savings?
Two homes with the same size solar system can achieve very different results. Your actual savings may depend on your local climate, electricity prices, roof orientation, shading, household energy use and how your utility compensates exported solar power.
Installation price is also important. A lower net installation cost generally shortens the payback period, while a higher electricity price can increase the value of each kilowatt-hour generated and used by the home.
For a more accurate estimate, compare this calculator with a professional solar assessment and several local installation quotes.
Solar Savings Calculator FAQ
How much money can solar panels save?
Solar panel savings vary by household. Important factors include electricity usage, electricity price, solar production, installation cost, self-consumption and local export compensation. Use the calculator above with values from your own utility bill for a more relevant estimate.
How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?
The payback period depends on the net installation cost and annual savings. Systems with lower installation costs or higher annual electricity savings generally reach payback sooner.
Is this solar calculator accurate?
It is designed for preliminary planning rather than an exact solar quote. Actual results depend on site-specific factors such as sunlight, shading, roof orientation, tariffs, equipment and system design.
Can I use this calculator in the United States, UK or Canada?
Yes. Select your country and enter your own electricity price, consumption and solar installation details. The calculator automatically displays results in the relevant currency.
Should I include solar incentives in the calculator?
Only include an incentive, tax benefit, rebate or grant if you have confirmed that the program currently exists and that your project qualifies. Solar incentive rules can change over time.
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