Solar calculator for Alabama
Panels, system size, cost and payback for Alabama, from your own power bill.
The average Alabama home uses 1,143 kWh a month and pays 15.2 cents per kWh, which puts Alabama at mid-range electricity prices, so payback depends mostly on how much sun your roof gets. Summer cooling drives the bill in Alabama, and that load lands in the sunniest hours, which suits solar. A south-facing fixed array there makes about 1,367 kWh per installed kW a year, and the worst winter month still gets 3.31 peak sun hours a day. Drop in your own bill below and the numbers on this page are replaced by yours.
A worked example for Alabama
Take the average home: 1,143 kWh a month, which is 13,716 kWh a year, at 15.2 cents per kWh (EIA, 2024 residential averages, as of 2026-11). Sized to cover all of that use, the tool returns 10.0 kWdc and 25 panels, needing about 525 square feet of roof. The installed estimate is $24,984 (national median, EnergySage H2 2025), yearly savings are about $2,085, and simple payback is 12.0 years, with no incentive applied.
Sun and yield in Alabama
We use 1,367 kWh per installed kW per year for Alabama, from NREL PVWatts v8 for the state's largest city at a 20 degree south-facing tilt (via TheGreenWatt, as of 2026-11). The darkest month averages 3.31 peak sun hours a day, which matters if you plan to go off-grid or size a battery. A different roof angle or heavy shade changes this, so treat it as a starting point.
Incentives
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner purchases after December 31, 2025, so none is applied here. See the tax credit guide. Look up Alabama and your own utility for net metering terms and any local programs before relying on a payback number.
Planning estimate. Permits, interconnection approval and a licensed electrician are required for grid-tied systems.
Questions
How many solar panels does a Alabama home need?
The average Alabama home uses 13,716 kWh a year (EIA 2024). At about 1,367 kWh per installed kW, covering all of it takes 10.0 kWdc, or 25 panels. Your own bill will move that up or down.
How much does solar cost in Alabama?
For the average-home example the installed estimate is $24,984 at the national median of $2.49 per watt (EnergySage, H2 2025, as of 2026-11). We have no sourced Alabama price multiplier, so local quotes will differ.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in Alabama?
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner purchases after December 31, 2025. Check your state, utility and local programs separately.
Where does the Alabama sun figure come from?
1,367 kWh per kW per year and 3.31 winter peak sun hours come from NREL PVWatts v8 runs for Alabama's largest city, compiled by TheGreenWatt (as of 2026-11). Real yield varies across the state.
Is my bill uploaded?
No. Your bill is read in your browser and never uploaded.