Solar calculator for South Carolina
Panels, system size, cost and payback for South Carolina, from your own power bill.
The average South Carolina home uses 1,050 kWh a month and pays 14.2 cents per kWh, which puts South Carolina at mid-range electricity prices, so payback depends mostly on how much sun your roof gets. Summer cooling drives the bill in South Carolina, and that load lands in the sunniest hours, which suits solar. A south-facing fixed array there makes about 1,454 kWh per installed kW a year, and the worst winter month still gets 3.49 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 South Carolina
Take the average home: 1,050 kWh a month, which is 12,600 kWh a year, at 14.2 cents per kWh (EIA, 2024 residential averages, as of 2026-11). Sized to cover all of that use, the tool returns 8.7 kWdc and 22 panels, needing about 462 square feet of roof. The installed estimate is $21,578 (national median, EnergySage H2 2025), yearly savings are about $1,789, and simple payback is 12.1 years, with no incentive applied.
Sun and yield in South Carolina
We use 1,454 kWh per installed kW per year for South Carolina, 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 3.49 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina home need?
The average South Carolina home uses 12,600 kWh a year (EIA 2024). At about 1,454 kWh per installed kW, covering all of it takes 8.7 kWdc, or 22 panels. Your own bill will move that up or down.
How much does solar cost in South Carolina?
For the average-home example the installed estimate is $21,578 at the national median of $2.49 per watt (EnergySage, H2 2025, as of 2026-11). We have no sourced South Carolina price multiplier, so local quotes will differ.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in South Carolina?
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner purchases after December 31, 2025. Check your state, utility and local programs separately.
Where does the South Carolina sun figure come from?
1,454 kWh per kW per year and 3.49 winter peak sun hours come from NREL PVWatts v8 runs for South Carolina'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.