Solar calculator for Tennessee
Panels, system size, cost and payback for Tennessee, from your own power bill.
The average Tennessee home uses 1,154 kWh a month and pays 12.4 cents per kWh, which puts Tennessee at some of the cheapest electricity in the country, which stretches payback. Tennessee has both a heating and a cooling season, so the bill swings both ways and a full year of bills gives a better answer than one month. A south-facing fixed array there makes about 1,338 kWh per installed kW a year, and the worst winter month still gets 2.96 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 Tennessee
Take the average home: 1,154 kWh a month, which is 13,848 kWh a year, at 12.4 cents per kWh (EIA, 2024 residential averages, as of 2026-11). Sized to cover all of that use, the tool returns 10.3 kWdc and 26 panels, needing about 546 square feet of roof. The installed estimate is $25,771 (national median, EnergySage H2 2025), yearly savings are about $1,717, and simple payback is 15.0 years, with no incentive applied.
Sun and yield in Tennessee
We use 1,338 kWh per installed kW per year for Tennessee, 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 2.96 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee home need?
The average Tennessee home uses 13,848 kWh a year (EIA 2024). At about 1,338 kWh per installed kW, covering all of it takes 10.3 kWdc, or 26 panels. Your own bill will move that up or down.
How much does solar cost in Tennessee?
For the average-home example the installed estimate is $25,771 at the national median of $2.49 per watt (EnergySage, H2 2025, as of 2026-11). We have no sourced Tennessee price multiplier, so local quotes will differ.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in Tennessee?
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner purchases after December 31, 2025. Check your state, utility and local programs separately.
Where does the Tennessee sun figure come from?
1,338 kWh per kW per year and 2.96 winter peak sun hours come from NREL PVWatts v8 runs for Tennessee'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.