2026 solar price comparison by state
The 6 kW and 8 kW columns are simple price-per-watt multiplication, not installer quotes. They exclude batteries, financing dealer fees, roof work, electrical upgrades and other project-specific items.
| State | Solar $/W | 6 kW | 8 kW | Electricity ¢/kWh | Solar yield kWh/kW/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | $3.88 | $23,280 | $31,040 | 16.58 | 1,380 |
| Alaska AK | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 26.86 | 1,000 |
| Arizona AZ | $2.21 | $13,260 | $17,680 | 15.45 | 1,710 |
| Arkansas AR | $2.38 | $14,280 | $19,040 | 13.43 | 1,370 |
| California CA | $2.47 | $14,820 | $19,760 | 33.17 | 1,580 |
| Colorado CO | $2.66 | $15,960 | $21,280 | 16.65 | 1,490 |
| Connecticut CT | $2.73 | $16,380 | $21,840 | 28.82 | 1,210 |
| Delaware DE | $2.54 | $15,240 | $20,320 | 17.74 | 1,320 |
| Florida FL | $2.13 | $12,780 | $17,040 | 15.36 | 1,450 |
| Georgia GA | $2.49 | $14,940 | $19,920 | 15.19 | 1,400 |
| Hawaii HI | $3.39 | $20,340 | $27,120 | 45.95 | 1,600 |
| Idaho ID | $3.05 | $18,300 | $24,400 | 12.80 | 1,360 |
| Illinois IL | $3.02 | $18,120 | $24,160 | 19.22 | 1,300 |
| Indiana IN | $2.79 | $16,740 | $22,320 | 17.11 | 1,260 |
| Iowa IA | $3.28 | $19,680 | $26,240 | 13.77 | 1,320 |
| Kansas KS | $2.64 | $15,840 | $21,120 | 15.19 | 1,450 |
| Kentucky KY | $2.55 | $15,300 | $20,400 | 14.37 | 1,320 |
| Louisiana LA | $2.35 | $14,100 | $18,800 | 13.51 | 1,390 |
| Maine ME | $2.93 | $17,580 | $23,440 | 29.67 | 1,170 |
| Maryland MD | $2.62 | $15,720 | $20,960 | 21.27 | 1,320 |
| Massachusetts MA | $2.91 | $17,460 | $23,280 | 30.06 | 1,210 |
| Michigan MI | $2.91 | $17,460 | $23,280 | 21.14 | 1,200 |
| Minnesota MN | $3.23 | $19,380 | $25,840 | 15.98 | 1,250 |
| Mississippi MS | $2.29 | $13,740 | $18,320 | 15.35 | 1,400 |
| Missouri MO | $2.51 | $15,060 | $20,080 | 13.45 | 1,360 |
| Montana MT | $2.54 | $15,240 | $20,320 | 13.77 | 1,340 |
| Nebraska NE | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 12.70 | 1,410 |
| Nevada NV | $2.38 | $14,280 | $19,040 | 13.79 | 1,700 |
| New Hampshire NH | $2.89 | $17,340 | $23,120 | 26.83 | 1,190 |
| New Jersey NJ | $2.68 | $16,080 | $21,440 | 23.65 | 1,280 |
| New Mexico NM | $2.67 | $16,020 | $21,360 | 14.82 | 1,710 |
| New York NY | $2.76 | $16,560 | $22,080 | 29.26 | 1,210 |
| North Carolina NC | $2.35 | $14,100 | $18,800 | 14.90 | 1,390 |
| North Dakota ND | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 12.19 | 1,300 |
| Ohio OH | $2.69 | $16,140 | $21,520 | 18.53 | 1,230 |
| Oklahoma OK | $2.62 | $15,720 | $20,960 | 13.37 | 1,490 |
| Oregon OR | $2.47 | $14,820 | $19,760 | 15.31 | 1,210 |
| Pennsylvania PA | $2.58 | $15,480 | $20,640 | 20.90 | 1,240 |
| Rhode Island RI | $2.77 | $16,620 | $22,160 | 29.45 | 1,220 |
| South Carolina SC | $2.61 | $15,660 | $20,880 | 16.04 | 1,410 |
| South Dakota SD | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 14.33 | 1,390 |
| Tennessee TN | $3.56 | $21,360 | $28,480 | 13.90 | 1,360 |
| Texas TX | $2.25 | $13,500 | $18,000 | 16.11 | 1,480 |
| Utah UT | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 13.17 | 1,530 |
| Vermont VT | $2.76 | $16,560 | $22,080 | 23.98 | 1,180 |
| Virginia VA | $2.52 | $15,120 | $20,160 | 16.69 | 1,340 |
| Washington WA | $2.55 | $15,300 | $20,400 | 14.35 | 1,120 |
| West Virginia WV | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 15.42 | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin WI | $3.11 | $18,660 | $24,880 | 18.99 | 1,210 |
| Wyoming WY | $2.60 national fallback | $15,600 | $20,800 | 13.88 | 1,480 |
How to use this table
A lower $/W does not automatically mean a better solar market. The value of a system also depends on how much electricity your home uses, the price you avoid paying the utility, the roof's actual production, export compensation, incentives and project design.
Start with the state benchmark as a quote-comparison reference, then use a ZIP-specific production model before estimating savings or payback.
Sources and methodology
Solar pricing: EnergySage Marketplace residential solar pricing, updated August 21, 2026. Marketplace averages are useful comparison points, not appraisals. Local roof complexity, electrical work, equipment, installer scope and system size can materially change a fair quote.
Residential electricity rates: U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B, Year-to-date through June 2026.
Solar yield: State solar yield is a planning estimate derived from NREL residential PV resource-class ranges, not a site-specific PVWatts result.
States without a current state-specific marketplace benchmark are clearly labeled and use the $2.60/W national benchmark rather than an invented state value.