Guides
How long does solar take to pay for itself?
Payback periods have fallen to six to eight years for most homes. Here's how to estimate yours — and the factors that speed it up.
Priya Raman1 min read
The question we hear most is simple: when does solar start making me money? For most of our customers, the answer is somewhere between six and eight years.
The three numbers that matter
System cost after incentives, your current electricity rate and how much sun your roof receives. Everything else is a rounding error.
What shortens payback
Rising utility rates, net metering, and using more of your own power during the day all bring the break-even point closer.
After payback, every kilowatt-hour your panels make is essentially free for the next two decades.
Want a precise number? Our free assessment models your roof hour by hour.
