Solar payback in Hawaii
A 7.7 kW home solar system in Hawaii pays for itself in about 8.1 years at 2026 prices, with no federal tax credit. That ranks #1 of 51 states, where 1 is the fastest.
- Installed price
- $3.60/W
- national median, 2025
- Solar output
- 1,622 kWh
- per kW a year, Honolulu weather
- Electricity rate
- 48¢/kWh
- average home rate, EIA
- Value of a solar kWh
- 27.3¢
- net billing
Pays back in year 9
- Cost up front
- $27,720
- Saved per year
- $3,410
- Ahead after 25 years
- $57,520
Payback by quoted price and roof direction
Find your installer's price per watt (total price divided by system watts) to read your payback in Hawaii. Nationally, cash buyers paid a median of $3.00 per watt in 2025 and loan buyers $4.50, because loan fees are often built into the price. East and west roofs make 7% and 8% less power than south here.
| Price per watt | 7.7 kW costs | South roof | East roof | West roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.50 | $19,250 | 5.6 years | 6.1 years | 6.1 years |
| $3.00 | $23,100 | 6.8 years | 7.3 years | 7.3 years |
| $3.60 (national median) | $27,720 | 8.1 years | 8.8 years | 8.8 years |
| $4.00 | $30,800 | 9.0 years | 9.7 years | 9.8 years |
| $4.50 | $34,650 | 10.2 years | 11.0 years | 11.0 years |
System size barely changes payback here: a bigger system costs more and saves more in about the same proportion.
Questions about solar in Hawaii
How does Hawaii pay for solar power I send to the grid?
Hawaii closed net metering in 2015. New Hawaiian Electric customers join Smart Renewable Energy Export, which pays time-of-day export rates; on Oahu about 13.5 cents per kWh in the daytime, when solar exports happen. We assume you use 40% of your solar power at home, which makes the average solar kWh worth 27.3¢. Source.
How much did the end of the federal tax credit change payback in Hawaii?
With the 30% credit that ended in 2025, the same system would have paid back in about 5.7 years instead of 8.1. The credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Leased systems and power purchase agreements can still pass on a business credit, but then you do not own the panels.
Is 1,622 kWh per kW a lot?
The range across states runs from about 922 kWh in Alaska to about 1,779 in the Southwest. Sunshine matters less than people expect: the electricity rate and how your utility credits exports move payback more.
States near Hawaii in the ranking
- Maine 8.4 years
- Massachusetts 9.1 years
- Rhode Island 9.6 years