Solar panels in Washington: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Washington homes pay 14.4¢ per kWh for electricity, the 37th highest of 51, up 13.0% in a year. A typical home needs 24 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 17.7 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Washington
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,166 kWh a year in the median Washington city, from 1,128 in Lakewood to 1,409 in Kennewick.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 14.4¢ in Washington today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Most Washington utilities still credit exported solar close to the retail rate, but rules differ by utility and change often.
4. Incentives. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC §25D) ended for systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, P.L. We don't know of a statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Washington.
Washington's homes
3,064,820 households; 63.8% own their home. 1,725,406 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1985; 58.6% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Washington home
Solar in every Washington city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 4.1 | 1,145 | 38° | 10.5 | 17.9 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.7 |
| Spokane | 4.5 | 1,274 | 38° | 9.2 | 16.2 yrs | 25+ yrs | 12.3 |
| Tacoma | 4.0 | 1,133 | 37° | 10.5 | 18.1 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.8 |
| Vancouver | 4.2 | 1,181 | 36° | 10.1 | 17.4 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.2 |
| Bellevue | 4.1 | 1,170 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.6 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.4 |
| Kent | 4.1 | 1,167 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.6 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.4 |
| Everett | 4.1 | 1,164 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.7 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.5 |
| Spokane Valley | 4.5 | 1,271 | 38° | 9.2 | 16.3 yrs | 25+ yrs | 12.3 |
| Renton | 4.1 | 1,166 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.6 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.4 |
| Federal Way | 4.1 | 1,151 | 38° | 10.5 | 17.8 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.6 |
| Yakima | 4.8 | 1,364 | 38° | 8.8 | 15.2 yrs | 25.0 yrs | 11.5 |
| Kirkland | 4.1 | 1,163 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.7 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.5 |
| Bellingham | 4.0 | 1,135 | 38° | 10.5 | 18.1 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.8 |
| Kennewick | 5.0 | 1,409 | 38° | 8.4 | 14.7 yrs | 24.1 yrs | 11.1 |
| Auburn | 4.1 | 1,170 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.6 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.4 |
| Pasco | 5.0 | 1,409 | 38° | 8.4 | 14.7 yrs | 24.1 yrs | 11.1 |
| Redmond | 4.2 | 1,174 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.5 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.4 |
| Marysville | 4.1 | 1,166 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.7 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.5 |
| Shoreline | 4.1 | 1,148 | 38° | 10.5 | 17.9 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.7 |
| Sammamish | 4.2 | 1,185 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.4 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.2 |
| Richland | 5.0 | 1,409 | 38° | 8.4 | 14.7 yrs | 24.1 yrs | 11.1 |
| Lakewood | 4.0 | 1,128 | 37° | 10.5 | 18.2 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.9 |
| Lacey | 4.0 | 1,130 | 37° | 10.5 | 18.1 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.8 |
| Olympia | 4.0 | 1,131 | 37° | 10.5 | 18.1 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.8 |
| Bothell | 4.1 | 1,163 | 38° | 10.1 | 17.7 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.5 |
| Burien | 4.1 | 1,146 | 38° | 10.5 | 17.9 yrs | 25+ yrs | 13.7 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Washington average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Washington
All changes and deadlines →- Federal: In-service deadline for the lease/PPA solar credit · Tax credits
- Federal: National data: solar prices fell to a median $3.60 per watt · Prices
- Federal: Construction-start deadline passed for the lease/PPA credit · Tax credits
- Federal: The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone · Tax credits
Questions about solar in Washington
How much do solar panels cost in Washington?
A 10.1 kW system, the size the average Washington home needs, costs about $25,250 to $37,875 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Washington?
In the median Washington city, solar pays for itself in about 17.7 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 25+ yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Most utilities here still offer some form of net metering; check yours.
Is there a solar tax credit in Washington?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Washington; utilities and cities sometimes offer rebates. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowner systems installed after December 31, 2025.
How many solar panels does a Washington home need?
About 24 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 955 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Kennewick gets 1,409 kWh per kW a year, Lakewood 1,128.