Compare calculators

Both calculators run independently — change the inputs on either side to compare results.

Solar Payback Period Calculator (with Incentives)

Find how many years it takes solar to pay for itself after the federal tax credit and rebates, based on your install cost, system production, and electricity rate.

Gross system cost (before incentives) ($)

Tax credit / percentage incentive (%)

Flat rebates and incentives ($)

Annual energy production (kWh/yr)

Electricity price ($/kWh)

Solar Energy

Solar Payback Period Calculator

Calculate how many years a solar PV system takes to pay back its net upfront cost through annual electricity bill savings. Use it as the primary financial test when evaluating whether to install solar.

Total System Cost ($)

Annual Savings ($/year)

Tax Incentives ($)

Key differences

	Solar Payback Period Calculator (with Incentives)	Solar Payback Period Calculator
Category	Solar Energy	Solar Energy
Inputs required	5	3
Result	Simple payback period (years)	Payback Period (years)
What it does	Find how many years it takes solar to pay for itself after the federal tax credit and rebates, based on your install cost, system production, and electricity rate.	Calculate how many years a solar PV system takes to pay back its net upfront cost through annual electricity bill savings. Use it as the primary financial test when evaluating whether to install solar.