Solar payback in Tennessee
A 7.7 kW home solar system in Tennessee pays for itself in about 19.6 years at 2026 prices, with no federal tax credit. That ranks #45 of 51 states, where 1 is the fastest.
- Installed price
- $3.60/W
- national median, 2025
- Solar output
- 1,338 kWh
- per kW a year, Nashville weather
- Electricity rate
- 13.71¢/kWh
- average home rate, EIA
- Value of a solar kWh
- 13.7¢
- full retail net metering
Pays back in year 20
- Cost up front
- $27,720
- Saved per year
- $1,412
- Ahead after 25 years
- $7,592
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 Tennessee. 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 12% and 14% less power than south here.
| Price per watt | 7.7 kW costs | South roof | East roof | West roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.50 | $19,250 | 13.6 years | 15.6 years | 15.8 years |
| $3.00 | $23,100 | 16.4 years | 18.7 years | 19.0 years |
| $3.60 (national median) | $27,720 | 19.6 years | 22.4 years | 22.8 years |
| $4.00 | $30,800 | 21.8 years | 24.9 years | 25.3 years |
| $4.50 | $34,650 | 24.5 years | 28.0 years | 28.5 years |
System size barely changes payback here: a bigger system costs more and saves more in about the same proportion.
Questions about solar in Tennessee
How does Tennessee pay for solar power I send to the grid?
Tennessee is counted here as full retail net metering: each kWh you export earns the same as a kWh you would buy. We have not checked Tennessee's rules against its utility commission yet, and some utilities pay less, so check your utility's net metering tariff.
How much did the end of the federal tax credit change payback in Tennessee?
With the 30% credit that ended in 2025, the same system would have paid back in about 13.7 years instead of 19.6. 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 1,338 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.