Peak sun hours by state: 2026 rankings
How much usable sunlight each state gets per day — and why it's only half of the solar story.
All states ranked by daily peak sun hours
- 1New Mexico6.1 h
- 2Arizona6.1 h
- 3Nevada5.9 h
- 4California5.6 h
- 5Colorado5.6 h
- 6Hawaii5.5 h
- 7Wyoming5.4 h
- 8Oklahoma5.3 h
- 9Utah5.2 h
- 10Nebraska5.1 h
- 11Texas5.1 h
- 12Alabama5.1 h
- 13Idaho5.1 h
- 14Kansas5.0 h
- 15Louisiana5.0 h
- 16South Carolina5.0 h
- 17South Dakota5.0 h
- 18Arkansas4.9 h
- 19Mississippi4.9 h
- 20Delaware4.9 h
- 21North Dakota4.9 h
- 22Maryland4.9 h
- 23Florida4.8 h
- 24Georgia4.8 h
- 25Illinois4.8 h
- 26North Carolina4.8 h
- 27Iowa4.8 h
- 28District of Columbia4.8 h
- 29New Jersey4.7 h
- 30Virginia4.7 h
- 31Wisconsin4.7 h
- 32Montana4.7 h
- 33Minnesota4.6 h
- 34Indiana4.6 h
- 35Tennessee4.6 h
- 36Missouri4.6 h
- 37Kentucky4.6 h
- 38Ohio4.6 h
- 39Massachusetts4.5 h
- 40Rhode Island4.5 h
- 41Michigan4.4 h
- 42Pennsylvania4.4 h
- 43Maine4.4 h
- 44New Hampshire4.4 h
- 45Connecticut4.4 h
- 46New York4.3 h
- 47West Virginia4.3 h
- 48Oregon4.2 h
- 49Vermont4.2 h
- 50Washington3.6 h
- 51Alaska2.4 h
Derived from NREL PVWatts annual production per installed kW at each state's capital, assuming typical system losses.
Sun isn't everything
Sunny states don't always have the fastest payback. A state with fewer sun hours but expensive electricity — like Massachusetts — can beat a sunny state with cheap power. Compare both on the solar rankings or see incentives by state.
Frequently asked questions
What are peak sun hours?
One peak sun hour is one hour of sunlight at an intensity of 1,000 watts per square meter. Five peak sun hours means the day's total sunlight equals five hours at full intensity, even if the sun was up for twelve.
How many peak sun hours do you need for solar?
Solar works almost everywhere in the US. Around 4 or more peak sun hours a day is generally good; with high electricity rates, even 3.5 hours can pay off well.
Are peak sun hours the same as daylight hours?
No. Daylight hours count every hour the sun is up; peak sun hours measure the usable solar energy, which is lower in the morning, evening and winter.
Estimates only. Actual results depend on your home, installer and local rules.