Solar · Michigan
How many solar panels do I need in Michigan?
For the average Michigan home, which uses 618 kWh a month (EIA, 2024), about 14 × 400 W solar panels (5.51 kW) facing south at the best tilt. One kW of panels in Michigan makes about 1,347 kWh a year, 4.7 kWh a day in July and 1.8 in December, the 47th sunniest of 51.
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Solar output by month in Michigan
Output falls to 38% of the July level in December. Grid-tied homes are sized on the year; anything off-grid has to be sized for December.
| Month | kWh per kW | Per day | 200 W panel, Wh/day into a battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 70 | 2.27 | 385 |
| February | 92 | 3.28 | 558 |
| March | 124 | 3.99 | 678 |
| April | 130 | 4.33 | 736 |
| May | 140 | 4.50 | 765 |
| June | 140 | 4.67 | 794 |
| July | 146 | 4.72 | 802 |
| August | 139 | 4.48 | 762 |
| September | 128 | 4.26 | 724 |
| October | 105 | 3.38 | 574 |
| November | 77 | 2.58 | 439 |
| December | 56 | 1.81 | 308 |
Charging a power station in Michigan
A 200 W panel propped up facing south refills a 1,000 Wh power station in about 1.2 days in July and 3.2 days in December. To refill it in one day you’d need about 250 W of panels in July and 650 W in December. Check your station and panel →
A balcony or plug-in panel in Michigan
A 400 W panel hanging upright on a south-facing railing makes about 357 kWh a year, worth about $82.10 at Michigan’s average rate (22.99¢/kWh, August 2026), if you use the power as it’s made. Shade and the rules where you live matter more than anything here. Try your kit →
The rules in Michigan: We found no state law on plug-in solar in Michigan as of November 5, 2026; ask your utility. A bill (HB 5764) is pending: referred to the House Committee on Energy on March 19, 2026 (Michigan Legislature, HB 5764 (2026)). Every state we track →
Across Michigan
Michigan’s figure is the population-weighted average of Detroit, Grand Rapids and Warren, its three largest cities; across them, a kW makes 1,308 to 1,365 kWh a year.
| City | Population (2024) | kWh per kW a year |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 645,705 | 1,355 |
| Grand Rapids | 200,117 | 1,308 |
| Warren | 137,686 | 1,365 |
Cross-check: an estimate from NASA POWER sunshine came out at 1,214 kWh per kW, 11% below the Global Solar Atlas figure. Within our 12% threshold.
Electricity rates and appliance costs in Michigan →
FAQ
How many solar panels do I need in Michigan?
For the average Michigan home, which uses 618 kWh a month (EIA, 2024), about 14 × 400 W solar panels (5.51 kW) facing south at the best tilt. One kW of panels in Michigan makes about 1,347 kWh a year, 4.7 kWh a day in July and 1.8 in December, the 47th sunniest of 51.
How much does a solar panel produce in Michigan?
A 400 W panel facing south at the best tilt makes about 539 kWh a year in Michigan: about 58 kWh in July and 22 kWh in December (Global Solar Atlas).
How long does a 200 W solar panel take to charge a 1,000 Wh power station in Michigan?
About 1.2 days in July and 3.2 days in December, propped up facing south, at 85% charging efficiency. Lying flat, about 5.3 days in December.
How many solar panels for the U.S. average home in Michigan?
The U.S. average home uses 863 kWh a month (EIA, 2024). In Michigan that takes about 7.69 kW: 20 × 400 W panels.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit?
Not under the residential credit for systems installed after 2025: the IRS says the section 25D credit will not be allowed for any expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed.
Sources and assumptions
- Solar output (kWh per kW of panels, by month): Global Solar Atlas 2.0, long-term averages to 2025 (data version 2.2.68, updated 2026-04-01), for crystalline-silicon panels facing south at the best fixed tilt, after typical system losses. Data obtained from the “Global Solar Atlas 2.0, a free, web-based application is developed and operated by the company Solargis s.r.o. on behalf of the World Bank Group, utilizing Solargis data, with funding provided by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). For additional information: https://globalsolaratlas.info” Licensed CC BY 4.0; we rounded and combined it as described here. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Solargis or the World Bank Group.
- State figure: population-weighted average of the state’s three largest cities (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; coordinates from the 2020 Census Gazetteer). Hawaii and DC use one city.
- Cross-check: NASA POWER sunshine climatology (2001–2025), tilted with a standard isotropic-sky model × 0.80. States more than 12% apart were reviewed by hand; the gaps are explained on our methodology page.
- Home use: EIA Table 5A, 2024 average monthly residential kWh by state. Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, August 2026.
- Tax credit: IRS FAQ on the One, Big, Beautiful Bill (FS-2025-05, Aug. 21, 2025).
- Assumptions: 85% charging efficiency into a battery, 85% from battery to appliance, panel counts rounded up, off-grid sizing for the worst month.