Peak Sun Hours by Location

Find average daily peak sun hours for solar system sizing.

What are Peak Sun Hours?

Peak sun hours represent the equivalent hours of full 1000 W/m2 solar irradiance per day. A location receiving 6 hours of varying sunlight might have only 4.5 peak sun hours of effective energy for solar panels.

Peak Sun Hours by Region

Region Hours Rating
Southwest (AZ, NV, NM)6.0-6.5Excellent
South (CA, TX, FL)5.0-5.5Very Good
Central (CO, KS, OK)4.5-5.0Good
Southeast (GA, NC, SC)4.5-4.8Good
Midwest (IL, IN, OH)4.0-4.2Moderate
Northeast (NY, MA, PA)3.8-4.0Fair
Pacific NW (WA, OR)3.5-4.0Fair

All States - Peak Sun Hours

State Peak Hours Elec. Rate Rating