Guide
How much electricity plug-in solar produces
An 800 W plug-in solar kit produces about 639–892 kWh a year, the calculator gives. Daily output varies by month from about 0.8 to 3.5 kWh per day depending on city and season.
- CheckedOct 14, 2026
- Sources read2
- DataPVGIS · EIA · state bills
What an 800 W kit produces
The calculator gives annual outputs for an 800 W kit ranging from 639 kWh a year in Seattle to 892 kWh a year in Denver. Daily production varies by month; the calculator's monthly kWh/day numbers are in the seasons section below.
City results for an 800 W kit (calculator, vertical south): Seattle 639 kWh/yr (1.1–2.2 kWh/day by month); Boston 749 kWh/yr (1.4–2.6 kWh/day); New York 732 kWh/yr (1.4–2.6 kWh/day); Chicago 692 kWh/yr (1.4–2.3 kWh/day).
| City | 90° east | 90° south | 90° west | 30° east | 30° south | 30° west |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 427 | 639 | 478 | 725 | 927 | 771 |
| Boston, MA | 527 | 749 | 479 | 869 | 1,082 | 832 |
| Chicago, IL | 504 | 692 | 504 | 860 | 1,054 | 856 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 688 | 876 | 675 | 1,178 | 1,442 | 1,170 |
| Miami, FL | 616 | 653 | 556 | 1,072 | 1,204 | 1,022 |
Winter versus summer
Monthly kWh per day from the calculator show substantial seasonal swings. Sunniest months reach as high as 3.5 kWh/day (Phoenix) and 3.2 kWh/day (Denver); the lowest months can be under 1.0 kWh/day (Miami 0.8 kWh/day, Houston 0.9 kWh/day).
Because the kit numbers above use a vertical south mounting, changing tilt or orientation will shift which months are highest. Use the calculator or read mounting and orientation guidance to see how tilt and direction change monthly output.
| City | Year, kWh | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 639 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| Boston, MA | 749 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| New York, NY | 732 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.0 |
| Chicago, IL | 692 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 1.4 |
| Denver, CO | 892 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| Atlanta, GA | 735 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Houston, TX | 667 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 876 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 826 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Miami, FL | 653 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.7 |
What that energy runs
Compare the annual outputs with appliance energy from ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR lists compact refrigerators around 106–135 kWh/yr and a typical bottom-freezer model at 200 kWh/yr, so an 800 W kit's 639–892 kWh/yr is on the same scale as several compact refrigerators or a few larger units.
ENERGY STAR also lists the United States average electricity rate as $0.12 per kWh and advises you to check your bill for your actual kilowatt-hour rate. For appliance-by-appliance numbers see ENERGY STAR refrigerator listings such as 106 kWh/yr and 200 kWh/yr model entries.
What changes output
Orientation and tilt make a large difference. For New York the calculator shows 90° S (vertical south) at 732 kWh/yr versus 30° S at 1,082 kWh/yr; Los Angeles 90° S 826 kWh/yr versus 30° S 1,370 kWh/yr; Chicago 90° S 692 kWh/yr versus 30° S 1,054 kWh/yr.
Shade, local obstructions and mounting angle also reduce output; the city numbers above assume an unshaded, vertical south mounting. The calculator's default city figures use an 800 W kit; if a kit or inverter limits AC output below the kit rating the measured production will be lower.
- Orientation: large swings (see New York, Los Angeles, Chicago examples).
- Tilt: panels tilted toward the sun month-to-month change peak output.
- Shade and obstructions: any shading lowers kWh/day from the listed values.
- Inverter/AC limit: a lower AC limit will clip output below the kit's rated power.
Questions
How many kWh per day will a single plug-in panel produce?
It depends on location, month and mounting. The calculator's per-day monthly values for an 800 W kit range by city from about 0.8 kWh/day (low months in Miami) up to 3.5 kWh/day (peak months in Phoenix).
Can an 800 W kit run a refrigerator?
ENERGY STAR lists compact refrigerators at about 106–135 kWh per year and bottom-freezer models at about 200 kWh per year. An 800 W kit's annual output (639–892 kWh/yr by city) is comparable to multiple compact refrigerators or a few larger refrigerators, depending on your city.
How much does tilt and orientation change output?
Tilt and orientation can change annual output by hundreds of kWh. For example, the calculator shows New York 90° S (vertical) at 732 kWh/yr versus 30° S at 1,082 kWh/yr, and Los Angeles 90° S 826 kWh/yr versus 30° S 1,370 kWh/yr.
What electricity rate should I use to value the electricity?
ENERGY STAR lists the United States average electricity rate as $0.12 per kWh and recommends checking your electricity bill for your actual kilowatt-hour rate. Your utility's bill shows the rate you pay.