Peak sun hours in Louisiana
Louisiana averages 4.9 peak sun hours a day across the year, 14th of the 50 states. At that figure a 400-watt panel produces about 1.51 kWh a day after real-world losses, and covering the 900 kWh average US bill takes about 20 panels. New Orleans, the state's biggest city, sits at 4.9 hours, close to the statewide figure, though microclimates and elevation still move the local number.
solid mid-pack sun: 4.9 of a possible ~6.5 hours
Panel counts for Louisiana bills
Computed at Louisiana's 4.9 hours with 400W panels and the 0.77 derate; the US-average column shows what the same bill takes at 4.5 hours, so you can see what your state's sun is worth in hardware.
| Monthly usage | Louisiana | System size | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh/mo | 11 panels | 4.4 kW | 12 panels |
| 750 kWh/mo | 17 panels | 6.8 kW | 18 panels |
| 900 kWh/mo | 20 panels | 8 kW | 22 panels |
| 1,000 kWh/mo | 22 panels | 8.8 kW | 24 panels |
| 1,500 kWh/mo | 33 panels | 13.2 kW | 36 panels |
| 2,000 kWh/mo | 44 panels | 17.6 kW | 48 panels |
What 4.9 hours means in practice
Louisiana is mid-pack American sun: 14th of 50 at 4.9 peak sun hours, within 9% of the national average. The 900 kWh average bill lands at 20 panels against 22 nationally. At this tier the resource neither makes nor breaks the project. Electricity rates and net-metering terms decide whether solar pencils here, and those change by utility, not by state.
For a location-exact figure, run your address through NREL's free PVWatts; it uses measured weather for your grid cell and will also model roof tilt and direction, which statewide numbers cannot. Then compare its annual kWh against a quote's promise before you sign anything.
Questions people ask
How many solar panels do I need in Louisiana?
About 20 400-watt panels (8 kW) for the 900 kWh a month an average US home uses, at Louisiana's 4.9 peak sun hours. Your bill is the variable that matters: the table on this page covers 500 to 2,000 kWh, and the calculator takes any figure.
Is 4.9 peak sun hours good for solar?
It is solidly workable. Louisiana sits near the national average of 4.5 hours, so panel counts here match the US-typical figures, and project economics turn on your utility's rates and net-metering terms rather than on the sun.
Do peak sun hours change with the seasons in Louisiana?
Yes, everywhere: the figure on this page is the annual average of a curve that peaks in June and bottoms out in December. In Louisiana the swing is meaningful but manageable; summer typically runs half again the annual figure and December two-thirds or less of it. Grid-tied homes bank summer overproduction as credit; off-grid designs must size for the trough, not the average.