How Much Sun Does LA Really Get? The Data
“Sunny California” is a marketing line — but the data backs it. By NREL’s solar-resource records, Los Angeles averages about 5.8 peak sun hours a day, comfortably above the U.S. average (~5.0) and nearly double a country like Germany (~3.0) that built a world-leading solar industry anyway. Here’s the resource, city by city, and what it turns into on a roof.
Get a free estimate
- LA averages ~5.8 peak sun hours/day — above the U.S. average (~5.0), per NREL.
- Each 1 kW of panels makes roughly 1,700 kWh a year in LA.
- LA gets nearly double Germany’s solar resource — and Germany was an early world solar leader.
- LA stays productive every month of the year — winter dips, but the resource argument is data, not hype.
What a “peak sun hour” means
A peak sun hour is one hour of sunlight at 1,000 watts per square meter — a standard intensity. Saying LA gets 5.8 peak sun hours a day means a 1 kW array receives the equivalent of 5.8 full-intensity hours, even though the sun is up longer at lower intensity. Multiply by 365 and by typical system losses (~20%) and you get annual output: about 1,700 kWh per kilowatt installed in LA.
The numbers: LA vs the rest
| Place | Peak sun hrs/day | Annual kWh / kW | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 6.5 | ~1,900 | 1.12× |
| Miami, FL | 6.1 | ~1,780 | 1.05× |
| Los Angeles, CA | 5.8 | ~1,700 | 1.00× |
| New York, NY | 4.0 | ~1,170 | 0.69× |
| Seattle, WA | 3.5 | ~1,020 | 0.60× |
| Germany | 3.0 | ~880 | 0.52× |
Sources: NREL National Solar Radiation Database and NREL PVWatts. Output = peak sun hours × 365 × ~0.80 system-loss factor; values rounded. Methodology: annual-average peak sun hours from NREL solar-resource data (US metros) and EU PVGIS/JRC (Germany national average, ~35° tilt, south-facing); output assumes a fixed, roughly south-facing roof and ~20% system losses; data accessed July 2026.
Compare LA’s sun to anywhere
Pick a city and see its peak sun hours and the electricity a 1 kW system would make there in a year. It puts Los Angeles’ solar resource in context — including versus Germany, which built a global solar industry on far less sun.
Solar resource comparison
Peak sun hours and annual output per kilowatt.
Peak sun hours from NREL solar-resource data (NSRDB/PVWatts); output = sun hours × 365 × ~0.80 for typical system losses. Planning estimate — actual production depends on roof orientation, tilt, shading and equipment.
LA has nearly double the sun of the world’s early solar leader
For years Germany installed more rooftop solar than almost anywhere on Earth — on roughly 3.0 peak sun hours a day. Los Angeles gets about 5.8. If solar pencils out in cloudy northern Europe, the resource case for an LA roof isn’t close. What actually decides whether solar is worth it here isn’t sunlight — LA has plenty — it’s your electricity rate and your roof.
Seasons matter — but less than you’d think
LA’s sun isn’t flat across the year: summer months run well above the 5.8 average and winter dips below it. Even so, LA’s lowest month still produces well by U.S. standards. Production drops in December and rebounds in spring — the pattern is predictable, and we cover it in solar panels in winter. Heat is the bigger real-world nuance: very hot days slightly reduce panel efficiency, which we quantify in heat and solar output.
What this means for an LA homeowner
Sunlight is not your limiting factor
LA’s resource is excellent. If a quote seems low-output, the cause is usually shading, orientation or system size — not a lack of sun. Ask for a production estimate tied to your actual roof.
Roof and rate decide the outcome
Since sun is abundant, whether solar pays off comes down to your electricity rate (high, in LA) and your roof’s orientation and shade. See how many panels you need.
Real numbers, not averages
These figures are regional. A proper design runs your exact address through NREL-based modeling for orientation, tilt and shade — that’s the number that should be in your proposal.
Frequently asked
How many peak sun hours does Los Angeles get?
About 5.8 peak sun hours per day on an annual average, per NREL solar-resource data — above the U.S. average of roughly 5.0. That translates to about 1,700 kWh of electricity per year for each 1 kW of panels installed, before accounting for your specific roof.
Does LA really get more sun than Germany?
Yes — nearly double. Los Angeles averages ~5.8 peak sun hours a day versus roughly 3.0 for Germany. Germany still built one of the world’s largest rooftop solar markets on that lower resource, which is why sunlight is rarely the deciding factor for an LA roof.
How much power will 1 kW of panels make in LA?
Roughly 1,700 kWh per year per kilowatt, using NREL’s ~5.8 peak sun hours and typical ~20% system losses. A 7 kW system would make on the order of 11,000–12,000 kWh a year — though your exact number depends on roof orientation, tilt, shading and equipment.
Do the seasons change how much solar I get?
Yes, but predictably. LA’s summer months run above the 5.8 average and winter dips below it — yet even LA’s lowest month stays productive. Output falls in December and rebounds in spring. See solar panels in winter.
If LA is so sunny, is solar automatically worth it?
Sunlight isn’t the limiting factor here — LA has plenty. Whether solar pays off depends more on your electricity rate (high in California) and your roof’s orientation and shading. A good proposal models your exact address rather than quoting a regional average.
Related reading
Sun isn’t the question — your roof is
Get a production estimate modeled on your exact roof orientation and shading from a licensed local installer.
Get a free estimatePrepared by Cali Energy, August 2026. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, engineering, or utility advice. Rates, incentives, codes, permit requirements, equipment specifications, prices, and program terms may change; figures and timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Confirm current requirements with the applicable utility, AHJ, program administrator, manufacturer, or a licensed professional. See our Content Disclaimer. Cali Energy · 19201 Parthenia St Unit E, Northridge, CA 91324 · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39)