Years for rooftop solar to pay for itself from bill savings, after the central subsidy
Estimates only, not financial advice. What you type stays on your device. Checked against sources on 30 Oct 2026.Payback is the net cost of the system after subsidy divided by what it saves each year. Savings depend on how many units the panels make, how many of those your home uses at your bill rate, and what the DISCOM pays for the surplus it takes.
Rates and rules read from the sources listed on this page (the earliest on 30 Oct 2026); they may have changed since.
Enter "Panel capacity (DC)" and the "System cost (your quote)".
Set "Units per kW per year" for your area and "Units your home uses a month".
Enter "Your tariff per unit" and "Paid per exported unit" from your electricity bill.
Read "Payback", "Saving a year" and "Saving a month", then press "Share result" to keep them.
Enter your quote, your tariff and your monthly use; the generation figure starts at 1,200 units per kW a year and can be changed for your area.
This calculator works out the central subsidy a household receives for a grid-connected rooftop solar system under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, and then how long the rest of the cost takes to recover from lower electricity bills.
Payback is the net cost after subsidy divided by the yearly saving.
The calculator does not include state top-up subsidies, the group housing (RWA) subsidy, loan interest, panel wear over the years, maintenance, or future tariff changes. Apply and check your eligibility on the national portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
The rest of the article, and all 6 questions about Solar Rooftop Subsidy Calculator, are on the Solar Rooftop Subsidy Calculator page.
A 3 kW home system gets ₹78,000 of central subsidy in most states: ₹30,000 for each of the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third. In special category states and UTs the same system gets ₹85,800. Anything above 3 kW receives no extra central subsidy, though some states add their own.
Around 1,200 units a year is a fair Indian average, which is the figure behind the government's statement that 3 kW makes more than 300 units a month. Output is higher in Rajasthan and Gujarat, lower in hill and cloudy states, and falls with shade or dust. Change the generation box to suit your roof.
Panel size. The guidelines say the subsidy follows the rated DC capacity of the solar modules, whatever the inverter rating. A 3.3 kW panel array on a 3 kW inverter is paid as 3 kW because of the cap, and a 2.5 kW array on a 3 kW inverter is paid as 2.5 kW.
Payback here is the net cost divided by the first year's saving. State top-up subsidies, loan interest, cleaning and repairs, the slow drop in panel output over the years and any change in tariffs are all left out. Treat the figure as a first estimate and compare it against more than one vendor quote.
Rates and rules change; check the source before you rely on a figure.
Still stuck? Ask about Solar Rooftop Subsidy Calculator and anybody who knows can answer. No account needed.
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