Peak Sun Hours in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- June (8.5)
- Worst month
- December (2.7)
- Climate
- Arid · 19.8°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.03 | 3.62 | 5.53 | 0.91 | 7.7 | 46 |
| Feb | 4.00 | 4.81 | 6.15 | 1.19 | 9.7 | 43 |
| Mar | 5.48 | 6.31 | 7.09 | 1.58 | 14.3 | 37 |
| Apr | 6.88 | 7.71 | 8.12 | 1.77 | 18.3 | 29 |
| May | 7.82 | 8.59 | 8.91 | 1.85 | 24.1 | 22 |
| Jun | 8.52 | 8.98 | 10.24 | 1.56 | 30.4 | 14 |
| Jul | 7.56 | 8.44 | 8.34 | 1.84 | 33.5 | 22 |
| Aug | 7.08 | 7.72 | 8.46 | 1.54 | 32.2 | 24 |
| Sep | 6.16 | 6.57 | 8.55 | 1.15 | 27.9 | 23 |
| Oct | 4.67 | 5.15 | 7.42 | 1.00 | 20.2 | 28 |
| Nov | 3.41 | 3.87 | 6.34 | 0.85 | 12.8 | 35 |
| Dec | 2.66 | 3.26 | 5.05 | 0.84 | 7.1 | 46 |
GHI, Clear-sky, DNI, DHI in kWh/m²/day. Data: NASA POWER climatology (long-term monthly averages).
Off-grid calculator
Add appliances
- Add an appliance to size a system.
Sizing
- Daily load
- 0.00 kWh
- Panel wattage
- 0 W
- Panel count (400W modules)
- 0
- Battery bank
- 0.0 kWh
Sizing against worst-month PSH of 2.66 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, United States has a dry climate with long hours of direct sunshine and low humidity. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.61 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Las Vegas is June (summer) at 8.52 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 2.66 kWh/m²/day. When sizing a year-round off-grid system, it's standard practice to design against the December value rather than the annual average — otherwise the battery bank runs low during the darkest weeks.
Las Vegas's solar conditions are well within the range where off-grid PV is a straightforward engineering exercise with standard-sized arrays and lithium batteries.
FAQ
- What are the peak sun hours in Las Vegas?
- Las Vegas averages 5.61 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 2.66 in December to 8.52 in June.
- How many solar panels do I need in Las Vegas?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Las Vegas's annual average of 5.61 kWh/m²/day, a 5 kWh/day load needs roughly 3 × 400 W panels. Use the calculator above for your actual load.
- What size battery do I need in Las Vegas?
- Sizing against Las Vegas's worst month (December, 2.66 kWh/m²/day) with 2 days of autonomy at 80% depth of discharge, a 5 kWh/day load needs about a 12.5 kWh battery bank.
- How does Las Vegas's solar resource compare globally?
- Las Vegas sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.61 kWh/m²/day — excellent by global standards. For reference, top-tier desert sites average ~6.5 and high-latitude cities around 2.5 kWh/m²/day.
- How often should I clean solar panels in Las Vegas?
- Arid climates can drop output 10–20% between cleanings. Quarterly cleaning is typical for Las Vegas; monthly during dust-storm seasons. Dew alone isn't enough when rainfall is infrequent.
- Does extreme heat hurt solar output in Las Vegas?
- Yes. Panel efficiency drops ~0.4% per °C above 25 °C cell temperature. In Las Vegas, midday cell temperatures of 55–70 °C can derate output 12–18% below nameplate.
- Is Las Vegas's solar resource as strong as the numbers suggest?
- Las Vegas's 5.61 kWh/m²/day is excellent globally. But heat derating and dust accumulation mean real-world yields typically land 10–15% below this headline figure — factor that into sizing.