Peak Sun Hours in New York City, New York, United States
- Solar zone
- Zone 2 (moderate)
- Best month
- July (6.0)
- Worst month
- December (1.6)
- Climate
- Temperate · 12.2°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.92 | 2.84 | 3.04 | 0.88 | 1.1 | 82 |
| Feb | 2.80 | 3.97 | 3.69 | 1.20 | 1.4 | 81 |
| Mar | 3.73 | 5.43 | 4.01 | 1.56 | 4.2 | 81 |
| Apr | 4.85 | 6.83 | 4.57 | 1.95 | 9.1 | 82 |
| May | 5.40 | 7.67 | 4.36 | 2.33 | 14.3 | 84 |
| Jun | 5.95 | 7.89 | 4.70 | 2.53 | 19.9 | 83 |
| Jul | 6.03 | 7.55 | 4.86 | 2.49 | 23.7 | 80 |
| Aug | 5.23 | 6.72 | 4.48 | 2.16 | 23.7 | 78 |
| Sep | 4.30 | 5.63 | 4.52 | 1.66 | 20.6 | 77 |
| Oct | 2.99 | 4.24 | 3.83 | 1.19 | 14.9 | 78 |
| Nov | 2.17 | 3.02 | 3.45 | 0.89 | 9.3 | 79 |
| Dec | 1.62 | 2.45 | 2.67 | 0.77 | 4.5 | 82 |
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 1.62 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in New York City
New York City, United States has a temperate climate with meaningful seasonal variation in solar resource. Its annual peak sun hours average 3.92 kWh/m²/day, a moderate solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in New York City is July (summer) at 6.03 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 1.62 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.
Given the moderate resource, New York City installations typically oversize panels or combine solar with another source (grid, generator, hydro) for reliability.
FAQ
- What are the peak sun hours in New York City?
- New York City averages 3.92 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 1.62 in December to 6.03 in July.
- How many solar panels do I need in New York City?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At New York City's annual average of 3.92 kWh/m²/day, a 5 kWh/day load needs roughly 5 × 400 W panels. Use the calculator above for your actual load.
- What size battery do I need in New York City?
- Sizing against New York City's worst month (December, 1.62 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 New York City's solar resource compare globally?
- New York City sits in solar zone 2 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 3.92 kWh/m²/day — moderate by global standards. For reference, top-tier desert sites average ~6.5 and high-latitude cities around 2.5 kWh/m²/day.
- How much does winter reduce solar output in New York City?
- New York City's worst month (December) delivers 1.62 kWh/m²/day — about 27% of the summer peak of 6.03. Off-grid systems here typically oversize 1.5–2× or pair with a backup source.
- Do cloudy days significantly affect New York City's solar?
- Partly. Diffuse light still produces 10–25% of clear-sky output. New York City's 3.92 kWh/m²/day already reflects average cloudiness, so no further derating is needed for sizing.
- What panel tilt works best in New York City?
- At New York City's latitude (41°), a fixed tilt near 41° balances year-round yield. Winter-heavy loads favor latitude + 15°; summer-heavy, latitude − 15°.