Solar panels in Bloomington, IN
Roofs in Bloomington get about 1,422 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 76% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Bloomington → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Bloomington solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Bloomington home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,120 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,868 | $6,384 | $592 | 10.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,802 | $9,576 | $888 | 10.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,736 | $12,768 | $1,184 | 10.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,670 | $15,960 | $1,479 | 10.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,570 | $20,748 | $1,720 | 12.1 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Bloomington gets 1,422 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Bloomington — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Bloomington reaches about 1,597 hours, roughly 12% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,422 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,597 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Indiana avg) | 15.3¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2016 |
Nearby cities
See all of Indiana → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Bloomington solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Bloomington?
About 23 panels for an average home. Bloomington roofs get 1,422 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 483 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Bloomington?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 1,422 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11 years and returns roughly $23,262 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Bloomington?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Indiana electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.