Solar panels in Terre Haute, IN
Roofs in Terre Haute get about 1,459 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 67% 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 Terre Haute → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Terre Haute solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Terre Haute home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,913 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,968 | $6,384 | $607 | 10.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,953 | $9,576 | $911 | 10.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,937 | $12,768 | $1,214 | 10.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,921 | $15,960 | $1,518 | 10.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,898 | $20,748 | $1,733 | 12 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 Terre Haute gets 1,459 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Terre Haute — 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 Terre Haute reaches about 1,496 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,459 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,496 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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 7 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Terre Haute actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Terre Haute's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66 | |
| Feb | 89 | |
| Mar | 118 | |
| Apr | 149 | |
| May | 170 | |
| Jun | 178 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 157 | |
| Sep | 129 | |
| Oct | 97 | |
| Nov | 72 | |
| Dec | 60 |
Terre Haute produces about 3.0× as much in Jun as in Dec — a normal mid-latitude swing. Expect real winter shortfall and summer surplus rather than steady year-round output.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Terre Haute's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Terre Haute compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Terre Haute | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,459 hrs | 449th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 2% | 589th most |
| Median roof size | 307 m² | 112th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.3¢ | 279th highest |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | 383rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 883 kg/MWh | 76th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Terre Haute:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 121 panels — roughly 5× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Terre Haute.
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Terre Haute emits 883 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 673 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Terre Haute's 1,459 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.
| City | Sun hrs | Rate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,459 | 19.1¢ | 8.5 yrs |
| Billings, MT | 1,459 | 12.1¢ | 13.4 yrs |
| Schaumburg, IL | 1,459 | 16.3¢ | 9.9 yrs |
| Walla Walla, WA | 1,459 | 11.3¢ | 14.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Indiana → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Terre Haute solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Terre Haute?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Terre Haute roofs get 1,459 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 496 kWh annually. A typical Terre Haute roof fits about 121 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Terre Haute?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 1,459 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.6 years and returns roughly $23,862 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Terre Haute?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
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.