The cost of solar panels in South Bend, IN

Updated Jan 18, 2024

  • You'll pay an average of $16,240 to install a 5 kilowatt solar panel system in South Bend, IN, before incentives.

  • The federal investment tax credit (ITC) lowers that price by 30% of all your solar equipment and installation costs.

  • With EnergySage's competitive marketplace, you can expect to see prices up to 20% lower than if you work with a single company.

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Written by: Emily Walker

As of February 2024, the average solar panel system costs $3.25/W including installation in South Bend, IN. For a 5 kW installation, this comes out to about $16,240 before incentives, though prices range from $13,804 to $18,676. After the federal tax credit, the average price drops by 30%.

Average price of a 5 kW solar panel installation in South Bend, IN

Good Price
$13,804 or less
Market Average
$16,240
High Price
$18,676 or more

You'll probably pay even less than what we show here. It doesn't include the federal ITC or South Bend, IN state incentives, which will lower this price by at least a few thousand dollars.

Your solar panel cost depends on your system's size

It may seem obvious but larger solar panel systems cost more money. We use cost per watt ($/W) so you can easily compare quotes, controlling for slight variations in system size.

While a 5 kW system will only cost you $16,240 in South Bend, IN, doubling the system size effectively doubles the price, so you'll pay about twice that for a 10 kW system. The higher the price tag, though, the more you'll get back as a credit towards your federal tax bill.

Average solar cost by system size in South Bend, IN

System Size
System Cost
System Cost (after ITC)
3 kW$9,744$6,821
4 kW$12,992$9,094
5 kW$16,240$11,368
6 kW$19,488$13,642
7 kW$22,736$15,915
8 kW$25,984$18,189
9 kW$29,232$20,462
10 kW$32,480$22,736

Are solar panels worth it in South Bend, IN?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including South Bend, IN. Certain factors, including the cost of electricity, incentives, climate, and the angle at which the sun hits your roof impact how quickly you break even on your investment relative to other areas around the U.S. 

If you pay for your system with cash, you'll save about $19,906 over 20 years on electricity costs with a 5 kW system in South Bend, IN. We generate this estimate based on real solar quote data from our Marketplace. It considers your system's cost, the federal tax credit, and inflation rates.

If you don't have access to net metering, these estimates don't account for utility net billing rates.

Payback Period
12.35 Years
20-Year Savings
$19,906
Cost-per-Watt
$3.25

If you can't shell out $16,240 in cash to pay for solar, don't sweat it. You can choose to finance your system with a loan instead. Some companies even offer $0-down loans so you can start saving on day one if your loan payments are less than your current electric bills. Just keep in mind that your long-term savings will be lower with a loan due to interest rates.

Find out what solar panels cost in your area in 2024
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The numbers we're showing are averages. The price you'll pay for solar depends on many factors unique to you and your home:

If you're looking for solar companies in IN, here are some popular suggestions:

  • SunSent Solar
    Multi-state
    Elite Installer
    • Production Guarantee

    • 30 year Warranty

    • Excellent Panel Rating

    • We're a local family owned business

    • We carry b...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    37 Reviews

    • Production Guarantee

    • 30 year Warranty

    • Excellent Panel Rating

    • We're a local family owned business

    • We carry b...
  • Windfree Solar
    Multi-state
    Established 2009
    Elite Installer
    Windfree Solar is the answer if you are looking for solar expertise and individual care. We are the company that ...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    4.5 /5.0
    26 Reviews

    Windfree Solar is the answer if you are looking for solar expertise and individual care. We are the company that ...
  • YellowLite
    Multi-state
    Established 2009
    Elite Installer
    Solar Power World 2013 through 2022 Top Solar Contractor List. NABCEP Certified. BBB Accredited Business with A+ ...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    4.5 /5.0
    72 Reviews

    Solar Power World 2013 through 2022 Top Solar Contractor List. NABCEP Certified. BBB Accredited Business with A+ ...
  • Bone Dry Solar
    Indianapolis, IN
    Established 2022
    Approved Installer
    After more than 30 years of building a leak-proof reputation for home improvement excellence in Indianapolis, IN,...
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    4 Reviews

    After more than 30 years of building a leak-proof reputation for home improvement excellence in Indianapolis, IN,...
  • Jefferson Electric LLC
    Indianapolis, IN
    Established 2011
    Approved Installer
    Jefferson Electric is the installer of choice for those wishing to make the change to solar power. Centrally loc...
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    4 Reviews

    Jefferson Electric is the installer of choice for those wishing to make the change to solar power. Centrally loc...

Solar is a major purchase, but you can get the price tag to come down a bit by being an educated shopper. Taking advantage of incentives and rebates and shopping around for quotes can bring down your cost of solar in South Bend, IN.

Take advantage of federal and local solar incentives

As long as your federal tax bill is high enough, you can take advantage of the federal tax credit in South Bend, IN. This incentive allows you to apply 30% of your solar installation and equipment costs toward your federal tax bill. If the amount exceeds your tax bill, you can roll over the remaining credit to the following year. Many states also offer great local incentives and rebates.

Get quotes from multiple installers

Comparing multiple solar quotes can save you money through competition and transparency. Each additional quote you receive for solar will help you find the right solar panel system at the right price.

This is where EnergySage can help. With funding from the Department of Energy’s SunShot Prize, EnergySage opened the country’s first (and now the largest) marketplace for home solar panel installations. We gather custom solar quotes from local installers on your behalf and put them in an easy-to-compare format. When you compare quotes for solar panels on the EnergySage Marketplace, you can expect to see prices up to 20% lower than if you work with a single solar company.

Why shop with EnergySage?

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