Best Solar Panels: Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing the best solar panel can feel overwhelming, but it's easier than you might think. If you select a quality solar installer, in most cases they'll install quality solar panels. 

Many companies offer great solar panels. It's your installer's experience and your solar system's size that really determine your installation's effectiveness. Still, every home is different, and some can benefit from the highest quality panels. If it’s important that you have the "best" solar panels, efficiency, power output, and ability to perform in warm temperatures are all important. You'll also want to choose panels from a company that backs its panels (and ideally your entire system) with a strong warranty. 

We reviewed hundreds of solar panel models and found that five brands stand out: SunPower, REC, Panasonic, Maxeon, and Jinko Solar.

Installing solar panels is a significant investment, so it’s no surprise that you want the best equipment installed. The right solar panel for each home is different depending on your needs.

To make your solar installation journey a little easier, our team of solar experts reviewed solar panel brands to find the best one for every need. We looked at the quality and performance of panels, the financial status of the brand, and the costs to pick six of the best solar panel brands on the market today.

Find trusted solar companies that carry the best solar panels near you

Our picks for the best home solar panels in 2023

According to our research, the best solar panels available today are:

• Best overall solar panels: Qcells
• Best solar panel performance: SunPower
• Best solar panel warranties: Panasonic
• Best value solar panels: Canadian Solar
• Best American-made solar panels: Silfab Solar

Best overall solar panels: Qcells

Qcells is one of the most popular names in residential solar, thanks to good quality equipment and great pricing. SolarReviews research shows that 66% of solar installers now offer Qcells panels, so there’s a good chance you could run into a quote for them.

Why we chose Qcells

Qcells were installed as part of more than 25% of California solar installations in 2022. That dominant market share is not by accident. The company’s panels come at a reasonable price of about $3.26 per watt, which aligns with the industry average.

When you get panels from Qcells, you can expect a good quality product. The new Q.Tron solar panel is the company’s most powerful yet, and while its other panel lines aren’t quite “premium status”, they are a great addition to your roof.

Qcells also offers great 25-year performance and product warranties. Plus, Qcells’ parent company, Hanwha, is large and profitable, so you can expect it to be in business to actually take care of any warranty claims you have over your system’s lifetime.

Despite being a South Korean company, Qcells is one of the largest solar manufacturers in the United States and has plans to grow its domestic manufacturing in the coming years.

You can learn more from our expert Qcells review, or see what real customers have to say about Qcells.

Pros and cons of Qcells solar panels

25-year power and performance warranties

Best solar panel performance: SunPower

SunPower is known for having the highest-efficiency solar panels on the market. The company’s partnership with manufacturer Maxeon has allowed it to soar above the competition regarding power and efficiency.

Why we chose SunPower

SunPower is the way to go if you want to have the best of the best when it comes to solar panel performance.

SunPower’s M-series panels have efficiency ratings up to 22.8%, higher than any of its competitors. They also have one of the best temperature coefficients, operating better than many competitors in high temperatures.

That efficiency comes from the interdigitated back-contact Maxeon solar cells used in SunPower’s M-series panels. While Maxeon does sell its own panels, its most powerful cells are used exclusively by SunPower. 

SunPower also has an extensive dealer network and comprehensive warranty coverage for its installations. Unlike many brands, SunPower’s warranty covers replacement, labor, and shipping of replacement parts, plus the 25-year product and performance warranties.

For more information, read our in-depth review of SunPower solar panels and check out customer reviews. 

Pros and cons of SunPower solar panels

Very high-efficiency ratings

Best value solar panel: Canadian Solar

Canadian Solar is a great choice if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck. You can get good quality panels at a price that’s hard to beat. They may not be the most efficient or powerful panels, but installing Canadian Solar panels will save you money on your electricity bill and save you on your installation costs.

Why we chose Canadian Solar

Canadian Solar’s panels aren’t necessarily the cheapest ones on the market. But they are the best value for your money. Canadian Solar panels cost roughly $3.31 per watt, compared to SunPower at $3.71 per watt and Panasonic and $3.63 per watt.

Canadian Solar panels aren’t premium panels, so you won’t have record-breaking efficiency. But you will have high-quality, reliable panels that don’t have an outrageous price tag. Its warranties and performance align with industry standards, and the company has a good reputation in the solar industry.

When it comes to panels, you could definitely find cheaper panels from low-quality brands. With Canadian Solar, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing the quality of the panels just to save a few bucks. If you want a reliable solar panel system at a reasonable price, Canadian Solar is a great choice.

Our full Canadian Solar panel review breaks down everything you need to know about the brand, and customer reviews can give you insight into how satisfied homeowners are with Canadian Solar. 

Pros and cons of Canadian Solar solar panels

Good quality panels

Best solar panel warranty: Panasonic

Panasonic rings a bell for most homeowners. That name recognition is part of what makes Panasonic panels a great addition to your roof. Not only do the panels perform well, but they also come with great warranties from a well-established company you can trust to honor them.

Why we chose Panasonic

There are plenty of panels we could have chosen for the best warranty based on their warranty documents alone. But, what pushed Panasonic over the edge is their financial security. Panasonic has been doing business for over 100 years.

Even if its solar branch closed, the company would still be around to honor future warranty claims. Granted, we have confidence the brands on this list are here to stay, but Panasonic provides just a little extra security.

Its warranty terms are great, too. Panasonic’s EverVolt solar panels come with 25-year performance and product warranties and have a low degradation rate, meaning they’ll perform better than some competitors over time. Panasonic uses heterojunction cell technology, making its panels highly efficient, great at operating at high temperatures, and powerful.

Read more about Panasonic solar panels in our review and look at what homeowners have to say about their Panasonic solar installation.

Pros and cons of Panasonic solar panels

Low degradation rate means panels perform better for longer

Best American-made solar panel: Silfab Solar

Silfab Solar is a privately owned company with headquarters in Canada and two large U.S. manufacturing facilities in Washington state. Both the Silfab Elite and Prime panels are sleek in design and perform well.

Why we chose Silfab Solar

With two U.S. manufacturing facilities already in operation and another on the way, Silfab is committed to expanding the solar manufacturing industry in the U.S. Plus, they make good panels!

Silfab’s panels look great, with an all-black design that blends in nicely on the roof of most homes. They also come at a good price! Both Elite and Prime panel models use innovative conductive copper backsheets and back-contact solar cells, allowing the panels to perform better in real-world conditions. 

Solar installations that use Silfab panels are a pretty good value, too. With panels costing around $0.76 per watt before installation, you can pay less for a Silfab installation while still getting a quality system!

Check out what our experts have to say about Silfab Solar panels and hear from real customers who chose Silfab for their roofs. 

Pros and cons of Silfab Solar solar panels

25-year product warranty, 30-year performance warranty

Compare the best solar panels of 2023

SunPower

*Estimates based on 2022 cost data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Solar Energy Industries Association, and online solar distributors. Actual price will vary between installation companies.

**Lowest degradation rate offered by the company. Actual degradation rate and warranty terms vary by model.

Best solar panels for limited roof space

If you have a small roof or only a portion of your roof is suitable for solar panels, you’ll want to get high-efficiency solar panels to get maximum solar production. Here are some of the most efficient solar panels offered by the best solar brands:

Most powerful solar panels

The higher the power output of a solar panel, the fewer you need to install to meet your energy needs. Here are some of the highest power output panels available from top solar panel companies:

Longest-lasting solar panels

Solar panels are a big investment and homeowners want them to last. Solar panel warranties are the best way to get an idea of a panel’s lifespan. Remember, solar panels continue operating after their warranty period is over! The following chart outlines the top performance warranties offered by popular solar brands:

What to look for when shopping for solar panels

Efficiency rating

When you’re comparing solar quotes, there are a few things to look out for to get the best solar panels possible:

1. Type of solar panel
2. Power output rating
3. Efficiency rating
4. Temperature coefficient
5. Solar panel warranties

Each of these factors will give you insight into how the panel will operate and if it will meet your needs.

Solar panel type

There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film.

Almost all home solar panels installed today are monocrystalline panels because they perform the best and aren’t substantially more expensive than the other types of solar panels. The solar cells within a monocrystalline solar panel are made of a single crystal of silicon, allowing electrons to easily move through the cell and increasing efficiency.

Polycrystalline solar panels have cells that are made of multiple silicon crystals, so electrons don’t move around as easily as they do in monocrystalline cells. The structure of polycrystalline solar cells makes them less powerful than monocrystalline cells, so they are rarely used in modern home solar installations. 

Thin-film solar panels are made from very thin layers of a variety of materials and are nearly 300 times thinner than a conventional solar panel. While their slim size makes them easy to install, they are far less efficient and require a lot of space to generate the same amount of energy as mono and polycrystalline panels. 

Power output

The power output or wattage of a solar panel is the amount of power the solar panel can produce in a lab setting, known as Standard Test Conditions. Most solar panels installed in 2023 have a power output between 370 and 400 watts. 

When you install high-wattage solar panels, you need fewer solar panels to generate the electricity you need to power your home. 

How many solar panels do I need?

The average home needs between 15 and 19 solar panels to cover its electricity usage. The actual number of panels you need depends on the wattage of the panels, how much sunlight your roof gets, the direction of your roof, and your energy usage! You can use our solar calculator to find out how many solar panels you need in under two minutes. 

Efficiency rating

Solar panel efficiency tells you how well the solar panel can turn sunlight into electricity. Solar panels with higher efficiency ratings can convert more sunlight into power you can use than panels with lower efficiency ratings.

Today, most solar panels have efficiency ratings between 19% and 21%. Panels with efficiency ratings in this range perform great for most homeowners.

Premium efficiency panels have efficiency ratings of over 21%. Premium efficiency panels can generate more electricity in a smaller space and are great for homes with limited roof space. However, premium panels tend to come with premium price tags, so be prepared to spend more money on super high-efficiency panels. 

Temperature coefficient

Temperature coefficient describes how a solar panel’s output decreases as surface temperature increases. That’s right - solar panels generate electricity from the sun, but they operate worse the hotter they get, but the losses are pretty minimal. 

The average temperature coefficient is -0.3% to -0.5%/ °C. For each degree the panel’s surface temperature goes above 25°C, the power output drops by 0.3%. 

As we said, the losses are minimal, but it does give some insight into how the panels perform in the real world. Try to find solar panels with temperature coefficients between the average range. The lower the temperature coefficient, the better, with Panasonic having one of the best temperature coefficients at 0.26%!

Solar panel warranties 

Solar panels typically come with two warranties: a product warranty and a production warranty.

A solar panel product warranty covers panel defects due to manufacturing or workmanship. The average product warranty has a 12-year term, but many popular solar brands now offer 25-year product warranties. Longer warranty periods are ideal as you’ll be covered for longer if anything happens with your panels. 

A solar performance warranty tells you how much power a solar panel will produce as it ages. The older a solar panel gets, the less power it can output. 

The average solar panel performance warranty lasts for 25 years. Performance warranties also outline a degradation rate representing the maximum amount the power output will fall by per year under Standard Test Conditions. Most solar panels have a degradation of 2% after the first year they are installed and 0.50% every year after until the end of the warranty period. 

If the panel degrades at a rate faster than 0.50% per year, it won’t produce as much energy as other panels on the market over time. Try and find panels with a degradation rate of 0.50% or lower.

Why choosing the right installer matters more than choosing the best solar panel

When it comes down to it, many companies today are producing extremely high-quality solar panels that will reliably make energy for decades to come. In 20 years, they’ll operate nearly as well as they do today.

What’s more important is choosing the right solar installer. They are the people who will be up on your roof, drilling through shingles and running wires, and you will reach out to them in case something happens in the future. It’s important to pick a company that will be around for that future. 

We recommend finding a local solar company that has been in business for at least five years, employs its own crews, and has consistent, positive customer reviews. Local solar companies usually have the best understanding of solar in your area, offer fair prices, and provide the best customer service possible. 

If you pick a reputable installer, they’ll likely be carrying high-quality equipment. If you trust the installer you’re speaking to, you can likely trust the equipment they carry. 

Choosing the right installer is the most important decision you make when going solar. Get quotes from at least three companies to get an idea of what you can expect for a home solar installation near you.

Methodology: How SolarReviews rates the best solar panels

SolarReviews’ team of solar experts has over two decades of experience in the solar industry. Using that expertise, we’ve created a way to rate solar panel brands based on more than just how the panels perform and how much they cost. We also look at the company’s financial performance and its availability. Solar is a long-term investment, so you want to know about the equipment that is accessible and that is sold by a company that supports you for the long haul.

1. Value (30%) 

The value of a solar panel is evaluated by looking at the wholesale cost per watt of a brand’s flagship solar model. The lower the price-per-watt, the more points were awarded. 

2. Module quality (20%)

Our team identified panel efficiency and temperature coefficient as two of the most important specifications to look at when comparing solar panels. Panels with high-efficiency ratings received more points. Panels with the lowest temperature coefficient were awarded more points than those with higher temperature coefficients. 

3. Company financial performance (20%)

Company financial performance is the best indicator of whether a company will be around to provide customers with support in 25 years. We reviewed available financial statements and profitability, among other factors, to determine overall financial performance. 

4. Warranty (10%)

Points were awarded based on the length of both the product and performance warranties, with longer warranties receiving the most points. Performance warranties were also evaluated by degradation rate, with lower degradation rates receiving higher scores. 

5. Investment in the U.S. (10%)

Investing in the U.S. shows a company’s commitment to the solar industry. Also, consumers are becoming more conscientious of where they purchase goods from. To reflect this, we awarded points to companies with headquarters or regional offices in the United States and points for U.S. manufacturing and attendance at American trade shows and events.

6. Dealer network quality (10%)

It doesn’t matter how great a solar panel is if homeowners can’t access it. To reflect a brand’s availability, we reviewed market share data from California’s Distributed Generation Statistics database for solar installations 20 kilowatts or less in size in 2022 and awarded points accordingly.

Helpful home solar resources 

Want to learn more about solar panels near you? Download our 2023 Best States for Home Solar report.

FAQ: Best solar panels

What are the best home solar panels?

The best solar panels are typically monocrystalline panels with an efficiency rating of at least 19%, a 25-year performance warranty, and a minimum product warranty of 12 years. It’s also best to get panels from a reliable solar brand that can support you over the system’s lifetime. 

What are the best portable solar panels?

Solar panels don’t just have to be for your house! Plenty of solar panel kits are available to take on the go in your RV or on a camping trip. Portable solar panels are usually less powerful than residential panels but can help run small devices and appliances while you’re on the road. 

Some popular portable solar panel brands include EcoFlow, Bluetti, Goal Zero, and Renogy.

What are the best solar shingles?

Some homeowners don’t like the look of solar panels and instead opt for solar shingles. Solar shingles are designed to integrate better with roofs, so they aren’t as noticeable. 

Tesla’s solar roof is the best solar shingle option if you really don’t want to notice solar on your roof. Tesla’s solar shingles require a complete roof replacement, so all of the shingles, both solar and non-solar, look the same. But the equipment is expensive. 

Roofing companies GAF and CertainTeed offer solar shingle options that are best for homeowners on a budget. These don’t require a full roof replacement, making them cheaper than Tesla. But, the solar shingles are a bit more noticeable and are more expensive than a regular solar panel system. 

How much do solar panels cost?

Solar panels cost around $3.00 per watt when purchased with cash, but the price will vary by installer, location, and how they’re financed. Beware of solar prices that are too low: installations that cost less than $2.60 per watt suggest the company may be cutting corners somewhere, whether it’s with low-quality equipment or poor workmanship. 

It’s normal to see higher prices when solar panels are purchased using a solar loan, as loans can have additional fees rolled into the principal payment. 

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels have a warrantied life of 25 years, but they can continue to operate well beyond that. So, expect to have your panels for at least 25 years, but don’t be surprised if they’re still saving you money 30 years later!

How do solar panels save money?

When you install solar panels, your home uses the solar electricity they produce instead of taking from the grid. This means your utility can’t charge you for that electricity! 

Many utilities offer some form of net metering that allows you to send any extra electricity to the grid in exchange for a bill credit. In the best-case scenario, the bill credit is worth the same amount of money as the electric rate. Sometimes, it’s worth less. So, the amount that solar panels can save you depends on how your utility bills solar customers.

Are solar panels good for the environment?

Solar panels generate 100% renewable energy, which is better for the environment than energy derived from fossil fuels. When solar panels turn sunlight into energy, there are no harmful greenhouse gases emitted. 

But solar panels aren’t completely clean. Manufacturing and disposing of solar panels does have some harmful effects. But, as the industry matures and solar panel recycling becomes more established, we can hopefully achieve even greener solar panels! 

Are solar panels right for me?

Not all homes are suited for solar panels! Solar panels are best for homes with high electricity costs and unshaded south-facing roofs. You should also look at how your utility bills solar customers and if incentives or rebates are available near you!