The 6 Best Solar Panels for Homes in August 2023

Faith Wakefield is a writer based in North Carolina. She holds economics and English degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, and her work has been featured on EcoWatch, The World Economic Forum and Today’s Homeowner. In her free time, she loves to binge-watch personal finance videos on YouTube, collect books and spend time in nature.

Sabrina Lopez is an editor with over six years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products and personal finance. When she is not working on articles to help consumers make informed decisions, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and their two parrots.

Karsten Neumeister is an experienced energy professional with subject-matter expertise in energy policy and the solar and retail energy industries. He is currently the Communications Manager for the Retail Energy Advancement League and has prior experience writing and editing content for EcoWatch. Before EcoWatch, Karsten worked for Solar Alternatives, curating content, advocating for local renewable energy policy and assisting the solar engineering and installation teams. Throughout his career, his work has been featured on various outlets including NPR, SEIA, Bankrate, PV Mag and the World Economic Forum.

Going solar is a significant investment, and every solar panel system is different. Your individual needs will determine which solar panel installer and solar panel brand is best for you. When deciding what type of solar panel is best for your installation, you’ll need to weigh factors like cost, durability, warranty, efficiency and solar panel type.

Unless you install your solar panels yourself, you’ll work with a solar panel installation company to choose your solar panels and have them installed for you. Most solar panel companies install a selection of solar panel brands, like the ones listed below, that you can choose from.

SunPower is the only solar panel manufacturer on our list that also offers installations. If you are interested in purchasing our other recommended panels, you can get a quote from a certified installer using the panel above.

Before you choose what solar panel is best for you, consider the efficiency, cost, warranty and type of panel you’re looking for.

Solar panels run from $0.60 to $3 per watt depending on their country of origin, durability, efficiency, and panel type.

Many solar panels come with a 25-year product and power warranty. Some brands, like Q cells, also offer a 25-year labor warranty.

Monocrystalline panels are the most common and most efficient panel type, but polycrystalline panels are typically cheaper.

Highly efficient panels can generate more energy and take up less room, but if you have plenty of roof space they may not be necessary.

*Icons by Icons8

What are the best solar panel brands on the market today? Check out our top-rated manufacturers for efficient solar panels:

SunPower sells some of the most efficient solar panels on the market, with an average panel efficiency between 20.9% and 22.8%. With 30 years of industry experience and a presence in all 50 U.S. states, SunPower is one of the most trusted solar panel manufacturers and installers nationwide

SunPower is a unique solar manufacturing company because it also offers full-service solar installations. However, it is more expensive than most other providers. Sanah Sadaruddi, SunPower’s public relations manager, confirmed that customers pay between $3 and $4.50 per watt for a solar installation with all costs included. Comparatively, the average cost of solar is around $2.85 per watt.

SunPower has certified installers in every state. Fill out this form to find your nearest SunPower installer.

Silfab solar panels have an average efficiency of 18.9% to 21.4%. Silfab manufactures solar panels with a high-efficiency rating and excellent warranties for an industry-average cost. While most solar manufacturers only offer a 25-year or lower power production guarantee, Silfab extends its coverage to 30 years.

Although Silfab is slightly more expensive than solar panels manufactured overseas, all of Silfab’s panels are manufactured in North America and hold up well in high-temperature and extreme weather conditions tests.

If you’re interested in Silfab panels, some solar companies that install the brand include:

Although Panasonic does not sell the most efficient solar panels on the market, it still offers an above-average efficiency of 19% to 21%. It also excels in panel durability and degradation rates, offering an excellent 92% rated power output guarantee after 25 years.

Panasonic’s panels also feature advanced solar cell technology and an aluminum frame to bolster performance in hot temperatures and windy conditions.

Some solar installation companies that install Panasonic panels include:

Qcells offers efficient, durable and affordable panels. With a 19% to 20% average panel efficiency, Qcells panels also perform well in low-light conditions and maintain a low degradation rate.

Qcells has a presence across the globe and is renowned for its research innovations. It recently opened a manufacturing facility in the U.S. city of Dalton, Ga., but is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea and engineers its panels in Germany. It employs over 400 scientists across four countries to develop and test new solar technologies, keeping Qcells at the forefront of new solar breakthroughs.

Several solar companies install Qcell brand panels. Some top providers include:

With an average efficiency between 18.5% and 22%, Canadian Solar’s panels offer an above-average efficiency at an affordable price of $0.60 to $1 per watt (before installation). Canadian Solar panels are also ideal for colder climates, as they are designed to withstand high winds and snow loads.

Some companies that install Canadian Solar panels include:

Trina Solar is a Chinese-based solar equipment manufacturer that balances value and performance. Its panels offer an efficiency of 18% to 21.6% (comparable to other panels on this list), while maintaining a low cost.

As an added benefit, the company increased its solar product warranty from 12 to 25 years in 2021, providing even more value to its customers.

Companies that install Trina Solar panels include:

Compare our top six solar panel manufacturers and let one of top solar panel installation companies provide you a free quote.

Provider

Avg Cost /watt*

Efficiency

Panel Warranties

Get Installation Quote

SunPower

$1.50–$3+

20.9%–22.8%

25-year product and power warranties

Get Quote

Silfab

$0.70–$1.10

18.9%–21.4%

25-year product and 30-year power warranties

Get Quote

Panasonic

$0.90–$2+

19%–21%

25-year performance, product, parts and workmanship warranties

Get Quote

Q Cells

$0.80–$1.10

19%–20%

25-year power and 12 to 25-year product warranties

Get Quote

Canadian Solar

$0.60–$1

18.5%–22%

25-year performance and 12 to 15-year product warranties

Get Quote

Trina Solar

$0.70–$0.80

18%–21.6%

25-year product and power warranties

Get Quote

*Credit: Scott Williams of Solar Electric Supply, Inc. and Tatiana Boronnikova, Business Manager at A1 SolarStore.

**Note: solar panel costs listed above are at wholesale prices, without installation.

There are three types of solar panels used for residential homes: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. We’ll provide an overview of each type below.

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most common. Although they’re the most expensive option, they offer the best long-term benefits. They have the highest average efficiency range of 15% to 20% and the longest lifespan of 25 or more years. Monocrystalline panels are black and easily blend into most roofs.

These panels are a cheaper alternative to mono panels but are less efficient. They average between 15% to 17% efficiency and can last up to 25 years. Polycrystalline panels are blue, making them easier to notice. Due to their lower efficiency, you may need more polycrystalline panels to effectively run your home.

These panels offer the lowest efficiency rate at 7% to 11%. They work for applications where the base cannot withstand the added weight of standard solar panels, like on RVs, boats and sheds. They’re less labor-intensive to install, reducing installation costs. However, they aren’t as durable as the other panel types and typically last 10 to 20 years. As their name suggests, they are thin sheet panels and can be blue or black.

The country of origin, durability, efficiency and type of panel all determine the final cost of a solar panel. According to a survey that we conducted on 1,000 homeowners with solar, solar panels cost between $15,000-$20,000 on average per home.

The cheapest solar panels come from China, according to Tatiana Boronnikova, Business Manager and Senior Editor at A1 SolarStore. “The most famous Chinese brands with cheap panels are Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, JA Solar and LONGi Solar.” In contrast, she noted that panels from North American brands are slightly more expensive, including Silfab, Mission Solar and Canadian Solar.

The difference in cost typically means a difference in warranties. “Chinese panels have shorter product warranties – usually, 10-15 years, with 12 being [the] standard,” she added. North American panels may also offer better performance. “Expensive panels tend to have a better conversion efficiency.”

High-end brands like Panasonic and SunPower have design features that make their panels more durable, but also more expensive. For instance, Panasonic panels have an aluminum frame that can withstand 210 mph winds, and SunPower panels have a copper foundation that makes them resistant to cracking.

If you have limited roof space, high-efficiency panels like the ones offered by SunPower will help you maximize your solar power system’s energy production and minimize the number of panels you need. However, high-quality, high-efficiency panels are typically more expensive, and having the most efficient panels on the market isn’t necessary if you have ample roof space. Making sure to routinely clean and maintain your solar panels can also help to improve the efficiency of your system.

Temperature coefficient is also an important solar panel efficiency measure, especially if you live in a hot climate. A favorable temperature coefficient is as close to zero as possible, indicating that efficiency doesn’t go down very much in temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.

There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are the most popular, efficient and long-lasting panels of the three. They’re also the most expensive. However, because polycrystalline and thin-film panels are less efficient, polycrystalline are usually reserved for large, commercial installations where roof space is not a constricting factor, and thin-film are mostly used for smaller applications like on boats and RVs.

Although going solar has a high upfront cost, most people who install solar panels on their homes will save thousands of dollars on electricity bills in the long run. However, every solar system is different, and whether or not solar panels are worth it for you can depend on a number of factors.

If one or more of these apply to you, solar panels are likely a smart investment:

“With home energy costs high and likely to continue increasing in the long and short term, our team firmly believes solar to be a crucial and worthwhile investment,” said Greg Fasullo, the CEO of Elevation Solar. “Not only will you see returns on your installation in the form of lower energy bills and payments for grid services, you’re improving the carbon footprint of your home and increasing its overall value.”

Ultimately, you should speak with a local expert about your energy needs and weigh your options to decide if solar is right for you.

If you have limited space on your roof, we recommend getting higher-efficiency panels like the ones offered by Silfab, SunPower and Panasonic. However, if you’re looking for a value-oriented price point, we recommend panels from Canadian Solar and Trina that offer a good product for the price.

Overall, the solar panel brand you choose depends on your individual home and needs. The solar industry continues to develop increasingly advanced photovoltaic technologies, and there are countless options available. We strongly recommend speaking with a solar professional to discuss what panels and designs will fit best for your roof.

We closely evaluated seven crucial factors according to our solar panel installation company methodology to rank the best providers in the industry. Based on a 100-point scale, we came up with each provider’s score out of five stars. Here’s how we assessed each company:

Faith Wakefield is a writer based in North Carolina. She holds economics and English degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, and her work has been featured on EcoWatch, The World Economic Forum and Today’s Homeowner. In her free time, she loves to binge-watch personal finance videos on YouTube, collect books and spend time in nature.

Sabrina Lopez is an editor with over six years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products and personal finance. When she is not working on articles to help consumers make informed decisions, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and their two parrots.

Karsten Neumeister is an experienced energy professional with subject-matter expertise in energy policy and the solar and retail energy industries. He is currently the Communications Manager for the Retail Energy Advancement League and has prior experience writing and editing content for EcoWatch. Before EcoWatch, Karsten worked for Solar Alternatives, curating content, advocating for local renewable energy policy and assisting the solar engineering and installation teams. Throughout his career, his work has been featured on various outlets including NPR, SEIA, Bankrate, PV Mag and the World Economic Forum.