5 Best Solar Panels for Homes (2023 Costs, Reviews & More)

The panels from SunPower and its sister company, Maxeon, are considered some of the best in the entire industry by customers and solar professionals alike. SunPower has set the record for the highest panel efficiency available, which translates to greater savings in the long run, and the performance specifications and warranty coverage also outclasses just about every competitor. These panels are expensive, but we feel they’re worth it.

Ultimately, we recommend SunPower panels for anyone who wants the highest level of performance and doesn’t mind paying a bit more for it.

What We Like

First and foremost, SunPower panels reach real-world efficiency ratings of up to 22.8%, which is the highest in the industry. Greater efficiency means improved savings on your utility bills, a faster panel payback period and more value overall from your clean energy system.

SunPower panels also come backed by an industry-leading 40-year warranty, which is around 60% higher than the standard 25 years of coverage. The production warranty guarantees a below-average efficiency loss of 2% in the first year and about half of the loss per year after that. Ultimately, these panels provide more peace of mind that your electric bills will remain low or even non-existent.

SunPower panels mostly come in entirely black models and never have visible grid lines, so they’re a sleek option that most solar customers don’t mind mounting to their roofs.

What We Don’t Like

The only real downside when it comes to SunPower panels is the cost. These panels average around $3.30 per watt, which means a typical 9 kW system will cost around $5,800 more than if you bought panels priced at the average cost of $2.66.

Still, we think the higher price is worth it for the durability and greater performance, which could actually end up saving you money on energy costs over time.

Read our full review of SunPower for more information.

Solar Panel Options

SunPower has two product lines available: the Maxeon lineup and the Performance lineup. We’ll include a breakdown of all of the panel options within these product lines below.

• Maxeon 6: The Maxeon 6 panels are the solar modules with the company’s and industry’s highest rating for efficiency: 22.8%. These are entirely black panels coming in a few options between 420 and 440 watts per panel.

• Maxeon 3: The Maxeon 3 panels are slightly less powerful but still have a well-above-average efficiency rating of up to 22.6%. These panels range from 355 to 430 watts and can still allow you to install fewer panels on your roof for the same power production than panels from other manufacturers.

• Performance 6: The Performance 6 panels are a more affordable option than those in the Maxeon series. They have a less attractive efficiency rating of up to 21.1%, although this still sits above the industry average of 20%. They range from 395 to 415 watts per panel.

• Performance 3: The Performance 3 panels are also more affordable than the Maxeon models. They’re available in power outputs ranging from 370 to 390 watts, and they peak at 19.9% efficiency. These panels degrade more quickly than the other models, but they still hold efficiency better than the industry average.

Warranty Information

As mentioned above, SunPower provides the top solar panel warranty in the entire industry for residential panels. The Maxeon lineup comes with an incredible 40-year warranty for the equipment and panel efficiency. The Performance models include a 25-year warranty for power production and manufacturer defects.

All SunPower panels include a 25-year workmanship warranty, which is more than double the industry standard. You also get 10 years of roof leak coverage, which most providers don’t offer at all.

Most SunPower panels are expected to last for 40 years or more.

Installation Options

SunPower used to manufacture its own panels and outsource installations to third parties. The company went through a restructuring recently, and now its sister company Maxeon handles manufacturing. SunPower still outsources most of its installations, but it has started to complete some with an in-house team.

The company has no specific relationships with installers, so any company that can pass certification tests from SunPower can install its products.

Click here to find the SunPower dealers nearest you.

Q Cells, which is a brand manufactured by Hanwha, is the best solar company for value, in our opinion. Despite being more affordable than most other tier-one solar panel brands at $2.75 per watt, its panels still have above-average efficiency ratings and performance specs. They’re not quite as impressive in their durability as some other options, but they’re still an outstanding choice for many solar customers.

We recommend Q Cells for solar customers who want the best performance per dollar.

What We Like

Q Cells panels get a lot of things right, including an average efficiency that’s around the industry average. It matches SunPower in terms of first-year solar panel degradation as well, so the efficiency over time is going to be better than you’ll see from many competitors.

Q Cells offers robust warranty coverage for performance and manufacturer defects that’s in line with the industry average of 25 years each. Its panels also come rated to withstand 4,000 pascal units on the rear of the panel, which means it’s better than most for areas that see strong winds and will help prevent mishaps and costly replacements.

Finally, and most importantly, Q Cells panels average around $2.75 per watt, as compared to comparable brands that average around $3.00 per watt.

What We Don’t Like

While Q Cells matches SunPower in terms of first-year efficiency degradation, the efficiency loss per year after that is a bit higher. Additionally, the maximum efficiency currently available from the company is 20.9%. While this is above the industry standard, we’d love to see an efficiency rating topping 21%, like most of Q Cells’s competitors.

Q Cells also only has two solar panels for homes in production at this time. We’d ideally like to see more variety to give solar customers the opportunity to bring down solar panel installation costs or push up performance.

Solar Panel Options

As mentioned above, Q Cells has two solar panel options for home solar energy systems. We’ll list these below and include a brief description of each to help you decide which might be right for your home.

• Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+: This is the higher-efficiency option of the two, topping out at 20.9%. It comes in sizes from 385 watts up to 410 watts. These panels are all black, which most customers prefer. They have a low temperature coefficient that’s well below average, which means they’re better suited for hot climates than most panels and won’t drop significantly in production in high temperatures.

• Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G10+: This model is smaller than the ML-G10+ and comes with a lower power output per panel. It ranges from 350 to 370 watts. These panels have a slightly less appealing efficiency than the other option as well, at 20.6%. These panels have 120 cells each, as opposed to the 132 you get with the larger model. That means a lower overall production, so you might need more of these panels to meet your energy needs.

Warranty Information

Q Cells provides a 25-year warranty for all of its products, which covers manufacturer defects. This is in line with what most competitors provide. However, Q Cells has a special solar cell testing process that eliminates most issues related to potential-induced degradation (PID). Since PID can cause dips in panel efficiency over time, this helps Q Cells panels maintain their peak power generation capabilities.

Q Cells also covers efficiency for 25 years. This is also typical, but the degradation rate is below average. The first-year dip is set at a maximum of 2%, as opposed to the industry average of 2.5%, and the subsequent-year dip is 0.45%, which is just below the average of 0.5%. Overall, the slower degradation rate means your panels will continue producing more power than most other brands over the warranty term.

Installation Options

Q Cells doesn’t have a certification program for installers like SunPower does, so any solar provider that has a relationship with the company can purchase and install its panels. You should have no issues finding an installer near you that carries Q Cells equipment.

Click here to find the Q Cells dealers nearest you.

In our opinion, Trina Solar is right up there with Q Cells when it comes to high-quality equipment for the money. Trina panels are a bit more expensive at an average of $2.85 per watt, and they deliver similar efficiency ratings, temperature coefficients and other performance specs. It outclasses Q Cells when it comes to durability, with an industry-leading 1% efficiency loss in the first year and a superior 0.4% annual degradation after that.

We recommend these panels to solar customers who want outstanding value for their money and don’t have access to Q Cells panels or want to ensure their energy savings last as long as possible.

What We Like

All panels lose efficiency over time, but Trina provides some of the lowest degradation rates for the money. The panels are just slightly above-average in terms of cost per watt, but they outperform just about every other panel in its price range when it comes to durability.

Trina panels start out with above-average efficiency ratings as well, topping out at 20.4 and averaging around 20%, which is far better than the average of 15%.

Trina has great warranty coverage for its solar equipment, but one of the most appealing aspects about the protection is that, unlike companies like SunPower, there’s no specific training required to maintain the warranty coverage. That means Trina remains widely available to customers across the country via a huge network of providers.

What We Don’t Like

Trina’s average efficiency might be above the industry average, but it is lower than several other top-tier panels. We still feel the value provided is excellent, but there are more efficient solar options that can provide greater energy savings over time if you’re willing to invest a little more. Opting for a higher-efficiency panel could yield more savings in the long run.

Trina panels also come with a lower maximum wind load than many competitors, at just 2,400 pascal units. That means they might not be ideal for homes in areas that could experience high winds from extreme weather like hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Solar Panel Options

Trina Solar has two product lines available for residential customers: the aptly named Residential line and the Vertex line. There are five products total between the two product lines.

• Trina Solar Residential 335W: These panels come in power outputs ranging from 310 to 335 watts, making them much smaller than the average 400-watt panel you’ll see from most direct competitors. These panels are physically smaller as well and could be a good option if you have a small roof that can’t fit the larger panel options.

• Trina Solar Residential 365W: These panels are larger at between 355 and 380 watts, and they come with a max efficiency of 20.6%. These are good options for homeowners with roof space that can accommodate the larger panels but still want to pay as little as possible per watt, even if that means a less impressive efficiency rating than the following options.

• Trina Solar Vertex S 395W: These Vertex S panels are about average in power output for the top-tier panels, so they’re the option we’d recommend if you’re looking for standard-sized panels but still want great performance and a reasonable upfront cost.

• Trina Solar Vertex S 400W: These panels have an efficiency rating of 21.1%, so they’re going to lead to more savings over time than most of Trina’s other residential panel options. They also have a max wattage of 405 watts, so they’re one of the most appealing competitors to panels from companies like SunPower.

• Trina Solar Vertex S+ Bifacial: These panels have an efficiency rating of 21.8%, which is the highest you can get from Trina in terms of home solar energy systems. We’d recommend these for homeowners who still want decent pricing but want to get the most for their money and don’t mind paying a premium for high-efficiency panels.

Warranty Information

Trina’s warranty coverage is similar to what you’ll find from most other companies on this list. The coverage for the equipment and the labor is 25 years. The degradation in the first year and the following 24 years of the warranty term are both below average, and the company has the lowest first-year efficiency loss we’ve seen.

Trina’s warranty doesn’t require any paperwork or installer training, so you don’t have to worry about not being covered because a non-certified company installed your panels. The warranty can be transferred as well, although you will need to file transfer documents if you sell your home.

Installation Options

As we mentioned above, Trina lets any solar contractor install its panels without voiding the manufacturer’s warranty or the performance warranty. That not only means that any panels installed by a professional will be covered but also that this panel brand is accessible to most U.S. residents.

Click here to find the Trina solar panel dealers nearest you.

REC panels are some of the most popular in America, in large part because they provide efficiency ratings that are well above average—topping out at 22.3%—but also have lower prices than options from other high-efficiency solar companies like SunPower and Panasonic. We’d recommend these panels to homeowners who don’t necessarily need the most impressive efficiency ratings possible but who still want above-average power output at a slightly lower cost.

What We Like

REC panels get a lot of things right, including efficiency. The average panel efficiency from the company is around 20.7% for residential models, which is well above average, and the max efficiency is 22.2%, making them one of the highest-rated panels available. Only a few other companies offer panels above the 22% mark.

REC panels are known to be highly durable and adaptable to a wide range of climates and weather conditions. It has a below-average temperature coefficient, making it a great option for hot climates. It also has above-average wind and snow loads, so it’s a durable panel brand no matter where you live.

What We Don’t Like

REC panels come at prices that are quite a bit above average, at $3.00 per watt compared to the average of $2.66. You do get better efficiency ratings for the price, so we still think it’s worth it, but the brand will push up your installation costs. The panel degradation is in line with the average for the top-tier brands, but at this price point, we’d love to see lower efficiency loss rates.

Additionally, some of the REC panel models come with below-average equipment coverage, like the REC Twinpeak 4, which has just 20 years of protection.

Read our full review of REC for more information.

Solar Panel Options

REC has three product lines for homes, which include five total panel options:

• REC Twinpeak 4: These are the smallest panels available from REC at between 360 and 375 watts. They have the lowest efficiency REC offers at 20%, so we’d recommend these for homeowners with small roofs who don’t need to maximize power production to meet high energy demands.

• REC N-Peak 2: These panels have a slightly superior efficiency rating of 20.3%, and they come in at the same wattage as the Twinpeak 4. These have a greater efficiency retention rate, though, maintaining an industry-leading 92% efficiency after 25 years.

• REC N-Peak 3 Black: This is the first entirely black panel from REC that has no grid visible grid lines, so it’s a desirable option from an aesthetic standpoint. These are larger at up to 400 watts, although they have a similar efficiency to the previous models.

• REC Alpha Pure: These panels are also all black, and although they’re more expensive than the previous options, they have a much better efficiency of up to 22.2% thanks to the use of heterojunction (HJT) solar cells. We recommend these for customers looking for a premium option that isn’t quite at the highest pricing option from the manufacturer.

• REC Alpha Pure-R: The Alpha Pure-R takes a step down in efficiency, coming in at just under 21%. However, they have a superior temperature coefficient of -0.26%/degree (C), which means it’s the company’s best option for homeowners in warmer climates. This makes it one of the best panel options in the industry for use in hotter areas.

Warranty Information

REC is one of the few solar manufacturers that bases its warranty coverage on the panel model you have installed. Most of the panels come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty for the equipment and a 25-year performance guarantee, but some only include 20-year equipment coverage.

Additionally, some of the REC panels guarantee 92% efficiency after 25 years, which is some of the lowest efficiency losses in the industry, while others have a more aggressive decline in efficiency.

Overall, we’d expect REC panels to last for between 25 and 30 years, on average.

Installation Options

REC has a certification program for installers across the country. If you get your panels installed by a certified contractor following the designation installation process, you’ll usually get a superior warranty package. However, just about any solar panel installer can carry and offer REC panels, which means the brand remains widely available throughout the country.

Click here to find the REC dealers nearest you.

Panasonic panels are well-known for their outstanding efficiency rating, topping out at 22.2%. However, they’re also some of the best for solar customers in extreme climates, as they have the lowest temperature coefficient of any panel option we’ve reviewed. The high efficiency and low temperature coefficient mean they’re one of the best solar panels for providing maximum power in hot climates.

Panasonic panels are on the expensive side, but we feel they’re worth it due to their outstanding performance.

What We Like

Panasonic has a maximum efficiency rating of 22.2%, which is well above the industry average and higher than most of the company’s direct competition. The panels also have below-average degradation rates, so those above-average efficiency ratings will continue to save you more money on your energy bills for longer.

Panasonic has great snow load capabilities and an industry-leading temperature coefficient of just 0.25%, so they’re an outstanding option in areas that experience extreme cold and extreme heat. The low efficiency loss in high temperatures means these panels will keep your electricity costs as low as possible, regardless of the climate.

What We Don’t Like

Panasonic panels are above-average in price, coming in at around $3.10 per watt. It’s one of the most expensive options, although we feel the value you get is worth the investment. Panasonic is also the only option on our list that has a potentially negative power rating, so the performance can vary more than most of the competition at this tier.

Solar Panel Options

Panasonic has two lines of solar panels available for residential customers:

• Panasonic HIT: The HIT panels from Panasonic are the more affordable option from the manufacturer, and they have a lower efficiency rating of around 20.3%. They range from 325 watts up to 340 watts. These are ideal for customers who want the reliability of the Panasonic name, want to keep costs down and don’t necessarily need the highest efficiency ratings available.

• Panasonic EverVolt: The EverVolt product line includes a standard option and the H-Series. The standard EverVolt panels range from 360 to 370 watts, and the efficiency maxes out at 21.2%. This is a great option for balancing power output and price. The H-Series is better for customers looking for maximum efficiency ratings to offset high consumption. They are larger at 400 to 410 watts, and they hold the company’s highest efficiency ratings of 22.2%.

Warranty Information

Panasonic’s warranty coverage is slightly better than the industry average but is in line with the direct competition. It includes a 25-year product warranty and 25 years of coverage for the efficiency rating. The equipment warranty includes the cost of labor to replace any panels that experience failure.

The efficiency warranty is one of the best in the industry, guaranteeing only a 2% loss in year one and a degradation of 0.26% annually thereafter. That means your panels will retain 91.76% of their efficiency after 25 years.

Overall, we expect Panasonic panels to last the average of 25 to 30 years in most cases.

Installation Options

Panasonic partners with a large network of solar installers across the country, so you should have no problem finding a solar contractor that is certified to install its products. Many of those companies are also qualified to install Panasonic’s solar batteries and inverters/microinverters.

Click here to find the Panasonic dealers nearest you.