The 6 Best Solar Panels for Homes in June 2023

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. Your solar contractor can help you make this decision, but you should also research for yourself what panels are on the market today.

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.

So, which solar panel best fits your needs? Keep reading to compare the top brands.

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 below.

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

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

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

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Silfab

$0.70–$1.10

18.9%–21.4%

25-year product and 30-year power warranties

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Panasonic

$0.90–$2+

19%–21%

25-year performance, product, parts and workmanship warranties

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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

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Trina Solar

$0.70–$0.80

18%–21.6%

25-year product and power warranties

Get Quote

With over 30 years of experience, SunPower is a trusted solar installer that manufactures some of the most efficient panels on the market today. That makes them a great choice for homeowners with limited roof space. Plus, SunPower is also a full-service solar installation company with partners throughout the U.S.

However, all of these perks do come at a cost: SunPower's panels are some of the most expensive in the industry. Sanah Sadaruddin, PR Relations Manager at SunPower, confirmed that customers typically pay between $3 and $4.50 per watt for their SunPower solar panel system with installation and other costs included.

There are countless SunPower certified installers across the U.S. You can find a SunPower installer using this form.

Silfab offers high-efficiency solar panels with leading warranties at a middle-of-the-road cost. Silfab panels are built for durability, scoring highly on PVEL's 2021, 2020 and 2019 solar durability scorecards. However, Silfab was not featured on PVEL's 2022 scorecard. When we spoke with Tristan Erion-Lorico, the VP of Sales and Marketing at PVEL, about why Silfab lost its status, he alluded to the fact that Silfab started contracting out its manufacturing in 2021 as a possible reason for its removal.

Overall, Silfab panels have higher-than-average efficiency, a sleek design and are exclusively manufactured in North America, making them a good choice for many residential systems.

Panasonic is a globally trusted electronics company based in Japan. Pansonic's solar panels are not only efficient, but they also have one of the lowest degradation rates in the industry at around 0.26%. That means that Panasonic guarantees a fantastic 92% of rated power output for your panels after 25 years.

Panasonic panels have a strong reputation for quality and performance, and the panels’ aluminum frame and advanced solar cell technology allow them to perform well even under high winds and very hot temperatures.

In 2021, Panasonic announced that it would shut down its solar panel manufacturing plant in Malaysia and instead continue its solar panel production through subcontractors. It's unclear if this has affected the quality of Panasonic solar panels, but Panasonic Solar insists that it is "here to stay."

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea — but with a newly opened manufacturing plant in Dalton, Georgia, USA — Q Cells panels offer an excellent balance of performance, efficiency and pricing. Its panels typically perform around 19% to 20% efficiency, which is good, but not the best on this list. Still, Q Cells panels still perform well in low-light conditions and have a relatively low degradation rate (maintaining 86% capacity after 25 years), so it's still a good value for a relatively low price.

Q Cells is an early adopter of new solar technologies and was one of the first companies to incorporate PERC technology and half-cut solar cells into its panels, two technologies that make panels more efficient, durable and less likely to degrade over time.

Q Cells is also an innovator in the solar field, with its research and development teams consisting of over 400 scientists in four countries. Its scientists, engineers and technologists focus on improving solar products and manufacturing to give Q cells’ panels a competitive edge in the industry.

Canadian Solar offers solar panel installation at just $0.60 to $1 per watt (that's the lowest starting price on our list). Despite their low cost, Canadian Solar panels offer good efficiency and standard degradation rates (around 0.55% power loss annually). Additionally, Canadian Solar panels are designed to withstand heavy snow loads and high winds, so they’re great for colder climates.

Trina Solar is a well-known, Chinese-based solar manufacturer, and is our choice for affordability. Plus, Trina has become an even better value since it extended its product warranty from 12 to 25 years in 2021. Like Canadian Solar, Trina's panels may not be top-of-the-line, but they still offer great value and performance for the price.

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 (mono) panels: 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.

Polycrystalline panels: 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.

Thin-film panels: 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.

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 scored each solar panel manufacturer based on the most important considerations for homeowners looking to invest in renewable energy: Solar panel tier, cost per watt, efficiency range and warranty period.

We spoke with five solar experts when researching the best solar panels, including two solar wholesalers, a solar durability representative at PV Evolution Labs and the CEO of Elevation Solar. We also received cost information from solar wholesalers and extensively researched each solar manufacturer's lineup to holistically rank each one.

Here's how we broke down the scoring:

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.