Best solar panels in 2023: Top products compared
Going solar is an easy and popular way to lower your electricity bills and your carbon footprint. If you’re starting the solar shopping process, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is which solar panels you want to install. With many high-quality options available, comparing solar panels can be a daunting challenge.
To streamline your comparison process, we researched thousands of solar panel models quoted by installers in the EnergySage Marketplace. Based on our analysis, we’ll explain how solar panel brands stack up against each other, and which companies offer the highest quality panels for your home.
This is an unbiased review: We’re experts with years of experience in the solar industry and base this article on expert opinions and factual, credible findings available when this article was written and published. Additionally, EnergySage is not paid to review brands or products, nor do we earn money from affiliate advertising in this article. Learn more about our mission and how we make money as a company.
Best solar panels: key takeaways
- Panasonic, REC, and Sunpower offer the best solar panels overall.
- The best solar panels for your neighbor may not be the best solar panels for you: Consider your roof space, climate, shading, and price point when choosing a solar panel.
- Make sure to assess power output, efficiency, temperature coefficient, price, and warranty when comparing panel options.
- Register on the EnergySage Marketplace to compare solar quotes with high-quality solar panels.
What are the top 5 solar panel brands?
Choosing a solar panel and unsure where to start? Today, there are thousands of solar panels available! Based on our comparison of dozens of solar panel brands, here are the top names associated with the best solar panels:
- SunPower: Best for limited roof space and warranty
- REC: Best for warm climates
- Panasonic: Most recognized brand
- Q CELLS: Most chosen by installers
- Canadian Solar: Lowest cost
Of these 5 brands, SunPower, REC, and Panasonic consistently rank the highest for efficiency, performance, and reliability. These companies combine durability with premium protection, making them the brands with the best solar panels available.
Choosing the highest quality solar panels will likely mean a higher upfront cost, but it’s a great investment in the long run. With higher output and efficiency and longer lifespans, the best solar panels will often maximize your solar savings.
SunPower/Maxeon
SunPower solar panels (specifically the M-Series and X-Series, which are manufactured by Maxeon) have one of the highest efficiency ratings available on the market today, making them a great choice for those with limited roof space or significant shading. They also offer an industry-leading 40-year warranty, giving SunPower solar panel owners unmatched peace of mind. Due to their efficiency and reliability, if you choose SunPower panels, plan on paying a $5-10K premium for your solar panel system.
REC
REC is a European-based solar company that produces a range of solar products. Their newest series, the Alpha Pure-R, has an impressive temperature coefficient compared to other panels, making them the best choice if you live in a consistently hot area. REC panels are highly efficient and, with black cells, frames, and back sheets, they blend in nicely with most roofs.
Panasonic
Panasonic is a household name, known for producing many electronics found in U.S. homes, including solar panels. In 2021, Panasonic began outsourcing its solar panel manufacturing to third parties but continued to uphold its quality workmanship, high efficiency, and 25-year warranty.
Q CELLS
According to our Solar & Storage Marketplace Report based on our Marketplace data from the second half of 2022, installers include Q CELLS panels in more quotes than any other solar panel brand due to their relatively affordable price point and availability. Because so many installers choose to stock Q CELLS panels, you may be able to get your system installed faster if you choose this brand.
Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar offers some of the lowest-priced solar panels on EnergySage without sacrificing quality. Though not yet widely available, Canadian Solar’s new HiHero 445H-AG panel matches SunPower’s industry-leading efficiency. While they offer an impressive 30-year performance warranty for their solar panels, Canadian Solar’s product warranty is only 15 years, which is below the industry standard and lower than most solar panels’ 25-30-year lifetime.
Honorable mention: LA Solar Group
As a vertically-integrated solar panel manufacturer and installer, LA Solar Group controls the price of almost all aspects of their solar system production, making them a highly reliable and cost-effective option. LA Solar Group offers some of the lowest-priced and highest-output panels on EnergySage. We only gave them an honorable mention because they’re geographically limited: They currently operate as an installer in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Nevada, and Texas, although a small number of other installers may install their solar panels in other states.
How we developed our best solar panel ranking
When you’re searching for the best solar panels for your home, you should consider a panel’s performance, quality, durability, warranty, and technical specifications, including its cell technology, power output, efficiency, and temperature coefficient. To develop our ranking of the best solar panels for your home, we evaluated these metrics for the thousands of solar panel models offered by the top manufacturers in the EnergySage Marketplace.
Here’s a full list of the top solar panel models for residential installations offered by some of the most quoted and installed brands on the EnergySage Marketplace:
…
How to choose the best solar panels for your home
There are many factors to weigh when you’re choosing solar panels. The market is filled with panels with varying efficiency ratings, warranties, costs, and other performance specs, making it hard to know exactly which ones are the best for you. Here’s a list of the variables we use to compare the best solar panels:
- Type of panel
- Power output
- Efficiency
- Temperature coefficient
- Lifespan & warranty
The best type of solar panel: monocrystalline
In almost all cases, the best solar panels for your home include premium monocrystalline solar cell technology. Manufacturers make monocrystalline solar cells with a single crystal of silicon instead of many silicon fragments melted together, as is the case with polycrystalline cells.
Single crystal cells convert sunlight to electricity more efficiently than those made with silicon fragments, making monocrystalline solar panels more efficient than polycrystalline solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are typically black in color and come with a higher price tag, whereas polycrystalline cells are blue in color and more affordable.
Best solar panels for limited space
If you have limited roof space, you’ll want a panel that has high power output and high efficiency. A solar panel’s power output refers to the amount of electricity it generates under standard test conditions; its efficiency measures how well it converts sunlight into electricity. Here are the solar panel brands with the highest power output and efficiency:
Best solar panels by efficiency and power output:
…