By Dan Simms
Updated Feb 2, 2023
By Dan Simms
Updated Feb 2, 2023
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If you’re considering getting solar panels for your home or you’re thinking of converting to clean energy, you’ve likely considered things like the cost of your system, the reliability of your solar installer, and the size of your system. Another important factor that many homeowners neglect to think about is the efficiency and overall performance of the panels they have installed.
Panel performance can significantly impact how many panels you need, which, in turn, affects the cost of your system. The panel efficiency can also determine your long-term cost of going solar because it affects how much power your solar energy system produces and how much your energy bills are lowered.
In this guide, we’ll be discussing the six most efficient solar panels for homes. This should guide you to a panel brand and model that suits your budget, energy needs, and roof size.
On average, homeowners save $5,000–$20,000 with solar panels
Below is a quick look at our chosen solar panels for their efficiency, durability, warranty coverage, and more.
The table below provides a quick look at the top six most efficient solar panels available for home solar systems. We’ll include additional information about each panel in the following sections as well.
Cost ($-$$$$$) | Efficiency | Size (Watts) | Power Tolerance | Cell Type | Warranty | |
SunPower X-Series | $$$$ | 22.7% | 335 to 470 | +5%/-0% | Monocrystalline, half-cut | 25 years for equipment, workmanship, and efficiency |
Panasonic Evervolt | $$ | 22.2% | 360 to 370 | +5%/-0% | Monocrystalline, half-cut | 25 years for equipment, workmanship, and efficiency |
REC Alpha | $$$ | 21.7% | 410 to 430 | +5%/-0% | Monocrystalline, half-cut | 20 years for equipment, 25 years for efficiency |
LG NeON R | $$$ | 21.5% | 365 to 440 | +3%/-3% | Monocrystalline, half-cut | 25 years for equipment, workmanship, and efficiency |
Silfab Elite | $$$ | 21.4% | 370 to 380 watts | +10%/-0% | Monocrystalline, half-cut | 25 years for equipment, 30 years for efficiency |
Canadian Solar HiKu 7 | $$ | 21.4% | 330 to 455 | +5%/-0% | Monocrystalline, half-cut | 12 years for equipment and workmanship, 25 years for efficiency |
SunPower is well-known in the solar industry for producing some of the highest-quality panels. Through decades of research and development, SunPower has managed to produce the most efficient solar panels available for home solar systems. We’ll discuss the X-series from SunPower below.
Overall, SunPower panels are a great option for homeowners who want maximum power output and the best warranty coverage around and don’t mind paying a premium for high quality.
Panasonic has produced high-quality solar panels since 1975. The Evervolt series is definitively in second place for efficiency at 22.2%, making it the only other option — aside from SunPower — to max out over 22%. The company also includes outstanding warranty coverage that rivals SunPower’s.
Panasonic’s Evervolt line of solar panels is an excellent alternative to SunPower’s high-efficiency panels. They maintain an efficiency rating of over 22%, come with an outstanding warranty, and are quite affordable.
REC is a household name in the solar industry, known for high-quality panels that last for decades. The Alpha PURE-R panel is no exception, boasting an efficiency rating nearing 22% and a positive-only tolerance for maximum, guaranteed performance.
The REC Alpha panels — specifically the PURE-R model — are a great option for reaching high efficiency while keeping costs to a minimum. The warranty coverage isn’t as good as you’ll find with some competitors, but it still guarantees performance and durability for decades.
LG began manufacturing solar panels in 2010, and since then, it has been a leader in the solar industry in terms of performance and warranty coverage. Unfortunately, the company has announced its planned departure from solar panel manufacturing, so the panels will soon no longer be available.
Although LG panels will no longer be available in the near future, we’ve included them here as they are still available as of this writing and because they rival the efficiency, performance, and warranty coverage of many of the other top brands.
Silfab is another manufacturer of premium solar panels designed for highly efficient residential solar panel systems. Silfab is often listed as a budget option that doesn’t compromise on efficiency and quality, although this particular series of panels hovers around the average cost of solar panels.
Silfab is sometimes below the average pricing for panels, although this series is around the average. However, the quality provided for the money makes these an excellent option for any home solar system.
Canadian Solar is a top producer of solar panels in the United States. It has been around since 2001, and it has dedicated its time and energy to producing high-quality solar panels for home solar systems. Its warranty isn’t the best, but the panels’ power production and overall durability are excellent.
Canadian Solar is one of the best options for solar panels for homeowners on a budget. It includes decent warranty coverage and high efficiency ratings for a below-average price.
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Unfortunately, choosing solar panels for your home means a lot of research to ensure you pick the brand and model that’s best suited to your needs. In the sections below, we’ll discuss some of the most important things to keep in mind as you make your decision and how each can affect your experience with going solar.
One of the first things most solar customers consider when choosing solar panels for their homes is the cost of the system. The price of your solar panels is the most crucial part of your total cost, and differences in per-watt pricing can lead to differences of thousands of dollars on your entire system.
Some solar panel brands keep costs low by using lower-quality materials or including less appealing warranty coverage. While this, of course, will mean you’ll pay less for your system, it also means the quality you get for the money is lower.
Ideally, you should balance quality and efficiency with the cost of the panels to find the best option that fits your budget.
We’ve included the efficiency rating of all of the top solar panels for homes above, and while this might just seem like another meaningless number, it’s a super important part of choosing the right panels for your home.
Firstly, the efficiency of the panels, in part, dictates the size of the solar energy system you need. The average home in America needs a 9-kW solar system to offset electricity bills and meet the home’s energy needs.
Using high-efficiency panels means you could potentially use fewer panels to produce the same amount of energy, which means you could require a smaller system and save money on the solar panel installation process. In most cases, however, the cost of your system will still be a bit higher with high-efficiency panels, as they tend to cost more in addition to being more efficient.
Still, you get better performance with high-efficiency panels and take up less space on your roof. This is crucial for smaller homes that might not have the roof space for a sufficient number of panels. Additionally, your home needs to be structurally sound enough to hold up your system, and having fewer panels that need to go on your roof might be the difference between getting your permit approved and denied.
Solar equipment is expensive, so it’s always a wise idea to buy high-quality equipment to avoid issues with durability. Premium solar panels cost more, but in many cases, you’ll save yourself the headache of having issues with your system down the road going with a high-quality provider since the panels will have a longer lifespan. Thin-film and lower-quality panels have a much shorter lifespan and don’t make our rankings.
One thing to consider is how physically durable your panels are. Rooftop solar panels are, of course, exposed to the elements at all times, including rain, snow, hail, and wind. They can also be exposed to falling tree limbs or blown debris if you live in an area that experiences severe weather, like hurricanes, tropical storms, and tornadoes.
Having panels with a reputation for being durable and hearty can potentially save you from having to deal with thousands of dollars worth of damage if you run into issues with your panels.
Additionally, we recommend that you consider how durable the internal components are, including the solar cells, wiring, inverters, and microinverters, if your panels have them.
We’ll discuss warranty coverage in the next section, but the efficiency warranty for your solar panels — if you have one — guarantees that your panels will produce a certain percentage of what they did when they were new after an extended period of time — usually around 25 years.
For example, SunPower guarantees that its panels will retain 92% of their efficiency over the 25-year power production warranty. This helps ensure that your panels continue to produce sufficient energy for your home, which can help save you money on utility bills in the long run.
You can also look at metrics like the temperature coefficient, which shows your panels’ ability to maintain higher efficiency in less ideal weather conditions.
Finally, we strongly recommend you carefully consider the warranty coverage included with your system. Solar warranties usually cover physical damage, power production, workmanship, or all three.
All of this coverage is crucial for protecting what is likely a large investment
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Our top pick for the best and most efficient solar panel for home solar systems in 2023 is the SunPower X-Series. SunPower is well-known in the solar industry for producing high-quality and high-efficiency solar panels, and the X-Series is among the company’s most impressive products.
These panels have an industry-leading efficiency of 22.7%. They’re ideal for homeowners looking for the highest level of power production, and they’re perfect for individuals that have small roofs or minimal space to produce power for their homes.
Although the X-Series comes with a high upfront cost, the solar cell technology comes with an incredible warranty that protects your solar power system and provides ultimate peace of mind that you won’t run into any issues. The warranty covers the equipment, the energy generation, and the workmanship for 25 years, and the installation company has a great reputation for responding to and addressing warranty claims.
Before finalizing your solar panel choice, we recommend consulting local installers near you about your home. Here are our top solar company picks that are available across the country:
In our opinion, the best solar panels money can buy in 2023 are the X-Series panels from SunPower. These panels have the highest efficiency rating (22.7%) in the industry, and they come backed by one of the best solar warranties available. The 25-year warranty covers physical damage, issues caused by manufacturer defects and installation issues, as well as power production. These panels are more expensive than those from most competitors, but in most customers’ opinion, they are well worth the investment.
Yes! Although clouds prevent a good deal of sunlight from reaching your panels for power production, you’ll still see energy generation on cloudy days. Heavy cloud coverage can decrease efficiency by more than 50%, but with high-efficiency panels, you’ll still see significant levels of power production.
In our opinion, SunPower not only manufactures some of the best panels in the industry, but the company is also one of the most reputable. It has been around since 1985, so it has several decades of experience.
It previously manufactured some of the best panels available and now handles installation while its sister company — Maxeon Solar — produces the actual solar equipment. The company has good customer service, despite its size, and its warranty coverage is second to none. SunPower can deliver the whole package, including industry-leading equipment, great service, and peace of mind to every customer.
The only downsides to SunPower are the high price and the large company size. This does mean that, in many cases, the technicians who install the photovoltaic equipment won’t help with taking advantage of solar incentives or rebates.
There are many different things that can affect the price of solar panels you purchase. In most cases, the durability and warranty coverage will be a big part of the price. Solar panel companies that deliver high-quality equipment not only pay more to produce them but need to make sure they’re compensated in the event of an issue with production or system damage.
Efficiency is another huge factor when it comes to the cost of solar panels. A lot of research goes into developing new solar technology and pushing the limits of solar cells. Panels that push beyond 20% and 21% approach the peak capabilities of today’s technology. Customers who want the most efficient solar panels on the market today should plan on paying a premium for them.
Solar panels afford many benefits to solar customers. One of the most significant is the reduction of emissions and less reliance on fossil fuels, which are detrimental to the environment. By going solar, you’re reducing your carbon footprint, which has an enormously positive impact on the world.
Many homeowners go solar for energy savings, which is another huge upside of going solar. The average homeowner who purchases their solar system will enjoy savings on electric bills that pay off the system entirely and then save thousands — and sometimes tens of thousands — thereafter. Some homeowners are able to eliminate their electric bills entirely, especially if their state or electric company offers net metering.
If you couple your solar panels with a solar battery storage solution, you can also eliminate power outages for your home. A complete solar array plus a solar battery will mean you can produce energy and power your home off of that production and the energy saved, making your home temporarily off-grid.
SunPower solar panels are some of the best panel options, and the SunPower X-Series is currently the most efficient solar panel available for home use. This line of solar panels boasts an incredible 22.7% efficiency. The next most efficient panel — the Panasonic Evervolt — is only 22.2%.
Efficiency and overall quality aside, some of the most popular solar panels come from SunPower, Tesla Solar, QCells, LG, Panasonic, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, REC, and Silfab.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each solar energy company/service according to our methodology.
Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated all of each solar energy company’s services, costs, and products. We’ve done the homework for you by researching nearly all of the solar energy companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
We developed a formula to objectively determine the best solar energy companies and give each a score out of 100 based on the following criteria:
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