Best Solar Panels of 2024: Which Should You Buy? (2024)

When I renovated my home in New York a few years back, a rooftop solar system was high on the wish list. Unfortunately, a slew of unexpected structural issues torched our budget, pushing solar to the back burner. Now, thanks to extremely generous

federal tax credits, part of the $369 billion in spending earmarked for clean energy in the Inflation Reduction Act, I’m seriously considering rooftop solar again.

I’m not the only one. Though the number of residential installations has dipped in 2024, that follows years of exponential growth, such that more than 4 million residential roofs nationwide are now harnessing the power of the sun. Falling prices has been a major driver, with today's average homeowner spending around $21,000 on a system (many financing options are available), compared with $50,000 a decade ago, according to Energy Sage, an alternative energy marketplace that connects homeowners with pre-screened solar professionals.

So yes, it’s time to take a closer look at rooftop solar. That begs the question: Which solar panels are right for your home? To help guide your decision process, our team of engineers and market experts teamed up with outside industry analysts to identify the best solar panels available today. Here's what we found.

You probably know Panasonic for its consumer electronics, ranging from cameras to hair dryers. But the century-old Japanese brand is also a pioneering powerhouse in the solar panel space, having entered the market way back in 1975. Though it stopped doing its own manufacturing in 2021, Panasonic panels still offer the best combination of performance and reliability, especially if you spring for the TripleGuard warranty, which provides a 25-year product, performance and labor warranty on any panels installed by a Panasonic-authorized installer.

I'm a big fan of the EverVolt, Panasonic's premium line of solar panels with exceptional power output and efficiency. The HK Black Series is the newest offering and represents the best of the best, including 410-watt output and an extremely low degradation rate, meaning the panels will still be producing at least 92% of their original output after 25 years.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know Before Installing Solar Panels on Your Home

Canadian Solar entered the market in 2001 with the mission of delivering the best possible value to consumers. The average cost of installation starts around $16,100 (including tax credits), which is the cheapest of all national manufacturers reviewed by our experts. The low cost doesn’t come with a lot of compromise in quality either. Case in point: Canada Solar’s new HiHero 445H-AG solar panel has an impressive power output (410 watts) and temperature coefficienct (.26), which means it works well in all climates.

The big trade-off is on the product warranty, which, at 15 years, is a decade less than other leading brands. If you plan on being in your current home for more than a couple decades, I'd recommend paying more for another solar panel.

SunPower has been around since 1985 with a proven track record — and that's significant, given the high rate of unscrupulous (or just plain inexperienced) companies in the solar panel space. What's more, SunPower is an installer with a history of manufacturing so they know the industry inside out, plus they're a one-stop solution for all your solar needs, including the panels and battery storage, all backed by one of the best warranties in the business.

Their products are superb too, none better than the M-line from its SunPower Equinox Series. The panels boast a maximum power output of 440 watts and efficiency rating of 22.8%, both best in class. I also like the fact that SunPower uses microinverters behind each panel to convert sunlight into power for your home. Besides maximizing power and efficiency, it means the entire system won't shut down if there's an issue with one panel, which is the case with solar panels that use a central inverter.

All that innovation doesn't come cheap, but our experts say it's worth paying a premium for SunPower, given the exceptional performance and peace of mind.

Since 2006, Jinko Solar has produced reliable rooftop solar panels for a global market. Its oversized panels, which boast solid power output and efficiency, are especially well-suited to the larger housing stock found throughout much of the U.S.

The efficient design and ample proportions of Jinko's monocrystalline panels make for very good value. When EnergySage crunched the numbers to come up with an average price per watt comparison across multiple panels, the Tiger Neo was the best, coming in at $2.55 per watt.

One contributing factor to the excellent efficiency of the Tiger Neo panel is its ability to harness the sun's power even in lower-light conditions, for example, on an overcast day or when it's foggy out. That makes Jinko a solid choice if your home is outside of the Sun Belt and prone to more variable weather conditions.

Europe’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, REC was founded in Norway in 1996, making it another brand that our experts say you can count on over the long haul. REC produces several lines of high-quality panels, all of which feature monocrystalline solar cell technology for maximum output and efficiency, even at higher temperatures.

Though you’ll pay top dollar for it, I like the Alpha Pure-R, which can crank out up to 430 watts and will still be operating at 92% capacity after 25 years. The all-black design also gives the panels a particularly sleek look.

The panel is backed by a 25-year warranty, provided you go with a REC-certified installer, and it’s guaranteed to produce 92% of its output by the end of its warrantied life. The one drawback with REC is it only produces solar panels, so if you want to add other components, like battery storage, you'll have to settle for a piecemeal system with different installers, service contracts and the like.

When adding rooftop solar to your home, you shouldn’t automatically go with the solar panel recommended by your installer. On the other hand, I always like to know which brands pass muster with the pros. In the case of solar panels, that distinction belongs to Qcells, founded in Germany in 1999 and now headquartered in South Korea (though their factory in Dalton, Georgia is the largest solar manufacturing facility in the Western Hemisphere).

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our Outdoor and Home Improvement Lab stays on top of the latest developments in all types of renewable energy for the home, from geothermal heat pumps to solar generators.

For this report on solar panels, we pulled together insights from trade shows and industry events, like CES and the International Builders' Show, and interviewed various experts from the field. That helped us zero in on the brands with established track records for reliability — a crucial step in the vetting process since the solar industry has its share of fly-by-night operations.

While our experts were not able to do actual installations of these solar panels, the evaluation process included a thorough review of all technical data, including manufacturer specifications and third-party testing. For pricing information, as well as insights from solar panel installers, we worked closely with EnergySage, an alternative energy marketplace. We also pored over scores of user reviews to spot any red flags related to performance or reliability.

Finally, we analyzed warranties and service agreements to ensure that our top picks are suitably backed by the manufacturer.

Researching solar panels involves a lot of confusing concepts, like cell technology and temperature coefficients. But you don’t need to dust off your old textbooks from science class. We’ve simplified the decision-making process into just three key considerations. Here’s what you need to know:

✔️ Solar panel performance: This comes down to two main criteria: power output (how much electricity a solar panel generates) and efficiency (the panel’s ability to convert sunlight into power). The best solar panels offer the strongest combination of the two, the same way the best cars on the road today deliver excellent fuel efficiency while still going zero to 60 in under five seconds. Like most electronic equipment, performance is impacted by ambient conditions, namely temperature. Here’s where temperature coefficient comes into play, which is an important factor to consider if you live in a warm climate.

• Maximum power output. Most solar panels on today’s market produce between 250 and 450 watts. Anything above 400 watts will fall into the best-in-class category.
• Maximum efficiency. The top solar panels have conversion rates of at least 20%, with the best of the best close to 23%.
• Temperature coefficient. This is simply a measure of the change in production when temperature exceeds the ideal 77°F. The best solar panels for warm climates have temperature coefficients around .25. This means that for every degree above 77°F, the panel’s power output will decrease by .25%. Panels with temperature coefficients up around .40 will be noticeably less productive over the course of the hot season.
  

✔️ Solar panel durability: For a solar panel to reach its maximum lifespan of 25 to 30 years, it needs to be well-built using quality materials. Spencer Fields of EnergySage said the method of manufacturing has a big impact. Brands that use automated manufacturing processes offer the most durable panels, without any of the cracking, delamination and other premature failures that often afflict hand-assembled panels. While brands don’t necessarily advertise the fact that they use automation, it’s a good question to ask the salesperson or the installer who you’re working with on the project. As for specs, there are three to consider:

• Guaranteed capacity. This is the percentage of power output that a brand promises its solar panel will produce after 25 years. Premium solar panels offer performance warranties above 90% by year 25.
• Degradation rate. This is another way to slice long-term performance, expressed as the decrease in power output per year. According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the average degradation rate is around .8%, meaning that by its second year, the typical panel will operate at 99.2% of its original output. Premium brands offer degradation rates as low as .3%.
• Extreme weather ratings. While cold temperatures don't affect solar panel power output nearly as much as hot temperatures, pay attention to extreme weather ratings if your region sees heavy snow and wind. The best solar panel frames can withstand snow loads of 5000 pascals or more and wind loads of at least 4000 pascals.
  

✔️ Solar panel reliability: While durability is part of reliability, this measure speaks to the brand as a whole and not just the solar panels that roll off their production line. Warranty is the key factor. Rooftop solar systems have come down in cost, but it’s still a huge investment, so you want the peace of mind of the strongest possible warranty.

• Warranty for product and performance. Look for a warranty that guarantees at least 25 years protection of both the product and the performance. This means the brand will cover any premature failure of the panel’s material or equipment (i.e. the product) due to a manufacturing defect.
• Warranty for labor. This might also be included in the warranty, though you’ll most likely have to use an installer that’s authorized by the brand. Solar panel brands that are both the manufacturer and installer, like SunPower, tend to have the best warranties in the business.

For all the benefits of rooftop solar, the industry is no stranger to unscrupulous contractors — or those that mean well, but don’t really know what they’re doing. So it’s important to hire an experienced, fully-qualified and insured installer.

Before you bring anyone into your home for a consultation, check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. And make sure the company is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), a trade organization that sets standards for solar installers.

Several websites act as clearinghouses for solar consumers, connecting them with certified installers in their area. My favorite is EnergySage, which I’ve worked with for more than a decade, including when I was researching solar options for my home. The site, which won a Good Housekeeping Home Reno Award, makes it easy for homeowners to shop around for the best solar system by securing multiple high-quality quotes from vetted installers. If you’re on the fence about solar, the site also features tools to help you sort through upfront costs and long-term savings.

Also known as “solar as service,” solar leasing has been around for about 15 years now. It’s a good option for homeowners who want rooftop solar, but can’t afford the upfront cost. That’s because you don’t have to put any money down. Instead, you enter a long-term contract (20 or 25 years is typical) and pay a fixed monthly fee. The solar company owns the panels and ancillary equipment and is responsible for any upkeep or repairs.

Solar leasing is an affordable, no-maintenance way to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, and the systems can be used to power other green accessories, like solar generators and EV chargers. On the downside, you’ll save a lot more money in the long run by owning your rooftop solar system, whether you pay in full or finance the purchase.

For more details on the pros and cons of solar leasing, read our review of Sunrun, the largest solar-as-service company in the U.S.

Though solar panels have become better looking in recent years, the systems still impact the look of the home, especially if they’re installed on a street-facing roof. That’s what I like about solar roofs, in which all the energy-generating technology is integrated into shingles or tiles. The result is a less obtrusive design with an installation process that can be more cost-effective than that of rooftop solar panels, which often require additional mounting mechanisms that make the systems even more cumbersome.

Tesla created a stir with the launch of its Solar Roof in 2016, though rollout of the system has been much slower than expected, so our experts have not yet seen it up close.

This also gets a tad technical, but it’s worth having a baseline understanding of the different ways solar panels are constructed, since it's another indicator of quality and performance.

There are two main types:

• Monocrystalline, which are composed of a single crystal of silicon.
• Polycrystalline, in which many silicon fragments are melted together.

The best solar panels are almost always monocrystalline, because the structure allows sunlight to be converted into electricity far more efficiently.

You might come across a third type called thin-film solar panels. Also known as “flexible” or “peel-and-stick” solar panels, they’re a cheaper alternative to traditional solar panels, but they’re not as efficient or durable, with lifespans of around 10 to 20 years. That’s why you don’t see them on a lot of residential roofs, though they can be a good solution for more portable applications, for example on the rooftop of a boat or RV.

To answer this question, you need to consider a few factors, starting with your home’s specific circ*mstances.

• Where you live: Solar panels are most common in the Sun Belt for the obvious reason that this part of the country sees the most sun. But even if you live in that region, you need to make sure your home isn’t surrounded by leafy trees or other objects that create a lot of shade, since this can reduce solar energy production by 50% or more.
• Orientation: This means the direction the roof faces. The best solar roofs have large areas with South or Southwest exposures. That’s why a home in the Northeast or Midwest with good orientation and no shade barriers might be a better candidate for solar panels than one in the Southeast with a roof that faces north and is surrounded by tall trees or buildings.
• Shape and condition of roof: Roofs with a lot of steep pitches or dormers that break up the space are not suited to solar panels. Similarly, if the shingles are old and starting to fail, it makes sense to replace them before installing solar panels (or opt for a solar shingle system, like the one from GAF Energy featured in this round-up).
• Electricity usage: How much power your home uses and the cost of electricity in your state are also factors. Free online solar calculators, like Solar-Estimate.org, can give you a quick snapshot of how many solar panels your house would need and how much a rooftop solar system will cost you upfront, plus its projected payback period. These days, most homeowners who are good candidates for solar break even on their system in less than 10 years.