Renogy 400-Watt 12-Volt Off-Grid Solar Premium Kit
Max power output: 400 watts | Weight: 14.1 pounds| Warranty: 5 years | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: Yes
Renogy’s 400-watt kit is a popular choice for homeowners who want to install solar panels on their own. The kit contains four 100-watt panels, charge controllers, electrical wiring, fuses and monitoring—everything you need to get up and running. The set will create up to 2,500kWh of electricity a day, which is enough to power lights, your TV and kitchen appliances. This isn’t just for home use, though: You can use this set on an RV or boat, or use it to power outdoor appliances. An anti-corrosion frame and EVA film help protect your panels, regardless of where you put them.
Pros:
- Designed for home installation
- Flexible uses
- Generates ample power
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can be intimidating to set up
Best Solar Panels For Small Roofs
Petite Panels You Can Purchase Individually
Grape Solar 200-Watt Monocrystalline PV Solar Panel
Max power output: 200 watts | Weight: 26.5 pounds| Warranty: 5 years | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: Yes
Grape Solar’s 200-Watt panels are made of monocrystalline (a single piece of silicon that makes it easier for electricity to flow through) and designed for residents with smaller roofs, like cabins. At 28 x 62 inches, the panels are on the more petite side, allowing you to fit a few on your roof. These panels have 0 to 3% positive output power tolerance, along with multilayer sheet lamination to enhance cell performance over time. It’s also designed to work in weaker light conditions, as well as high temperatures. This panel can hold up to 50 pounds per square foot of wind and snow, making it a good choice for a range of climates, plus built-in mounting holes make it easy to install.
Pros:
- Durable
- Can hold up to 50 pounds per square foot of snow
Cons:
- May not pull in power for larger homes
Best Value Solar Panels
A Durable Option That’s Just $70
Topsolar Solar Panel Kit
Max power output: 100 watts | Weight: 15.8 pounds| Warranty: Unspecified | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: No
With a 100-watt capacity, the Topsolar Solar Panel Kit isn’t your best bet for serving the power needs of a large home. But it’s a good choice for powering up RVs, boats, vans and smaller residences, or for experimenting with solar power to see what you do and don’t like. The kit has all the elements to get you set up, including Z mounting brackets, cables and a controller. The panels have pre-drilled holes for easy installation and are designed to stand up to higher winds and moderate snow loads. Keep in mind that, while this particular kit is 100 watts, Topsolar also has panels that go up to 340 watts to give you options.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Predrilled holes
- Full kit
Cons:
- Not designed for larger homes
- Smaller capacity
Best Portable Solar Panels
A Kit You Can Set Up In A Minute Or Less
Jackery SolarSaga 100-Watt Portable Solar Panel
Max power output: 100 watts | Weight: 10.33 pounds| Warranty: 2 years | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: No
Taking your solar power on the road is simple with the Jackery SolarSaga panel. This kit can be propped and angled toward the sun in 60 seconds thanks to a built-in stand. It’s also just over 10 pounds, making it simple to move. This panel has a conversion efficiency of up to 24.3% to minimize waste. It also has ETFE material on the surface to protect your cells. While the 100 watt capacity isn’t huge, it’s enough to power up your phone, tablet and other devices when you’re on the go. When you want to pack it up, simply fold the panel flat. Built-in handles allow for easy carrying from spot to spot.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Highly portable
- Built-in stand
Cons:
- Doesn’t work for homes
- Water resistant, but not waterproof
Best Solar Panels For Camping
A Panel You Can Plug Your Phone Right Into
Anker 625 100-Watt Solar Panel with Adjustable Kickstand
Max power output: 100 watts | Weight: 11 pounds| Warranty: 18 months | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: No
Power is helpful when you’re camping, even if it’s just to make sure your phone stays charged. This solar panel from Anker converts up to 23% of sunlight into solar energy to keep you juiced up away from home. This kit features specialized Suncast technology to allow you to adjust your panel to snag the most direct sunlight. It also boasts a built-in adjustable kickstand to help you set up practically anywhere. The panel has a USB-C and a USB-A output port, so you can charge two devices at once directly from your panel. Plus, it’s scratch- and water-resistant to withstand time in the elements. At just 11 pounds, the panel is relatively easy to carry to your campsite.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Built-in kickstand
- USB-C and USB-A ports
Cons:
- Pricey
- Not waterproof
Best Solar Panels For Home
A Comprehensive Kit With Everything You Need
Nature Power 440-Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panels
Max power output: 440 watts | Weight: 18.3 pounds| Warranty: 25 year limited on panel | Type: Polycrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: Yes
Nature Power’s 440-watt kit has all the tools you need to get your home up and running on solar energy. It features four 110-watt panels, along with a 750-watt power inverter, a 30-amp charge controller and wiring. This kit is designed for home use but flexible enough to be installed on boats, RVs and sheds. It’s made from polycrystalline silicon, which is less expensive and more sustainable than monocrystalline. The panel is encased in a sturdy aluminum frame, with a scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coating for durability.
Pros:
- All-in-one kit
- Can be used several ways
- Generates enough to power most homes
Cons:
- Expensive
- Set-up takes time
Best High Watt Solar Panels
Heavy-Duty Panels To Fuel An Entire Home
Renogy 550-Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Max power output: 550 watts | Weight: 62.8 pounds| Warranty: 10 years | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: Yes
These panels from Renogy are powerhouses. At 550 watts a piece, they pull in more power than most and have a nearly 23% conversion efficiency. The panels are built tough, too—they’re designed to operate between -40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, making them a good fit for most climates. The panels are made using half-cell technology, which is more flexible in shady situations and performs better in low light than its larger-paneled counterparts. Each panel in this set can create up to 2750 Wh of power in a day, which should be plenty to fuel your home. The frames are corrosion-resistant for durability. Keep in mind that these panels are heavier than most—you’ll want to ensure your roof can easily support their weight before purchasing.
Pros:
- High wattage
- Generates plenty of power
- Works well in low-light
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy
Best Solar Panels For Large Roofs
A Four-Pack That Covers Plenty Of Surface Area
Grape Solar 370-Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Max power output: 370 watts | Weight: 40.1 pounds| Warranty: 10 years | Type: Monocrystalline | Guaranteed capacity at 25 years: Yes
Outfitting larger roofs with solar panels is often a numbers game—you add more panels to cover the space. Grape Solar gets you started with this four-pack. Each panel is nearly 41 x 69 inches for plenty of roof coverage. It also features 370-watt panels with a 20.3% efficiency rating to pull in ample power. These panels are designed with iron-tempered glass for durability and impact resistance, and feature a frame design that allows for up to 50 pounds per square feet of wind and snow load. The set also features bypass diodes to protect your PV cells and maximize light.
Pros:
- Large panels
- Good coverage
- Solid efficiency rating
Cons:
- Expensive
- Slightly heavy
How We Chose The Best Solar Panels
Choosing the best solar panels for your needs, whether it’s your home or to enhance your camping experience, requires some thought and planning. To choose the best options on the market, we consulted with four solar energy experts—including some who have been through this process as consumers—for their input on the best materials to look for in solar panels, as well as ideal features and considerations.
From there, we looked at the top solar panels on the market and narrowed the field by output, construction, durability and value. Reviews from real owners were also taken into consideration to ensure we had the best sense of how these panels perform across a range of homes and needs. Only solar panels with average reviews of four or more stars were featured.
What To Look For In Solar Panels
Solar panels all have a specified performance. This is typically listed in terms of wattage (the electrical output they can provide for your home), along with efficiency (the percentage of sunlight they can turn into power). The right performance for your solar panels depends on what you’re using it for. If you want portable panels that can juice up your phone and operate a hot plate while camping, you’ll need a lower performance than if you’re planning to power your home with panels.
Durability is important in solar panels, given that they’re an investment. Many panels have built-in technology to protect the panel’s cells (which actually convert sunlight into energy), along with sturdy frames. However, the manufacturer will often state what kind of load these panels can support, usually in the form of wind and snow. You’ll want to ensure that the panels you choose make sense for the climate in which you plan to use them, as well as your needs.
Whether you’re relying on solar panels for your main energy source or are using it to supplement more traditional forms of energy, it’s important to have panels that are reliable. Most solar panels will have a warranty that allows you to return them for a refund if they’re not working as intended. However, elements like cloudiness and shade can influence how well they work. If direct light is limited, consider investing in panels that use half-cell technology—this helps harness more power, even in dimmer conditions.
Do Solar Panels Save You Money?
It depends. Solar energy for your home tends to cost a significant amount of money upfront. “They don’t save you money right away,” says Paulina Jaramillo, a Ph.D. energy fellow at the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University. “But the market is increasingly competitive. When you add the subsidies that are available and consider the cost over a lifetime, they make economic sense.” Some energy companies have what’s known as a “buyback plan,” where solar panel owners can sell excess electricity they create back to the electric grid, explains Daniel Richmond, senior manager of Cross Serve and core product development at renewable energy company Green Mountain Energy. These can allow you to get a good financial return on your investment, especially if you generate more energy than you use.
What Are The Different Types Of Solar Panels?
There are mainly four different types of solar panels to consider. Monocrystalline panels, which are black, are considered the most efficient type of panel. As a result, you’ll need less panels to generate as much electricity as other types, Alam says. “These are considered the Rolls Royce of solar panels,” he adds. “They’re very reliable and are easy to maintain, but they’re more expensive.” Polycrystalline solar panels have a blueish tint and are less efficient than monocrystalline panels. “They’re also lower in cost,” Alam notes. Thin-film solar cells are less efficient than the others, but they may be helpful for smaller projects. “They’re more flexible, but the cost is lower and they’re easy to install,” he says. Solar shingles are also becoming popular, Alam says. “They’re completely flexible and embedded in the shingles to do the same function as a panel,” he says. These tend to be less efficient than monocrystalline panels, but have a better aesthetic, Alam says.
Are Solar Panels Worth It?
There are a lot of potential uses for solar panels. These handy tools can generate power for you when there is no plug in sight, like at a campsite. But they can also create energy when your power source is unreliable or when you want to make your own. “If you’re someone that is dealing with reliability problems—say, you have storms and the power goes out—solar panels with battery storage can give you increased reliability,” Jaramillo says. But home installation is typically a big investment, and it’s not something you’ll typically see a return on for a few years, Alam says. Local legislation can also be a factor. “The economics vary depending on what state you’re in,” Horwitz says. Overall, though, experts agree that solar panels will save you money over time. “It’s a big investment and a good investment,” Horwitz adds. “Some homes have a better valuation having had solar energy.”
