Best Solar Panels Ranked by Efficiency — all

all solar panels ranked by efficiency. Compare efficiency, cost, payback, and annual output side by side. Data from LBNL 2023 and NREL benchmarks.

Usage & location

Monthly usage (kWh)

Find on your electricity bill

State

Panel & battery

Panel type

Battery storage (kWh)

Panels needed

5.9 kW

System size

$12,390

Net cost (after ITC)

3.7 yrs

Payback period

100% offset$3,321/yr savings5.8 sun hrs/day9,340 lbs CO₂/yr offset

Monthly usage	900 kWh
Annual usage	10,800 kWh
Peak sun hrs/day	5.8 hrs
System size	5.93 kW-DC
Panels needed	15
Panel area total	323 sq ft
Annual production	10,924 kWh
Offset	100%
CO₂ offset	9,340 lbs/yr
Equivalent trees	195 trees/yr

All panels ranked by efficiency

Ranked by efficiency. Sized for 900 kWh/month in CA.

#	Panel	Efficiency	Net cost (mid)	Payback	Annual kWh
1	Monocrystalline 450W (High-Efficiency)	22.0%	$14,112	4 yrs	11,470 kWh
2	Bifacial Monocrystalline 420W	21.3%	$14,994	4.3 yrs	11,470 kWh
3	Monocrystalline 400W	20.5%	$12,390	3.7 yrs	10,924 kWh
4	Polycrystalline 350W	17.0%	$10,829	3.3 yrs	10,833 kWh
5	Thin-Film CIGS	12.6%	$10,500	3.2 yrs	10,924 kWh

Panels ranked by efficiency

Comparison for 900 kWh/month in CA.

Panel specifications

Specifications from manufacturer datasheets.

Panel	Type	Watts	Efficiency	Warranty	Lifespan
Monocrystalline 450W (High-Efficiency)	monocrystalline	450W	22.0%	25 yr power	30 yrs
Bifacial Monocrystalline 420W	bifacial	420W	21.3%	30 yr power	35 yrs
Monocrystalline 400W	monocrystalline	400W	20.5%	25 yr power	30 yrs
Polycrystalline 350W	polycrystalline	350W	17.0%	25 yr power	25 yrs
Thin-Film CIGS	thin-film	150W	12.6%	10 yr power	20 yrs

Sources & Standards

Dobos, A. P. "PVWatts Version 5 Manual." National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-6A20-62641, 2014.PV system output estimation methodology (irradiance, system losses, tilt and azimuth)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB)."Solar irradiance data underlying production estimates