Portable solar panels review: 2024 buyer's guide

Image credit: Jackery

Portable solar panels offer sustainable convenience when you're venturing beyond the reach of traditional power sources. They can be a great solution for small-scale off-grid projects or on-the-go power during a camping trip, a hike, or a long RV drive.

While they may not match the output of their rooftop counterparts, portable panels offer a low-cost, eco-friendly way to stay connected and powered off the beaten path. If you're looking to save money by offsetting your home energy use with a solar power system, small panels likely won't do the job. In that case, the best option is to get quotes for a professional solar system installation that produces much more energy than smaller panels can.

Here are some of the best small, portable solar panels on the market. We'll explain how to pick the right model for your needs.

Portable solar products are physically smaller and produce less electricity than traditional solar panels, making them useful for off-grid or portable energy applications.

Like rooftop solar panels, shoppers buy small, portable solar panels for various reasons. We’ve compiled a list of some of the top portable solar panels in 2024 to help you understand which might benefit you the most. 

Best small solar panel specs

Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panel: Highly efficient & longest warranty

Image credit: Jackery

Jackery’s portable solar panel has an exceptionally high cell efficiency of 24.3%. The SolarSaga panel weighs 16.1 pounds and is foldable and easy to carry, so you can power appliances in your RV, boat, or camper. It boasts the longest warranty term at three years, which automatically increases to five years if you purchase from the official website. The Jackery SolarSaga is our best pick but it comes at a higher price.

Renogy 200W Portable Solar Panel: Our most affordable option

Image credit: Renogy

The Renogy Portable Solar Panel is great for camping, RV, hiking, or other outdoor needs. Renogy is on the heavier side of our options at 17.6 pounds, but still lightweight and manageable, especially with its built-in handle for convenient carrying. It has an excellent conversion efficiency of 23.5%. Overall, the Renogy Portable Solar Panel is the most affordable panel on our list and second in conversion efficiency. If you don’t mind carrying around an extra pound or two, Renogy offers a great output for its price.

EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel: Lightweight & compact

Image credit EcoFlow

The Ecoflow portable solar panel pairs with an EcoFlow power station for optimal charging efficiency, even in cloudy weather. The single-piece, seamless panel is coated in an ultra-violet protective film to protect against harsh outdoor conditions. While its output is lower than the rest, EcoFlow is our lightest option overall and per-watt. Its 22% conversion efficiency is on the lower end of our list, but still good. Overall, the EcoFlow portable solar panel is relatively affordable and best for those concerned about space, but more efficient panels are available.

Bluetti PV200 200W Solar Panel: Honorable mention

Image credit: Bluetti

The Bluetti PV200 seems to be second place all around. With a 23.4% cell efficiency rating, it’s above average but not as efficient as the Jackery SolarSaga. It’s lightweight but not the lightest option. While it’s $200 cheaper than the SolarSaga, Bluetti has a much shorter warranty. Overall, the Bluetti PV200 is one of the most powerful panels on our list, but depending on your needs, another option may fit the bill.

Goal Zero Nomad 200W Solar Panel: Good, not great

Image credit: Goal Zero

Goal Zero is one of the most well-known brands of portable solar panels, but reviews are mixed. Our list's second most expensive portable solar panel has built-in kickstands and a 6-foot cable to seamlessly integrate with Goal Zero’s Yeti Power Stations. Goal Zero’s Nomad is the heaviest panel we’ve reviewed, although it does fold down to a quarter of its full size. Goal Zero does not list its conversion efficiency, and there are mixed reviews of its performance. Overall, the Goal Zero Nomad portable solar panel is good, but you can probably get the same or better outputs with a less expensive panel.

The exact number of portable solar panels you need depends solely on the application. Depending on the wattage of the device you are trying to power, you will need a corresponding solar panel. For example, for a 200-watt mini fridge in your RV, you will need either two 100-watt panels or one 200-watt panel. Space is also a major restriction in this application, even more so than in rooftop applications for solar power.

Small panels vary in size based on their wattage. On the lower end of the wattage scale, panels can be close to 1 foot by 1 foot, and most 200W solar panels tend to have dimensions of about 3 feet by 5 feet.