The most efficient solar panels in 2025

Not all solar panels produce the same amount of electricity from sunlight. The difference between an average panel and a highly efficient one can mean fitting a complete solar energy system on a smaller roof—or generating substantially more power from the space you have.

Today, most panels are at least 20% efficient, but the best ones convert over 22% of the sun's energy into electricity. After reviewing hundreds of solar panel models, we found five brands that lead the pack: Maxeon, Qcells, Solarever USA, Canadian Solar, and REC.

The catch? Higher efficiency usually comes with a higher price tag. But depending on your roof's size, shading, and your energy goals, investing in the most efficient panels can pay off in bigger long-term savings. We'll break down which scenarios make premium efficiency worth the extra cost—and when you're better off with a slightly less efficient (but more affordable) option.

A solar panel's efficiency measures its ability to convert sunlight into usable electricity. If the sun shines on a solar panel with a 20% efficiency rating, 20% of the sun's energy will convert to solar energy in ideal conditions. Given the same amount of sunlight shining simultaneously on two equal-sized solar panels with different efficiency ratings, the more efficient panel will produce more power than the less efficient panel.

Solar panels comprise multiple silicon solar cells, which determine their overall efficiency rating. The structure and type of silicon crystal (generally monocrystalline or polycrystalline), electrical configuration, and surrounding components of the solar cells all influence that number. 

Higher-efficiency panels are typically more expensive, but depending on your energy needs and the configuration of your roof, they can be worth it.

1. Maxeon 440 W

Maxeon isn’t just our most efficient panel; it’s our top panel overall. It comes with the highest price tag, but it may be worth it if your roof has limited space or a lot of shading. Otherwise, you may be better off choosing one of the other highly efficient, but more affordable, solar panels on our list.

2. Qcells Q.TRON BLK M-G2+ 440 W

Our second most efficient solar panel goes to Qcells. While 0.3% less efficient than Maxeon, Qcells gives you a great bang for your buck as the most affordable brand on our list. But it also ties for last place in terms of temperature coefficient—which means its efficiency drops the most at temperatures above 77°F—so if you live in a warmer climate, it might not be your best option.

3. Solarever USA Module HC 96 - 450 W

Coming in third, Solarever USA is pretty middle-of-the pack. It’s tied with Qcells as the second most efficient and highest temperature coefficient panel (lower is better), but it’s a slightly larger panel, offering 450 W of power output. However, it’s the second most expensive panel on our list. 

4. Canadian Solar TOPHiKu6 455 W

At 22.3% efficiency, Canadian Solar has a slight edge over REC. And it has a slightly lower temperature coefficient than Qcells and Solarever USA. In terms of price, it’s right in the middle: More than Qcells and REC, but less than Maxeon and Solarever USA.

4. REC Alpha Pure 410 W

REC may be the least efficient solar panel on our list, but it’s still much higher than the average panel. In addition to its 22.2% efficiency, REC boasts the lowest temperature coefficient of the panels on our list, making it an excellent option for those in warmer climates. While it’s a longtime EnergySage favorite—it’s the most quoted panel brand on our Marketplace—it won’t output quite as much power per square foot as the options above.

Choosing efficient solar panels is important, but you don't always need to opt for the most efficient model. Here are some scenarios when selecting the most efficient panels makes sense:

You want to maximize your solar production

Let’s say you want your system to produce as much electricity as possible. Or, maybe you want to buy the least amount of electricity from your utility but have limited roof space. In either of these cases, you should choose the highest-efficiency solar panel.

You want to save more money long-term

Highly efficient solar panels tend to cost more than their less efficient counterparts. But, the higher your panel's efficiency, the more electricity you'll produce, and the more you'll save on your electric bills. 

To understand the cost-effectiveness of each panel option, calculate whether the increased savings you achieve by generating more electricity over the lifespan of your solar energy system with high-efficiency panels justifies the higher upfront cost.

Let's consider two solar panel systems located in Massachusetts. Both have 20 solar panels of the same physical size. One system has Maxeon’s 440-watt panels with 22.8% efficiency, while the other includes panels with 21% efficiency.

Solar savings with high-efficiency panels

*Based on the median quoted production ratio (1.2)
**Based on EnergySage Marketplace data. Does not include incentives. System 2 cost is based on the average price per watt.

In the example above, after considering your upfront costs and 25-year electric bill savings, the Maxeon system would save you $680 more overall.

We've gone over the basics of monocrystalline versus polycrystalline panels and the impact each material design has on efficiency, but there's more than just the structure of your panel that determines how well they can turn sunlight into electricity.