CHOICE and test partners PV Lab have reviewed popular panels from Trina, SunPower, Jinko, Aiko and more
We test each panel’s actual power output (versus advertised output), manufacturing quality and how they’ll cope with heat and rain
Become a CHOICE member to see the best budget panels (under $140) that outscored expensive ones
When you’re installing thousands of dollars’ worth of solar panels, you naturally want the best for your budget.
After all, how much electricity they generate will have a huge impact on your power bill savings and carbon footprint for decades to come.
It’s easy (and human nature) to assume that the more expensive the panels are, the more superior, well-built and reliable they’ll be. But as our testing proves time and time again across hundreds of different appliances and products, higher price tags don’t automatically guarantee better performance.
That’s why actual lab-based, real-world testing is so vital. Our latest review of popular panels definitely proved the point (see the solar panels to avoid here), with some cheaper 440-watt units clearly showing up more expensive panels.
As our testing proves time and time again, higher price tags don’t automatically guarantee better performance
For CHOICE members only, we’ll reveal the top-rated budget solar panels (under $140 per panel) below, plus we share our expert tips for getting started with solar for your home.
Unlike many other products, solar panels have actually come down in price over the past decade, thanks to economies of scale in manufacturing, a competitive market and improvements in panel technology.
In our latest test, panel models range in price from $120 to $280 and in claimed output from 430W to 475W. Note that panel prices are a guide only; the price you’ll pay per panel will be part of the overall installation package and may vary.
Unlike many other products, solar panels have actually come down in price over the past decade
So how much does a whole solar panel array cost? According to our partners at SolarQuotes, these are the current estimated ranges for installation of a good quality solar panel system:
5 kilowatt: $4500–$8000
6.6 kilowatt: $5500–$9000
10 kilowatt: $8000–$13,000
The most popular size for new systems is 6.6kW, but bigger systems (9 to 10kW or more) are becoming more popular. The above prices include the federal government STC rebate and could be further reduced by state or territory rebates or schemes, if they’re currently available.
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Why we've partnered with SolarQuotes
We've partnered with SolarQuotes to help you find and buy the right solar, battery, heat pump and EV charger. While we make money if you use SolarQuotes to find an installer, this doesn't influence our ratings. 100% of the money we make goes directly back into our nonprofit mission.
Determining your system size
We take a deeper dive into this in our buying guide, but it will depend on your power needs, available roof area and your budget.
It’s important to understand your current electricity consumption, so you’ll need to look at how much you use and when you use it throughout the day (analysing previous bills is a great first step). A good installer will also help you through this process.
As a guide, a typical Australian home uses 15–20kWh per day, but consumption can vary, depending on:
how many people live there
your location (are you frequently running air con or heaters?)
if you use gas instead of electricity for cooking or hot water daytime and nighttime routines (are you home mostly or out?)
additional needs like EV-charging, a pool, or air conditioning.
Your panel configuration will depend on your power needs, roof space and budget.
If you’re considering the latter, you’ll want to upsize your solar panel system to ensure there’s enough solar incoming to run your home while also charging the battery.
CHOICE has been reviewing solar panels for over a decade. We partner with PV Lab, a world-class solar photovoltaics test laboratory in Canberra who have specialised equipment and expertise.
PV Lab evaluates each panel’s power output under standard lab conditions, and conducts rigorous stress tests to see how they’ll cope on a rooftop in heat and rain.
We test three sample panels of each featured model, with all samples subjected to a range of identical assessments (learn more about how we test here).
These include:
Power output test (comprises 85% of CHOICE Expert Rating)
Visual inspection (5%)
Electroluminescence testing (5%)
Wet leakage test (5%)
Test criteria explained
Power output test
This tests how closely the measured power output for each panel (averaged across the three tested samples of each product) comes to its claimed power output. Some panels actually exceed their claimed output.
A panel that delivers as much power as it claims gets a score of 80%. Some panels perform even better than their claim, and rate scores of 90% or more. The worst performer is given a lower score calculated on the differential between its claimed and actual output.
It’s worth noting that solar panels on your roof will deliver a lower power yield than what’s measured in lab conditions as they’re exposed to higher temperatures, cloud cover and changing sun angles across the day and year.
Visual inspection
This test looks for any obvious faults, such as damage to the panel or electrical connections, which can happen in the factory or in transit.
Any defect could indicate a risk to the reliability of the panel and it may be more likely to fail sooner than its warranty indicates.
This test is a simple pass/fail test. A product rates 100% if all three samples pass the test, 67% if only two pass, and 33% for one.
Electroluminescence testing
This takes the inspection to a more advanced level, and uses infrared photography to identify any microcracks and other flaws in the panel that are invisible to the naked eye.
A fail here means the lab found something serious in that check. It usually won’t mean lower efficiency or power output initially, but this weak point could be more likely to fail after a few years on the roof exposed to the elements.
This test is a simple pass/fail test, with a model scoring 100% if all three samples pass the test, 67% if two pass, and 33% for one.
Wet leakage
This test involves submerging the panel in water and measuring electrical resistance across the panel. This measures how well the panel will resist moisture penetration from rain, dew, fog and other wet weather.
The model rates a score of 100% if all three samples pass the test, 67% if only two pass, and 33% if one makes the grade.
A good installer will help you choose a system that best suits your home.
Best budget panels from our test
In our product review, we’ve assessed 20 different panels from popular brands including Trina, SunPower, Jinko, Aiko, Canadian Solar, REC, Risen, DAS and more.
These are the best performing budget models priced under $140 per panel. Not only are they great value, they also outperformed many more expensive panels costing over $200.
Jason Treuen is a Content producer and editor at CHOICE. Previously at CHOICE, he worked as a Content specialist and Audience engagement editor.
Find Jason on LinkedIn.
Jason Treuen is a Content producer and editor at CHOICE. Previously at CHOICE, he worked as a Content specialist and Audience engagement editor.
Find Jason on LinkedIn.
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