SunPower is one of the leading solar energy providers in the U.S., founded back in 1985 in Silicon Valley, California. With over 40 years of solar expertise, SunPower offers solar installations, solar storage, and EV solutions – catering to nearly any household looking to save money and take advantage of clean energy.

SolarReviews' team of solar experts gives SunPower a 4.2 out of 5-star rating, meaning the company is a great choice for those looking to go solar. But, be aware that SunPower installations tend to be more expensive than those from other companies, and you're limited by what equipment you can install. 

Here are some of the pros and cons of going solar with SunPower:

Pros
  • Installs high-performance panels

  • Company longevity

  • Widely available

  • Great warranty

Cons
  • Expensive

  • Poor customer service reviews

  • Limited equipment options

Find out how much a solar system would cost for your specific home

Key takeaways

  • SunPower is a premium solar solutions company with its own line of high-end residential solar panels manufactured by Maxeon Solar.

  • SunPower’s Maxeon-made panels have some of the highest efficiency and power ratings on the market.

  • You can expect to pay a minimum of $3.30 per watt for a SunPower solar system, which comes out to about $19,800 before incentives for the average 6 kW system.

  • SunPower comes at a premium price but offers excellent module quality and performance, as well as a top-notch warranty, and a reliable dealer network.

Expert SunPower review: at a glance

SolarReviews expert rating on SunPower: 4.2 out of 5 stars. SunPower services include: Residential solar installation, energy storage, EV charging solutions. Average SunPower system cost: $19,000, $26,000. Our Verdict: SunPower is a reliable choice for your solar installation - just be prepared to pay top dollar.

We’ve broken down everything you need to know about SunPower by cost, availability, and more!

How much does a SunPower installation cost?

You can expect to pay about $3.30 per watt for a SunPower installation, which is more expensive than average.

A typical 6 kW solar installation costs about $3.00 per watt, or $18,000. A SunPower installation of the same size will cost about $19,800, making it a bit more expensive. 

It’s hard to determine an exact price for a solar installation – everyone’s situation is unique! The total price of a solar installation can vary with how many solar panels you need, where you live, and even how you pay for the system!

To give a better idea of how much you can expect to pay, the chart below breaks down the price of a SunPower installation based on different system sizes:

System size

Avg. SunPower price*

4 kW

$13,200

6 kW

$19,800

8 kW

$26,400

10 kW

$33,000

*before incentives

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Does SunPower offer payment options?

If you don’t have the funds to pay for your system upfront, you can finance your solar system using SunPower Financial. SunPower offers a few financing options to homeowners: 

If you want to maximize your savings, the best payment option is purchasing your system upfront. 

Look out for hidden fees. When financing, lower interest rates typically mean higher dealer fees. Be sure to ask for a cash and a financing quote from your SunPower installer to check for fees and compare prices.

Where is SunPower available?

SunPower installation services are provided in all 50 states. There is access to battery installation in all 50 states as well. 

SunPower has an extensive dealer network, which has allowed it to expand quickly. SunPower dealers can be smaller, local installations certified to install SunPower systems, and offer other SunPower services. The dealer network lets you have all the perks of a local installer with the backing of a large corporation. 

Find highly-rated SunPower solar installers near you

What is SunPower’s warranty?

Having a good warranty is important for a 25-year investment like a solar installation. Warranties help ensure your system is in good working condition and holds its value over its lifespan.

Fortunately, SunPower has one of the best solar warranties in the industry. SunPower’s Complete Confidence warranty provides top-tier coverage for all solar equipment, not just the panels! SunPower’s warranty includes:

SunPower goes above and beyond the industry standards, making its warranty one of the best in the business.

What do customers think of SunPower?

After sifting through customer reviews of SunPower here on SolarReviews, the overall opinion of SunPower is pretty mixed. Many homeowners say they had an excellent experience working with the company, while many other reviews state that working with SunPower was a nightmare! SunPower has 4.53 out of 5 stars on SolarReviews, which is excellent for a large company. 

We pulled a few verified consumer reviews from SolarReviews so you can get an idea of what customers have to say about going solar with SunPower:

Verified customer reviews from SolarReviews.com for SunPower: 

Dave from Phoenix, AZ rated Sunpower 2/5 stars and stated, "I've been getting the runaround for a week dealing with SunPower tech support. I have 5 out of 46 panels that are consistently performing at 33% to 65% lower than all the other panels. They keep telling me the system is producing & reporting as expected. Literally, no matter what I say they repeat that like a zombie reading a script. All products will fail. It's how they deal with it that counts. Find another company. I will no longer recommend SunPower"

Robotham from Denver, CO rated SunPower 5/5 stars and stated, "I have had a wonderful experience with our SunPower solar units from the very beginning. We have limited income and this has made our Public Service bill not just manageable but easily covered. We have had our collectors for over a year. No issues to complain about."

SunPower also has an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and a 3.8 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews. Most of the negative reviews suggest that SunPower could improve on customer service support when it comes to system issues.

Keep in mind that SunPower is a nationwide company, and the reviews of the individual SunPower dealers in your area are the most important ones to look at. After all, the local SunPower installer is the one who will be on your roof!

What brand are SunPower’s solar panels?

SunPower does not manufacture its own panels. However, it is the exclusive seller of the Maxeon 6 series solar modules from Maxeon. Landing on our list of the best solar panel brands two years in a row, Maxeon panels are highly efficient, great quality, and reliable. 

The key specifications of the Maxeon 6 panels sold by SunPower are listed below.

Brand

Wattage

Efficiency

Maxeon 6 series

Up to 440

Up to 22.8%

Heads up solar customers! Although Maxeon is the primary manufacturer for SunPower, we’ve seen quotes that use panels made by other, lesser-known brands like Waaree and Aptos. Be sure to check your quote to know where your panels are coming from – and if they’re a reliable option for your home.

SunPower’s solar battery storage solution

SunPower also offers an energy storage solution as a part of its line of solar products. The battery storage system, named the SunVault, can be added to your new or existing solar energy system. 

Here are a few key features of the SunPower SunVault:

Key Feature

SunVault specification

Power rating

6.8 kW

capacity

13 kWh

Cost

$12,000 - $25,000

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

The SunPower SunVault battery can be great for customers who live in areas that experience frequent blackouts or don’t have access to net metering. For instance, customers in California under NEM 3.0 can benefit from having battery storage to help bring down their electric bills. 

Read more: Full review of the SunVault battery

SunPower’s financial performance

One of the most important things to remember when searching for a solar installer is company longevity. Our experts at SolarReviews value financial performance and years in the industry, and we strongly suggest taking this aspect into account when doing any research on solar companies or manufacturers. It’s better to feel confident that the company you do business with will be around for the lifespan of your system for any issues along the way.

Because SunPower is a publically traded company, you can gauge how profitable the company is and decide if you think it'll be around for the long haul. According to its latest financial report, SunPower’s official revenue totaled $1.7 billion in 2023. The company also gained nearly 76,000 customers in the same period.  But, despite these numbers, the company is in a substantial amount of debt. At the end of 2023, this debt caused SunPower stock to plummet and worried some that it may go out of business. 

You should also ensure that the SunPower dealer you're working with has been in the business for a while. We recommend going with companies that have been in the industry for at least five years to show that they have the experience necessary to get your solar installation done right.

Bottom line: Is SunPower the right installer for you?

Overall, SunPower can definitely be a great choice for your next home solar installation - but it can come at a price. 

For starters, SunPower has longevity. SunPower’s dealer network lets you get all the benefits of a local installer, with the backing of a large, reliable company. You can sleep better at night knowing that SunPower will likely be around to support you for your system’s entire lifespan. Going solar with SunPower also gives you access to high-quality Maxeon panels you can’t get anywhere else, and, to top it all off, they have an industry-leading warranty. 

On the downside, SunPower installations tend to be expensive. Going solar with SunPower can limit your equipment options, as they only offer one battery and a limited selection of panels. We’ve also seen that most negative customer reviews for SunPower seem to center around poor customer service – so be sure to check out the reviews for the local dealer you’d be working with as well as SunPower as a whole. 

At SolarReviews, we recommend contacting at least three installation companies and comparing each quote. Not only does comparing multiple solar quotes get you the best installation possible, it also gets you the best price. 

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SunPower frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Still unsure about SunPower? Here are some frequently asked questions about SunPower’s services:

Methodology

In order to give SunPower its 4.2-star rating, we reviewed the company based on quality, value, availability, and customer review scores: