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The Ultimate Guide to Solar Panel Warranties
Written by
Jamie Smith
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When you invest in a solar energy system, one of the most crucial things to consider is the warranty offer. Manufacturer warranties provide a layer of financial protection for you in the event of faulty solar equipment, performance issues, and more. Researching warranty offers can be a little confusing, and going through countless documents can become a hassle.
Lucky for you, we’re here to break it all down and share our top picks for the best solar panel warranties on the market today!
What is a solar panel warranty?
A solar panel warranty is a guarantee from a company or manufacturer, but it's important to understand that a solar energy system typically involves multiple separate warranties rather than one blanket agreement. These usually include product warranties, performance warranties, and installation/workmanship warranties, each covering specific aspects of your system.
Any reputable solar panel manufacturer will offer a product warranty and a performance warranty. These cover manufacturing faults and guarantee a certain level of performance for your panels. Installation or workmanship warranties, however, are provided by the installer and cover issues related to the installation process itself.
Product and performance are the two basic warranties to watch when researching solar panel brands to invest in. However, other components like inverters and batteries also have their own distinct warranties. Workmanship warranties, which cover installation and labor, are typically provided by the installer. Some premium manufacturers or installers might offer more comprehensive plans that bundle various coverages.
What’s the difference between product and performance warranties?
So, how can you decipher between product and performance warranties? It’s simple: product warranties cover the physical panels themselves, protecting against manufacturing defects and material failures. Performance warranties are more or less a promise that your panels will perform at a certain percentage over their lifespan. Other components like inverters and batteries have their own separate warranties.
Product warranty
Also known as an equipment or materials warranty, a product warranty protects you from any defects your solar equipment has that could have stemmed from workmanship errors during manufacturing or poor material quality. Standard product warranties for premium residential panels are often 25 years, while entry-level panels might offer 10 to 12 years.
It’s not very common, but it is definitely possible for your equipment to malfunction. If a defect occurs, a product warranty typically covers repair or replacement of the panel. However, related expenses such as diagnosis, technician labor, shipping, permits, equipment access, panel removal, or reinstallation might not be covered, even if a component is.
For example, if you’re a homeowner getting panels installed and your installer notices a panel not functioning properly, the manufacturer will cover the costs to fix or replace it. Solar systems can be pricey, so being protected from putting forth even more money in the event of a faulty panel is always a bonus. Luckily, most, if not all, solar panel manufacturers offer a product warranty, so you can sleep better at night knowing you’re covered!
Product warranties are not installer workmanship warranties. Product warranties cover issues that happen during manufacturing. Issues from the actual installation, including labor, service, and workmanship defects (like problems with roof penetrations, wiring, or mounting), would be covered by a workmanship warranty provided by the solar installer, which typically lasts around 10 years, with some premium installers offering 25 years.
Performance warranty
Performance warranties guarantee a minimum percentage of electric power output over the warranty period. Most performance warranties for entry-level panels offer 25 years, while premium residential performance panels often extend to 25 or 30 years. The amount of power your solar panel can output declines steadily over that period. While solar panel degradation is normal, industry standard generally guarantees roughly 85% to 87% of the original nameplate output at year 25. Premium lines may extend to a minimum output of 87.4% at year 30 or 92% at year 25.
Most performance warranties include a maximum first-year degradation, often around 1% to 2.5%, and subsequent annual degradation of about 0.25% to 0.5% for the remainder of the warranty period.
Degradation rates vary based on the manufacturer. The lower the degradation rate, the better. As a general rule, stick with panels with a degradation rate in the 0.5% range or lower. This means you have panels that will produce more energy over its lifespan.
Remember that just because your panel isn’t operating at its full wattage doesn’t necessarily mean it’s damaged. The performance warranty for solar panels is based on the panel’s operation under Standard Test Conditions. So, don’t panic if you notice slight underperformance at first. There are a few different factors that go into how well a panel performs!
Why are solar panel warranties important?
Warranties are a signal of quality in a product. Companies offer better warranties for products that are better quality. Solar panel failure is extremely rare, as they are explicitly designed to last decades and withstand harsh weather conditions.
That being said, errors can occur. Warranties give customers peace of mind that the products are of the best quality and don’t contain any defects.
If this happens to you, it’s always good to have coverage on a big investment like solar panels! If your system has a problem, it’s nice to know there may be a way to find a solution, though related expenses such as diagnosis, technician labor, shipping, permits, equipment access, panel removal, or reinstallation might not be covered. Homeowners should also inquire about third-party warranty backstop programs like Solar Insure, which offer comprehensive 30-year coverage including parts, labor, roof penetrations, and protection against installer bankruptcy.
Top solar panel warranties on the market
To better understand what a good solar panel warranty looks like, we picked five of the top warranties on the market today.
Panasonic
Panasonic is a top-runner in the solar panel industry. The Japan-based company offers its AllGuard and Triple Guard warranty plans to homeowners who go solar through a Panasonic Authorized AllGuard Installer.
Product warranty: 25-year warranty that covers the panels, inverter, monitoring, and racking system. If damaged equipment qualifies for the warranty, the cost of shipping, labor, and replacement parts will be covered by Panasonic.
Performance warranty: 25-year warranty that promises your system will have a maximum degradation rate between 0.25% and 0.50%, depending on the model installed.
Silfab Solar
Silfab Solar is a North American-based solar panel manufacturer that utilizes state-of-the-art technology. For an updated ranking, see SolarReviews’ top 10 solar panel brands in 2023.
Product warranty: 25-year warranty that covers repairs, replacements, and refunds for defective materials
Performance warranty: 30-year warranty that promises your system will operate at 82.6% of its total power by the end of the warranty period, with a degradation rate of 0.5% per year. This is longer than the industry standard!
REC Group
This Norwegian company produces some of the top performing panels in the world, with a great warranty to go with it!
Product warranty: 20-year warranty that protects against damages or defects caused by the manufacturing process
Performance warranty: 25-year warranty that promises your system will operate at 92% of its total power by the end of the warranty period, with a degradation rate of 0.25% per year.
REC offers REC ProTrust warranties to those who install their panels by a REC-certified installer. This warranty guarantees you a 25-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty and throws in a 10-year labor warranty as an added bonus.
Qcells
Last but certainly not least, this American solar panel manufacturer is an extremely respected, reliable solar company that truly has it all – including a solid warranty offer.
Product warranty: 25-year
Performance warranty: 25-year warranty that promises your system will operate at 86% of its total power by the end of the warranty period, with a degradation rate of 0.5% per year.
What about SunPower? SunPower historically offered some of the most comprehensive warranty coverage in home solar. However, the company faced significant challenges in recent years, including filing for bankruptcy in August 2024, which led to uncertainties regarding how their warranties would be honored going forward. While they were once a leading provider, homeowners should now research the current status of their operations and warranty commitments.
Final thoughts on solar panel warranties
Trying to find a good warranty can seem like a grueling process, but here are a few key things to keep in mind in your search: ensure you understand the separate product, performance, and installation warranties; check inverter and battery warranties; and always read the fine print about what expenses are covered.
The lower the degradation rate on your panels, the better!
Standard product warranties last 10-15 years, but some premium panels can go as high as 20 to 25 years.
Standard performance warranties last 25 years, but some are seen to go up to 30 years.
The better the warranty offer, the higher the solar panel quality!
Any reputable solar installer will sell panels with top-notch warranties and go above and beyond the industry standard. Find a solar installer near you – put your information into our solar calculator to find all the top-rated companies in your area!
Sources:
Solar Inverter Warranty Comparison: 7 Brands Ranked 2026 (advancesolar.com)
How Long Do Solar Batteries Last Lifespan Warranty and Tips (avebattery.com)
Solar Battery Warranty Comparison: 10 Years Explained (chenxinenergy.com)
A Guide to Solar Panel Warranties (eaglepointsolar.com)
The homeowner's guide to solar system warranty coverage (enphase.com)
masscec.com (goclean.masscec.com)
How Long Do Solar Panels Last? (heliosenergyglobal.com)
Solar Battery Warranties: 9 Costly Traps To Avoid (navigatepower.com)
How Long Do Solar Panels Last? A 2026 Guide (nedes.us)
Jamie is a content writer and researcher with a B.S. in Communications from La Salle University, where she focused on journalism, mass media, and public relations. As a former member of the SolarReviews editorial team, she created content to help homeowners better understand solar energy and make informed decisions. Prior to joining SolarReviews, she worked at a marketing company producing long-form stories and interviews that highlighted small ...
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