Home solar comes with three separate warranties. The product (equipment) warranty covers panel defects, typically 12 to 25 years. The performance warranty guarantees power output as panels age, usually 25 years at 80 percent or more of rated output. The workmanship warranty, from your installer, covers labor and roof penetrations, commonly around 10 years. Inverters and batteries carry their own separate coverage.
When you compare solar panels, two of the numbers on the spec sheet look similar but mean very different things: the product warranty and the performance warranty. One protects the panel as an object, the other protects the power it makes. A third promise, the installer’s workmanship warranty, covers the install itself. Mixing them up is how a homeowner ends up thinking a panel is covered for 40 years when only one of the promises runs that long. This is the complete guide to all of it: the three panel-and-install warranties, plus the separate coverage on inverters and batteries. Every figure here is checked against manufacturer terms and primary data as of August 2026.
The three types of solar warranty at a glance
A home solar system carries three distinct warranties, and they come from two different places. The product and performance warranties are set by the panel manufacturer and printed on the same certificate. The workmanship warranty is set by the company that installs your system. Read them as three separate promises, because they cover different failures and run for different lengths.
| Warranty type | What it protects | Who backs it | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product (equipment) | The physical panel against manufacturing defects | Panel manufacturer | 12 to 25 years (up to 40 on premium lines) |
| Performance (power output) | Guaranteed power output as the panel ages | Panel manufacturer | 25 years (a few brands at 30 or 40) |
| Workmanship (labor) | The installation: mounting, wiring, and roof penetrations | Your installer | Commonly 10 years (ranges from 1 to 25) |
Inverters and batteries sit outside this table because each carries its own manufacturer warranty, covered further down. The rest of this guide takes the three panel-and-install warranties one at a time.
Product warranty vs performance warranty: the key difference
The product warranty covers what the panel is; the performance warranty covers what the panel does. Both come from the panel manufacturer, both are printed on the same warranty certificate, and both can be true at once. But they trigger on different problems and they usually run for different lengths, so read them as two separate promises.
| Product (equipment) warranty | Performance (power output) warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| What it protects | The physical panel: materials, cells, frame, junction box, and build quality | The electricity the panel produces as it ages |
| What triggers a claim | A manufacturing defect: delamination, a cracked cell, a corroded frame, a failed junction box | Output that falls below the guaranteed curve faster than normal degradation |
| Typical length | 12 to 25 years (up to 40 on premium panels) | 25 years (a few brands at 30 or 40) |
| What the guarantee says | The panel is free of defects; a defective panel is repaired or replaced | The panel still makes at least a set percentage (about 80% to 92%) of its rated power at year 25 |
| Who backs it | Panel manufacturer | Panel manufacturer |
Here is the practical version. If a panel physically breaks or fails from a build fault, that is a product claim. If the panel looks fine but is quietly making less power than the maker promised for its age, that is a performance claim. A premium panel with a 40-year product warranty but a 25-year performance warranty is fully covered against defects for 40 years, yet its output is only guaranteed for 25. That difference is exactly why the two numbers are worth reading separately.
Why the two lengths often differ
Manufacturers grew comfortable extending the product warranty as build quality improved, since a well-made modern panel rarely fails outright. The performance warranty is a different kind of promise: it tracks slow, predictable fade. Quality panels degrade on the order of 0.25% to 0.5% per year after the first year, so a 25-year performance warranty guaranteeing 85% to 92% output is a meaningful promise about real-world power, not a token. When a brand offers 40 years on both, like Maxeon, it is signalling unusual confidence in the cells themselves, not just the frame.
The workmanship warranty: what your installer covers
The workmanship warranty covers the install, not the equipment, and it comes from your installer rather than the panel maker. It is the promise that the system was mounted, wired, and sealed correctly. If a bracket works loose, a connection fails, or a roof penetration starts to leak, this is the warranty you use.
- What it covers: labor to diagnose and fix install faults, wiring and racking, and the roof penetrations where the mounts pass through your roof.
- Typical length: commonly around 10 years, though it ranges widely from 1 to 25 years depending on the installer. The longest terms are a real differentiator between companies.
- The roof-leak catch: some installers cover roof penetrations for the full workmanship term, but many carry a shorter, separate roof-leak warranty (for example a 10-year roof warranty inside a longer labor warranty). Get the roof coverage in writing on its own line.
- The labor gap it fills: panel warranties often exclude the labor and shipping to swap a failed panel. A strong workmanship warranty is frequently what pays for that hands-on work, so the two warranties work together.
A workmanship warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it, so weigh the length against how long the installer has been in business. This is about how to vet an installer’s coverage on paper, not about ranking one company over another.
What voids a solar panel warranty
Warranties are conditional, and a handful of common mistakes can void product, performance, or workmanship coverage. Knowing them upfront is the cheapest insurance there is. Watch for these:
- Unqualified repairs or DIY work: opening, repairing, or modifying panels or wiring yourself, or hiring an uncertified contractor, typically voids the manufacturer and workmanship coverage.
- Adding or moving equipment: relocating panels, adding to the array, or connecting non-approved components can break the original terms.
- Neglected maintenance: a system that is not kept up, or an obvious fault left unreported, gives the maker grounds to deny a claim. Watch for the signs your panels need maintenance.
- Skipping registration: some brands require you to register within a set window to keep the full term, especially the longest premium warranties.
- Outside events: damage from extreme weather, fire, or falling debris is not a warranty matter at all; that is what homeowners insurance is for.
For the full list and how to stay clear of each, see our guide to what voids a solar panel warranty.
What a performance warranty is actually worth
According to MySolarFY’s own analysis (as of August 2026), a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 10,244 kWh in its first year (NREL PVWatts v8 run, central U.S., NSRDB typical-year data). At the U.S. average residential price of 18.44 cents per kWh (EIA retail sales, residential, May 2026), that is roughly $1,889 of electricity in year one. A 25-year performance warranty is designed to keep the system above about 80% of that output for the whole term, which is why the guaranteed year-25 percentage, not just the number of years, is the figure that protects your bill. Model your own roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since actual output depends on pitch, orientation, and shading.
Here is what that floor looks like on the same 7 kW system, holding today’s rate flat to isolate the warranty’s effect:
| Annual output | Annual value at 18.44 cents per kWh | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (100% of rated) | About 10,244 kWh | About $1,889 |
| Year 25 at an 80% floor | About 8,195 kWh | About $1,511 |
| Year 25 at a 92% floor (REC Alpha) | About 9,424 kWh | About $1,738 |
The gap between the two year-25 rows, about $227 a year, is what a stronger performance guarantee is worth in output alone, before any rise in electricity prices. That is MySolarFY’s own calculation from the NREL PVWatts run and the EIA rate above; see our data and methodology for how we run it.
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How a product claim and a performance claim differ in practice
The type of problem decides which warranty you use, and each is filed differently. Knowing which one applies before you call saves weeks.
- Product claim (a defect): you can usually see or point to it, such as a cracked panel, a burnt junction box, or delamination. Evidence is photos and the product warranty certificate. The maker repairs or replaces the panel.
- Performance claim (weak output): the panel looks normal but your monitoring shows production below the guaranteed curve for its age. Evidence is monitoring data or a professional test against the warranty’s degradation schedule. If it fails the curve, the maker makes it good, often by supplying replacement panels.
- Workmanship claim (install fault): the equipment is fine but something about the install failed, such as a loose mount or a leak at a penetration. Evidence is the fault and the installer’s workmanship warranty. The installer returns to fix it.
One catch that applies across all three: many manufacturer warranties exclude the shipping and labor to swap a failed panel unless the installer’s workmanship warranty covers it, and any of them can be voided by unqualified repairs or a neglected system.
Which brands have the strongest product and performance terms in 2026
Warranty length is one of the clearest signals of a manufacturer’s confidence. The table below is a neutral market reference, not a ranking. As of August 2026, the standouts among panels sold into the U.S. residential market are:
- Maxeon (sold as SunPower Maxeon): its Maxeon IBC panels carry a 40-year product and 40-year performance warranty, guaranteeing roughly 88% of rated output at year 40, the longest widely documented coverage in residential solar. The 40-year term can require registration; where it is not offered a 25-year warranty applies.
- Qcells: current residential models carry a 25-year product and 25-year performance warranty, guaranteeing about 86% to 90% output at year 25 depending on the series.
- REC (Alpha series): a 20-year standard product warranty (25 years with the ProTrust program through a certified installer) and a 25-year performance warranty guaranteeing 92% output at year 25. This is a clear case where the product and performance lengths differ.
| Brand | Product warranty | Performance warranty | Guaranteed output at end of term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxeon (SunPower Maxeon) | Up to 40 years | Up to 40 years | About 88% at year 40 |
| Qcells | 25 years | 25 years | About 86% to 90% at year 25 |
| REC (Alpha) | 20 years (25 with ProTrust) | 25 years | 92% at year 25 |
Source: manufacturer warranty documentation current as of August 2026 (Maxeon, Qcells, and REC Alpha series terms). Terms vary by series and by installation date, so confirm the certificate for your exact model.
Workmanship is not on this table for a reason: it is set by your installer, not the panel brand, so two homeowners with identical Qcells panels can have very different labor coverage. Compare the brand terms above for the equipment, and the workmanship term separately for the install.
A note on legacy brands: LG and Panasonic have both exited new solar panel manufacturing and now only honor warranties on panels already installed. They are relevant if you are servicing an existing system, not for a new purchase. For a fuller comparison, see our guides to the best solar panel brands with strong warranties and the best solar panels for homes.
Inverter and battery warranties: the rest of the system
The panels are only part of the system, and the inverter and any battery carry their own separate manufacturer warranties. These matter because the inverter is the component most likely to need replacing during the life of a solar array.
- Inverters: a string inverter is commonly warrantied 10 to 12 years, while microinverters run much longer, up to 25 years (Enphase, for example, warranties its current microinverters for 25 years). Because a string inverter’s term is shorter than the panels’, plan for a likely mid-life replacement. See our guide to the best solar inverters.
- Batteries: home batteries are typically warrantied 10 to 15 years with a retained-capacity guarantee. The Tesla Powerwall 3 carries a 10-year warranty guaranteeing about 70% capacity, while the Enphase IQ Battery runs 15 years with a cycle-count guarantee and a similar capacity floor. Terms are set by throughput or cycles, so read the fine print against how hard you plan to cycle the battery. See our guide to the best solar batteries for home backup.
The performance warranty ties directly to how panels age, so it helps to understand real-world solar panel degradation rates before you weigh one brand’s output guarantee against another’s.
How to use these warranties when you compare quotes
Product, performance, and workmanship terms are among the few apples-to-apples ways to compare offers. When you weigh quotes:
- Read the product, performance, and workmanship terms as three separate numbers; a long product warranty does not mean a long performance or labor one.
- Check the guaranteed year-25 output percentage on the performance side, not just the year count.
- Confirm who handles each claim, and whether labor and shipping to swap a panel are included by the workmanship warranty.
- Get the roof-penetration coverage in writing, since it is often shorter than the main labor warranty.
- Ask whether all of it is transferable to the next owner and what registration keeps it valid.
- Weigh the paper against each company’s track record, since a 40-year promise is only as good as the business behind it.
Strong coverage across all three warranties is part of what makes solar a sound long-term buy. To weigh the full picture, see our analysis of whether solar panels are worth it.
Heads up on the federal change: the 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (IRS, as of January 2026), so a homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it. Warranty terms are unaffected by this. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; ask a tax professional about your own situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of solar warranty?
Home solar comes with three main warranties. The product (equipment) warranty covers manufacturing defects in the panel, typically 12 to 25 years. The performance warranty guarantees power output as the panel ages, usually 25 years at 80% or more of rated output. The workmanship warranty, from your installer, covers the labor and roof penetrations of the install, commonly around 10 years. The inverter and any battery each carry their own separate manufacturer warranty on top.
What is the difference between a product and a performance warranty on solar panels?
The product (equipment) warranty covers manufacturing defects in the panel itself, typically 12 to 25 years and up to 40 on premium lines. The performance warranty guarantees the panel keeps producing a set percentage of its rated power as it ages, usually 25 years at 80% or more of rated output. You get both on the same panel, and they often run for different lengths.
How long is a solar workmanship warranty?
A workmanship warranty comes from your installer, not the panel maker, and covers the labor, wiring, and roof penetrations of the install. It commonly runs about 10 years but ranges widely from 1 to 25 years depending on the company. Roof-leak coverage is sometimes a shorter, separate term inside it, so confirm it in writing.
What voids a solar panel warranty?
Common ways to void coverage include unqualified or DIY repairs, moving panels or adding non-approved equipment, neglected maintenance, and skipping any required registration. Product, performance, and workmanship warranties can all be voided this way. Separately, none of them cover damage from extreme weather, fire, or falling debris, which is what homeowners insurance is for.
Which solar panel brand has the best warranty in 2026?
As of August 2026, Maxeon (sold as SunPower Maxeon) offers the longest widely documented residential coverage, a 40-year product and performance warranty guaranteeing about 88% output at year 40. Qcells offers 25 years product and performance, and REC offers 20 years product (25 with ProTrust) plus a 25-year performance warranty at 92% output.
Is a solar panel warranty transferable if I sell my home?
Often, yes. Many manufacturer product and performance warranties, plus the installer’s workmanship warranty, transfer to the next homeowner, which can make a solar home easier to sell. Confirm the transfer terms in writing, since some makers require registration within a set window or charge a transfer fee.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Warranty terms were verified against current manufacturer documentation (Maxeon, Qcells, REC, Enphase, Tesla) and the production and rate figures against NREL PVWatts and EIA data as of August 2026; manufacturer terms and installer workmanship coverage vary, so confirm the written warranty before you sign. Where $0-up-front lease or PPA options are offered, total payments over the term may exceed the cash price, many plans carry an annual price escalator, and the third party that owns the system claims any available tax credit, not you. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice. Learn more about how MySolarFY works, and browse more guides in our solar resources hub.
