Solar panel efficiency has increased tenfold since the early 1950s when the first solar cell was made. In 1954, a solar cell converted light to energy at less than 2% efficiency. Today, thanks to improvements in solar technology, we have solar cells reaching over 20% efficiency.
Monocrystalline is the best solar panel you will find on the market today. They lead the pack against competing solar panel types like polycrystalline and the different varieties of thin film. But what makes monocrystalline solar panels the best?
This article compares polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels to work out why monocrystalline consistently outperforms polycrystalline and what the pros and cons of each are. If you’re eager for a comparison of each to find out which is better and more importantly why then this article is especially for you.

Which Type of Solar Panel Is Best?
Monocrystalline is the best solar panel commercially available today. They have a higher energy yield than other solar cell technologies. There is research into different cell technologies with higher yields but these are still in development and not yet ready for mass production.
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There are different types of solar panels or solar cell technologies as they are sometimes called. The main ones are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Monocrystalline and polycrystalline are both silicon solar panels. (Source)
Thin-film is a category of solar panels of its own. Typically, thin-film solar panels have a lower energy yield than either polycrystalline or monocrystalline. That is why only 10% of solar panels in commercial use are thin-film. There are four main types of thin-film solar panels. These are:
- Cadmium Telluride
- Amorphous Silicon
- Copper Indium Diselenide
- Gallium Arsenide
What Is the Most Efficient Solar Panel Design?
The most efficient solar panel design uses a single crystal of silicon to produce a solar cell. This design has a higher energy output and is how monocrystalline solar panels are made. Polycrystalline solar panels use multiple pieces of silicon crystal to produce a solar cell. This design reduces the efficiency of a polycrystalline solar cell. Thin-film solar panels are made by depositing a layer of solar on glass, plastic, metal, or any other type of suitable material.
The different design processes used to manufacture a solar cell give it its unique properties and strengths and weaknesses. What are these strengths and what can you expect in terms of performance from the different technologies?
How monocrystalline solar panels are made
A monocrystalline solar cell is made from a single unbroken silicon crystal. Silicon is a material that is abundant on Earth and works extremely well as a semiconductor. A large slab or “ingot” of silicon is cut into thin wafers that are then used to make the solar cell.
The result is a solar cell that has a uniform black color which allows the cell to absorb more light and have a higher energy conversion efficiency.
How polycrystalline solar panels are made
Polycrystalline solar cells use a slightly different process. Silicon is again used as the raw material but this time instead of a single slab, multiple shards of processed silicon is produced. This is why polycrystalline solar panels look like broken pieces of glass stuck together.
The result is a solar cell with a blue color that absorbs slightly less light and consequently has a lower energy conversion efficiency.
Thin-film solar panels
With thin-film solar panels, a layer of photovoltaic substance is deposited onto a material. Thin-film solar panels have been made with glass, plastic, and even wearable material. The substance used is either Amorphous, Copper indium, Cadmium, or Gallium.
The result is a solar cell that has a dark brown tint but with a lower conversion efficiency compared to silicon wafer solar cells. (Source)
Are Monocrystalline Solar Panels the Best?
Monocrystalline solar panels are the best because they produce more energy compared to polycrystalline or thin film solar panels. If we’re using energy output to determine which is the best solar panel, then monocrystalline wins.
Monocrystalline solar panels have higher efficiency. The higher efficiency means more energy is produced. This translates to several advantages a monocrystalline cell will have over other types of solar cells. Let’s compare monocrystalline vs polycrystalline vs thin film to see what advantages it has.
CHARACTERISTIC | MONOCYRSTALLINE | POLYCRYSTALLINE | THIN FILM |
Efficiency | 17-22% | 15-17% | 10-13% |
Energy output | Highest energy output thanks to greater conversion efficiency. | Lower energy output compared to monocrystalline. | Lowest energy output as they have the lowest efficiency. |
Space | Higher efficiency means you need fewer solar panels so less space is needed. | Not as optimal as monocrystalline. | You need double the number of solar panels to produce the same amount of energy as mono or polycrystalline. |
Temperature performance | -0.3 to -0.5% per °C temperature coefficient which is higher than thin film. | -0.3 to -0.5% per °C temperature coefficient which is higher than thin film. | Best performance under extreme heat with a temperature coefficient of -0.2% per °C. |
Other types of solar panels
While they dominate the market, monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film are not the only solar panels. There is also PERC solar and bifacial solar.
PERC is an acronym for Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell. PERC cells are different in that they have a passivation layer. This is a layer at the back of the solar panel that reflects light that passes through the solar panel. Thus, light is absorbed twice making the solar cell more efficient.
Bifacial solar panels absorb energy from both the front and back. Conductive material on both sides allows the solar panel to capture direct sunlight and reflected sunlight improving the efficiency of the solar panel.
Both these technologies tend to require more material and labor in their design and mounting. This makes them more expensive compared to conventional solar panel technologies.
Is Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline More Expensive?
Monocrystalline is typically more expensive than polycrystalline solar. You can expect to pay 15 to 30% more. The higher cost of monocrystalline is, however, offset by the greater energy output and shorter payback period. Monocrystalline will yield more energy and allow you to recoup your investment quicker than polycrystalline.
Which Solar Panel Is Best for You?
If you have the space and you want to save a little on solar panels then polycrystalline is an adequate choice. If space is at a premium you might want to go with monocrystalline solar panels. They have a higher efficiency which means you need fewer of them.
For more on this topic, we highly recommend that you check out our post ” What Are The Best Solar Roof Panel Types? Most Important Selection Criteria!