As of 2025, the majority of solar panels on the market offer 25 to 30 year warranties. But that number doesn’t tell the whole story.

In practice, most solar panels continue to produce energy long after their warranty expires - albeit at a reduced production rate.

In this article, we’ll break down how solar panel warranties are structured, then share data that shows how long solar panels truly last in real-world situations.

Solar Panel Warranties

Let’s start with the warranty structure. Solar panel warranties are split into two categories: product and performance warranties.

What is a product warranty?

The product warranty covers any physical defects or workmanship errors in the manufacturing process. If your solar panel ships with a bent frame, you will be able to replace it under the product warranty.

Traditionally, product warranties have been on the shorter side, in the range of 10-15 years. However, we’ve seen this change lately as more companies are moving to 25 or 30 year product warranties.

What is a performance warranty?

Over time, all solar panels lose small amounts of efficiency, which lowers the amount of energy they can produce.

A small amount of solar panel degradation is natural, but your performance warranty covers the acceptable rate for production loss, allowing you to replace panels if they become too inefficient.

For example, a performance warranty may cover 1% production loss in the first year, then 0.5% each year after that for a 30-year period. At the end of the lifecycle, this warranty would guarantee that the panel should still perform at 84.5% of its rated output after 30 years.

In this example, a 400W solar panel would still be covered to produce 338W at the end of its 30-year warranty period.

So…How Long Do Solar Panels Really Last?

You may have noticed something: there’s nothing wrong with those panels at the end of the warranty period. They’re still putting out 338 watts!

In practice, most solar panels last well beyond their warranty period. In 2020, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published a study on the long-term reliability of solar panels.

They evaluated how many solar power systems were still in commission and living up to the expectations of the performance warranty at the end of their lifecycle. Here are the key takeaways:

The study concluded that 80-90% of systems met or exceeded their targets, suggesting that most systems reliably produce power well after their warranty expires. Of systems that failed under warranty, solar panels were rarely the issue. Inverters accounted for 20-30x replacements and repairs than the solar panels themselves.

That’s a nice way to lead into the next topic: what about the rest of your system?

How Long Do Other Solar Components Last?

While solar panels can last 25-30 years or longer, most other parts of your system come with shorter warranties. It’s important to budget for eventual replacements as you evaluate the total cost of investing into solar.

Though you should always check warranty details for the individual parts in your project, here’s a general overview of what to expect.

Inverters

In the study above, inverter failures accounted for a 4-6% system failure rate.

Centralized string inverters tend to have shorter warranties in the 5-15 year range. These products are most susceptible to failure because they operate at higher voltages to accommodate more power from a string (or group) of panels.

Micro-inverters tend to have longer warranties. For example, the Enphase IQ8 comes with a 25-year warranty. Because micro-inverters are modular, with individual inverters attached to each panel, they are much easier to replace in the event of failure.

Learn more about micro-inverters vs. string inverters.

Batteries

Batteries are mandatory for off-grid kits, and they can optionally be added to grid-tied kits for backup power in case of utility outages.

If you choose to add a battery bank to your system, the most likely option will be lithium batteries, which account for more than 90% of our sales these days. They have the most efficient performance, best value, and longest lifespan of available battery options on the market right now.

Lithium battery warranties can vary, but 15-20 years seems most common these days. It’s probably reasonable to budget for a battery bank replacement halfway through the effective lifespan of your system.

Flooded lead-acid and AGM batteries, though they have their advantages, are older battery technologies with shorter lifespans. Flooded batteries usually carry 5-10 year warranties, while most AGM fall in the 8-15 year range. These types of batteries can come with a lower entry cost, but they will require more replacements over the life of the system.

Mounts

Solar panel mounts aren’t too complex. Typically, it’s a set of metal bars, footings and screws holding your panels in place.

Because there aren’t a lot of moving parts, mounts are reliable and unlikely to fail. Their warranty structure reflects that. Our fixed mounting solutions like IronRidge carry full 25-year product warranties. You shouldn’t need to replace your mount over the life of the system.

The only exception is special mounts with moving parts, like solar trackers, which follow the path of the sun throughout the day. More moving parts introduce higher failure rates, so some trackers come with shorter warranty coverage. The range is broad on these (from 5-25 years), so be sure to take a close look at specific product warranties if you’re interested in going this route.

Solar Panels Are Built to Last, But Warranties Matter

Our conclusion is this: most solar panels are reliable and will last for 25 years or longer.

When shopping for solar panels, take a close look at the degradation rate in the warranty. The lower the number, the more production they’ll retain over the life of the panels. Not all solar panels are created equal. Look for a rate of 0.5% or less for good quality panels. Premium, high-efficiency panels will operate in a range of 0.2-0.35%.

Lastly, when planning your system, check the warranties on your other solar components to include any future part replacements in your budget.

Need help navigating the process of going solar? Reach out to us for a free solar consultation. We’re happy to put together a custom solar kit based on your specifications.