Solar Roof Shingles vs Solar Panels

Comparison List

We have published this comparison list below to help everyone understand the basic differences and similarities between solar roof shingles and solar panels.

Below you will find a comparison list with the two split up on the left side and right side. If you have other facts that you would like to contribute, please do not hesitate to give us a call or send us an email.

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1. Solar roof shingles didn't come into use until recently. One of the first solar shingles came into use in 2011 in the State of Colorado. The shingles were produced by Dow and are one of the most popular solar shingles on the market.

1. Solar panels have been in use for much longer than solar roof shingles and in fact were primarily used first in space for satellites.

2. Solar shingles are installed much like a regular asphalt shingle. Solar shingles actually replace the asphalt shingles in the area they are placed. This means that on a re-roof project less asphalt shingles need to be purchased and installed because the solar shingles double as energy producers and roofing shingles.

2. Solar panels on roofs have to be mounted above the shingles. This means that additional installation takes place after the protective shingle layer is installed. Installing solar panels takes longer and is more technical.

3. As of 2013, there are mainly two manufacturers or solar shingles products. The most well known is Dow's Powerhouse solar shingles and followed closely behind is CertainTeed's Apollo solar shingles.

3. There are many solar panel manufacturers and companies that sell solar panels. The two main companies are Suntech (a china based company) and First Solar (a U.S. based company).

4. Solar shingles have a quicker installation time. In fact, in most instances it is almost 2/3 faster to install solar shingles onto a new roof than solar panels.

4. Solar panels take longer to install onto a shingle roof.

5. One of the main differences that consumers are most aware of when it comes to solar shingles is how they look. Solar shingles are much more aesthetically appealing because they are flat like a shingle and are not bulky and too noticeable.

5. Solar panels are big and hard not to notice. This is one of the major drawbacks that many homeowners admit is something they don't like about solar panels.

6. Solar shingles used to be much less efficient when compared to solar panels. In fact, before 2008 solar shingles or a.k.a thin-film solar cells barely peaked above 10% conversion efficiency. But in 2008 there was a breakthrough with (CIGS) copper indium gallium diselenide that allowed the thin-film solar cells to reach a conversion efficiency of 19.9% which was a new world record for this type of solar cell.

6. Before 2008 the silicone cells used for solar panels far outperformed the thin-film solar cells. Silicone solar cells have been known to reach 20.3% conversion efficiency making them the obvious choice for solar power for many years. Now, however, the thin-film solar cells conversion rates are almost identical making solar panels not as desirable as before.

7. Solar shingles can be installed on various types of roofs. Although the Dow Powerhouse solar shingle is primarily designed for fiberglass shingles.

7. Solar panels have been installed on all types of roofs and in fact are very adaptable in where they can be installed. Solar panels are used for street signs, traffic lights, cars, houses, commercial buildings, etc.

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Solar Roof Shingles vs Solar Panels

Solar roof shingles and solar panels have many similarities but are also very distinguishable. Solar shingles and solar panels basically use the same technology and perform the same tasks. Their main differences and similarities are portrayed in their individual names. Solar roof shingles are in fact a shingle and solar panels are in fact a panel that must be mounted on the roof.

Resources

"NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development." - www.nrel.gov

Wikipedia list of photovoltaic companies - Wikipedia.org

Solar Cells Timeline - Wikipedia Timeline List

Which produces more power: solar shingles or panels?

Since this comparison was written, mainstream silicon solar panels have kept getting more efficient, and the thin-film shingles it describes have faded from the market. Most solar roof products sold now use the same kind of silicon cells as panels, so the cells themselves are no longer the big difference.

The difference is heat and area. Panels sit a few inches above the roof on rails, with air moving underneath to cool them, and solar cells make more power when they run cooler. Solar shingles lie flat against the roof deck with little air behind them, so they run hotter on a summer afternoon. A shingle also gives up part of its surface to overlaps and edges, so the same patch of roof holds less working cell area.

In practice, a panel system usually produces more power from the same sunny slope, and you may need to cover more of your roof with solar shingles to match it. Ask each installer for an estimate of yearly production for your roof, using the same orientation and shading, so you can compare like with like.

Tesla Solar Roof vs solar panels

Tesla's Solar Roof is the clearest example of the shingle side of this comparison, because it replaces the whole roof with glass tiles, both active and inactive. Next to panels on a new asphalt roof, it costs considerably more and takes longer to install, and its price climbs with every valley, dormer and pipe. What you get is a uniform roof with no visible hardware.

Panels on a new shingle roof split the job in two: a roofer does the roof and a solar crew mounts the array. That split usually costs less, gives you far more installers to choose from, and lets each part be serviced by ordinary trades. Tesla itself also sells conventional panels.

The glass-tile roof fits when looks are the deciding factor, the roof is simple, you plan to stay, and a certified installer near you has a record of finished jobs you can see. Panels fit when cost per unit of power, installer choice and ease of service matter more.

Should you replace your roof before installing solar panels?

Panels are bolted to the roof for the life of the system, and the shingles under them keep aging. If the shingles wear out first, the panels have to come off, be stored and go back on so the roof can be replaced, which adds a real cost and a stretch without solar power. So the timing question matters.

A common rule among roofers and solar installers is to replace the roof first if it is already in the later part of its life, or if it has leaks, curling or missing shingles. Have a roofer look at it before you sign a solar contract, not after. Some solar companies will fold a re-roof into the same project.

This is also where solar shingles look better on paper. If the roof needs replacing now, the cost of new roofing is part of the job either way, so the gap between a solar roof and a new roof plus panels narrows. If the roof is fairly new, panels on top make more sense, since tearing off good shingles to install solar ones throws money away.

Leaks, repairs and warranties: solar shingles vs panels

With panels, the roof and the solar system are separate. Leaks around panels nearly always come from the mounts, where bolts go through the shingles into the rafters, so ask how each mount will be flashed. A shingle problem under the array means removing panels to reach it, which most roofers will only do with a solar crew.

With solar shingles, the roof and the power system are the same thing. A cracked solar tile or a leak in the solar area needs a crew trained on that exact product, and there are fewer of them. If the maker leaves the market, as Dow did, parts and know-how can dry up.

Ask the same questions either way. Who holds the roof warranty, and who holds the power warranty? Does the solar installer's workmanship warranty cover roof leaks their work causes? Does everything transfer if you sell? Get the answers in writing before signing, and file them with your roof paperwork.

Questions people ask

Are solar shingles worth it compared with panels?

For most homes, panels deliver more power for the money and are easier to service. Solar shingles can be worth it when you need a new roof anyway, want a low-profile look, and have a simple, sunny roof and an experienced installer nearby.

Do solar panels damage your roof?

Properly installed panels don't, and they shade the shingles beneath them. Leaks happen when mounting bolts are poorly flashed or miss the rafters. Ask how each attachment is sealed and who pays if a leak traces back to the solar install.

Are solar shingles more expensive than solar panels?

Usually, yes, for the same amount of power, because the product costs more, fewer crews install it, and the job includes roofing. The gap narrows if you were going to replace the roof anyway, since part of the price is a roof you needed.

Do solar shingles look better than solar panels?

Most people think so, since they sit flat in the roof plane instead of on racks. Some products blend in better than others, so ask to see a finished house nearby, in daylight and from the street, before deciding on looks alone.

This guide was updated in October 2026 with new sections and the questions people ask most.