The Best Portable Solar Panels

A permanent solar panel installation can be expensive and tricky to navigate, and for some homes and renters it’s not a viable option. But the best portable solar panels can put the sun’s rays to use in any situation. Whether you want some backup power at home or collect some off-grid juice for a cabin, RV, or campsite, portable solar panels are a good way to get the job done.

Photograph: Simon Hill

I’ve been testing portable solar panels for a few years now, and these are the ones I recommend for different scenarios. They are best paired with one of the best solar generators or portable power stations. I’ll also offer some solar panel tips in an FAQ.

There are loads of great portable solar panels on the market now, and much depends on what you need. You’ll want to consider the maximum wattage they can deliver, connection types, portability, price, and more. I go into more depth in the FAQ below, but another important consideration is brand. If you already have a solar generator, it is often a good idea to pair solar panels from the same brand, especially if it has a proprietary solar charging port.

The models from Jackery were consistently the most effective solar panels I tested. Both the 100-watt Solar Saga 100 and the 200-watt Solar Saga 200 generated a relatively good amount of power in full sun and in overcast conditions. Neither folds down very small, but they can easily be carried one-handed thanks to strong molded-plastic handles at either end in Jackery’s signature bright orange. Both fold neatly away very easily with the help of magnetic pads, and the legs attach via Velcro, so they’re very quick to put up or away compared to panels that use metal fasteners. Sun permitting, the SolarSaga 200 consistently delivered around 140 watts, sometimes reaching up to 170 watts. I fully charged the 4,085-watt-hour capacity Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station from around 20 percent in two scorching days with my SolarSaga 200 panel.

It’s a shame Jackery insists on the proprietary DC8020 barrel connector designed for use with its own power stations; most panels come with MC4 connectors and an XT60 adapter (the most common solar charging port on solar generators). But Jackery solar generators often have two of these barrel ports, enabling you to plug in two panels. It’s vital to angle the panels correctly, but the fold-out legs make them easy to prop up. Jackery is now offering various versions of the Solar Saga 100, so you can pick the one that suits you. The latest version of the Solar Saga 200 is bifacial and offers increased conversion efficiency of up to 26.7 percent (up from 24 percent in the model I tested). It’s also IP68 rated, so you don’t need to worry about rain or dust.

If you need more power in a single panel, I like both the Bluetti 350-W panels and the Bluetti 500-W panels, though they are expensive at the RRP. Make sure to look for discounts, as they commonly on sale. The 350-W panel uses a familiar folding design with fold-out feet and a sliding strap with metal fasteners to prop it at various angles. It’s heavy at just over 30 pounds, but the molded handles make it easy to carry. I got a maximum of around 290 watts out of this, and the conversion efficiency is 23.4 percent. The much larger 500-W panels fold down to a similar profile and weigh around the same, but they have a slightly better 25 percent conversion efficiency, and I was able to pull around 490 watts in ideal conditions. Both panels are IP67-rated, and they come with MC4 to XT60 cables.

The 350-W panels are fairly easy to set up; though the metal fasteners on the kickstands take a bit of fiddling. Unfortunately, the 500-W panels are downright finicky. To fold down compactly, it is broken into twelve separate sections and folds out in a double row, so I found I had to wrestle with it to get the feet set up and ensure it was stable. You’ll also need to watch out at the higher angle if there’s any wind, or a gust might just catch them and flip them over. The flip side is that they fold down impressively small with a nice rubbery handle that makes them easy to carry. Setup aside, I don’t think you’ll find anything more compact for the wattage.

Lightweight and flexible, this panel is ideal for mounting on top of your RV, van, or other vehicle. You could attach it to a cabin roof or a hardtop tent too, and it can bend up to 270 degrees. Though no fixings are included, it's possible using adhesive or strong double-sided tape and it also has holes for bolting. It’s thin, weighs just shy of 9 pounds, and boasts an IP68 rating. Conversion efficiency is 25 percent, and I was able to get 165 watts out of it when the sun was at its highest. Now, it’s not really all that portable, in that it doesn’t fold up or have a handle for easy carrying. But it’s a great option for mounting and has standard MC4 connectors. BougeRV also offers a smaller 100-W model.

Anker Solix PS200 for $450: I have tested several of Anker’s older solar panels, including the Solix PS200. These folding 200-watt panels are IP67-rated with a familiar design of molded plastic handles, folding feet, and metal fasteners. They offer 23 percent conversion efficiency and couldn’t quite hit the same highs as the Solar Saga 200 despite a higher price and weight. The reason you might pick Anker instead is the inclusion of MC4 connectors and an XT60 connector cable. Anker has just released some superior-looking bifacial panels, both PS100 ($220) and PS200 ($500), but I haven’t tested them yet. They appear more compact and efficient.

DJI IBC Power 200W for $419: DJI sent me these panels, and they have the same slide out folding feet with a strap and metal fasteners, though the molded handle is only at one end. They are IP67, came with an MC4 to XT60 cable, and produced up to 160 watts when the sun was out. Sadly, you need the DJI Power Solar Panel Adapter Module (MPPT) to use them with some DJI power stations, though they worked fine charging the Anker Solix C1000.

The last EcoFlow panel I tested seems to be discontinued, but the latest 220W panel ($299) looks good and is reasonably priced. I haven’t been able to test any Renogy panels, but they seem to be highly rated in online reviews. Two other brands on my radar are Goal Zero and Biolite.

What to Look For in Solar Panels

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Portable solar panels come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they always have a stated maximum wattage they can produce. While a panel might be rated at 200 watts, it’s important to note that it will likely produce less in real-world conditions. Changing weather, the angle of the sun, the impact of temperature, and other factors can reduce the wattage your panels produce. Even in good conditions, you may only get 70 to 80 percent of the stated wattage, and it will be a lot less in challenging conditions. Solar generators will also have a stated maximum wattage that they can absorb through the solar charging port.

For portability, most panels fold up into a kind of briefcase design for easy carrying. They are generally rigid with fold out feet to prop them at different angles. You can also get flexible panels, like the BougeRV panel I recommend above that’s designed to be attached to an RV roof. There are also roll-up panels, though these don’t tend to be as durable or long-lasting. Make sure you check the dimensions and weight of your chosen panels before buying.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Lastly, always check the compatibility of your panels and your solar generator. It’s simplest to match panels and generators from the same manufacturer, but it’s easy to mix and match panels with generic MC4 connectors and solar generators with XT60 ports. It’s important to be careful about the voltage of your panels relative to your solar generator to avoid dangerous mishaps. Look for the open circuit voltage (OCV) for both and make sure your panels never exceed your solar generator’s range. People will sometimes overpanel, adding a higher wattage than the generator can accept to account for the fact that the panels will likely never produce their full capability. This is usually safe to do, provided you don’t exceed the OCV.

Photograph: Simon Hill

You should also favor solar generators with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), a technology designed to monitor the fluctuating input from solar panels (impacted by shade and changing weather) and maximize how much of it is converted for use.

What About Weather Do You Need for Solar Panels?

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Most portable solar panels are designed to be left outdoors and survive a light rain shower. Look for an ingress protection (IP) rating. An IP65 rating is fine for light rain and dust, but if you want your panels to survive more serious weather, look for an IP67 or IP68 rating. While the panels and cables are generally weather-proof, be careful with your solar generator and make sure it has an IP rating if you intend to leave it outside.

How I Test Solar Panels

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I try to test portable solar panels in similar conditions using the same solar generator where possible (usually the Anker Solix C1000). I test in direct sunlight and also in partial shade. I record the highest wattage and check how much power each solar panel can produce over four and eight hour periods. I try to test every day for a week or so, weather permitting, and then compare results.

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