When shopping for solar panels, you'll encounter two standard sizes for residential and commercial projects: 60-cell and 72-cell solar panels. Both small commercial and residential solar power systems will use one of these two types.
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The apparent difference between 60-cell and 72-cell solar panels is the number of cells. 72-cell solar panels have higher wattage than 60-cell solar panels, but this doesn’t necessarily mean better performance.
If you’re deciding whether to use 60-cell panels or 72-cell panels for your solar system, there are a few things to consider. Let’s walk through it.
The most notable difference between 60-cell panels and 72-cell panels is size and weight.
A typical 60-cell panel is 3.5 feet wide and 5.5 feet tall. 72-cell panels are the same width but are much longer — 6.5 to 7 feet — depending on the brand.
The larger 72-cell solar modules are also heavier, weighing almost 50 pounds compared to the 60-cell modules, which are about 40 pounds.
Solar cells in a panel are typically wired in series. This means that the volts of each solar cell add up to create the total voltage output. Thus, the voltage of a 72-cell panel is higher and will output more watts than a 60-cell solar panel.
Efficiency is measured by a solar panel’s ability to convert sunlight into electricity. Newsflash: neither 60-cell nor 72-cell solar panels have an advantage in this department!
If you are shopping around for high-efficiency solar panels, know that they are available in both 60-cell and 72-cell variations. To learn more about the most efficient solar panels today, check out our list here.
There aren’t any significant variations or set rules regarding the cost of 60-cell vs. 72-cell solar panels.
When evaluating solar panels, look at the cost per watt to ensure you’re comparing apples-to-apples with different size panels.
There are no significant pros or cons with 60-cell vs. 72-cell solar panels. But depending on your circumstances, you may want to opt for one size over the other.
Let’s talk about when to choose a 60-cell vs. 72-cell solar panel for your solar power system.
If you have limited space for your solar panels, the size of your available area may dictate whether 60-cell or 72-cell panels are best for your installation.
For example, if you are installing solar panels on a roof and have a space that is 12 feet tall, you could install two rows of 60-cell panels but only one row of 72-cell panels. That means installing 60-cell panels will give you a higher wattage system.
If the available area is only 8 feet tall, you would only be able to fit one row of either 60-cell or 72-cell panels. In this case, you could opt for the 72-cell panels to get more output from the entire system.
If you’re installing ground-mount solar, you probably have fewer size limitations. So, most people choose 72-cell panels for ground-mount installations because you can have a higher wattage system with fewer solar panels.
Lastly, another physical consideration is the size and weight of the panels. If you are doing a DIY solar installation and won’t have professional help, you may want to choose 60-cell panels as they weigh less and are therefore easier to handle.
The higher voltage of 72-cell solar modules will make a difference in system design.
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If you are using microinverters or DC optimizers, you will have to choose a microinverter or optimizer that can handle the higher voltage of the modules.
If you have a system with a string inverter, you will be able to wire more 60-cell panels in each string due to their lower voltage.
72-cell panels are ideal for commercial and utility-scale systems, but you can also use 72-cell panels for your residential project. There is no set rule when it comes to solar module size and project type.
Generally, you shouldn’t use both 60-cell and 72-cell panels for one installation. While it’s possible to mix and match, this can make your installation complicated with supporting equipment.
If you choose this route, ensure that you’re only using compatible equipment connected to the same circuit. You also have to verify that the 60-cell and 72-cell solar panels are in separate strings, connected to separate maximum power point trackers for proper performance and efficiency.
While we are discussing cell counts, we should also mention 120-cell and 144-cell solar panels, which are newer additions to the solar industry. These solar panels are made with half-cut solar cells wired into two separate string series.
A 120-cell solar panel is equivalent to a 60-cell panel in terms of physical size and power output, while a 144-cell panel has similar specifications to a 72-cell panel.
Learn more: What is a Half-Cut Solar Panel?
Because 60-cell and 72-cell panels offer the same efficiency, the best choice for you depends on what you need to accomplish for your project. 60-cell panels can be easier to carry and allow for flexible layouts in a limited space. 72-cell panels might make your installation cheaper and faster, and are more useful for ground-mount arrays or large-scale commercial projects.
There are many different types of solar panels available on the market, with options ranging in efficiency, wattage, manufacturer, appearance, and more. Panels can also vary in the number of silicon cells they have. Today, most people install either 60 or 72 cell solar panels for their installation- but what's the difference between the two, and which option is best for your installation?
60-cell and 72-cell panels can be used in rooftop installations, ground mounts, carports, and more. That being said, 60-cell solar panels are much more common for residential solar installations, while 72-cell solar panels are more commonly used for commercial or other large-scale projects. There are a few key differences between the two that will impact which option you choose, regardless of whether you're installing for your home or business.
72-cell solar panels have more photovoltaic cells, therefore, they are larger than 60-cell panels. When it comes to dimensions, 60-cell panels are usually built six cells wide and ten cells tall. 72-cell panels are also six cells wide but have an additional two rows of cells that make them a bit taller. What does this translate to in feet and inches? 60-cell solar panels have an average dimension of roughly 5.4 ft by 3.25 ft. 72-cell panels will roughly be the same width and average around 6.5 ft in height.
This extra space can make a big difference when it comes to your solar system design. If you have plenty of uninterrupted roof space or a lot of land for a ground-mounted installation, you can likely go with 60 or 70-cell panels. But, if you're going to have limited space for installation or a more complicated layout (such as a lone panel on a dormer or a small garage to fit a few panels), most installers are going to recommend 60-cell panels. Because they're smaller, they'll be able to fit in more tight spaces that may not work for a 72-cell panel. The same is true for roofs that are narrow - if your local jurisdiction or fire department has strict setback codes for solar arrays, 60-cell panels may also be the better option because they are shorter. A lot will depend on the specifics of your roof and your preferences for the layout of your array, so it's a good idea to talk to an installer about your options.
The cost of installing 60-cell vs. 72-cell panels may also vary a bit for your installation. 72-cell solar panels tend to be cheaper to install on a large scale, which is why they're more common for commercial applications. Because each panel has more solar cells, you can typically install fewer panels to generate the same amount of electricity. Fewer panels mean less racking is necessary, which helps cut down on overall equipment and installation costs.
On the other hand, 60-cell panels are lighter and easier to install, which is why they're more common for residential rooftop installations. This can mean lower labor costs for the installation. For large commercial installations, the extra size and weight of a 72-cell panel aren't as much of an obstacle because cranes are often used to lift the equipment to the rooftop.
72-cell panels can have higher wattages and power output than 60-cell panels because of the additional photovoltaic cells, but that's not always the case. In fact, the number of cells in a panel doesn't have a direct correlation to its power output. The power output of a panel is more dependent on the quality and durability of the solar cells themselves.
That being said, if you're looking for the highest wattage panels possible, you do often have to look towards panels with highly efficient solar cells and higher cell counts. Examples of this include LG's LG405N2W-A5, which is a 405W panel with 72 photovoltaic cells. 60-cell panels will rarely get up to 400W (though some can get up to 350W or more)
For cost, it's a good idea to compare your 60-cell and 72-cell panel options on a cost-per-watt ($/W) basis. Similar to looking at dollars per square foot when shopping for a home, looking at $/W shows you what the cost of a turnkey solar panel installation is on a per-watt basis. Looking at this factor will allow you to standardize the price of installations using either 60-cell or 72-cell panels, especially if you're comparing different system sizes.
Panels come in a variety of cell colors (dark blue, blue, black), back sheet colors (white, black), and frame colors (silver, black, and white). If aesthetics are a concern, make sure to look at an image of the panel before signing the contract, or ask your installer for photos of their past installations with the same equipment to get a feel for how they will look on your roof. If you're looking for the sleekest appearance possible, there are many black-on-black panel options. You may pay more for these options, but it can be worth it.
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