The materials, appearances, efficiencies, and costs of these panels vary greatly. Because of these differences, there are advantages and disadvantages to each of the three solar panel types. The three types of paneling are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Overall, monocrystalline is the most efficient with the highest costs, polycrystalline is lower efficiency with a lower cost, and thin film is the lowest efficiency and cost. These generalizations come from a multitude of factors, one of which being the materials that the panels are made from.