The influence of wafer thickness and surface texturing of silicon solar cells on cell results has been investigated using neighbouring multi-crystalline silicon wafers with thickness ranging from 150 to 3501tm and isotropic NaOH or acid etched. It was found experimentally that Voc decreases nearly 1.5% and J(sc) decreases nearly 3%, resulting in a 4% relative decrease in efficiency, in halving the wafer thickness. These trends are independent of the front surface texturing. Front surface texturing, however, results in a 6% increase of J(sc) and a nearly 6% increase in efficiency independent of the wafer thickness. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.