diff --git a/shell/panelconfigview.h b/shell/panelconfigview.h
--- a/shell/panelconfigview.h
+++ b/shell/panelconfigview.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 {
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_PROPERTY(PanelView::VisibilityMode visibilityMode READ visibilityMode WRITE setVisibilityMode NOTIFY visibilityModeChanged)
+    Q_PROPERTY(PanelView::OpacityMode opacityMode READ opacityMode WRITE setOpacityMode NOTIFY opacityModeChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders enabledBorders READ enabledBorders NOTIFY enabledBordersChanged)
 
 public:
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@
     PanelView::VisibilityMode visibilityMode() const;
     void setVisibilityMode(PanelView::VisibilityMode mode);
 
+    PanelView::OpacityMode opacityMode() const;
+    void setOpacityMode(PanelView::OpacityMode mode);
+
     Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders enabledBorders() const;
 
 protected:
@@ -83,6 +87,7 @@
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void visibilityModeChanged();
+    void opacityModeChanged();
     void enabledBordersChanged();
 
 private:
diff --git a/shell/panelconfigview.cpp b/shell/panelconfigview.cpp
--- a/shell/panelconfigview.cpp
+++ b/shell/panelconfigview.cpp
@@ -290,6 +290,17 @@
     return m_panelView->visibilityMode();
 }
 
+void PanelConfigView::setOpacityMode(PanelView::OpacityMode mode)
+{
+    m_panelView->setOpacityMode(mode);
+    emit opacityModeChanged();
+}
+
+PanelView::OpacityMode PanelConfigView::opacityMode() const
+{
+    return m_panelView->opacityMode();
+}
+
 Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders PanelConfigView::enabledBorders() const
 {
     return m_enabledBorders;
diff --git a/shell/panelview.h b/shell/panelview.h
--- a/shell/panelview.h
+++ b/shell/panelview.h
@@ -100,6 +100,13 @@
      */
     Q_PROPERTY(VisibilityMode visibilityMode READ visibilityMode WRITE setVisibilityMode NOTIFY visibilityModeChanged)
 
+    /**
+     *  Property that determines how a panel's opacity behaves.
+     * 
+     * @see OpacityMode
+     */
+    Q_PROPERTY(OpacityMode opacityMode READ opacityMode WRITE setOpacityMode NOTIFY opacityModeChanged)
+
 public:
 
     enum VisibilityMode {
@@ -110,6 +117,14 @@
     };
     Q_ENUM(VisibilityMode)
 
+    /** Enumeration of possible opacity modes. */
+    enum OpacityMode {
+        Adaptive = 0, /** The panel will change opacity depending on the presence of a maximized window */
+        Opaque, /** The panel will always be opaque */
+        Translucent /** The panel will always be translucent */
+    };
+    Q_ENUM(OpacityMode)
+
     explicit PanelView(ShellCorona *corona, QScreen *targetScreen = nullptr, QWindow *parent = nullptr);
     ~PanelView() override;
 
@@ -148,6 +163,9 @@
     VisibilityMode visibilityMode() const;
     void setVisibilityMode(PanelView::VisibilityMode mode);
 
+    PanelView::OpacityMode opacityMode() const;
+    void setOpacityMode(PanelView::OpacityMode mode);
+
     /**
      * @returns the geometry of the panel given a distance
      */
@@ -186,6 +204,7 @@
     //QWindow does not have a property for screen. Adding this property requires re-implementing the signal
     void screenToFollowChanged(QScreen *screen);
     void visibilityModeChanged();
+    void opacityModeChanged();
 
 protected Q_SLOTS:
     /**
@@ -231,6 +250,7 @@
     ShellCorona *m_corona;
     QTimer m_strutsTimer;
     VisibilityMode m_visibilityMode;
+    OpacityMode m_opacityMode;
     Plasma::Theme m_theme;
     QTimer m_positionPaneltimer;
     QTimer m_unhideTimer;
diff --git a/shell/panelview.cpp b/shell/panelview.cpp
--- a/shell/panelview.cpp
+++ b/shell/panelview.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
        m_alignment(Qt::AlignLeft),
        m_corona(corona),
        m_visibilityMode(NormalPanel),
+       m_opacityMode(Adaptive),
        m_backgroundHints(Plasma::Types::StandardBackground),
        m_shellSurface(nullptr)
 {
@@ -411,6 +412,23 @@
     return m_visibilityMode;
 }
 
+PanelView::OpacityMode PanelView::opacityMode() const
+{
+    return m_opacityMode;
+}
+
+void PanelView::setOpacityMode(PanelView::OpacityMode mode)
+{
+    if (m_opacityMode != mode) {
+        m_opacityMode = mode;
+        if (config().isValid() && config().parent().isValid()) {
+            config().parent().writeEntry("panelOpacity", (int)mode);
+            m_corona->requestApplicationConfigSync();
+        }
+        emit opacityModeChanged();
+    }
+}
+
 void PanelView::positionPanel()
 {
     if (!containment()) {
@@ -601,6 +619,7 @@
     //the place for this config key is changed in Plasma 5.9
     //Do NOT use readConfigValueWithFallBack
     setVisibilityMode((VisibilityMode)config().parent().readEntry<int>("panelVisibility", config().readEntry<int>("panelVisibility", (int)NormalPanel)));
+    setOpacityMode((OpacityMode)config().parent().readEntry<int>("panelOpacity", config().readEntry<int>("panelOpacity", (int)Adaptive)));
     m_initCompleted = true;
     resizePanel();
     positionPanel();