To find the best outdoor solar lights for your home, we've gathered the best and brightest options on the market based on illumination, weatherproof properties, and energy-related costs. The Twinkle Star Outdoor Solar Lights are our favorite lights on the list, but the other options are also great alternatives!
Solar lights are perfectly suited for modern outdoor lighting needs. Whether you are interested in beautifying your lawn or garden, brightening up your carport, or simply enhancing your security, outdoor solar lights offer the perfect cost-effective solution.
Our Top Picks For Outdoor Solar Lights
The Best Outdoor Solar Lights
Best Overall
The Twinkle Star Outdoor Solar Lights offer a great way to safely light up outdoor spaces without sacrificing quality. These lights are made from durable ABS material, making them strong and reliable even in bad weather. Plus, they can run for 8-10 hours on a full charge, providing a great source of light at night. In addition to their performance, these lights are also very versatile. They can be installed in two different ways: staked into the ground like a solar ground light or simply placed on a flat surface. This makes them an ideal solution for driveways, patios, gardens, walkways, and more. In terms of aesthetics, these lights also have a lovely design that adds elegance to any outdoor space. They are perfect for use as garden lighting, driveway lighting, or pathway lighting, making them the best overall pick on the list.
Pros
- Works in all types of weather
- Durable ABS material
- Easy to install
Cons
- Need more instructions on battery installation
Best Features
The OKPRO Outdoor Solar Light is super powerful and can light up to 1800 square feet of your yard to ward off intruders or create light for your pets to see when you take them outside at night. The LEDs use high capacity, low attenuation 32650 lithium-ion batteries with stable voltage and long battery life, so you don’t have to worry all the time about turning on the lights and wondering if they’ll work or not. This high-powered battery can last up to 12-14 hours after a full charge and can run for approximately 36 hours in low-light mode, so you can have them on all night if you need to. It comes with three modes: dusk to dawn, motion sensor, and remote control, so you can set it to automatically come on when it detects motion, or you can just turn it on manually with the push of a button.
Pros
- Motion sensors included
- Really bright
- Works for up to 36 hours
Cons
- Not long-lasting
Best Color Options
The URPOWER Outdoor Solar Lights come with great quality and performance at an affordable price. These outdoor solar lights get the job done, and based on ratings and sales, customers definitely agree. Apart from the durable construction and the perfect illumination, the lights are also easy to assemble. The automatic on and off function is also a winning feature. With two settings–“medium” and “high”–these lights are an excellent set that provides unbeatable versatility for most outdoor lighting requirements.
Pros
- Offers dual brightness settings so you can move between energy-efficient or high-powered modes
- High-capacity 2,200mAh battery
- Easy installation process
Cons
- Surface paint can peel off after prolonged exposure to extremely hot temperature
Best Seller
The amount of light each unit of the InnoGear Outdoor Solar Light can produce is quite impressive. One of its winning properties is its energy-efficient performance, continuing to work all night when set to ‘dim’. Even in this setting, these lights produce sufficient illumination for most outdoor lighting needs. Given its low price, these lights are wildly popular. The brand even guarantees your money back if you’re not satisfied with these great lights that give you the right value for your money.
Pros
- Both the LED and solar panel are rotatable for easy adjustment
- Provides up to 12 hours of light on a single charge and on low power setting
- Waterproof and heatproof durable construction
Cons
- Solar panels are not adjustable horizontally
Industrial Wattage
The A-Zone Outdoor Solar Light has 640 built-in, high-brightness, energy-saving LED beads that can reach 80,000 lumens and brighten up large spaces like courtyards, gardens, patios, parking lots, and other large outdoor spaces. The 160-degree large wide angle can cover a huge amount of space because it has a wider illumination range than the typical flat type. It’s also built so the angle is integrated into the design for easier assembly and installation. There are two control modes: a daily mode that works from dusk to dawn, and a remote control mode so you can manually turn it on and off. The four kids of brightness allow for further versatility with this solar light; switch with just the click of a button, and use the automatic countdown to the off mode in five different ways as well.
Pros
- Wide angle design
- High-quality solar panels
- Very versatile
Cons
- Motion sensor is fickle
Most Lighting Options
The EIUIO Outdoor Solar Lights provide an impressive upgrade to outdoor lighting. Each light features 18 powerful, high-brightness LED lamp beads that brighten up any outdoor space. The solar-powered lights have a light sensor system that automatically turns them on in the dark and off in the morning. Three unique lighting modes — low, medium, and high — allow you to customize your lighting to fit your needs. They can easily stand up against extreme weather conditions without sacrificing lighting effects. Installation is quick and easy, with all the necessary parts available in the delivery package. These lights offer ample flexibility and are perfect for garden decor, wall decor, Christmas decor, front door decor, garage, pathway, farmhouse decor, and more.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and use
- Bright lights with a small circumference
- Perfect illumination of dark steps and walkways
Cons
- Some may not find them bright enough
Finding the Best Outdoor Solar Lights: A Buying Guide
Outdoor solar lights are an eco-friendly solution to lighting up the periphery of your home, a campsite, or garden party venue for either decorative or functional purposes. Whether you are using outdoor solar lights for security, lighting pathways, or décor, you won’t need electricity outlets, wiring, or complicated installation instructions as they have a very easy-to-use solar-powered design.
Outdoor solar lights come in a wide range of styles designed for specific purposes. In this guide, we’ll help you determine which type of solar lighting is best for your needs.
Types of Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lights are used for security purposes, illuminating pathways, decorating driveways, and lighting decks. The first step to choosing appropriate outdoor solar-powered lights is to determine the purpose. If you want something decorative, then appearances matter most. But if you want to light up a pathway, then you require bright focused LED lights to do the job.
Here are some of the most commonly used outdoor solar lights available out there.
Solar string lights or fairy lights
Ideal for decorating your outdoor space. Drape them along your deck or wrap them around trees to give your outdoor space a gorgeous appearance.
Solar deck, fence, or patio lights
Ideal for patios, staircases, and walls to subtly light walkways.
Solar post lights
Serves a dual purpose of lighting dark spaces and has an aesthetic appeal.
Solar flood lights
Ideal for lighting up large areas with bright light including parking areas and backyards.
Solar lanterns
Solar lanterns are ideal for when you need a portable light such as camping or during power outages.
Security solar LED lights
These lights have built-in motion sensors, so the lights automatically turn on as soon as some movement is detected. Security solar LED lights are a popular option for security lighting around homes and offices.
How Do Outdoor Solar Lights Work?
Outdoor solar lights use sunlight instead of electricity as their power source. Every solar light has a PV panel component that absorbs sunlight energy during daylight. Solar energy is transformed into electrical energy and stored in the light’s battery component. Batteries provided with solar lights are usually rechargeable. Most outdoor solar light models automatically turn on at dusk.
How To Choose Outdoor Solar Lights
Once you have determined the purpose of the outdoor lighting, you need to consider the brightness, battery, and bulb type.
Brightness
The brightness of solar light is measured in terms of lumens which can range from 10 to 1500. Use the below as a guideline when purchasing your lights.
- Step Lights – 10 to 100 lumens
- Wall Lights – 50 to 185 lumens
- Walkway Lights – 100 to 200 lumens
- Pool Solar Lights – 200 to 400 lumens
- Motion Sensor Lights – 300 to 900 lumens
- Flood Lights – 700 to 1300 lumens
Battery Type and Capacity
It is recommended to choose lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries for powerful solar lights. These battery types have the highest capacity. Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive but they are small in size and have a longer lifespan. NiMH batteries are ideal for low-power lighting since they run for extended periods with a high capacity.
Bulb type
Although there are various types of lightbulbs available, LED light bulbs are the best option for solar lighting. They are energy-efficient and bright. They are durable and have a lifespan of up to 50000 hours allowing them to run maintenance-free.
Features To Look for in Outdoor Solar Lights
Color temperature
The color temperature of the bulbs set the mood of the area being lit. Bulbs with lower temperatures provide warm colors similar to candles and incandescent bulbs. Bulbs with higher color temperatures provide cool colors or blue hues similar to LED or daylight CFL bulbs.
Coverage angle and distance
Coverage might not be an important factor to consider for ambiance lighting. It should however be a determining factor when purchasing a motion sensor security light. The angle of coverage determines how wide the sensor can detect motion for the light to be triggered.
A minimum of 120 degrees is recommended. Anything over 170 degrees could be bothersome as the light would be triggered frequently. The coverage distance is recommended at a minimum of 5 or 6 meters.
Weatherproof materials
Outdoor solar lights are frequently exposed to rain, dust, and heat. Choose waterproof or IP 55 certified outdoor solar lights. These lights are made with durable materials able to withstand unpredictable weather conditions.
Flexible positioning
Some lights can rotate or flip from back to front. This means that you can change the direction of light by simply rotating the head. This type of light provides versatility and allows you to cover a range of areas with a single installation. Some lights even come with a rotatable solar panel, allowing you to adjust the angle of the panel so it can capture the most amount of light and fully recharge.
Settings and recharge time
The charge time refers to the hours of sunlight needed to fully charge the battery, whereas the run time is how long it will produce light during the night. Various factors may influence the charge and run time such as weather conditions. A charge time of 6 to 7 hours is recommended. A run time of 10 to 12 hours is suitable, however, this may depend on the amount of sunlight your location receives and the power setting you’ve selected on the light.
Look for a device that has manual and automatic settings. This will allow you to activate or deactivate the lights as required and adjust the brightness to conserve battery power.
Accessories
Make sure the light comes with the required installation accessories. This may include screws, extension hinges, and user manuals. Most lights are pretty easy to install.
Lifespan and warranty
The lifespan of outdoor solar lights will depend on several factors. Generally, they are capable of surviving anywhere between 7 to 15 years. Panels that are made of PV cells can last up to 20 years. The batteries, however, don’t last that long and may need replacement after a few years. Warranties vary according to manufacturer and product between 1 to 3 years.
How To Install Outdoor Solar Lights
If you want more information on how to install solar lights in your yard or around your patio, check out this video by Bunnings Warehouse.
People Also Asked
Will outdoor solar lights charge on a cloudy day?
Yes. Solar lights do not need direct exposure to sunlight to charge, although it is more effective. They can charge through indirect sunlight transmitted through clouds or in the shade. The power received by the solar lights may however decrease.
Why don’t my solar lights work?
Most issues with solar lights are due to the batteries. If solar lights stop working abruptly, first check the batteries. If the batteries do not need to be replaced, you may need to check the panels.
What is the meaning of ‘F’ and ‘S’ on solar lights?
‘F’ stands for Flashing Lights. ‘S’ stands for static lights. This simply defines the type of output that the lights can provide.
Can I leave solar lights out in the winter?
Yes, as long as your solar lights are installed correctly and are receiving direct sunlight during most daylight hours they should be able to operate even in cold temperatures. Most solar lights should be waterproof and can withstand a variety of climates.
How long do outdoor solar lights typically last?
The lifespan of your outdoor solar lights depends on several factors such as usage, quality, and maintenance. Typically an outdoor solar light can last between 5-10 years before needing replacement parts or a full replacement unit. However, with proper care and maintenance they can last much longer than that.
