If you’re looking for a way to illuminate the steps around your home, you might be thinking about investing in solar step lights. With solar step lights, you can light up your walkways and make your home more walkable at night. This has many perks, like preventing accidental slips or falls among other benefits. In this buying guide, we’ve compiled a list of the best solar step lights on the market. At the top of our list is the crowd favorite, the MAGGIFT Solar Step Lights. We also wrote a buying guide that can point you in the right direction as you shop for solar step lights. Here’s to well-lit pathways around your house!
Our Top Picks For Solar Step Lights
The Best Solar Step Lights
Best Overall
The MAGGIFT Solar Step Lights are an excellent choice when you want to brighten the outdoor area of your home. These lights are designed to provide a safer environment. They offer lighting and visibility for fences, steps, stairs, walkways, and gardens. The lights are solar-powered, and they come with mounting hardware, making them easy to install. Just turn the switch to the ON position for the first time.
From there, the lights will stay illuminated for up to eight hours when they are fully charged. They also have an IP44 waterproof rating, meaning they will stay intact in all weather conditions, including rain and snow. They are warm-white LED lights, creating an inviting ambiance for your home and outdoor living spaces. These lights are just enough to illuminate a path or create an inviting look so that homeowners feel safe, making these solar step lights our top overall choice.
Pros
- Can light up large areas
- Provides warm, soft lighting
- Easy to install and affordable
Cons
- Not as bright as other options
Best Illumination
The TIJNN Solar Step Lights are a perfect option for sprucing up any outdoor space. These waterproof LED lights provide a warm white light. They create a cozy atmosphere in any space, making them perfect for stairs, fences, decks, and patios. You can enjoy the reliability of these lights thanks to the built-in dusk-until-dawn sensor. This turns the lights off and on with ease.
Plus, the lights feature an extra large solar panel made out of polysilicon silicone. It charges much faster than other lights under the same sun conditions. After four to five hours of sunshine, you can enjoy 10 hours of light at night. The deck lights are also durable and weather-resistant thanks to their heatproof plastic construction. They also use IP65 technology, making them waterproof. Installation is also a breeze as they require no wiring or additional tools.
Pros
- Heavy-duty and solar-powered construction
- Great for decks and patios
- Small yet powerful
Cons
- Hard switching from white to colored lighting
Best for Night Safety
For a brighter, longer-lasting lighting solution for outdoor lighting, the JACKYLED Solar Step Lights are the perfect choice. With a total of seven bright LEDs that are placed in three-sided lampshades, these solar-powered step lights offer a powerful output of 5,000K cool white light. They are guaranteed to make your patios, stairs, decks, and fences look stunning. These outdoor solar stair lights are equipped with a large-capacity 1000mAh battery as well.
Plus, they come with a monocrystalline silicon solar panel. This allows for an efficient energy conversion rate of up to twenty percent. With a mere six hours of charge time during summer months, you can expect these solar lights to last up to twelve hours. Constructed with durable stainless steel housing and ABS lampshades, this outdoor step lighting features an IP65 wet rating, which guarantees that it’ll resist rust even in the harshest of weather conditions.
Pros
- Easy to install with a power drill
- Provide safe illumination
- Long-lasting and affordable
Cons
- No screw template included
Best Non-Glare Lighting
The Phereu Solar Step Lights offer a unique, energy-efficient way to brighten up any outdoor space. With 16 lights that come with installation tools, these solar lights are quick and easy to install. Plus, no wiring is required. The ABS plastic construction makes them durable against wind, rain, snow, and other harsh weather conditions. At the same time, they also provide a stylish and inviting atmosphere that is sure to please guests.
These lights turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn, allowing for worry-free operation. Plus, you won’t have to make any manual adjustments. Also, the amount of warm light that emits from each light offers just the right amount of illumination without any glare. This makes them perfect for decks, staircases, fences, posts, yards, driveways, walls, and other outdoor locations. By adding these lights to your space, you’ll instantly revamp the look of your home.
Pros
- Small, lightweight, and easy to install
- Works well without being intrusive
- Warm solar lighting
Cons
- Smaller size than some people expect
Most Aesthetic
The JSOT Solar Step Lights offer a unique lighting solution for outdoor spaces. With their upgraded 2V larger solar panel, these lights boast a higher solar conversion rate than other solar-powered lights. In turn, they are more reliable and efficient when it comes to charging times. Adding to that, they are made of high-quality metal construction.
Plus, these solar step lights feature waterproof IP44 protection. In other words, they can withstand any weather condition all year round. These lights are easy to install because you don’t need help from professionals. All you have to do is take the two screws or double-sided tape. Then, fasten them to any flat surface, like a fence, wall, or step edge. These solar step lights are very versatile. So, you can use them in many different ways, like in gardens, on patios, and even along doors.
Pros
- Sleek, modern, and corrosion-resistant
- Easy to install with tape
- Soft and ambient light
Cons
- Only provides a soft light
The Best Solar Step Lights: Buying Guide
Finding the right solar step lights for you can be a daunting task. However, to help you make the most informed decision possible, we’ve compiled a list of the top features you should consider as you shop. This buyer’s guide explores each of these features in greater detail, meaning you can find out how to choose the right solar step light for your home or outdoor space.
Things To Consider Before Buying Solar Step Lights
Lumens output
The higher the lumens output, the brighter and more powerful the solar step light will be. However, make sure you don’t choose a light that is so bright that it blinds those who are nearby. Make sure you can adjust solar step lights for different lighting situations accordingly. Also, consider which lumen level is necessary for your application.
Color temperature
Depending on the task and environment, warmer or cooler light can be better suited. Warm white light between 3,000K and 5,000K creates a pleasant ambiance in residential settings. On the other hand, cool white light between 5,000K and 6,000K is better suited for commercial and security applications.
Light spread angle
The light spread angle determines how widely lit your steps will be when illuminated by solar step lights. So, make sure you choose a wide-angle solar step light if your steps are larger than normal. This is important for steps with uneven shapes or corners as well. That said, a more narrow spread angle might be better if you have a traditional set of steps with a single rise.
Motion sensing capabilities
An automated motion-sensing solar step light adds convenience and security to any area. It does this by sensing movement and automatically turning it on in response. So, consider what type of motion sensor technology you’d prefer. Think about how you can maximize energy efficiency while providing adequate coverage to your space.
Battery life and charge time
Look for lights with long-lasting batteries that have a large capacity. Ensure that they can provide many hours of illumination every night. Also, consider how long it will take to fully charge the battery. That way, you can ensure you have sufficient power when needed.
Weather resistance and durability
Look for a rugged construction with weatherproofing technologies like IP65, IP66, or IP67 ratings to be sure they can withstand extreme weather conditions like extreme cold and hot temperatures, snow storms, rain showers, dust storms, etc.
Price
Compare prices between different manufacturers and retailers to get the best value for the money you spend on solar step lights. Also, think about how long each particular product will last. That way, you can ensure that you are getting a good return on investments over time.
Mounting options
Most solar step lights are designed for do-it-yourself installation. This is because they can be easily mounted onto most surfaces, like concrete or wood, with minimal effort. All you need to do is use the hooks, loop tape, screws, or anchors that come with the product. That said, some lights require professional installation instead. You might be able to hang up more complicated solar lights on your own, though you might need specialized mounting hardware to do so. This will ensure secure attachments in areas like wall sconces or staircases.
Maintenance
Make sure you select lights that come with replaceable parts, such as LEDs or batteries. These components typically wear out over time after constant exposure to natural elements, like heat and moisture. So, make sure they are also easy to access or replace. This is especially important in terms of maintenance because this is how you’ll keep the lights working at optimal performance levels.
Warranty coverage
Read the manufacturer’s warranty information carefully. That way, you’ll know exactly what the manufacturer covers if something goes wrong with your purchase. It can also be helpful if you ever need extra parts or replacements. With a warranty, these are possible within a certain timeline after your purchase date. Some warranty terms differ depending on the model and the brand.
Aesthetics
Solar step lights come in many different styles, types, and colors. Therefore, you will have full creative freedom when choosing which design complements your preferences. Look for options that feature modern designs with classic accents if you prefer an updated classic look. If you want something more progressive-looking, search for lights with cutting-edge LED technologies instead.
Brightness control settings
Most solar step lights give you full control over the level of brightness that they exude. This usually includes the ability to adjust the lights from dimly lit to full illumination. The ability to control the brightness can help you save power while setting the lights to your preferred level of brightness.
People Also Asked
What are the most important features of solar step lights?
The most important features of solar step lights include energy efficiency, low maintenance, and decorative touches. Some models also come with motion-sensing capabilities. This makes them great for safety and security purposes.
What is the range of brightness that solar step lights offer?
Solar step lights typically offer brightness levels ranging from 10 lumens to 100 lumens. Just remember that the higher the lumens, the brighter the light.
How long do solar step lights last?
Solar step lights typically last between six to eight hours per charge. That said, the exact battery life will depend on the amount of sunlight that the solar step lights receive. The amount of current that the lights require when in use will also play a role.
Are solar step lights waterproof?
Yes, most solar step lights are waterproof and resistant to water damage. This allows them to be used in outdoor settings without fear of rust or corrosion.
How easy are solar step lights to install?
Solar step lights are generally easy to install as they require no wiring or electricity to operate. They can typically be installed within minutes. Simply attach them to your steps and walls with the help of screws or adhesive tape.
