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Light Your Garden With Some of the Best Garden Lights

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By Garden Gate Review Team
Last updated: 27 Feb 2023

Garden lights not only illuminate your yard but also prevent accidents from happening due to lack of light. Moreover, there are garden torches with sensors and programs that alert you when an intruder is present on your property. There are various types of garden lights present, and each of them is designed for one purpose: enhancing the beauty of your garden when the sun goes down. Most garden lamps even have the option of customization where you can add colorful lights and use them. As there are tons of lamps available in the market, it can become confusing to choose a single torch. That’s why we researched and reviewed the seven top-rated garden lights in 2023 that will help you find the perfect lamp for your garden.

Best Overall
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GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Light
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Check Price on Walmart
Runner Up
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MAGGIFT Outdoor Light
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Honorable Mention
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Addlon Outdoor String Light
Buy on Amazon
Contender
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Brightown Outdoor String Light
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Also Consider
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TomCare Solar Light
Buy on Amazon
Also Consider
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Balhvit Glass Solar Light
Buy on Amazon
Also Consider
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XMCOSY Solar Pathway Light
Buy on Amazon
Show contents
Reviewing the Best Garden Lights of 2023 in Detail
  • 1 GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Light
  • 2 MAGGIFT Outdoor Light
  • 3 Addlon Outdoor String Light
  • 4 Brightown Outdoor String Light
  • 5 TomCare Solar Light
  • 6 Balhvit Glass Solar Light
  • 7 XMCOSY Solar Pathway Light

Finding a Highly Rated Garden Light: A Buying Guide

Though garden lights are beautiful and come in various designs, it is important that you have proper knowledge about these devices. It is better to save money rather than spend on a product without knowing anything about it. Here, we have listed some of the major things that you should keep in mind while shopping for garden lights. 

What Are the Essential Things That You Should Look for in a Garden Light?

Types

When it comes to garden lights, there are various types that you can find. Before buying any garden light, it is better to know the various options that you have. Here are the most common types of lights that you can get for your garden.

  • LED garden lights: LED garden lights are highly preferred by people due to their energy-efficient construction. Besides, these lights are available in various designs like garden spikes, ground lights, etc. They are usually powered by a low voltage power source and can last for a long time.
  • Floodlights: Floodlights are perfect for houses with large gardens and backyards. These lights are known for high coverage and bright lighting. Besides, they are designed to withstand all kinds of climatic conditions. Be it heavy storms or snow; floodlights would still function the same. 
  • Wall lights: These lights are perfect for both indoor and outdoor lighting. You can install them in the fence, and it will illuminate the entire garden. The best thing about these lights is that there are lesser chances of tripping or knocking them down. Some of these lights come with sensors and alarms to notify about intruders.
  • Landscape lighting: Also known as in-ground lights, these lamps are designed to illuminate trees, fountains, and other areas of a garden. For installing a landscape light, you have to dig up a hole in the garden and then put it there. It gives off a more ambient look to the entire yard.

For more on how to install landscape lighting, check out this helpful how-to video by Lowe’s.

  • Ceiling lighting: If you have a small garden on your balcony, then a ceiling light would be enough to brighten up the entire area. They come in various designs and do not need much maintenance. The most popular ceiling designs are flush mounts and pendant lights. While flush mounts are directly attached to the ceiling, pendant lights come with a rod or chain for the installation process.
  • Post lights: Post lights are also known as path lights and are highly preferred for gardens with walking paths. The best thing about these lights is that you can either mount them on low poles to illuminate small areas or increase their coverage by using tall poles.

Power source

Knowing about the power source of a garden light can be a game-changer when buying one. Manufacturers mostly introduce three types of power sources while constructing a garden light: low voltage, high voltage, and solar energy.

  • Lighting systems with low voltage require a supply of 10 to 14 V to function properly. Low voltage systems are energy-efficient, safe to use, and do not need much time to install. Besides, you can use LED or Halogen bulbs with a low voltage power supply. 
  • High voltage systems require a power supply of 120 V to operate properly. For installing such a lighting system, you need tons of wires and connections, which is time-taking. Besides, this lighting system will create a hike in your utility bills as they are not energy efficient. This system is perfect for use in hotels and resorts.
  • Lighting systems with solar energy as their power supply is highly preferable as they are energy-efficient, affordable, and environment-friendly. Such lighting systems only require solar panels that will absorb the sun’s rays and charge the entire circuit. Once it is completely charged, the bulbs will light up the garden throughout the night. 

Motion sensors & timers

Garden lights with motion sensors can notify you about intruders. How? These sensors are designed to monitor movement and switch on the lights when anyone is near the vicinity. By doing so, you get to know if there is any person lurking in your garden and get immediate help. 

Timers can help a lot in saving energy on lighting systems as you can program them as per your needs. By setting a timer for garden light, you would be able to save tons of energy as the bulbs will only illuminate in the set time. 

Light sensors

Light sensors, also known as photosensitive sensors, are quite helpful in automatic lighting systems. These sensors detect the intensity of the outdoor light and signal the circuit when it’s low. After receiving the signal, the bulbs automatically turn on and illuminate the entire area. When the outdoor light intensity increases, the lamps get switched off automatically. This prevents wastage of energy, and you don’t have to manually switch on the bulbs every day.

Battery life

Battery life is important to consider when purchasing any type of garden light. If the run time is low, then the lighting system would be of no use. For solar-powered bulbs, the average battery life should be around 8-10 hours. However, for LED bulbs, the battery life can be a few weeks or months.

Final Thoughts

Garden lights can help you a lot during evening yard parties and other such occasions. These lights illuminate the yard so that you can easily view the happenings in your garden even at night. They not only beautify the atmosphere of the garden but also prevent intruders from stepping into the property. The products that we have stated here are some of the high-quality garden lights in the market and will surely help you to find the perfect fit for your garden.

Reviewing the Best Garden Lights of 2023 in Detail

1

GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Light

– Best Overall
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Buy on Amazon
Check Price on Walmart

The GIGALUMI garden lighting system is a set of 12 lights designed specifically to illuminate larger areas easily. These garden lights are powered by solar energy and will help you in saving tons of energy. Each LED bulb requires a minimum of six hours to attain maximum charge and run for over eight hours.

Moreover, these lights have IP44 waterproof certification, due to which they can easily withstand heavy storms and snow. As they are completely wireless, the installation process of this entire lighting system becomes a lot easier. Apart from that, each garden spike gives off a warm white light that will not harm your eyes at all.

Pros
  • It has an IP44 waterproof rating that maintains the stability of the lights during harsh weather
  • You do not need any wires or cords for the installation, as these lights are wireless
  • It requires solar power to operate that makes this system energy-efficient
Cons
  • As these spikes are constructed with plastic, they can easily break if the soil is hard
2

MAGGIFT Outdoor Light

– Runner Up
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Buy on Amazon

If you are looking for a set of durable outdoor lights that will brighten up your yard, then the MAGGIFT garden light set would be a perfect choice. This entire lighting system gets its power from solar energy and has light sensors that help in consuming less power. When the sun goes down, these lights will automatically start working and remain ON throughout the night. Only when dawn arrives, the lights will turn OFF.

Besides, each spike is constructed with high-quality ABS plastic that makes it sturdy and durable. You get a solar panel along with the set that is programmed to recharge these lights during the day and provide a run time of 8 hours. This garden lighting system is affordable, and you get a set of 12 spikes in it.

Pros
  • This set comes with a solar panel programmed to operate all spikes
  • Each spike has light sensors installed to automatically operate when the sun goes down
  • These lights create a beautiful shadow pattern that is soothing to the eyes
Cons
  • The spikes are too small in height
3

Addlon Outdoor String Light

– Honorable Mention
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Buy on Amazon

In large gardens, path lights and landscape lighting systems won’t be able to light up the whole area. Here, string lights are highly preferred as they can easily cover the entire yard and won’t take up much space as well. The Addlon outdoor string lighting system has a length of 48 feet and contains 15 sockets with heavy-duty construction.

These lights are designed to withstand harsh weather like storms, winds, etc., and last for a long time. Each socket has an 11W bulb that gives off a warm light and covers maximum area. For installing this string lighting system, you need to attach some hooks on trees and then hang the lights as per your choice.

Pros
  • These lights can illuminate larger area without taking up much space
  • This lighting system is rated with UL weatherproof certification and can withstand any harsh conditions
  • The wire is designed with high-quality insulation material to prevent accidents
Cons
  • Its fuse can get damaged if any bird or pests chew this string
4

Brightown Outdoor String Light

– Contender
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Buy on Amazon

If you are looking for garden lights that will match the aesthetic of your lawn, then this set of string lights from Brightown is a perfect choice. It has a length of 100 feet and contains 100 glass bulbs that will lighten up your entire garden. Besides, you also get four spare bulbs in the package, in case any bulb stops working.

This string light set has an E12 or C7 socket along with 5W bulbs that will give off a warm light. Its string is engineered to carry all the bulbs without breaking or tearing under pressure. Furthermore, it has UL weatherproof certification that states this system’s durability and sturdiness.

Pros
  • You can easily install these string lights with hooks or wall caps
  • It is completely safe to use and comes with free fuse replacement as well
  • The string is thicker than normal ropes and can handle the weight of all bulbs
Cons
  • This lighting system is difficult to find as they come in limited stock
5

TomCare Solar Light

– Also Consider
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Buy on Amazon

These solar torches from TomCare are designed with heavy metal to maintain their stability during any conditions. Besides, the metal body has an extra rust-proof coating that makes it highly durable. Each spike is powered by solar energy and can run for 10 hours non-stop.

This set has been certified with IP65 that makes it highly resistant to rain and snow. Moreover, the intricate flame designs give it a more realistic look and enhance the light intensity.

Pros
  • Each torch is made of high-quality metal that gives it strength to remain stable on any surface
  • The solar panel provides a charging time of 8 hours and run time of 10 hours
  • It has IP65 waterproof grading that makes these lights resistant to rain and storms
Cons
  • Some people might find it expensive
6

Balhvit Glass Solar Light

– Also Consider
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Buy on Amazon

Glass lights are highly preferred over plastic lights due to their good light transmission. These solar torches from Balhvit are constructed with high-quality glass that can cover a larger area easily. Besides, each lamp has a brightness of 10 lumens and operates with the help of solar energy. The solar panel can provide a run time of 12 hours with only 6 hours of charging. 

Furthermore, these solar torches have an automatic ON/OFF system that prevents wastage of energy. You can easily install these torches by placing them on the ground with the help of attached stakes.

Pros
  • These torches have glass lamps that can illuminate a large area easily
  • Each torch can work non-stop for 12 hours
  • The stakes are constructed with high-quality ABS plastic for sturdy installation
Cons
  • You need to expose these torches in sunlight for 14 hours before installation
7

XMCOSY Solar Pathway Light

– Also Consider
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Buy on Amazon

These eco-friendly torches are designed to enhance the beauty of your yard and provide maximum light with low energy consumption. The solar panel that comes along with this set has an extra monocrystalline silicon layer to absorb more sun rays and transform it into energy. Besides, these torches are super easy to install as they only have three components that you have to attach. They also have light sensors to detect the intensity of outdoor light and function accordingly.

Pros
  • These torches have adjustable brightness in the range of 10-40 lumens
  • The components of these torches are made of high-quality stainless steel
  • Its light sensors prevent wastage of energy by programming the bulbs according to outdoor light intensity
Cons
  • They sell out as soon as they are in stock

People Also Asked

Q: What type of material is perfect for garden lights?

A: Garden lights constructed with metal are sturdy and last for a long time. Though there are torches that are constructed with plastic, they don’t have good durability.

Q: Should I go for a manual garden light or an automatic one?

A: It is better to go for an automatic garden light as it would automatically switch the lights ON and OFF. Manual lights can lead to wastage of energy as most of the time we forget to switch them off.

Q: What is the advantage of solar-powered garden lights?

A: Solar-powered torches help in saving energy and can work without electricity. These torches last for a long time and are perfect for areas where there are frequent power cuts.

Lawn & Garden Decor
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By Garden Gate Review Team
The Garden Gate Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you choose the best products for a beautiful and bountiful garden and backyard. The content is created by The Garden Gate Review Team. Garden Gate’s editorial staff is not involved. Garden Gate is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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