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.
If you are currently in the market for the best outdoor solar lights, we have an excellent range of options for you! Check out our reviews below of the finest outdoor solar lights in 2023 that are available on the market, and you will see that there are more than a few that should meet your requirements. Best of all, every one of the models reviewed here will provide excellent illumination and performance with practically no energy-related costs!
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.
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.
Ideal for decorating your outdoor space. Drape them along your deck or wrap them around trees to give your outdoor space a gorgeous appearance.
Ideal for patios, staircases, and walls to subtly light walkways.
Serves a dual purpose of lighting dark spaces and has an aesthetic appeal.
Ideal for lighting up large areas with bright light including parking areas and backyards.
Ideal for when you need a portable light such as camping or during power outages.
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.
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.
Once you have determined the purpose of the outdoor lighting, you need to consider the brightness, battery, and bulb type.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bright up your front yard or backyard with the OKPRO Outdoor Solar Light. This 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. This extremely bright light is made of 864 pieces of high-efficiency, 5730 SMD lamp beads that have a color temperature of 7000K and a super long life span.
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. All these features and more make this outdoor solar light the best overall on the list.
Users of the URPOWER Solar Lights are generally satisfied with the quality and performance of these units. Many have tried other brands of outdoor solar lighting before, but it is only this one that has provided the results that they need. Apart from the durable construction and the perfect illumination, many users also appreciate the fact that these are so easy to assemble.
Automatic on and off also endeared this model to users. With two settings–“medium” and “high”–users find the URPOWER Solar Lights an excellent set that provides unbeatable versatility for most outdoor lighting requirements. URPOWER says you can install it wherever you need it, whether that be in the ground or mounted to your home’s exterior walls.
Users of InnoGear absolutely love how much light each unit can produce. Many have made a note about its energy-efficient performance, continuing to work all night when set to ‘dim’. Even in this setting, users found that InnoGear produces sufficient illumination for most outdoor lighting needs.
Some users wished the panels captured sunlight more effectively, but overall, most users were very satisfied with this set, especially given its low price. InnoGear guarantees your money back if you’re not satisfied with these great lights that give you the right value for your money.
Brighten up your outdoor spaces with the A-Zone Outdoor Solar Light. This street 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.
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.
The solar outdoor lights also boast impressive durability, thanks to their ABS construction and IP68 waterproof and anti-fog design. They can easily stand up against extreme weather conditions without sacrificing lighting effects. Additionally, it is energy-saving and high efficiency, with polycrystalline silicon solar panels providing 20% efficiency for energy conversion and higher charging efficiency than other solar lights. Installation is quick and easy, with all the necessary parts available in the delivery package. You can even choose from two different mounting styles, wall or ground mounted. These lights offer ample flexibility and are perfect for garden decor, wall decor, Christmas decor, front door decor, garage, pathway, farmhouse decor, and more.
A: 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.
A: 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.
A: ‘F’ stands for Flashing Lights. ‘S’ stands for static lights. This simply defines the type of output that the lights can provide.
A: 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.
A: 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.
