Summer is almost upon us which means that it’s the perfect season for outdoor gatherings and cookouts and what better place to entertain friends and family than your very own patio? Whether you are planning to have large gatherings or casual hangouts, creating a good ambiance for your guests is an important part of the experience. And setting up a great atmosphere starts with good lighting. Patio lights are a simple solution to give that impact. So, check out the best patio lights in 2023 for outdoor areas since they are the best ones on the market today.
Even the most well-decorated patio can be underwhelming when the lighting is not right, but with some of these highly rated patio lights, you can create an atmosphere for your guests and family to enjoy a relaxing evening.
Outdoor lighting is a subtle decorative touch that can make a big difference to your patio. But when it comes to choosing quality patio lights, there are certain things you need to consider in order to get more bang for your buck.
The first thing you need to consider before looking for outdoor lights is how much brightness you’ll need for your patio. The amount of lighting you’ll require for your outdoor spaces depends on the size of the area you want to illuminate. Lighting calculation can be offputting but bear with us because this formula is pretty straightforward.
First, you will have to determine the size of your patio. Now, multiply the area’s square footage by 1.5 to get the answer. For instance, 100 sq. feet needs 150 watts.
Whether you’re choosing hard-wired fixtures to light up your driveway or solar-driven lights for a more eco-friendly option, good patio lighting can really elevate the ambiance for all outdoor spaces.
LED patio lights are a popular option because of their longevity and brightness; however, they do cost more than regular patio lights. LED light fixtures are available in various models and designs. Some even have motion detectors in them and are solar-driven, like some of our top picks. LED lighting is an excellent way to brighten up your outdoor space. And although LED bulbs may be slightly more expensive than other types of bulbs upfront, they are cheaper to operate and offer superb quality.
You may even choose to stray away from traditional lamp-style lights for your outdoor space. Perhaps string lights will increase the ambiance of your patio. Outdoor string lights can create a whimsical look with their soft glow.
Outdoor lighting provides good ambiance and security for your home. Make sure you have good lighting on all entry points of the house. Security lights are often broad-beamed and can come in various settings to give focused lighting, so your terrace and driveway always stay protected.
Dusk-to-dawn lights are a popular security option because they automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn. You can check out our top pick for the most rated patio lights, which are solar-powered and detect daylight to turn on and off automatically.
When it comes to patio lights, it’s important to know what watt’s the right watt. 80 watts or lower is considered the best wattage for accommodating outdoor lighting, especially for illuminating smaller yards and driveways. The majority of fixtures have a rating of more than 60 watts.
LEDs are the best choice for patio lights because they last longer, are energy-efficient, and do not have mercury. A lumen is often the unit used to measure the amount of brightness a light bulb will produce and is different than a watt, which is a measure of how much energy it will consume. Each patio light should be at least 30 lumens, which is the recommended brightness for outdoor lighting.
You may also want to find patio lights that support shatterproof bulbs. These bulbs may be especially helpful if a lot of activity goes on in your yard that would put your bulbs at increased risk of breaking, such as tossing a baseball or football. Shatterproof bulbs are a great way to avoid some potential accidents.
The solar batteries have a lifespan of approximately 2 years, but new batteries are relatively cheap and can easily be installed in your patio light to replace the old ones. LEDs have a maximum lifespan of 30 years or more if they are well-maintained.
You may want to consider how the outdoor lighting you choose is powered. Would you prefer a light that is wired, or battery-powered? While battery-operated lights may be easier to install, you will have to eventually replace the batteries.
Additionally, you may want outdoor lighting that can be turned on or off via remote control. With remote control lighting, you can change the level amount of light from anywhere on your patio.
Maybe you’ve already decided to buy patio lights but aren’t quite sure how to hang them up. For help on installation, check out this video by Longview Lights.
HMCITY is a top solar light brand that focuses on innovative design and technology. This wide-angle patio light provides bright lighting that has 120 upgraded LEDs. Due to its 270-degree wide-angled design, it has a 50% more illumination range than regular lights. Furthermore, this LED light can absorb sunlight and convert it to electricity. HMCITY promises it will charge during the daytime and use its motion sensor to light up for 20 seconds when it detects movement during the night.
These patio lights by URPOWER are uniquely designed, with a long working time. They have 8 LED solar lights, allowing them to work longer and stay brighter than regular LED lights. The IP64 waterproof and heatproof solar light is suitable for most weather, making them exceptional for illuminating outdoor areas like the porch, aisle, garden, and patio.
This patio light has an automatic switch so it turns on at night when it detects movement for up to 10 feet and can detect motion within a range of 120 degrees. URPOWER says the accuracy of the motion detector is pretty spot on most of the time. The life span of the solar panel is 5 years, the LED lifespan is 50000 minutes, and charging only takes 6 to 8 hours.
The CANDLITE Outdoor Patio Light is highly efficient due to its powerful monocrystalline silicon solar panel and 2200mAh large-capacity battery. It is an excellent choice for those looking to add extra light and security to their outdoor space. The kit comes with four headlamps; each outfitted with 308 LED lamp beads and up to 3000 lumens of power. With this much output and the flexible light panels, which allow you to adjust each side light, you can easily cast up to 1000 square feet of light.
In addition to its impressive brightness, this product comes with three different lighting modes: constant dim lighting, motion-detected brightest lighting, or no lighting when no motion is detected. The lights are waterproof and rated as IP66, making them very resistant to all weather elements like wind, snow, and rain.
This patio light from Moonrays is 25 times stronger than standard lights offering 30 lumen of brightness which is sure to keep your driveway and patio brightly lit. Since they are solar-driven, they can be installed easily, and you can put them wherever they are needed without requiring any wiring. Moonrays claims the stake simply has to be pushed into the ground where there is more sunlight so it can charge the entire day. These stylish solar-powered path lights also have an elegant bronze finish and are an irreplaceable fixture for illuminating dark paths. The light comes with a limited 1-year warranty.
A: Solar-driven lights can stay on for almost 8 hours if they are fully charged, although some offer uninterrupted illumination for up to 12 hours.
A: Although direct sunlight is the most efficient way to charge solar lamps, it's definitely not a requirement, as the batteries are able to charge even on cloudy or rainy days.
A: Non-abrasive wax or liquid polish is a great way to protect the metal part of your light fixtures. Use a damp cloth to clean the bulb and a glass cleaner for other glass surfaces on the light.
A: Solar lights need to be recharged in the sun once they run out of power. However, the battery's energy storage capacity drops after a couple of years, and consequently requires a replacement.
