We independently evaluate all our recommendations. We may receive compensation if you click on a link we provide.
Solar outdoor lights can transform your backyard into a cozy oasis, illuminate the path to your front door after dark, and even help deter intruders. No matter which type you choose, these versatile lights can capture sunlight during the day and illuminate your patio at night.
We tested 27 outdoor solar lights in our Des Moines lab and at home, evaluating their setup, functionality, design, brightness, durability and value. We even set up a GoPro camera to determine exactly how long the lights were on in the middle of the night. For expert advice, we turned to Kate Singleton, design director at online landscape design company Tilly.
If you want to illuminate a specific area, be it your home, driveway, landscaping or pool, Urpower outdoor solar floodlights are a great choice. In our testing, the automatic dusk to dawn light lasted 7 hours and 46 minutes on a full charge. They emit an impressive 200 lumens of light on the highest setting (there’s also a low mode). The light itself is adjustable up to 90 degrees to direct light where it’s needed most, and the angle of the solar panel is adjustable up to 150 degrees so you can face it where it gets the most sunlight throughout the day.
The durability of these floodlights also stood out in our evaluation. These solar lights are rated IP65 weatherproof and were undamaged after we doused them with water, threw golf balls at them, and put them in the refrigerator for an hour. Even after six months of use, they work just as well as on the first day.
Additionally, Urpower lights come with two different mounting options: you can drive them into the ground using the included stakes or attach them to the wall using the included hardware. The luminaires are available in three different colors: cool white, warm white and multi-color. They do not have any modes such as flashing or strobe modes, and they are not particularly complex in terms of design. However, for a basic solar floodlight, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better value for money than the Urpower Outdoor Solar Floodlight.
Lumen: 200 | Opening hours: 8–10 hours | Charging time: 4-5 hours | Weather resistance class: IP65
Unlike Christmas decorations and lights in college dorms, Brightech outdoor lights feature large Edison-style bulbs that give off a warm, moody glow. In our tests, the solar lights stayed on for 7 hours and 52 minutes from sunset to dawn on a full charge. We realized that there were two simple options for attaching solar panels: stakes for driving them into the ground and clamps for attaching them to railings. We believe that the latter is an excellent choice for a balcony or veranda of an apartment.
The spacing between bulbs is 20 inches, and the lights are available with two different cable lengths: 27 feet and 48 feet. (We found, however, that it was impossible to connect multiple cables together.) In our durability tests, the unbreakable plastic bulbs and solar panel didn’t break at all after being hit by golf balls and running water (though the solar panel didn’t break). Damaged) slightly unbalanced) and not damaged by being in the freezer.
Remember, these soft white lights are meant to enhance the overall appearance of your outdoor space, not to improve visibility around your home. If your main goal is to create an attractive outdoor space, Brightech Ambience Pro Solar String Lights will achieve that goal.
Lumen: 100 | Working time: 5-6 hours | Charging time: 6 hours | Weatherproof: IP44 panel, IP56 lamp
These whimsical garlands from Brighton are strung with flexible copper wire, giving it a shape that can be wrapped around anything including bushes, trees, railings and more. Keep in mind that they are designed to provide low ambient lighting and are more for decoration than visibility. In our testing, these automatic dusk-to-dawn lamps weren’t bright enough to read a book, but they burned for 7 hours and 56 minutes on a full charge.
Solar panels can be installed using stakes in the ground, and the angle can be adjusted up to 120 degrees to receive as much sunlight as possible. These lights score highly in all of our durability tests and have an impressive IP65 weather resistance rating.
One of its unique features is its multiple modes, including Sequential Mode, Wave Mode, Slow Glow Mode, Slow Fade Mode, Flash Mode and Constant Glow Mode, so you can switch modes from time to time or try them out to see which one is right for you. I like it the most. Brightown LED solar string lights come in sets of two and are available in a variety of sizes (lengths from 33 to 198 feet) and colors (such as warm white, bright green and multi-color).
Lumens: Not specified | Working hours: 8-10 hours | Charging time: Not specified Weather rating: IP65
These solar floodlights have three brightness levels ranging from low to high. We found the brightest setting to be sufficient for our needs, providing an impressive 25 feet of illumination from dusk to dawn. The lights feature a 120-degree adjustable solar panel and a USB charger for cloudy days.
They take two days to fully charge from the solar panel, which is longer than most other solar lights we’ve tested, although they can be charged in eight hours using the included USB charger. During testing, the flashlights performed well in inclement weather. After six months of use, including several winter snowstorms, the light still works like new.
We were surprised at how easy it was to install, as the solar lights can be easily driven into the ground using stakes or attached to the wall using the included screws. Because the light was embedded in the ground, we couldn’t angle it far enough to illuminate tall windows and trees. Although we wished the mounting bracket had more flexibility in terms of angle adjustment, the spotlight exceeded our expectations with adjustable brightness and dual charging capabilities.
Lumen: 1000 | Operating time: 8–25 hours depending on mode | Charging time: 2 days via solar panel, 8 hours via USB Weatherproof rating: IP65
If you have a post or post in your yard, installing this traditional lantern on top will add elegance to your space and bright light to your lawn. We found the Kemeco flashlight’s light to be easy to read, which isn’t surprising since it produces an impressive 135 lumens. Additionally, in our testing, the light stayed on for eight hours and six minutes from sunset to dawn.
The lantern is made of frosted glass and a cast aluminum frame and is available in black and white, giving it a cottage look. Keep in mind that this pick requires a screwdriver to assemble, and it’s especially important to mount it securely to the stand—we found it to be a little heavy, and the glass broke when we dropped golf balls on it from over 6 feet in the air. . This solar pole lantern is more expensive than the ones we tested, but it also serves as a decorative element that enhances the look of any outdoor space.
Lumen: 135 | Working time: 6-8 hours | Charging time: 8 hours | Weather rating: Not specified
These wall chandeliers provide soft, warm lighting that is ideal for illuminating entryways, porches, fences, etc. without being too bright or harsh. In our testing, we found the light to be too dim for reading, but it was enough to illuminate the entry point. Although these lights are advertised as dusk-to-dawn lamps, the manufacturer does not indicate how long they should burn. We found their opening hours to be the shortest of any hotel on our list at just 4 hours. 15 minutes. If you just want to light the way for night traffic, this may be enough time.
The Home Zone Solar Wall Light has also passed the water, golf ball and refrigerator tests, maintaining an impressive IP67 weather resistance rating. Overall, this would be a great choice for those who want a wall light to illuminate a small area.
These floodlights are the only outdoor solar lights on our list that come with motion detection technology, which means they have a built-in sensor that can detect motion up to 33 feet away and at an angle of 120 degrees, which we found in our testing. worked as expected. Work. According to the manufacturer, the light will be triggered by people, animals and cars, and not by wind, rain or frost. With an IP68 weatherproof rating, the AloftSun Motion Sensor solar floodlight unsurprisingly passed all of our durability tests.
There are three different modes – although it’s worth noting that it can be difficult to figure out how to change the settings at first. In light sensor mode, the lighting remains dim when there is no movement and switches to high brightness when motion is detected. Always-on mode maintains medium brightness regardless of whether there is movement nearby. In bright light sensor mode, the lights stay off when there is no movement and switch to bright light when there is movement. The light is bright enough for reading even in the darkest conditions, and when fully charged, it can stay on for eight hours.
These lights come in sets of two and four and can be wall-mounted or in-ground. At the time of our testing, the range only offered a cool light option, which was our main criticism (it may be a little harsh for some people’s tastes). The brand has since expanded its product range and these motion sensor floodlights are now available in a warm light option.
Lumens: Not specified | Opening hours: 12 hours | Charging time: 6-8 hours | Weather resistance: IP68
The Ring Solar floodlight is an installed outdoor light that can be controlled via a smartphone app. It may seem complicated to set up, but in our testing it took us less than 10 minutes to get this smart light up and ready to use. It arrived fully assembled, the battery was half charged, and the instructions were very easy to follow. Unlike many of the other options on our list, the ring light’s solar panels are not attached directly to the light source. Instead, it’s a separate unit with a long cord, but we like that the panel is easier to place in direct sunlight.
With the app, you can turn lights on and off, change brightness, set schedules and alarms, and adjust motion sensitivity. It has multiple brightness settings and emits an impressive 1,200 lumens. Keep in mind that you will need a ring bridge to operate this smart light, although you can buy the included starter pack for a little more.
Lumen: 1200 lumens | Opening hours: Not specified | Charging time: Not specified | Weather rating: IP66
Our top pick is the Urpower Outdoor Solar Flood Lights as they can be mounted in two different ways and have two brightness settings, the highest being an impressive 200 lumens. We also appreciate that both the solar panels and the light itself are dimmable, so you can direct the light where it’s needed most and ensure the panels receive the maximum amount of sunlight. If you need string lights, Brightech Ambience Pro Solar string lights are easy to install and create a relaxing ambiance.
We tested 27 outdoor solar lights in our Des Moines lab and at home, rating each one based on its setup, functionality, design, brightness, durability and cost. We first unpack each product and assemble it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We then charged each lamp in direct sunlight for the amount of time specified in the instructions.
Once the flashlight was fully charged, we moved it into a completely dark room and watched to see if it turned on on its own (for dusk to dawn lighting only). We rated the brightness of each type of light by trying to read a book based on the glow of the light.
For lights with multiple settings, we looked at different patterns and colors and noticed how easy it was to switch modes. For motion sensor lights (like the AloftSun Motion Sensor Solar Flood Light), we put each model in motion detection mode, leave the room, wait two minutes, then return to the room at least 2 feet away to observe the sensor. recording from the world. Movement of the situation.
We then used a watering can to spray water on each light fixture to simulate rain. We then moved the light back into the dark room to see if the water affected its functionality. To further evaluate the durability of each product, we dropped golf balls from 6 feet above the light source and then 4 feet above each solar panel (if applicable) and recorded whether any damage occurred. (The Kemeco street light is the only light on our list that was damaged by a golf ball.) We also placed each light in the refrigerator for an hour and repeated the test above to simulate cold weather conditions.
Finally, we tested it outdoors. We set up each light side by side in an open testing area, within the field of view of the GoPro camera. We evaluated the ease of installation of each light and then set it to automatic dusk-to-dawn mode or manual on/off mode, depending on the type. We left the lights on overnight and reviewed GoPro footage to record the light output, noting how long each model took to turn on and off. Once the review was completed, we obtained the retail price of each item and estimated its total value based on the test results listed above.
Solar lights generally fall into one of three categories: dusk to dawn lighting, motion activated lighting, and timer controlled lighting. Dusk to dawn solar lights are the most common. They use sensors to detect sunlight and automatically light up when the sun goes down and stay on until the sun rises, making them an excellent choice for decorative lighting. However, the dusk to dawn option may struggle to retain enough solar energy during the day to keep the lights on all night, especially if you live in an area with limited sunlight.
Motion-activated solar lights turn on when motion is detected, helping to save energy. They are best for people who need solar lights for safety or orientation purposes, such as floodlights. Finally, timer-controlled lighting allows you to specify exactly when the lights will turn on, giving you maximum control.
Whether it’s indoor or outdoor lighting, Singleton says it’s important to consider where exactly you want the light to go, asking, “Do you need to light a path? Do you want to create a focal point in your yard? Are there steps you need lighting for safety? Do you have a back door that needs lighting for easy access? Here are the common types of outdoor lighting, each serving a different purpose.
Light brightness is measured in lumens: the higher the number, the brighter the light. For ambient lighting, brightness levels between 5 and 100 lumens are best, while lamps used for security, such as spotlights and spotlights, are typically higher. Some solar lights have multiple brightness settings and are designed for different purposes.
Simply put, an IP rating is a measure of how waterproof or weather-resistant a product is. This is especially important for outdoor solar lights as they will be exposed to different weather conditions and elements.
“IP stands for ingress protection and refers to how well a fixture is protected from solid particles and liquids,” Singleton said. “A good rating for outdoor solar lights is IP65. The first number indicates the ability to protect against dust and debris, with the second number indicating how airtight a Level 5 fixture [will protect against] an inclined blast. , and Level 8 can be completely submerged in deep water.”
If you see an X in the IP rating, it means the product does not provide protection in that category. For example, IPX4 means that the device is protected from splashing water from all directions, but not from dust and debris.
Depending on your needs and budget, you may want to consider some special features. Some outdoor solar lights are equipped with Wi-Fi, so you can control them from your phone. Other features can change colors or patterns (such as flashing or strobe lights), which can be fun during the holidays and when throwing parties.
Linkind Outdoor Landscape Flood Light with Solar Motion Sensor: This is a less expensive motion sensor option with a simple, streamlined design and several different modes to choose from. However, it didn’t perform well compared to the competition, as it only lasted 4 hours and 9 minutes in our testing, although that might be enough for some.
Frontage Pro Series VI Solar Road Lights: If you’re willing to spend a little more, these road lights have an attractive design and produce 60 lumens of light. Unfortunately, they only last 3 hours and 20 minutes when fully charged.
Singleton says, “Solar lights use the sun to charge during the day and then light up at night when there is power.” But on a more complex level, she explains, solar lights are made up of five main components: photosensitive solar cells. Resistors, batteries, controller board and LED lights.
“The solar cell is connected directly to the battery,” Singleton said. “The solar cell essentially charges the battery throughout the day. After sunset, the solar cell stops producing electricity and the photoresistor turns on the LED. The control board is the “brains” of the sunlight, receiving energy from two sources. solar cell and battery, and from the photoresistor input to indicate when to turn on the LED.”
The sunlight will remain on until the battery runs out or until the photoresistor detects light (from dusk to dawn).
Post time: Oct-31-2024