Whether you’re walking to your car at night or want to add cost-effective security measures to your home, outdoor solar lights are an inexpensive and convenient way to make your home safer for you, your pets and visitors. Ideal for backyards, decks, porches, patios, driveways or any outdoor location that is often left in the dark, installing solar lights not only helps the environment thanks to their energy-saving power but could also possibly eliminate any and all outdoor electricity fees.
Outdoor solar lights absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, delivering an environmentally friendly way to illuminate the night. They require little to no wiring and can be mounted onto any desired wall area or applied to a stake and inserted into the ground.
What To Look For In Solar Lights
Do you need a motion sensor? With a motion detector, these lights will automatically go on upon approach and turn off within 10 to 30 seconds. This makes them a great option for homeowners with pets or anyone with a dark driveway
Is a timer important? If you travel often or are away from home at night, solar lights with a timer can help deter potential thieves and make it appear as if the home is occupied even when it’s empty.
Keep your climate in mind. All the lights on our list are designed for outdoor use, but some are more conducive to extreme temperatures.
How We Chose The Best Outdoor Solar Lights
All the outdoor lights on our list are weatherproof and can withstand not-so-ideal weather conditions to ensure they work properly in every situation, all year round. We opted for lights that are easy to install, do not require maintenance or electrical wiring, and produce enough light to provide added safety and security to their surroundings.
If you’re tired of being in the dark, check out these high-quality outdoor solar lights.
1. URPOWER Solar Lights
The Solar Lights by URPOWER is a sensor light that works great for your garden, backyard, deck, porch or patio. Weatherproof and heatproof, this light can be installed easily and without damaging the environment. During the day the sun will charge up these lights and at night it will turn on when it detects motion, ensuring you’re always able to find your way. These lights are super bright with eight LED’s and they provide up to 12 hours of lighting on a full charge. Available in three sizes, these small solar lights can easily be mounted on the front, side or back of a home or shed and create a powerful beam of light without blinding drivers or pedestrians.
Pros: Heatproof for hot climates, solar-powered, provide up to 12 hours of bright light on a full charge.
Cons: These solar lights will charge on a cloudy day, but will not charge to their fullest.
2. URPOWER Solar Lights
These in-ground Solar Lights by URPOWER are powered by the latest technology for high-tech landscaping. During the day, they retract and absorb solar energy and once dusk hits, they will pop up, light up and give you light where you need it. Perfect for a pathway, driveway, deck or dock, these lights are weather-resistant, work independently and illuminate via four LEDs. These are fully adjustable, in-ground lights that are easy to install with no tools.
Pros: Solar-powered, weather-resistant, easy to install.
Cons: These do not have motion sensors.
3. LITOM Original Outdoor Solar Lights
LITOM Outdoor Solar Lights have a 270 degree, wide-angle illumination range which gives you a coverage area of almost three times as much as other solar lights. With an impressive 150 square foot range, these flood lights are ideal for installing over doors and garages to create a wide beam of light that helps create a safe and visible space to talk and drive even in the dark. All weather-ready, these lights will work properly whether there is rain, snow or heat and are ideal for use on the front door, backyard, garage, driveway, deck, pathway or porch. The Litom feature a high-efficient solar panel equipped with lights that charge 25% faster than normal solar lights, keeping the battery in the best condition possible.
Pros: Four-season compatible, wide coverage area, fast charging time.
Cons: The motion sensors have a full intensity mode, allowing you to always leave them on, but it tends to drain the battery quickly.
4. TomCare Solar Lights Flickering Flame Solar Torches
If you need to bring the light up, literally, in your outdoor space, the tribe has spoken and they suggest the TomCare Solar Lights Flickering Flame Solar Torches. The solar-powered lights can last for 10 hours during the summer months and five hours in the winter, with eight hours of charging time. The IP65-rated weatherproof and durable torch-style lights, which can withstand high temperatures and are frost-resistant, measure 43 inches in length and leave about 30.8 inches of torch exposed once properly inserted into the ground. Assembly is fast and easy and the auto on and off function will ensure the lights turn on and off at the appropriate times.
Pros: Raised ambient lighting, weatherproof design, assembly is straightforward and easy.
Cons: The part of the stake that is inserted into the ground can become separated from the rest of the torch when removing the stake.
5. Maggift 8 Pcs Solar Powered LED Garden Lights
If creating a gentle stream of light in your outdoor space is more in line with your needs, we like the Maggift 8 Pcs Solar Powered LED Garden Lights. The three-lumen lights are designed mostly for decorative purposes, but still provide enough light to help add some guidance to paths and outdoor spaces. The intricate design of the Maggift can help to create an inviting and impressive outdoor space and the stake design make it easy to install the lights by simply pushing them into the ground. Maggfit includes two sizes of stakes to help users achieved their desired aesthetic and the weather-resistant lights can stay outside through rain and snow. Each light includes a manual on and off switch and will turn on automatically at dusk and turn off at dawn.
Pros: Two stake heights included, provides ambient light, auto and manual options.
Cons: The lights can easily be knocked off their stakes and may not be a good fit for yards with inquisitive dogs or children.
6. Brightech Ambience Pro – Waterproof, Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights
Add a warm and inviting touch of light to your outdoor space with a set of solar-powered string lights from Brightech. The waterproof set of lights, which are available in 27- and 48-foot lengths, include LED bulbs and give off 3000k of soft white light to create a welcoming ambiance to your space. Made using commercial grade weatherproof bistro lights that are also shatterproof for extra safety, the Brightech lights can handle heat up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, snow, rain and winds of up to 50 MPH. Ideal for lighting spaces far from an electrical outlet, like gazebos or fences, each bulb has a ring overtop that can be hooked to a guidewire. The bulbs are rated for 20,000 hours of use, which gives them about a 2.5-year lifespan.
Pros: Provide ambient lighting, can withstand extreme weather, long life span.
Cons: The Brightech lights provide about six hours of light on a full charge, which is less than many of the other lights on our list.
7. Sunnest Solar Lights Outdoor
Light pathways and add an ambiance to any outdoor setting with the Sunnest Solar Lights. The set of one dozen outdoor lights feature an ABS plastic stake and stainless steel tubing that is rust-proof, waterproof, and anti-aging. The top of the light includes a battery lamp that houses the LED bulb and includes transparent PP material that is durable and IP44 water and snow resistant. The heatproof lights have 2 volts of power and a manual on and off switch. The lights will charge all day through sunlight and automatically turn on at dusk, lasting 8 to 10 hours. For those who want to add some color to their outdoor space, Sunnest also sets the same set of 12 lights in a multicolor pack.
Pros: Stainless steel tubing, durable and IP44 resistant, impressive 8 to 10-hour runtime.
Cons: The lights don’t throw off enough light to be counted as a security feature in an outdoor space.