Are you looking to add some flair to an outdoor garden space? Or are you in need of some efficient, clean solutions for your lighting needs? Luckily, outdoor solar lights are here for you! There is a huge variety of solar companies on the market today, each with different designs and specs to meet your diverse needs.
Outdoor solar lights are a great way to offer beautiful lighting that has no impact on your energy bill. Whether you’re taking your outdoor solar lights to go or adding them to an existing space, solar lights can provide the beautiful light and ambiance you’re looking for.
There have been vast improvements in outdoor solar lighting in the last few years. They are no longer a weak or unreliable lighting source- today, you can depend on your solar lights to be powerful, efficient additions to your lighting set up.
If you’re looking to invest in outdoor solar lighting, this guide is the perfect starting point. Here we will be discussing the basics of outdoor solar lighting, the pros and cons of investing, everything you need to know before you buy, and our top product recommendations to browse once you’re ready to invest.
Let’s get started!
Best Overall Outdoor Solar Lights
The lights we’ve selected below are great investments for your garden or basic home lighting. They come at a reasonable mid-range price point, are widely reviewed. If you want to add some flair to your garden, consider these!
1. LITOM 12 LEDs Solar Landscape Spotlights
These solar landscape spotlights from LITOM can offer some dynamic, versatile lighting to any outdoor space. These products can be staked into the ground or mounted onto a wall, giving you tons of different lighting approaches.
Their heads are adjustable, making finding optimum daytime sun easier. They also feature multiple brightness modes, are weather and heat resistant, and have an auto turn on and shut off. No matter your lighting needs, this smart, efficient solar light has got you covered.
Tech Specs:
- 5 W
- 6 lbs
- Lithium-ion Battery
PROS:
- Multiple light modes (low & bright)
- Waterproof & heat-resistant
- Adjustable head
- Multiple installation options
CONS:
- Require 4-5 hours direct sunlight to charge
- Not motion-sensing
- Made of plastic
2. Aootek New Solar Lights
These solar lights from Aootek can provide some powerful outdoor lighting for your home or business. They are easy-to-install lights and would function great by outdoor doorways or on the sides of buildings for reliable night and emergency lighting.
Ther motion-sensor makes them super useful for outdoor, nighttime lighting and will work to reserve power for when it’s needed most. Plus, its solar panel is an energy-saving, monocrystalline silicon design, providing faster battery charging than other models on the market.
Tech Specs:
- LED lighting
- Lithium-ion Battery
- 7 W
PROS:
- Waterproof & Heat Proof
- Built-in motion-sensor
- Three lighting modes
- Smart brightness control mode
CONS:
- Wall-mounted installation only
- Plastic body
3. LECLSTAR Solar Lights
These solar lights from Leclstar are designed to last! These wall lights have a 30,000+ hour lifespan, meaning that with proper care, these lights can provide endless help in the years to come. Even if something goes wrong, their lifetime warranty should have you covered.
These solar lights are designed to be wall-mounted, providing some great outdoor lighting for your home or business. Just install with the provided screws or the provided sticky pad, and you’re ready to go.
Tech Specs:
- LED Lighting
- AA Batteries
- 24 lbs
PROS:
- Motion-sensor lighting
- 3 lighting modes
- Lifetime replacement service
- Waterproof & heatproof
CONS:
- Plastic body
- Motion sensor only provides 30 sec. Lighting
- Some reviews cite water damage
Best Budget Outdoor Solar Lights
If you are looking to make a smaller investment, there are still some great solar light options out there! These budget options may not be as powerful as some of the other lights on our list but can still provide some great style to your home or outdoor gathering.
4. VIBOOS Solar Ground Lights
These solar ground lights from VIBOOS are simple yet effective, providing some much-needed shine to your outdoor space.
If you have a garden path or walkway that is tricky to navigate at night, these lights can do the trick. Simply stick them into the ground along your pathway to provide some automatic nighttime lighting.
These lights come in an 8-pack, making them super convenient to light longer walkways at a relatively low cost.
Tech Specs:
- 29 lbs
- AAA Batteries
- LED Lighting
PROS:
- Waterproof
- Auto turn on/shut off
- Stainless steel body
CONS:
- Can be staked into the ground only
- Some complaints about dim light
5. Hmcity Solar Lights
These lights from Hmcity can provide some great outdoor lighting at a relatively low cost.
With a built-in motion sensor, these lights can be pretty handy in providing some useful outdoor lighting. No more fumbling outside in the dark as you look for keys. These lights can turn on to greet you home with some great, sustainable light.
Tech Specs:
- LED Lighting
- Lithium-ion Battery
- 5 W
PROS:
- Waterproof & heat resistant
- Built-in motion sensor
- 12-month warranty
- 200 ft. in light coverage
CONS:
- Plastic body
- Motion detector requires extreme closeness (3-4 yards)
6. Xmifer Solar Fairy Lights
The perfect way to make any outdoor space feel more magical is fairy lights! These solar-panel based fairy lights from Xmifer would be great to decorate the backyard, a cute cottage/trailer set up, or even an outdoor party event.
These lights are perfect for those looking for some trendy, chic decor. These solar lights can provide some beautiful nighttime ambiance and can be hung with relative ease, as you won’t depend on an outlet to get your fairy lights to shine.
Tech Specs:
- LED Lighting
- 72 ft. in length
- Rechargeable 1800mAH NI-MH Battery
PROS:
- Automatically turns on at night
- 8 lighting modes
- Waterproof and heat resistant
- Wiring easy to shape
CONS:
- Not intended to provide bright lighting
- Don’t last well in extreme weather
Best Premium Outdoor Solar Lights
Though pricey, these outdoor solar lights are definitely worth the investment! These are the kinds of lights you should look to purchase if you have some larger lighting needs.
While these would be a little intense to line a garden path, these can provide efficient, sustainable light for an outdoor venue, workplace environment, driveway, or street. Plus, their lack of hardwiring makes them an easy choice, as no zoning or construction is required to provide ample, large-scale lighting.
7. Gebosun LED 60W Solar Lights
This outdoor solar light from Gebosun is designed to meet larger lighting needs. Far from a decorative outdoor light, this light is ideal for providing long-lasting light for larger spaces or outdoor security purposes.
This can provide a ton of light at home but is also suited well for warehouse spaces, streetlights, barns, or even outdoor sports areas. This outdoor solar light is pretty powerful, bright lighting for up to 12 hours at night on a full charge.
Tech Specs:
- 60W LED Lighting
- Lithium-ion Batteries
- 12 lbs
PROS:
- Aluminum body
- Adjustable light direction
- Auto turn-on/shut off
- 2 year warranty
CONS:
- 8 hours of direct sunlight to charge
- Some work needed for installation
8. Generies Solar Street Lights
This outdoor solar light from Generies can provide some powerful lighting for your outdoor lighting needs.
This aluminum solar light provides over 300W of light, giving optimum brightness across a wide area. Plus, its powerful battery boasts an ability to provide up to 36 hours of continuous lighting, with ample solar charging.
This light also comes with a handy remote control, allowing you to switch between 8 different lighting modes, adjust the brightness of your lights, and set a timer function. This is the perfect investment for anyone looking for reliable, long-lasting emergency lights or lighting for an outdoor project that can’t quit.
Tech Specs:
- 300W LED Lighting
- Lithium-ion Batteries
- 16 pounds
PROS:
- Up to 36 hours of continuous lighting
- Aluminum body
- Includes a remote control
- 2-year warranty
- Adjustable brightness
- Waterproof
CONS:
- Requires some intense installation
- Needs 6-8 hours direct sunlight to charge
- Heavy in weight
9. ETENDA Solar Flood Lights
The most expensive lighting on our list, these solar flood lights from Etenda are designed to provide powerful, bright light.
These may be a little intense for basic outdoor home lighting but are great for anyone who needs bright, sustainable lighting that can run off-the-grid. If you need powerful lighting outdoors, these panels can be a great investment to ensure bright, long-lasting light.
Tech Specs:
- AA Batteries
- 300 W
- Pounds
PROS:
- Can provide 10+ hours of light
- Includes a remote control
- Waterproof
- 18-month warranty
- Aluminum body
CONS:
- Heavy in weight
- Large-scale solar panels require installation
What Are Outdoor Solar Lights?
Let’s begin this process by getting a better understanding of what solar powered outdoor light actually is. At its most basic definition, outdoor solar lights are lighting components equipped with solar cells that work to convert sunlight into electricity, powering their lights.
Outdoor solar lighting is made out of a handful of important electrical components. The most important component is the solar cell, which generates solar power electricity by capturing the sun’s rays during daylight hours.
This energy is then transferred and stored in a rechargeable battery. These can be rechargeable AA/AAA batteries, or more commonly, lithium-ion batteries.
For most basic garden solar lighting, this battery works to store energy until the components photoresistor detects a lack of light. Once no light is detected by the photoresistor, the battery works to power the device, turning it on to provide light.
In a majority of solar lights, this energy is transferred to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) light. These components, including the LED light, solar cell, and battery, are all protected by an external casing. Depending on the intended use and price of the product, this can range from plastic to metal weatherproof packaging.
As you can see, solar lights are made out of some relatively simple components that combine to create efficient, sustainable lighting! In fact, you can even DIY your own solar lamps at home with similar components if you think you’re up to it.
However, if you’re looking for dependable lighting for your garden or home, we still recommend purchasing some of the products that we’ll be exploring below.
What Are the Benefits of Solar Lights?
Now that we know more about what makes up outdoor solar lights, it’s time to explore the benefits. There are a ton of reasons why investing in outdoor solar lights are a worthwhile endeavor, but here we’re going to explore some of the top pros:
Clean, Renewable Energy!
The biggest benefit to solar outdoor lighting is knowing that you’re choosing a clean, renewable source of lighting. Whether you aim to live entirely off the grid, or you are simply looking for new ways to save on your energy costs, you can invest in outdoor solar lighting, knowing the choice is one that makes the planet happy.
Unlike other traditional outdoor lights, you won’t need to depend on hard wiring or fossil fuels to power your solar lighting. As long as they have access to direct sunlight, these devices can provide self-sufficient light.
Outdoor solar lighting is an easy, efficient way to keep it green. Plus, while you’re saving the environment, you’ll also be saving some money, as solar lighting will have no impact on your energy bill. That’s a double win in our books!
Safe, Dependable Lighting Source
Solar lighting can provide some peace of mind when you need it most. Even in a power outage, your solar lighting can provide light when you are without traditional hardwired power with adequate charging.
You also won’t have to worry about turning these lights on or the cost of keeping them running all night. Once outside, these lights can provide a steady source of outdoor lighting. Many come equipped with auto turn-ons and shut-offs as well, for easy, reliable use!
Along with being dependable, you can also use this kind of lighting relatively safely outdoors. Place these by your water fixtures or swimming pool without the hazards of wires mixing with water.
You also won’t have to worry about animals or pets being interested in exploring the wiring that would be required for hardwired outdoor lighting. These units are often entirely self-contained, removing any tricky wire-management.
Easy Installation
Though some larger solar panels may need a bit more work, a majority of outdoor solar lighting is easy to install. As long as your solar light can receive daily sunlight, then they’re ready for use, making the placement possibilities relatively endless.
You won’t need to worry about finding a place to plug in your lights or do any cable management to hide unsightly wires. These self-contained units only require direct sunlight, and they’re good to go.
Most outdoor solar lighting, especially options designed for pathways or gardens, are easy to install. These lights can often be simply stuck into the ground, and then they’re ready to go! There’s no time-consuming wiring set up necessary- once they’re in the ground and the path of the sun, you are finished with setting up.
What Are the Cons of Solar Lights?
Of course, there are a handful of cons to investing in outdoor solar lighting. Be sure to keep the following in mind as you think about making your investment into outdoor solar lighting:
Dependency on Sunlight
Outdoor solar lights depend on the sun to work. While this dependency does provide a variety of benefits, it can also be a drawback for some users.
If you’re living in a particularly cloudy or rainy environment, you may struggle with getting the most out of your outdoor solar lighting. Most solar light options require a full day of sun to charge their batteries for overnight use. If you can’t get guaranteed daily sunlight, you may have some nights where your outdoor lights aren’t working to their full capacity.
This can be a huge drawback, especially in emergency scenarios, where you need lighting fast. While some larger models may have batteries or generators that can store backup reserves, most basic outdoor lighting setups need daily sun exposure.
If you can’t guarantee daily sunlight, you may want to look into different outdoor lighting options.
Cost of Investment
Depending on your lighting needs, outdoor solar lighting can be pricey.
In this guide, we are primarily looking at outdoor solar lights designed for gardens or pathways, which can be found at relatively reasonable prices. However, if you need something higher-powered, you can expect to make a sizable investment.
Solar lights capable of huge, long-lasting light displays can go well past the $500 range in price. However, this high cost can be worth it, as you won’t have to pay for fuel for your solar light after your initial investment.
Dim Lighting
Though solar lights can be surprisingly powerful, they are often dimmer than their wired counterparts. Plus, other factors, such as a lack of sunlight captured during the day, can have an impact on the level of brightness your outdoor solar light is capable of outputting.
However, it is possible that dim lighting issues could be due to debris and dirt build-up found on your solar cell surface. Be sure to regularly clean and maintain your solar lights for optimum use. You can check out this video here to learn more about upkeep for basic garden solar lights.
This isn’t the biggest issue for most consumers, but if dim lighting is a huge concern, you may run into some issues with your solar-powered lights.
What to Know Before You Buy
Now that we know the pros and cons, it’s almost time to buy! However, before you make any purchasing decisions for your outdoor solar lights, there are a few more things you should know.
Before you purchase outdoor solar lights, try to keep the following things in mind:
How Much Sunlight Do You Get Daily?
The most important thing needed for your solar powered light is, obviously, the sun! As we discussed above, it’s important to ensure your solar lights can receive direct sunlight every day for optimum use.
If you live somewhere where you go through long periods without sunlight due to weather, you may not get the most out of your solar lights. Luckily there are great resources online, like this off-grid solar calculator, that can help you determine how much sun you receive a day on average in your area.
Can Your Solar Lights Withstand Your Climate?
Since you are buying your outdoor solar lights for the outdoors, it’s important to determine if they are built to withstand your particular environment.
Outdoor solar lights thrive best in dry, sun-filled climates. Though some models can be built to withstand the occasional outdoor rainstorm, some can cease to work when left outdoors for the winter months. Extreme weather can easily damage your outdoor solar lights.
If you live somewhere with snowy winter months, consider bringing your lights in for the winter. Turn them off and store them in a cool, dark environment when not in use. This can preserve your battery and solar cell for future use once you’re back into the summer months.
Tips for Lighting Placement
It’s important to properly place your outdoor solar lights, so they function at their best.
Ensure that when placing your outdoor lights outside, they are in an area where they can receive adequate daily sunlight. If you place them in a shady garden, under a porch, or in the way of trees, your lights will not work their best.
Not only will this ensure your outdoor solar light battery can adequately charge, but it will also ensure your light’s photoresistor is not prematurely triggered. If your light receives too much shade in the day, your light may be “tricked” into emitting light during daylight hours.
What Function Do You Need Outdoor Lighting For?
As we’ve described above, different kinds of outdoor lights can meet a wide variety of needs! The kind of light you choose to invest in will depend on your intended use. Most outdoor solar lighting can fit into the following categories:
Garden Lights
Garden lighting can usually come at a cheaper cost, as these lights are intended for more decorative, accent-based uses. Since these are the kinds of solar lights you would use to add some flair to a garden, they usually come at a low cost and offer very basic lighting. They may not be great for any kind of emergency scenario where you need a reliable light source, but they sure do look nice.
These can come as staked lights to push into the ground or even string lights to wrap around garden trees or fencing. Some of these lights can even come in colorful shapes and sizes to really add some flair to your garden!
Pathway Lights
Pathway lights are typically tall, staked lighting designed to add some light to a walkway, sidewalk, driveway, or pathway in your yard. These are hugely popular among consumers today and often offer more light and power than decorative garden lights.
While you can find some cheaper varieties of these lights, they can come at higher price points. This price point can be worth the investment, though, as it often includes some great features like a weatherproof design, longer-lasting batteries, or more powerful solar cells.
Home Spotlights
Sometimes referred to as task lights, these lights run pricier due to their brightness and intended use. These are the kinds of light you should look to invest in if you want bright lighting for your doorways or walls around your home or if you’re looking for some reliable outdoor lighting for your business.
These lights are often designed to be mounted to walls and can be connected to separate solar panels for increased power. These can provide some high quality, long-lasting lighting. If you want outdoor lighting in case of any kind of power-out emergency scenario or want reliable back up lighting at your place of work, solar task lights can get the job done.
Large-Scale Panels
Though these are less common, there are solar outdoor lights designed to provide supreme power. These lights often come in the form of large panels and require separate, large-scale solar panel cells to power their lights.
These panel sized lights can be worth the investment if you have large-scale lighting needs. They’re great for providing outdoor lights during events, on a set, or at a place of work that needs more than a spotlight.
Though useful, these lights can be fairly expensive, and some require external accessories for optimum use.