Right outdoor lighting can enhance the beauty of your exterior in the most effortless way possible. But you should know which outdoor light is worth the price
If you are about to have a nice outdoor that you will be proud of then choosing the right type of outdoor lighting is important. This shouldn’t come as a surprise that showing your landscape beauty in the broad daylight won’t matter. However, it would be the nighttime where the charming beauty of your landscaping will help it stand apart from others. Only the right type of light that fuses the combination of beauty and light will create an ambiance that will leave a lasting impression.
As the sun sets, outdoor lighting helps to extend the use of outdoor spaces, as well as create a warm and inviting atmosphere. When it comes to setting the mood and creating interesting focal points throughout your yard at night, balanced and thoughtful outdoor lighting can be the difference between a welcoming and safe entryway or a fire pit area in your backyard for after-hours enjoyment.
Following are our top picks for the best outdoor lights of 2024 so far. They are all tested and reviewed so you can opt for them if you want to.
The Best Budget Outdoor Light
Beams Battery Powered Motion Sensing LED Spotlight
Ease of Setup
4.5/5
Design
5/5
Brightness
4.5/5
Durability
5/5
value
5/5
Pros
Cons
We found the motion detection quite sensitive and can pick up the movement 30 feet away.
The installation equipment isn't suitable for every surface.
The brightness level is actually satisfactory and can provide you with quite an illumination.
This low-cost spotlight is simple and perfect for any yard. We like it for being high quality that comes with a low price tag. The light is battery-operated and it can be installed in any direction. Its motion detection is sensitive and can detect motion around 30 feet away. Also, the illumination it provides isn’t wild and will blind you upon contact. The illumination is just right and it will automatically turn off if no further motion is detected. However, the installation process isn’t easy according to our test. It came with the regular screws which may fit to some regular surface but not on any regular surface. You will need longer screws if you don’t have a plain surface.
Best Decorative
Brightown LED Solar Powered Fairy Lights
Ease of Setup
5/5
Design
3.5/5
Brightness
4.5/5
Durability
3.5/5
value
4.5/5
Pros
Cons
- Comes with an extra set
- Multiple lighting modes
- Durable
- The overall ambient lighting is low
- Not many replacement options are available
Looking for a wallet-friendly way to brighten up your outdoor space? This Brighton Outdoor Solar String Lights we reviewed is one of the best overall packages. These 33-foot-long fairy lights come in seven colors, but we tested the white ones. They successfully passed our durability test. Also, these lights were one of the easiest lights to install. You just have to stick the solar panels in the ground with two stakes to make them work. Since they’re solar-powered, you won’t need to worry about electricity bills. Just keep in mind that they aren’t super bright.
The best thing about them is that they have eight different lighting modes, including waves and twinkling, perfect for parties or holidays. They will turn on at night and the battery can last upto 10 hours. However, we did notice they shut off for a short moment during our overnight testing. Don’t forget to install the solar panels in a place where they can consume the sunlight. Overall, this budget-friendly pick is a great bargain for anyone looking to add an ambiance to their outdoor decor with some fun string lights!
Best Investment
Ring Motion-Activated Floodlight Camera
Ease of Setup
5/5
Design
4.5/5
Brightness
3.5/5
Durability
4.5/5
value
3/5
Pros
Cons
- Can be operated with a smartphone app
- Adjust the motion sensors to reduce false alarms
- At the highest levels, the flood can illuminate around 45 feet of area.
- The ambient lighting is low
- The replacement options are low
This floodlight also features a security camera. This two-in-one lighting is worth the investment. You can get a light within the camera to illuminate and secure your house. The light unit is large so spare some space to install this. The model tested was the wired one so it took some time to install. It will need to be hardwired into the home’s electrical system. The best part is that it can be operated with an exclusive app for smartphones. Just sync it and operate it. There are multiple settings available within the application. You can create a schedule, adjust the brightness, and configure the motion detection with the application. We were surprised to see the brightness of the light which can illuminate upto 45feet away.
We like the functionality of the light as well. It illuminated around 45 feet of area at its peak brightness. Also, the camera captured clear video footage during the day and night. With it app, you can have a live feed as well which makes it easier to monitor what’s going on outside your house.
Best Budget
Home Zone Security Solar Wall Lanterns
Ease of Setup
5/5
Design
4.5/5
Brightness
4.3/5
Durability
5/5
value
3/5
Pros
Cons
- Feature a Stylish design within the budget
- Two-pack
- Can be placed on the table or hanged
- Portable
- The brightness is lower for the price
- Doesn’t come with extra features and on-off buttons
This is another wall-mounted light that features a stylish scone that can be mounted to the wall. This light from better homes and gardens features a built-in solar panel on top. Before the review, we were able to install it easily. You don’t need to deal with any wiring. However, the scone doesn’t offer much of operation setting and the lighting isn’t adjustable. However, the brightness will be increased when it detects the motion. In our review, we found that the detectors were reliable enough that detect any movement around 25 feet.
Solar-powered and low lumens make this light not the brightest, but it can comfortably illuminate an area of 10 feet. Its design is far more aesthetically pleasing than its utilitarian counterparts, helping to improve your home’s curb appeal.
Best String Lights
Brightech Ambiance Pro Solar String Lights
Ease of Setup
5/5
Design
3.5/5
Brightness
4/5
Durability
4/5
value
3/5
Pros
Cons
- Design is stylish
- The placement is versatile
- Durable products that offer lasting bulbs
- Installation is simple
- Cannot connect multiple lights
- Individually lights arent brightest
Your backyard or patio will have that festive and cute touch with the string light. We believe that these lights are a perfact choice for your outdoor kitchen and sitting area (if you own one) the set by Brightech is 27 feet long. You do not need any electricity to use them. The included solar panel is just enough that you can install where you want to install and it has direct sunlight. These durable offerings are stylish as well and held up well during our tests. The solar panel features 1000 hour charge lifespan according to the manufacturer and comes with 2 year warranty.
Although these lights produced a moody glow, they were too bright to read by when they were strung out. We liked the “moody lighting” they produced. Lastly, these remained lit for a shorter period than the other batteries we tested (6 hours). If you are using them only to decorate the area then it won’t be a problem. The 48-foot strand can be connected (as we hoped!) but cannot be connected to other strands.
Final Words On Best Outdoor Lights
Best outdoor lights can be subjective but you should understand that choosing the right outdoor light can be worth investing in. The right type of light can be a dazzling addition in that area. These were some of our top picks that you can opt for for the best experience. We tried different categories from budget segment to overall lighting. However, you should assess your requirements and buy something that isn’t just aesthetically pleasing but worth the price.