Solar led outdoor lights are a smart and energy-efficient way to illuminate your yard, patio, or garden. They harness the sun’s power to charge batteries during the day and then automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn. You can use these lights to light up a pathway, highlight an outdoor living space, or provide guidance at the back door or driveway. They’re also ideal for adding a warm, moody glow to a deck, balcony, or pool area.
Before choosing a solar led outdoor light, you should consider what type of lighting you’re looking for and the amount of illumination you’ll need. For example, you might want a set of solar string lights to create a cozy, ambiance-filled space or a flood light to shed a bright, concentrated spotlight on an area. If you’re concerned about wild animals in your yard, a motion-sensor-activated solar light can help keep them away, while a timer-controlled model will allow you to specify exactly how long you’d like the lights to stay on.
The most important feature of a solar light is its photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into energy that charges the battery and powers the light during the night. Look for a light with a large solar panel that’s easy to install in the ground or on a flat surface like a roof or deck. It should be shaded during the day to avoid overheating, and it should have an indicator light that alerts you when the charge is low.
Most solar lights emit a white light, but you can find options with warmer or more neutral tones to complement the color scheme of your home and yard. Some of our picks are also available with tinted covers to reduce glare and give the light a softer hue.
Other features you should consider are the installation method, brightness levels, and special features. For example, some lights can be wall-mounted and come with a built-in mounting kit so they’re ready to hang on the side of a house or fence. Others have a base you can plant into the ground or clip onto a railing, making them an easy DIY project. Many solar lights are WiFi-enabled and can be controlled from your smartphone, while some have multiple modes to create a different ambiance at night.
The best solar led outdoor lights are durable and weather-resistant. We put each one to the test in our durability and reliability lab by dropping golf balls on them from heights of four and six feet, submerging them in water, putting them in a freezer for an hour to simulate cold temperatures, and running them through a battery-draining cycle. Our top pick, the LITOM solar landscape spotlight, aced all of our tests and is a great choice for those who want to add a little extra lighting to their outdoor living spaces. The 30 LED bulbs in our test lasted more than seven hours of continuous dusk-to-dawn operation and didn’t show any signs of wear or discoloration. They also sailed through our heat and rain resistance tests with flying colors.