Outdoor lighting poles lift the light source above head height, so a long driveway, estate road or large garden is lit evenly without dozens of low fittings. They range from 2.4 m garden lamp posts and pillar lights on gate posts to 4 m driveway poles and taller estate columns. OutdoorLighting.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form and we pass it to independent local suppliers, electricians and installers, who quote you directly. We do not sell, stock or install anything ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation.
Lamp posts, pillar lights and driveway poles
Pole lighting covers a few distinct fittings, and suppliers price them differently:
- Pillar lights: short lanterns or caps mounted on gate pillars and boundary wall piers
- Garden lamp posts: 2.4 to 3 m posts with a lantern or post-top head, the classic driveway look
- Driveway and estate poles: 3 to 4 m poles, or taller columns, spaced along a road; for public roads see street lights
- Outdoor lights on pillars: wall-mounted heads on boundary wall piers, which light both the pavement and the property edge
- Solar poles: a panel on the head and no trenching; see solar street lights
Pick the head and pole height together: a lantern head on a 2.4 m post gives a soft, decorative pool, while a 4 m pole with an LED head lights a wider stretch of road.
Base plates versus planted poles
A base-plate pole bolts onto a concrete plinth with cast-in anchor bolts, so it can be removed or replaced if a car clips it. A planted pole is set directly into a concreted hole, usually about a fifth of its height deep. Planted poles are cheaper and sturdier in loose soil; base plates are tidier on paving and easier to service. Either way, the hole or plinth should be sized for wind load, especially on exposed Highveld plots where summer storms bring strong gusts.
Galvanised or powder-coated outdoor lighting poles
Steel poles are normally hot-dip galvanised to stop rust. Many are then powder-coated black, charcoal or bronze for looks, which is called duplex coating and lasts longest. Bare powder coat over mild steel can blister and rust within a few years near the coast, where salt air is harsh. Aluminium poles do not rust and suit seaside homes, though they cost more per metre. Ask suppliers which finish they recommend for your area.
Cabling, switching and compliance
Mains poles need armoured or suitable underground cable in a trench, a weatherproof junction at the base and an earth. That is fixed wiring, so a registered electrician must do it and issue a CoC. Most owners put poles on a day/night sensor or timer so they switch on at dusk. Ask for the full job on one quote through outdoor lighting installation, and pair poles with lower bollard lights or garden lights for layered light.
What to include in your request
- Give the driveway or path length to be lit
- Say how many poles and what height you want
- State whether you prefer base plates or planted poles
- Mention coastal or inland location for the finish
- Ask for trenching, cabling and CoC on the quote
Outdoor Pole Lights for different properties
- Homes: lantern lamp posts along the driveway and pillar lights on the front gate
- Estates and complexes: matching poles along internal roads and visitor parking, chosen by the body corporate
- Farms and smallholdings: tall galvanised poles lighting the farm road, yard and gate entrance
- Shops and offices: post-top poles along office park walkways, parking bays and the entrance
- Industrial sites: tall galvanised poles lighting truck routes, yards and perimeter roads
- Lodges, guesthouses and venues: decorative lamp posts lining the lodge drive, garden paths and parking
- Municipalities, schools and clubs: park and walkway poles lighting public paths, squares and parking areas
Frequently asked questions
Does OutdoorLighting.co.za sell lamp posts?
How far apart should driveway poles be?
What do outdoor lighting poles cost?
Can I put a light on my gate pillars?
Outdoor Pole Lights by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester