Spotlight outdoor lighting is the most dramatic way to light a garden: a small, aimable fitting that picks out a tree, a wall or a sculpture against the night. Outdoor lights spotlight fittings come on spikes, wall brackets or in the ground. OutdoorLighting.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form describing the spotlights you need, and we pass it to independent local lighting suppliers, electricians and installers, who quote you directly. We do not sell, stock, install or repair anything ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation. Tell us what you want to light.
Where to use outdoor spotlights
Spotlights work best when they light something specific:
- Outdoor lighting on trees: one or two spikes at the base of a trunk light the canopy from below
- Walls and facades: placed close to a textured wall, a narrow beam grazes the surface and shows off stone or face brick
- Plants and features: aloes, cycads, sculptures and water features
- Outdoor lights ground-recessed: in-ground uplights for lawns and paving, where spikes would be in the way
For broad security cover, flood lights are the better tool.
Beam angles explained
The beam angle decides the effect. A narrow beam of roughly 10 to 25 degrees reaches up a tall palm or a slim trunk. A medium beam of around 36 degrees suits most trees and shrubs. A wide beam of 60 degrees or more washes a wall or hedge evenly. Many installers mix angles in one garden. Aim spotlights from slightly in front of a feature rather than straight up, so light reaches the face you see from the house. Glare shields and honeycomb louvres stop the light shining in your eyes from the patio or into the neighbours' windows.
GU10, MR16 or integrated LED
Spotlights come in two main kinds. Lamp-based fittings take a replaceable GU10 bulb on 230 V or an MR16 bulb on 12 V, so you can change brightness or beam later. Integrated LED spotlights have the LED built in, are better sealed and often last longer, but the whole head is replaced if it fails. Solar lights spotlights are available too, but they are weaker and suit small plants. See LED outdoor lighting for more on lamps.
Installation and durability
Low voltage spike spotlights are easy to reposition as plants grow, which is why landscapers favour them. Mains spotlights need armoured cable or conduit and a registered electrician's CoC. Choose IP65 or better for spikes and IP67 for in-ground fittings, which can sit in water after a storm. Brass, stainless and good aluminium resist corrosion. For a full scheme, see garden lights and landscape lighting design.
What to include in your request
- List each tree, wall or feature to light
- Give rough heights of trees and walls
- Choose GU10, MR16 or integrated LED, or ask
- Say how far the features are from power
- Mention hail, irrigation or coastal exposure
Outdoor Spotlights for different properties
- Homes: spike spotlights uplighting a feature tree, aloes and the front facade
- Estates and complexes: spotlights on entrance gate features, signage and common garden trees
- Farms and smallholdings: uplighting old oaks, the farmhouse gable and the entrance sign
- Shops and offices: spotlights on building facades, signage and landscaped entrance beds
- Industrial sites: spotlights picking out the company sign and reception entrance
- Lodges, guesthouses and venues: dramatic tree and wall uplighting around lodge decks, pools and venues
- Municipalities, schools and clubs: in-ground uplights on monuments, memorials and civic building facades
Frequently asked questions
Does OutdoorLighting.co.za sell outdoor spotlights?
How many spotlights do I need for a tree?
Are solar spotlights any good?
How much do outdoor spotlights cost?
Outdoor Spotlights 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