Outdoor wall lights are the most common exterior fitting on a South African home: a light beside the front door, either side of the garage and along the side passage. OutdoorLighting.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form describing the outdoor wall lights 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 how many walls, the style you like and whether there is existing wiring.
Types of outdoor wall lights
Wall mount outdoor lights come in a few broad families, and most homes use two or three of them:
- Up and down lights: a slim cylinder or box that throws light both ways, the modern choice for plastered walls and entrances
- Downlights and wall packs: light aimed only at the ground, good for passages and steps
- Sensor wall lights: a built-in motion or day/night sensor, useful at side gates and back doors (see security lights)
- Solar wall lights: no wiring, a panel on the head or a separate panel, ideal where there is no cable run (see solar lights)
- Bulkheads and lanterns: covered on the bulkhead lights and outdoor lanterns pages
Mounting height and spacing
A useful rule of thumb is to mount outdoor wall lights at roughly 1.8 to 2.2 metres, a little above head height, so the light does not glare in visitors' eyes. Beside a front door, fit one on each side, about 150 to 300 mm from the frame. On a double garage, a pair either side of the door, or one centred above, usually works. Along a long wall, spacing of about 3 to 4 metres gives even scallops of light without dark gaps.
Weather, finish and load-shedding
Choose a fitting rated at least IP54, and preferably IP65, for walls that take driving rain. Near the coast, salt air corrodes cheap powder coat, so marine-grade aluminium or 316 stainless is worth paying for. On the Highveld, a surge arrestor on the lighting circuit helps against lightning damage. For load-shedding, solar wall lights or fittings on an inverter or battery backup keep the entrance lit. Modern LED outdoor lights use little power, so they suit backup systems well.
Supply and installation
Replacing a fitting on an existing point is a quick job. New points, cable runs through brick and any work on fixed wiring must be done by a registered electrician, who issues a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the 230 V installation. Ask for the fitting and labour priced separately so you can compare quotes fairly, and check whether the electrician will patch and paint around new points. Our outdoor lighting installation page explains what installers need to know.
What to include in your request
- Count the fittings per wall, door and garage
- Say whether points and wiring already exist
- Give the style and finish, such as up/down in black
- Mention coastal salt air or exposed walls
- Ask for supply and installation priced separately
Outdoor Wall Lights for different properties
- Homes: up and down lights beside the front door, garage and along the side passage
- Estates and complexes: matching wall lights on every unit entrance, specified by the body corporate
- Farms and smallholdings: sturdy wall lights on the farmhouse, sheds, workshops and outbuildings
- Shops and offices: uniform wall lights along shopfronts, office entrances and walkways
- Industrial sites: robust wall packs over loading bays, doors and perimeter walls
- Lodges, guesthouses and venues: warm decorative wall lights on lodge chalets, terraces and restaurant entrances
- Municipalities, schools and clubs: vandal-resistant wall lights on clinics, libraries, halls and school buildings
Frequently asked questions
Does OutdoorLighting.co.za sell outdoor wall lights?
Are solar outdoor wall lights bright enough?
What colour temperature should outdoor wall lights be?
How much do outdoor wall lights cost?
Outdoor Wall 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