Patio lights turn the stoep, braai area and lapa into a space you can use long after sunset. Good outdoor patio lighting combines a soft general glow, focused light over the table and braai, and safe light on steps. OutdoorLighting.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form describing the patio 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 the size and layout of your patio.
Layers of outdoor lighting for a patio
Outdoor lights for a patio work best in layers rather than one bright fitting:
- Ceiling lights: downlights, flush fittings or bulkheads for an even general glow; outdoor lights ceiling-mounted must be rated for damp areas
- Pendants: outdoor lighting pendant fittings over the dining table or bar counter
- Task light: a brighter light aimed at the braai so you can see the meat
- Step lights: small recessed fittings in walls or risers for outdoor lighting for steps
- Decorative: string lights or LED strip lights under edges and pergolas
Braai area and lapa lighting
The braai needs good light without glare in the cook's eyes, so a fitting slightly in front of and above the grid works better than one directly behind it. Keep fittings away from smoke and heat. Thatched lapas need extra care: fittings must not be buried in the thatch, cables should run in conduit, and low-heat LED is the only sensible choice. Dimmable fittings let you go from bright for cooking to soft for eating. A pergola or vine-covered area suits string lights strung between the beams.
Weather ratings for covered and open patios
A covered stoep still gets wind-driven rain, so choose at least IP44 under a roof and IP65 for anything exposed to the sky. Near the sea, pick marine-grade aluminium or stainless steel. Warm white, around 2700 K to 3000 K, gives the relaxed feel most people want. For lights that keep going through load-shedding, ask about wiring the patio circuit to an inverter, or adding rechargeable or solar lights.
Planning and installation
It is much easier to install conduit and ceiling points while a patio is being built or roofed. Separate switches for the ceiling, pendants and step lights give you control. New circuits and points need a registered electrician and a Certificate of Compliance (CoC). See landscape lighting design if you want the patio and garden planned together.
What to include in your request
- Give the patio size and roof or ceiling type
- Mark the table, braai and step positions
- Say whether the patio is covered or open
- Ask for separate switching and dimming
- Mention thatch, if you have a lapa
Patio Lights for different properties
- Homes: pendants over the stoep table, downlights in the ceiling and light at the braai
- Estates and complexes: compact ceiling lights and step lights on small townhouse patios and courtyards
- Farms and smallholdings: warm lighting on the wide farmhouse stoep and around the lapa and braai
- Shops and offices: ceiling and pendant lights on coffee shop terraces and office break areas
- Industrial sites: simple ceiling lights over staff canteen patios and smoking areas
- Lodges, guesthouses and venues: layered pendants, downlights and step lights on restaurant terraces and lodge decks
- Municipalities, schools and clubs: robust ceiling lights on covered areas at parks, clubs and community halls
Frequently asked questions
Does OutdoorLighting.co.za install patio lights?
Can I use indoor pendants on a covered patio?
What lighting works best for patio steps?
How much do patio lights cost?
Patio 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