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Good lighting can change how we feel in any situation.Whether it’s dining out, hanging out with friends under a backyard gazebo, or relaxing around a campfire under the stars, the right lighting can make all the difference.Thankfully, upgrading your home’s outdoor lighting setup is relatively easy and doesn’t need to cost a fortune.
Outdoor solar lights are a great way to make your home more attractive, enhance the look of your patio, and even keep an eye on your front yard after dark.Whether you need permanently installed motion-activated floodlights, smartphone-powered path lighting, or portable string lights that can be moved around when needed, there may be an outdoor solar lighting solution for you.We’ve tested and researched dozens of models to bring you the best outdoor solar lights to buy in 2022.
Some solar lights are for beauty, some are purely functional.Sunforce’s 82153 triple solar sports light falls into the latter category.It’s a beast of an outdoor sports floodlight, designed to cover your lawn, driveway, pool or backyard with 1,000 lumens of bright white light.A rotating light head and two user-adjustable settings (light duration and detection sensitivity) allow dialing in the precise coverage you need.High-end amorphous solar panels can charge devices in any daylight conditions, not just direct sunlight.What we especially like is the price.At under $50, it’s one of the best value outdoor solar floodlights we’ve seen.
The right path lighting can add a ton of curb appeal to any home.Hampton Bay’s Solar Landscape Path Lights have a simple, elegant aesthetic that will easily illuminate any front yard.With a 3000K color temperature rating, the LED lights provide a warm, inviting, “just right” light that’s neither too bright nor too dark.They’re weather-resistant, rust-resistant, and automatically turn on at dusk for eight hours, so they’re essentially maintenance-free.Just bet on them and forget about them.Plus, each lamp costs about $9.
No one likes groping up and down steps in the dark.Ring solves this situation with its Simple Lighting Solar LED Deck Step Light.Each solar light shines 50 lumens of neutral white light on any outdoor staircase.They are very versatile and can be motion activated or controlled via the Ring smartphone app.That means they also integrate seamlessly with Ring’s ecosystem of smart products, including doorbells, cameras, and other smart lights.On the downside, they should be installed in direct sunlight, which can be challenging or impossible, depending on the layout of your home.
Nothing cements a “proper” outdoor party like a tiki torch.But open flames and lamp oil and drunk party guests don’t always mix.TomCare’s Solar Flashing Torch Stakes are safer and cheaper in the long run, and feature a flickering electric “flame” effect that’s realistic enough to fool anyone.They are IP65 rated, waterproof and designed to operate in almost any weather condition.A built-in mini solar panel lets them twinkle for up to 10 hours in summer (depending on the weather).Plus, since they’re just affixed to the ground, they require zero installation, so they can go with you on camping trips, beach parties, or game nights at your neighbor’s house.
There’s no denying that fairy lights add something to any backyard party or campsite.BesLowe’s solar fairy string lights are very portable, so they can easily be packed anywhere you need them.Each wire is large, 72 feet long, with 200 individual LED flashing lights.A button on the back of the solar panel cycles through the various lighting modes (wave, firefly, twinkle, fade, etc.) so you can dial in the exact ambience you want.Unlike most other outdoor solar lights, they are 100% waterproof, so you can “set them and forget them” without worrying that they might be destroyed in the rain.We also like that they offer three lighting colors: Warm White, Daylight White, and Multicolor.
If fairy lights aren’t your thing, Brightech’s Ambiance Pro solar outdoor string lights provide the same vibe and twist.Edison-inspired bulbs feature 3000K soft white lighting for a retro-inspired aesthetic that’s warm and inviting.With a 27-foot length, waterproof construction and up to 6 hours of runtime, they are ideal for semi-permanent backyard installations.Brightech also offers an oversized 48-foot version for larger setups.On the downside, mediocre solar panels mean they charge much slower in indirect sunlight.
Disc lights are a great alternative to traditional stake lights for illuminating the paths of your home.These solar garden LED disc lights plug directly into the ground, almost flush, so they are unobtrusive and blend seamlessly into any landscape.By removing the stakes, they can also sit directly on bricks, stones, stairs, or any other hard surface.The oversized solar panel provides up to 10 hours of runtime and a full day of charging.The stainless steel body can support over 200 pounds, so you’ll never have to worry about cracking.Coupled with IP65-rated waterproof construction, they can last for years with zero maintenance.They’re also one of the cheapest outdoor solar lights on this list at less than $4 per disk.
We’ve researched and personally tested dozens of outdoor solar lights, both permanent and portable options.We considered everything from build quality and brightness to price and ease of installation.While it can be difficult to pick a perfect model for each category, the list above represents our honest pick of the best outdoor solar lights to consider in 2022.
There are three main types of outdoor solar lights: timer controlled, motion activated, and dusk to dawn.The best models offer more than one of these modes.Depending on your lighting needs, it’s worth considering which is best for you.Timer-controlled solar lights offer the most control because you can determine when to turn the lights on and off.As the name suggests, motion-activated models only turn on when motion is detected, be it a person, animal, or vehicle.These are usually best for safety-focused lights, such as floodlights used to illuminate your front porch or backyard.Dusk to dawn lights are often best for ambient or decorative lighting in paths or gardens.
Brightness is measured in lumens.Without getting too technical, the higher the number, the brighter the light.Ambient solar lights work best at moderate ratings around 50-100 lumens.For spotlights and floodlights (i.e. functional lighting), brighter is almost always better.Most floodlights are rated between 500-1000 lumens.Unless you have a particularly large area to light, anything can be too bright.
One benefit of solar lighting is that it is easier to install than traditional hard-wired units.In most cases, outdoor solar lights can be installed in minutes with minimal tools and no electrical expertise.In some cases, just a few screws or industrial tape (often included with any new outdoor solar lighting kit) will suffice.Consider your own lighting needs, including whether you want a permanent solution or a semi-permanent option so you can move new lights around when needed.
Post time: Jun-15-2022
