The Best Outdoor Solar Lights, Tested by Our Editors

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The Best Outdoor Solar Lights, Tested by Our Editors

Lighting sets the tone for any space, whether you’re creating a cozy home atmosphere inside or transforming your outdoor area into an inviting space for dinners al fresco. It’s a smarter choice for the planet—and your wallet.

To help find the best outdoor solar lights for your yard, we tested more than 50 options, including mounted lights, pathway lights, and string lights. The six that made our list were easy to set up and use, perfectly bright, and held strong through any weather. If they had special features, like a motion sensor, those performed as promised.

Whether you’re looking to add security around the entrances of your home or set the mood for summer patio hangouts, we’ve got an option for you.

PHOTO: Amazon

What Stands Out

A pack of four costs less than $40, installation is as simple as it gets, and it works really well for basic security purposes.

The Urpower Beams are our favorite solar lights for so many reasons. First of all, they were extremely easy to install—just attach the included screws or buy mounting strips, press the rubber power button, and they’re on.

The durable plastic shell remained unscathed through six months of wind and rain (it can even handle frost and snow), and the motion sensor gave us peace of mind around our shed and entryways. Plus, a pack of four costs just $37—a little over $9 per light.

The reach on these LED lights is great, too. They detect both people and animals from 8 feet away (not quite the 16 to 28 as promised) and cast a bright beam about 8 feet away at a 120-degree angle, making navigation much easier if you’re pulling into your driveway late at night or stepping out to the backyard with your dog.

The light will shut off after 30 seconds of inactivity. They don’t come with extra features like adjustable brightness, timers, or color temperature controls (there’s just one cool white color), but they’re effective for basic security needs and are wallet-friendly.

Dimensions: ‎5 x 6 x 9 in. | Battery Life: 8–10 hrs. | Lumens: 800 | Color: Cool white

PHOTO: Wayfair

What Stands Out

The solar panel is integrated into the design, so it’s not noticeable, and the glow reaches 10 feet away.

If you’ve always wanted wall-mounted lights but are disinterested in hard wiring, we don’t blame you. Here’s the solution: The Lark Manor Aphton Resin Wall Light is the most stylish wall-mounted light on our radar, and it was super easy to set up. The lightweight, three-piece design comes together in minutes with just a few screws, and the solar panel blends in seamlessly with the top of the fixture—it’s as if it isn’t even there.

This dusk-to-dawn light automatically turns on when the sun sets and powers off in the morning. It casts a cool white glow over 10 feet (more than our overall best pick). While brightness and color temperature aren’t adjustable, you get clear visibility for entryways; it’s a perfect fit for sheds, garages, and anywhere else you don’t want to run electricity. Just note this light has a lot fewer lumens than our overall best.

It’s built to withstand the elements, too. While the weather was mild to moderate over the six months we tested this, there was one particularly wild windstorm that somehow unscrewed the light and caused it to crash on the concrete. Despite the big fall, it didn’t break.

Dimensions: 5 x 9 x 11 in.| Battery Life: 12 hrs. | Lumens: 150 | Color: Warm white

Frontgate Pro Series VI Solar Path Light

PHOTO: Frontgate

The last thing you want to do is fumble over your footsteps (and who knows what else) trying to get from your driveway to your front door. This set of two Frontgate path lights gives off a warm and reliable glow, so every stride you take is visible. They’re incredibly easy to install, too—it took us longer to decide where to put them than to put the three parts together.

The stake easily slides into the ground, and despite its lightweight build, the fixture feels robust. After staking in the ground, you slide the solar panel off the top and turn on the on/off switch hidden inside. They automatically illuminate at dusk and remain lit until dawn.

The warm yellow light creates a cozy ambiance, but the direction is fixed downward and at 60 lumens, it isn’t the brightest, so this is really just ideal for walkways.

That said, the black aluminum material looks nice and fits in with most outdoor decor and furniture, and it’s stood up to six months of wind, rain, and direct sunlight. The light is still vibrant as ever.

Dimensions: 7 x 21 in. | Battery Life: 8 hrs. | Lumens: 60 | Color: Warm white

PHOTO: Amazon

For a magical, romantic vibe, these fairy lights from Brightown will give your patio, garden, or balcony the subtle glow you’re looking for—no outlets required. Just stake the solar panel into the ground and twirl the 33-foot-long string around tree trunks, railings, and whatever else you’d like.

Eight different lighting modes change the rate at which these pulse or fade (you can’t change the colors), and with 10 hours of runtime, you can entertain all night. There’s a manual on/off button in case you want to store them for winter (though they work in freezing-cold weather).

These aren’t the brightest lights ever (they’re actually the dimmest on our list), but that’s the nature of the fairy-light design. They cast a soft glow a foot away max, making them more decorative than anything. They’re really cozy—perfect for relaxing outside on warm-weather nights.

Dimensions: 33 ft. | Battery Life: 8–10 hrs. | Lumens: 40 | Color: Pure white

PHOTO: Real Simple
PHOTO: Real Simple

Brightech Ambiance Pro Solar Non-Hanging String Lights

PHOTO: Amazon

The string lights in your college dorm room or patio have an eco-friendly upgrade. From Britech, these simple yet sleek string lights are a step above the rest with a solar panel that stakes into the ground or clips onto something, like your deck railing. Take it from us: Setup does not get easier than that.

The warm, soft light creates a relaxing atmosphere, great for gatherings or relaxing on your patio furniture in the evenings. The brightness isn’t adjustable, but that’s pretty much expected of string lights, and the glow sets a tranquil mood.

Durability-wise, these are top notch. The plastic bulbs have a glass-like clarity that feels premium, not flimsy, and they survived exposure to water, wind, freezing temps, and even rogue golf balls without a scratch.

The only potential downsides are that the battery only lasts for 6 hours max (the shortest battery life on our list), and you can’t connect multiple sets.

Dimensions: 27 ft. | Battery Life: 5–6 hrs. | Lumens: 200 | Color: Soft white

PHOTO: Real Simple
PHOTO: Real Simple

PHOTO: Amazon

For a classic lantern-style glow with the convenience of solar power, this LED fixture from Kemco is a stylish and functional choice for any outdoor post. The frosted glass panels gave off a warm, inviting glow that lit up the post and the ground surrounding it. It’s even bright enough to read a book under.

Setup is fairly simple. The light comes in two pieces, and you’ll need a screwdriver to secure the bottom and access the on/off switch inside the top. Unlike some other solar lights, this one is meant to be attached to a post rather than staked into the ground, so make sure you have a sturdy mounting spot. Since it’s a bit top-heavy, securing it properly is key to preventing it from tipping over in strong winds. Since the panels are made from real glass, they can shatter if they fall.

While this light doesn’t come with any extra features like color options or dimming, its elegant design and durable construction are what sets this one apart from the others on our list. It runs reliably from dusk until dawn and holds up well against rain and standard outdoor conditions.

Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 18 in. | Battery Life: 8–10 hours | Lumens: 160 | Color: Warm white

Final Verdict

Our favorite outdoor solar lights are the budget-friendly Urpower Beams. They come with a motion sensor and cast light up to 8 feet away—perfect for lighting your way home and deterring intruders.

Our Testing Process

We tested more than 50 outdoor solar lights for up to six months to see if they were easy to install, bright enough for their intended purpose, and durable enough to stand up to inclement weather.

After the initial setup, we powered them on and waited for the sun to set. After dusk, we measured the range of their illumination, noting how far the light projected from each fixture, and for motion-sensor models, we tested the detection range by having someone walk by at varying distances.

We also kept an eye on battery life—did the lights stay on for as many hours as they said they would? When there was rain or high winds, were they damaged at all? The ones that impressed us most made it to the list above.

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How to Shop for Outdoor Solar Lights Like a Pro

Brightness and Color

Brightness, measured in lumens, varies from light to light. In general, the higher the lumens, the brighter the light. For subtle ambiance, like lighting up garden beds, decorative lanterns, or string lights, 10 to 50 lumens is usually enough. If you’re lighting a path or walkway, you’ll want something in the 100- to 200-lumen range to see clearly without blinding anyone. For more functional lighting, like security lights or motion sensor lights, look for options in the 300- to 600-plus lumen range. Some security floodlights can exceed 1,000 lumens for maximum visibility.

Color and temperature also play a role. Warm white gives off a cozy glow, neutral white has a more balanced look, and cool white provides crisp, bright light ideal for security.

Solar Life

Here’s how solar lights work: The solar panel attracts sunlight and converts that into electricity that’s stored in a rechargeable battery. Most can power a light for six to 12 hours on a full charge depending on the weather. On sunny days, it’ll be at its best. On cloudy days, there will be less sunlight available to charge it. If that happens, you’ll get a shorter runtime or dimmer light.

For reliable all-night lighting, look for dusk-to-dawn sensors, like those in Kemco LED Cast Aluminum Solar Post Light Fixture (eight to 10 hours) and Lark Manor Aphton Resin Wall Light (12 hours), or motion sensors, like the Urpower Beams Motion Sensing LED Spotlight Lights (eight to 10 hours).

Weather Resistance

Since most outdoor solar lights are left out year-round, it’s important to consider if they’re weather-resistant. Most are designed with materials that can withstand inclement weather, such as freezing or high temperatures, rain, and direct sunlight. All of the lights we tested passed our weather tests.

We tested the freezing rating of all solar lights by placing them in a freezer.

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Questions You Might Ask

Do solar lights lose their brightness over time?

Solar lights can lose brightness over time, but it’s usually gradual and depends on a few factors. The most common culprit is a worn-out rechargeable battery, which naturally occurs after repeated charging cycles. Dirt and debris on the solar panel can also reduce charging efficiency, so it helps to wipe them down every now and then to make sure they have proper exposure to the sun.

Take Our Word for It

This roundup was written by Taylor Rock, an associate editorial director for Real Simple. Her mom has outdoor solar lights in her backyard that light up the path to a fenced-in area as well as the fence itself. This is a must for keeping track of two wacky doodles and a springer spaniel at night. Additional reporting was done by writer Christine Winder.

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The Best Outdoor Solar Lights, Tested by Our Editors

Final Verdict

Our Testing Process