The 10 Best Outdoor Lights of 2024, Tested in Our Yards

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We found the best options to brighten up outdoor spaces

In This Article

People / Dave DeCarlo

If you tend to avoid going outside at night because your yard is just too dark, an outdoor light can help banish those scary shadows. With the right lighting, your yard will be much more welcoming when the sun goes down, whether you’re hosting an alfresco soiree or just taking your dog out before bed.

There are many different types of outdoor lighting, from extra-bright floodlights to decorative string lights, and we tested 16 popular options to help you choose the best one for your landscaping. We evaluated each product on its brightness, features, durability, and more.

Bright but not overwhelming

Motion sensor detects cars, people, and large animals

Lights have wide range of rotation

Not fully waterproof

Our top all-around pick for an outdoor light is the Leonlite COB LED Security Light. It’s a floodlight with two adjustable heads, and we love that they rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to angle the light anywhere within your yard. We were able to install the light easily within about 15 minutes without any calibration needed, and there are three settings to choose from: motion detection, dusk to dawn, or manual.

We tested the Leonlite on its motion-detection setting, and it had no problem picking up movement caused by people, large animals, or cars. When it turned on, the light was a warm yellow hue that lit up an area of around 30 feet, and it was just the right level of brightness.

Our only concern about this floodlight is that the packaging says it's not fully waterproof, so you may want to mount it in a covered location to protect it from direct rain.

“Outdoor motion sensor lights enhance security and convenience for homeowners by startling unwanted visitors and deterring suspicious activity. Additionally, their sensor activation ensures they only turn on when needed, conserving energy.” —Laura Finson, director of product at home security company Brinks Home

Type: Floodlight | Power Source: Hardwired | Brightness: 1,800 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 59-69 feet | Detection Angle: 180 degrees

Picks up movement 30 feet away

Illuminates without blinding

Included mounting hardware may not be suitable for all surfaces

If you’re looking for a simple, low-cost spotlight for your yard, we love this inexpensive model from Beams. The battery-operated design is compact and basic, and when you’re installing it, you can angle it in any direction.

Without any obstacles in the way, it was able to detect motion 30 feet away or more, and it lit up an area around 30 feet, providing plenty of visibility without being blinding. It only has one operation setting, and the light automatically turns off after around 20 seconds if no further motion is detected.

The only thing we didn’t like was the installation process — the hardware included isn’t well-suited for all locations, and we had to swap in larger screws for a secure fit.

Type: Spotlight | Power Source: Battery | Brightness: 200 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 30 feet | Detection Angle: 120 degrees

“While you may need to leave outdoor lights on a little longer during the short days of winter, it's best to turn your landscape lighting off when you no longer need it. Turning outdoor lighting off can help reduce light pollution and minimize effects on local wildlife like migratory birds or important pollinators.” —Coleman Cosby, construction director at landscape design company Yardzen

Can light 80 feet or more

Two arms can be adjusted to angle the light in any direction

No motion detection setting

For large yards, you can’t beat the sheer illumination power of this floodlight. It’s equipped with six LED bulbs — three on each of the two arms, which can be adjusted to cover up to 320 degrees — and it gives off a total of 6,000 lumens, which is the highest of any light we tested. The fixture must be hardwired during installation, and when it’s on, we found that it easily brightened a 50-by-80-foot area, making it easy to see everything that was happening.

The downside of this light is that it just offers one brightness setting, and its sole operation mode is dusk-to-dawn. This means the light will stay on all night unless you manually switch it off. Still, it’s well-priced and highly effective if you’re looking for a light to brighten up a large outdoor space.

Type: Floodlight | Power Source: Hardwired | Brightness: 6,000 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: No | Detection Range: N/A | Detection Angle: N/A

“Lumens will depend on the purpose of the lighting. Decorative lighting will generally require fewer lumens as it is generally more ambient, while safety lighting like floodlights, spotlights, or pool lights will require more.” —Coleman Cosby

Smartphone app is intuitive and connects easily

Can adjust settings to reduce false alarms

Illuminates over 45 feet

Needs ample space to be mounted

The Ring Floodlight Cam Plus is a smart security camera and floodlight in one, and it’s worth the investment if you want a powerful light with the ability to monitor the outside of your home. Because we tested the wired model, the installation process was a bit time-consuming, as it needed to be hardwired into the home’s electrical system. However, once it was set up, the Ring app made it quick and easy to sync the camera to our smartphone, and we loved the wide range of settings available within the app. You can put it on a set schedule, adjust the brightness of the light, set up specific motion detection zones, and much more, and the app is very intuitive to navigate.

We were impressed by the light’s functionality as well. On its maximum brightness setting, the light easily illuminated an area up to 45 feet away, and the camera captured clear video footage both day and night. We also loved that you can view a live video feed through an Echo Show device, making it easy to monitor what’s going on outside your house even if you don’t have your phone handy.

“Floodlights are great for providing directional lighting and can be extremely bright. Motion-activated lights can also be used for security and may help deter vandalism or theft.” —Mike Costello, contractor and home improvement expert

Type: Floodlight | Power Source: Hardwired | Brightness: 2,000 lumens | Smart: Yes | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 30 feet | Detection Angle: 140 degrees

Small spotlights blend in with environment

Highest setting illuminates up to 25 feet

Quick and easy to install on stakes

Limited installation options

If you're looking for solar outdoor lights, these spotlights have integrated solar panels on top of the unit, so they can be installed anywhere, regardless of whether there’s a power source nearby.

It was a breeze to install the lights. We simply mounted them to their brackets and stuck the stakes into the ground in the desired location. However, we did have to readjust them to ensure the solar panels would receive adequate sunlight during the day.

There are three brightness levels to choose from, and on the highest setting, the spotlights could easily illuminate objects up to 25 feet away. Plus, because they’re fairly compact, they blended into the yard well and weren’t an eyesore during the day.

"Solar lights are an excellent choice for landscape accent lighting. These lights are extremely easy to install and make for a great DIY weekend project.” —Mike Costello

Type: Spotlight | Power Source: Solar | Brightness: Not listed | Smart: No | Motion Activated: No | Detection Range: N/A | Detection Angle: N/A

Can turn down the brightness

Easy to set up routines, schedules, and settings through app

No connectivity issues during testing

Not motion-activated

If you already have a floodlight, you can turn it into a smart fixture by installing a GE CYNC Smart Bulb. The bulb is a PAR38 shape, which fits most floodlights, and to install it, all you have to do is screw it into your existing light fixture. We were able to sync the bulb with the CYNC app in less than five minutes, and once it was set up, it was easy to adjust the bulb’s brightness and color and schedule through the app.

The light had no problem lighting up a small 10-foot area during testing, and it could likely be used in much larger spaces thanks to its 1,300-lumen maximum. We didn’t experience any connectivity issues over the course of testing, and overall, it’s a great value if you want a smart light for the exterior of your home.

“Smart lighting is a great option for people who want customizable, remote-controlled, or app-controlled lighting. Ensure it is compatible with the current smart system if integrating with a smart home system.” —Joel Worthington, president of Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company

Type: Bulb | Power Source: Screw-in | Brightness: 1,300 lumens | Smart: Yes | Motion Activated: No | Detection Range: N/A | Detection Angle: N/A

Quick and easy to install

Detects motion within 25 feet of fixture

Solar-powered light isn’t the brightest

The Better Homes & Gardens Wall-Mounted LED Light is a stylish sconce that you can mount to the outside of your home. It has a built-in solar panel on the top of the fixture, and we were able to install the light in less than 10 minutes, as there’s no wiring required.

The sconce has just one operation setting, where it maintains a low brightness at night and becomes brighter when motion is detected. It proved to be very reliable at detecting movement within a 25-foot range.

The light isn’t the brightest, due to its low lumens and solar-powered design, but it can comfortably illuminate an area of around 10 feet. Plus, the design is much more aesthetically pleasing than other utilitarian lights, helping to improve the curb appeal of your home or the ambiance of your backyard when you're sitting around your patio heater outside.

“Sconces and other decorative lights can add style to an exterior while providing lighting for safety and performing tasks.” —Mike Costello

Type: Sconce | Power Source: Solar | Brightness: 200 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 25 feet | Detection Angle: 120 degrees

Replicates look of flickering candle

Illuminates 30-foot area

Held up well in harsh weather

Can't adjust brightness or length of time the security light stays on

The Euri Lighting Flickering Flame Porch Light strikes the perfect balance of aesthetics and functionality. The lantern-style light has an attractive bronze exterior with wavy glass walls, and the special LED bulb inside has a warm orange hue that flickers to mimic a candle flame. We were impressed by how realistic it looked, and we also liked that the lantern gets brighter when it detects motion, switching to a security light setting that illuminates around 30 feet.

The motion detection worked well, only responding to large objects like people walking by, and it stayed bright for around three minutes before going back to the standard flickering flame setting. The fixture did take a longer time to install, as it’s meant to be hardwired into your home, but it held up impressively well throughout testing, even after being exposed to wind and rain.

Type: Lantern | Power Source: Hardwired | Brightness: 1,200 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: Not listed | Detection Angle: Not listed

Wide range of settings

Intuitive app

Lights are mostly decorative

For more decorative outdoor lighting, Govee LED strip lights are unmatched in terms of versatility. The light strands come in either 33- or 65-foot lengths, and while they were a bit time-consuming to install, the process is very straightforward, and the lights are lightweight enough to hang anywhere around your yard.

We were able to pair the lights easily with a smartphone, and the Govee app offers a truly impressive amount of customization. You can put the lights on an automatic schedule, sync them up to music, create custom light patterns, and much more.

While these lights are colorful and versatile, they’re best used as part of your decor — not to light up large areas. They didn’t give off enough light to illuminate any significant portion of our yard, so they’re not a good choice if you’re looking for security lights.

“Strip lighting can be used on the underside of deck handrails to light deck stairs or to add lighting around the perimeter of a deck.” —Mike Costello

Type: Strip lights | Power Source: Plug-in | Brightness: Not listed | Smart: Yes | Motion Activated: No | Detection Range: N/A | Detection Angle: N/A

Each unit can light a 10-foot area

Less than 10 minutes to install and pair with the app

Price per light seemed high

You can light up the pathway to your house with the Philips Hue Calla Lights, which are quick and easy to install. All you have to do is stake them into the ground and plug them in — a process that took us less than 10 minutes from start to finish.

They’re equally easy to pair with the Philips Hue app, and we loved that we could set them to a schedule, change the color of the lights, adjust the brightness, and more. When they were set to white light, each unit cast a roughly 10-foot circle of illumination, which surpassed our expectations. Their range is a bit smaller in colored settings, only lighting up around 5 feet. Either way, they’re much more powerful than other pathway lights we’ve tested, but the cost per light is higher as a result.

“Pathway lights work best when spaced evenly and positioned low to avoid glare.” —Joel Worthington

Type: Path lights | Power Source: Corded | Brightness: 590 lumens | Smart: Yes | Motion Activated: No | Detection Range: N/A | Detection Angle: N/A

People / Henry Yung

Outdoor lights come in a wide range of styles, including spotlights, floodlights, wall-mounted sconces, path lights, and more. Spotlights and floodlights, like our top-rated Leonlite COB LED Security Light, tend to be the most popular for security purposes, as they’re generally very bright, but they often have a plain, utilitarian design. If you want something more decorative, you might want to consider lanterns like the Euri Lighting Flickering Flame Porch Light or even LED strips like the Govee Wi-Fi LED Strip Lights.

There are four main power sources for outdoor light fixtures. Hardwired lights are designed to be connected directly to your home’s electrical system, which provides them with constant power and generally allows them to be controlled via a light switch. This is the most complex installation process and may require an electrician if you don’t already have a fixture available.

However, there are also battery-powered or plug-in lights, which are easier to set up, as well as solar-powered lights that draw their power from the sun. Solar lights, in particular, have been significantly improved in recent years. “Solar lights have come a long way, and there are better quality options available now than just the plastic box store lights of the past,” says Cosby. “There are systems now that have a separately mounted solar panel that services the lights, as opposed to just the fixture with the panel attached.” However, these lights are at the mercy of the sun; on cloudy days, they’ll be less bright or may not work at all.

If you’re looking for an outdoor light to provide an added layer of security in your yard, a fixture with a motion detector is often beneficial. These lights automatically turn on (or get brighter, in the case of the Better Homes & Gardens Solar Wall-Mount LED Light) when they detect motion, which is often effective for scaring away animals or even people who might come into your yard.

When comparing different motion-sensing outdoor lights, you’ll want to consider the range and angle of the motion detector. Some units can only sense movement within a 10-foot range, while others are able to detect motion much farther away, making them well-suited for large outdoor spaces.

Smart outdoor lights have become more popular in recent years, as they provide more flexibility than other fixtures. Products like the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus and GE CYNC Smart Outdoor Floodlight Bulbs can be controlled directly from your smartphone, and you’re able to easily adjust their brightness or put them on a set schedule. The downside, however, is that smart light fixtures are more expensive and must be located near a Wi-Fi router for reliable operation.

Many of our top-rated outdoor lights are quite affordable, retailing for less than $50 apiece. This includes our top pick, the Leonlite LED Motion Sensor Floodlight, as well as options like the Sansi Motion Sensor Floodlight. However, if you’re looking for an outdoor light with smart features or a product with a more aesthetic appearance, you may end up spending a bit more. For instance, the Ring HD Motion-Activated Floodlight Camera retails for over $100, as do the Phillips Hue Calla Pathway Lights.

People / Alicia Dolieslager

To find the best outdoor lights available today, we tested a total of 16 products, including a mixture of both standard and Wi-Fi-connected models. These light fixtures were tested over several weeks at the homes of the PEOPLE Tested team, and we evaluated them on the following factors:

People / Jennifer Zyman

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her more than seven years of experience as a product tester, she's reviewed hundreds of products firsthand, and her work has appeared in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, and Better Homes & Gardens. While putting together this list of the best outdoor lights, she reviewed the firsthand testing notes from the PEOPLE Tested team, who evaluated the performance of each product for several weeks. She also spoke with experts across landscaping, home improvement, and security industries for additional information on the importance of outdoor lighting.

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

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