The Bottom Line
We chose the AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights as the overall best outdoor solar lights for their durability, water resistance, and motion-sensing capabilities. If you’re looking for a set of string lights, testers loved the Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights, because they held up to water and freezing temperatures. And, while the bulbs are made of plastic, testers said they were clear and didn’t look inexpensive.
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Our Testing Process
Our team of experts at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa, put 27 outdoor solar lights to the test. We assembled them, sprinkled them with water, dropped a golf ball on them (from 6 feet away on the light and from 4 feet on the solar panel), and even stashed them in the freezer for an hour to see how well they held up to cold temperatures. We also timed how long the lights stayed on from dusk to dawn.
You are watching: The 10 Best Solar Lights for Brightening Your Outdoor Space, According to Lab Testing
We carefully evaluated each light on its setup process, features, overall design, brightness, durability, and overall value. We ranked each light in each of these categories on a scale of one to five and used these insights to compile this list of the best outdoor solar lights.
What to Know About Solar Lights Before Shopping
Type
When choosing the best outdoor solar lights for your space, consider your goals for the lights. Do you want something that lights up brightly only when motion is detected? Or do you prefer ambient lighting that provides a soft, warm glow?
There are a few different types of solar lights, and they all vary in how they’re installed. For example, pathway lights, like the Hampton Bay LED Warm White Landscape Path Lights, are designed with stakes that you can stick into the dirt next to your driveway or sidewalk.
There are also solar lights that can be mounted up high on a wooden fence or deck, like the Home Zone Solar Wall Lanterns, 2-PackHome Zone Solar Wall Lanterns. If you’re looking for something more decorative, you can find string lights and Mason jar lanterns powered by solar energy, such as the Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights.
Others use solar lighting as a portable lighting option. Jameson says, “A lot of people who enjoy camping outdoors typically opt for solar-powered lanterns and bulbs as they are portable and self-sustaining for their power.”
Battery
The best outdoor solar lights have a battery that can eventually be replaced if it stops working. “Technically, solar lights require rechargeable batteries to act as storage for the electrical energy collected from the sun,” Jameson says.
Rechargeable batteries don’t last forever, so there’s a good chance you might need to replace them at some point. Many of the solar lights on this list use rechargeable AA or AAA batteries, which are easily available for purchase online. Since the batteries can simply be swapped out down the line, you won’t need to replace the entire light fixture.
Solar Panel Location
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Some of the solar lights on this list have small solar panels on each individual light, while others have a single external solar panel that powers the entire set of lights. You might prefer the latter if you want to use solar lights under a porch or covered patio; you’ll be able to give the solar panel direct sunlight while keeping the lights where you want them.
Testers also found that lights with larger solar panels can sometimes have a less aesthetically pleasing look, so make sure you feel good about the size and location of the panel before purchasing.
Water Protection
Most of the solar lights on this list are water-resistant, like the AloftSun Motion Sensor Solar Landscape Spotlights, which means they repel water to some extent. (This is different from waterproof, which means a product doesn’t allow any water to pass through.)
These lights will be fine in normal rain and snow showers, but you may want to bring them inside during heavy downpours combined with wind. You’ll often see the water protection listed as an IP rating, an international standard that looks like “IP45.”
The first number indicates how well the item is protected against solid objects like dust, and the second number indicates how well it’s protected against liquids. The latter ranges from zero to nine, and the higher the number, the more protected it is from water.
Special Feautures
The best solar lights have special features like on/off switches, timers, or motion sensors. Some solar lights, like the Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights, even have different light settings like a slow fade or twinkle.
Before purchasing a solar light, ask yourself exactly what you need so you can find a solar light that best suits your needs.
Other Outdoor Solar Lights We Tested
4 Aogist Solar Ground Lights
The 4 Aogist Solar Ground Lights are easy to assemble, provided adequate brightness, and still performed properly after the water and freezer test. However, one of the spokes fell off after the golf ball test. It has a basic design, and for the price, eight lights for under $40 is an affordable option.
6 Pro Series VI Solar Path Light
The 6 Pro Series VI Solar Path Lights offers an elegant look to light your pathway. After the light and water test, the lights still worked. However, because of the price, we didn’t feel that the performance or design justified the high price tag.
Ring Solar Pathlight
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The Ring Solar Pathlights provided incredibly bright light, and the system as a whole was quite durable. However, a Ring Bridge and a smartphone app are required to connect it to Alexa. We weren’t able to get the app working properly during testing, which is why we didn’t include it on our list of the best outdoor solar lights. If you have the time and patience to devote to setup—and you already own other Ring accessories—this could still be a great fit for your home.
Your Questions, Answered
Will solar lights still work in indirect sunlight?
Outdoor lights work best when they have access to direct sunlight to charge for multiple hours during the day, which is how the manufacturers calculate battery life and runtime.
They’ll still work on cloudy days or in areas with indirect light, but you might notice that they aren’t quite as bright or long-lasting. “It is a fact that energy storage is much better if it’s under direct sunlight, but solar lights can still work with rain or even snow,” Jameson says.
Do solar lights work in every part of the country?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar lights work well in most parts of the United States. As long as the solar panels have access to enough sunlight, the lights will work well.
Pay attention to how much sunlight your yard gets during the day, and use that to manage your expectations for how bright the lights will be and how long they’ll last into the evening.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the manufacturer’s guidelines for water exposure and use in freezing temperatures; you may need to bring the lights inside during inclement weather for protection.
Are solar lights eco-friendly?
In addition to giving you a sense of security and better visibility come nighttime, solar lights use renewable energy and don’t create emissions that harm the planet. “Given that solar lights do not require electricity and are not connected to the power grid, it is very sustainable and is even a cost-effective way of lighting your home without bringing up the electricity bill,” Jameson says.
Who We Are
This article was written by Brittany VanDerBill, a freelance lifestyle and travel writer whose work has been published with several Dotdash Meredith brands. To find the best solar lights, she researched a variety of options like style, installation, lighting type, and more. She also consulted Sarah Jameson of Green Building Elements.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor