Read on for the best outdoor solar lights that PEOPLE Tested.
We tested qualities like setup, features, design, brightness, durability, and value to see which outdoor solar lights were truly the brightest of the bunch. Starting with 27 outdoor solar light varieties, our team put together each light and considered how user-friendly the setup was, how easily the modes and motion sensors worked, and how bright it was when placed in a completely dark room.
“When searching for backyard lights , you want to find something that provides a great ambiance,” celebrity interiors and lifestyle designer Mikel Welch tells PEOPLE.” He suggests looking for dimmable options with a “soft, warm glow,” in the form of lanterns or string lights: “Both of these styles are available as solar lights and can add ambiance to your backyard all while saving money and being eco-friendly.”
An outdoor space bathed in soft light can instantly set you at ease, and with outdoor solar lights, you’ll save money and energy while creating this aesthetic.
Best Overall
Urpower Outdoor Solar Lights
Amazon
View On Amazon
$30
Our Ratings
Pros
These lights have an automatic turn-on and shut-off feature, plus, they only need four to six hours to fully charge.
Each light comes in just three pieces for easy assembly, and they can be mounted or placed in-ground.
At the highest brightness setting (there are two), we were able to easily read by it in a dark room.
They remained undamaged by water, freezer, and impact tests.
Cons
The industrial design might be too austere for some.
They don't include a motion-sensor.
These outdoor solar lights from Urpower are the perfect option to keep your yard lit from dusk until dawn. They automatically turn on at night and off in the morning and only need about four to six hours to fully charge with sunlight. We loved how easy they were to set up, coming with three pieces and a screw to aid the tilting effect of each light.
We appreciated the two brightness settings and noticed that the higher setting proved more effective for reading during the brightness test. The design is more of a spotlight with the solar panel sticking out of the stake, so it didn’t feel like a classic design to us. However, the lights are adjustable and can be placed in-ground or mounted on the side of your home. They don't include a motion sensor, which may be a priority for some.
This light also survived our durability tests with ease — it remained undamaged after we poured water on it, dropped a golf ball on it, and froze it to simulate cold weather. These outdoor lights also are designed to hold up to extreme heat. Given the price, features, and long-term durability of these outdoor solar lights, not to mention the savings in energy and electric bills, we believe the Urpower solar lights are the best option for your outdoor needs.
Material: Durable plastic | Modes: 2 | Motion-Sensor: No | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 2 | Mount Type: Wall or in-ground
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
Best Budget
Linkind StarRay Solar Spotlights
Amazon
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$33
Our Ratings
Pros
These lights feature motion sensors and several brightness levels.
They passed all of our durability tests, proving their resistance to water, freezing temperatures, and impacts.
They have energy-efficient technology and a long-lasting design.
Cons
The design resembles binoculars.
LED lights offer a wealth of benefits, including longevity and energy efficiency, and those are just the beginning with these lights from Linkind. There are two modes: one for half-light at dusk and one for motion detection. The second mode brightens for 10 minutes after detecting someone (or something, like an animal) and then goes back to the first mode.
We like that the light and the solar panel are on the same unit — it’s more understated and less obtrusive than previous generations of solar spotlights, and the light gives off a cooler tone. These lights passed all tests, surviving water, impacts, and extremely cold temperatures in the freezer. We found that the ambient light is adequate to light a tree or provide landscape lighting, though the bright mode isn’t too much brighter than the regular one.
This light offers a simple streamlined design though, we have to admit, they remind us of a pair of binoculars — not necessarily a bad thing, but maybe not for everyone.
Material: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | Modes: 2 | Motion-Sensor: Yes | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 2 | Mount Type: Wall or in-ground
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
Best with Motion Sensor
AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Lights
Amazon
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$25
Our Ratings
Pros
They passed our durability tests against water, impacts, and freezing temperatures.
These lights are extremely bright with 30 LED light panels, and they're heat-resistant for warmer climates.
Cons
The light was a bit cool-toned for our preference.
This light comes with all the bells and whistles, specifically with motion detection and three unique modes, earning it a score of five in most categories. Our team got off to a rocky start with this one because, with so many modes, the setup proved a little tricky at first. However, once we figured out all of the modes, it worked as expected, and was easy to switch from mode to mode.
We felt the design was somewhat basic and would have preferred more of a warm light. That being said, this light proved highly durable; it wasn’t damaged by the golf ball, freezer, or rain tests. There was no change in the light or function of the bulbs. With 30 LED light panels, these lights are extremely bright and heat-resistant for warmer climates. These lights give off a cool tone, which is not everyone's preference. Overall, we think they’re fairly priced for the quality of light and features, and if they last for several seasons, they are more than worth their price.
Material: Monocrystalline silicon solar panel, high-impact ABS plastic | Modes: 3 | Motion-Sensor: Yes | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 2 | Mount Type: Wall or in-ground
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
Best Patio String Lights
Brightech Ambiance Pro Solar String Lights
Amazon
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$28
View On Nordstrom
$65
View On Brightech.com
Our Ratings
Pros
This set adds a pop of style (and light) to any outdoor space.
It provides soft, moody lighting that is bright enough to read in a dark room.
The lights are durable against impacts, cold temperatures, and water.
Cons
They only stay lit for about six hours as opposed to all night.
The brightness level can't be adjusted.
These string lights work really well for short-term lighting to add a pop of style to your outdoor space. Their design makes them a nice accent to your décor and the solar panel stake and clip options make these feasible to place in-ground (along a plant bed, perhaps) or mounted to hang above you. Our team appreciated its simple, sleek design.
These lights provided soft moody lighting, with enough light to read by when we sat near several of the lights. These outdoor string lights proved surprisingly durable for being individual units, and they survived all of our tests, holding up to water, impacts, and frozen temps. The only critique we had was that you can’t change the brightness and it doesn’t stay lit as long as other models — only about six hours. We wish that you could put several of these string lights together, but they are sold as individual strands, so you might have to just use one strand for each area of coverage.
Material: Rubber, shatterproof S14 bulbs | Modes: 1 | Motion-Sensor: No | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 1 (12 bulbs) | Mount Type: Hung or in-ground
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
Best Lanterns
Home Zone Security Solar Wall Lanterns
Amazon
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$36
View On Walmart
$29
View On Newegg.com
$30
Our Ratings
Pros
They have a simple design with automatic settings, so you don’t have to manually control the lights.
The lights came pre-assembled, so we were able to start using this set right away.
They're made from a durable aluminum glass casing to protect the light bulbs from the elements.
Cons
No tools (besides nails) were provided if you choose to mount the lights.
There is only one brightness setting, and they're not quite bright enough to read by it in a dark room.
Lanterns provide a classic design element to a home’s facade but can seem daunting to mount yourself. Thankfully, this set came assembled, so you can hang them with ease and use them right away. If you want to mount them, you'll need your own tools as only nails are provided. There’s no “on” or “off” button, but rather an automatic setting that kicks on at dusk. There aren’t multiple settings so the brightness level remains consistent overnight, and it was not quite bright enough to read by it in a dark room.
Throughout our durability tests, this lighting set proved triumphant — it worked after sitting in a freezer, having a golf ball dropped on it, and water poured over it. The aluminum glass casing thoroughly protects the LED light bulb, so this lantern set should last for years to come. Considering the design and durability, we think this outdoor solar light set is a good value.
Material: Aluminum, stainless steel | Modes: 1 | Motion-Sensor: Yes | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 2 | Mount Type: Hung or mounted
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
Best Decorative Tabletop Lights
Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights
Amazon
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$17
View On Walmart
$16
View On Brightown.com
Our Ratings
Pros
They provide ambient light with eight lighting modes that last for 10 hours.
They passed all durability tests and continued working after being frozen, splashed with water, and impacted by a golf ball.
They have a budget-friendly price, despite including 100 individual LED lights.
Cons
There are limited placement options apart from tabletops or hanging.
Should you want something more decorative to transform your backyard into a modern oasis, string lights like this Brightown set are the obvious choice for hanging near your outdoor furniture or placing on a tabletop or outdoor décor piece. They provide ambient light with eight different light modes to suit your fancy, and they turn on and off in 60-second increments all night (or up to 10 hours). They also come at a budget-friendly price considering they come with 100 individual LED lights.
Despite their small stature, these string lights passed all of our durability tests. They did turn on when impacted, but they continued to work as normal, functioning despite freezing temperatures and water being doused upon them.
While these lights do provide an aesthetic glow, the brightness is not enough to read by it in a dark room. But that’s no matter because you can read in the daytime and entertain the masses under these gorgeous lights at night. Considering the price of these outdoor solar lights, we think they are a great value.
Material: Copper wire | Modes: 8 | Motion-Sensor: No | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 100 | Mount Type: Hung
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
Best Investment
Kemeco Solar Post Light
Amazon
View On Amazon
$100
Our Ratings
Pros
This light features a sophisticated design with frosted glass, which is great for a front yard.
It comes in two pieces and was easy to set up.
It provided enough light to read by it in the dark.
Cons
The glass shattered when hit with a golf ball.
It was somewhat top-heavy and should be secured to a base.
This elegant outdoor lantern is reminiscent of what you’d see in a movie, with characters walking past a park lamp post bathed in a soft glow. But instead of at the cinema, you could be treated to this lantern every day in your own backyard. We love how it uses real frosted glass for a beautiful and decorative look.
Sold with two pieces, this lantern is fairly easy to set up, you just need a screwdriver to screw in the bottom part. We did notice it was somewhat top-heavy and would need to be attached securely to whatever base you choose. It passed our water test, and performed well in the dark, providing enough light to read by while relaxing in your Adirondack chair.
Alas, beauty is delicate, and this stunning light shattered immediately during our impact test — the golf ball (a common hazard if you live near a course) smashed the glass and sent shards flying into the immediate area. The solar panels, however, remained unaffected. We still believe the price makes sense if you’re going to take the time to install it properly (though we’d caution you with the placement of this light if you live on a golf course).
Material: Ripple glass, aluminum | Modes: 1 | Motion-Sensor: No | Waterproof: Yes | LED: Yes | Units: 1 | Mount Type: Ground or on pole/stand
People / Dera Burreson
People / Dera Burreson
People / Abigail Wetzler
People / Abigail Wetzler
People / Dera Burreson
People / Abigail Wetzler
Climate neutral by ClimatePartner
The Climate neutral label by ClimatePartner certifies that the carbon footprint of a product was calculated and all associated emissions were offset. Additionally, ClimatePartner encourages companies to set ambitious reduction targets and reduce their products' carbon footprints. The certificate number can be entered on ClimatePartner’s website for additional information such as the supported carbon offset project(s). ClimatePartner is improving lives by helping companies tackle climate change with practical solutions.
Certification Number
2GERJK