Solar-powered spotlights are a great way to create an exciting and attractive setting without racking up a huge energy bill. They’re environment-friendly, require low maintenance, and can still cast bright powerful lights
It can be hard to find the right solar lights for your home. You want them to stay lit without suddenly turning off in the middle of the night. We know how hard it is to find the right solar spot lights, so we’ve done all your research for you and highlighted our favorite picks.
Our Top Picks
1. LITOM 12 LED Solar Landscape Spotlights
The first spot on our list goes to the LITOM 12 LED Solar Landscape Spotlights. These waterproof solar lights are super reliable and efficient compared to other 4×6 LEDs in the market, all while being a more affordable option.
The 18650 lithium rechargeable battery ensures that you get a longer working time for your day-to-day use of these landscape spotlights.
The LITOM Landscape Spotlights are the most impressive solar lights for outside your home thanks to their versatility and practicality. They offer more than just an attractive design that is lacking in other models at this price range, which will make you happy with its quality and impress any guests who visit.
Every LITOM solar light is made with heat-resistant technology, which means it can generate 600 Lumen. That’s enough to power your yard, patio, or garage.
You can mount these lights on a wall or stick them in the ground to illuminate any part of your exterior building. They have wider 120° lighting angles and are adjustable up to 90 degrees, which is perfect for adapting to different situations.
They automatically detect the change in brightness and switch to energy storage mode when it gets dark, you don’t have to worry about turning them on or off.
Pros
- East to install
- Multiple brightness settings
- Reliable LED
- Auto on/off sensor setting
Cons
- Lacks motion sensing
- Price is high
2. DBF Solar Lights Outdoor Spotlight
The DFB Solar Lights Outdoor Spotlight is the perfect addition to any outdoor space. Whether you need extra light at night or just want some pretty lights on your porch, this unit will be sure to provide.
The 9 different lighting modes are great for every occasion and make it easy to find what works best in each situation. The built-in light sensor ensures that your spotlights are on 24/7, saving you the time and effort of doing it manually. When fully charged, they can stay lit for up to 8 hours.
The solar spotlights are an incredible product that not only saves you money but also gives off double the coverage. That’s one of many reasons why these lights provide a better value for your home.
These LED lights are both sleek and versatile. They can be installed easily without the need for extra tools, but what we loved most is that they have 9 modes including 7 unique lighting colors.
You can use the white light mode for general night lighting or experiment with other modes to enhance your home’s aesthetics and create a theme of your liking.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Two times more light coverage
- 7 unique lighting colors
- Built-in light sensor
- No wires needed
- Energy saving
Cons
- Difficult to remove when stuck into the ground
- Difficult to loosen and tighten when dirt accumulates
3. ROSHWEY Outdoor Solar Spotlights
The ROSHWEY Solar Spotlights are ideal for outdoor parties. They come with several features that make them stand out and can be installed either on the ground or wall depending on your preference.
With seven different colors to choose from, these innovative lights can be used for a variety of occasions. The LEDs are safe in all types of weather conditions as they’re waterproof so rain or snow won’t affect them.
What’s awesome about this spotlight is that you can adjust it up to 120° and the solar panel changes directions up to 150°. This allows for maximum flexibility so you don’t have to worry as much when trying out new environments.
These solar spotlights are easy to install and don’t require any wiring. The only downside is the initial charge that takes about 5 hours for them to be fully functional.
Pros
- High-quality
- Waterproof
- Wide light coverage
- Automatic light sensor
- Consistent performance in all weather conditions
- 9 light modes, including 2 color-changing options
- Two installation methods
Cons
- Requires initial solar panel charge
- A bit expensive
4. Signature Garden 6 Pack Solar Garden Lights
If you want your garden to look good at night and be a glowing wonderland, this is the solar light for you. It won’t just go well with hostas and phlox but will cast that friendly glow onto your walkway as well.
These solar lights are designed for intense weather conditions, and they’re guaranteed to last a lifetime no matter what mother nature throws at them.
Each one of these little LED lights produces 15 lumens, not as bright as other models but just right for looking around your feet. The lights are powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 8 hours.
The light turns on automatically at dusk and off in the morning, so you will never be left without illumination when your power goes out for some reason. The Signature Garden lights kit includes six lights for around $45, which may not be the cheapest option but is still a good price point. There are two colors to choose from, silver or black.
Pros
- Aesthetic design
- Easy installation
- Great value
Cons
- Will start to rust when being outside in the elements
- Metal shafts are very thin and susceptible to bending and warping
5. URPOWER Solar Lights
These lights will light your night up without sky-rocketing the power bill. They are made from high-quality ABS plastic and produce a cool white light so they can be really bright when you need them to be. In addition, these garden solar lights come in packs of 2.
You can install these lights in many ways. You could use the stake to drive them into the ground, or mount them on a wall with screws and anchors.
For outdoor enthusiasts, this product is a great practical investment. Even if you live in an area that can get really hot and cold, these lights can stay outdoors without any issues. They’re both frost-proof, waterproof, and heat-resistant.
The URPOWER Solar Outdoor lights come with automatic on, off, and recharge function. This means that they will stay lit even when you are away for months. The lights are so simple and straightforward to use, they have just two lighting modes, high brightness and low.
In the first mode, these lights can run for up to 6 hours and you can get 9-hour of light in the second mode.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Solid build
- High capacity 2200mAh battery
- 2 Installation methods
- Really bright cool white light
Cons
- Solar panel can only be adjusted front and back
- Price is a bit high
6. Solar Light Mart Mini 50x Twin LED Spotlight
The Solar Light Mart Mini 50x LED Spotlights are lightweight and versatile, making them easy to install. Solar Light Mart’s solar spotlights are perfect for any space, even shaded areas.
You can install the panel in full sunlight and then simply place them wherever you want without the worry of running out of energy.
The solar spotlights are encased in cast aluminum and customers report that they’re strong, long-lasting, and durable. They also have stakes made from aluminum so you don’t need to worry about them breaking as many other plastic ones do.
These compact and affordable light fixtures can brighten up any outdoor space with just 60-100 lumens of brightness. The LED bulbs are made by CREE, one of the top leaders in this technology, so you’ll always be able to see what’s going on outside at night time.
Pros
- 3 brightness levels
- Well made solid build
- Decent solar panel
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Some users reported poor lighting performance
7. AMIR Solar Spotlight
These AMIR solar spotlights are so bright they will light up your whole yard. These lights can be charged for 8 hours and provide many hours of lighting time, perfect for any outdoor event. With their multiple modes you’re able to pick the perfect one that is best suited to what type of activity or occasion you have in mind.
These solar spotlights come complete with a battery capacity of 2600mAh, meaning that they can stay alight for up to 30 hours. They’re the perfect choice if you need dependable lights for your backyard or porch.
The AMIR solar spotlight features four different lighting settings for your convenience. You can choose a mode suitable to the time of day or whether you want bright illumination during the evening hours and low lighting at night when sleeping. This product is also intelligent as it automatically increases brightness in response to motion detected within 26 feet.
This sleek, water and heat-resistant outdoor spotlight have a 360° adjustable lamp holder that lets you access the full range of lighting angles. With its super-bright LEDs, this fixture will help turn your backyard into an inviting place to hang out.
One thing that we wish was different about this model is the size. While it’s not too bad, given how powerful and efficient AMIR solar spotlights are, some people might prefer a design with an unobtrusive appearance in order to better blend into their surroundings.
Pros
- Long-lasting battery
- 4 lighting modes
- Motion sensor range of up to 26ft
- 360° adjustable lights
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Unit is bulky
What to Look for in when Choosing the Best Outdoor Solar Lights
Solar spotlights are not just for illuminating your property. Some come with colors, some offer a warm yellow light and others emit cool white light. What should you consider when buying one? Keep reading to learn more.
Types
Solar lights fall into three different types of lighting depending on their light output: motion-activated, dusk to dawn, and timer controlled. The type you choose depends largely on when you want the lights shining and for how long.
Motion-activated is best if they provide enough illumination at night while preserving energy by turning off during daylight hours.
Dusk till Dawn works well as a yard or porch security lighting where it turns itself off after a certain time like 11 pm until 8 am with an auto sensor that detects whether it’s dark outside.
Timer Controlled Lighting is great because you can specify exactly what times your solar lights come on.
Brightness
Solar lights can be used to brighten up the yard, garden, or driveway. They are a good option if you live in an area that does not have many hours of sunlight during the day. Ensure your light is powerful enough to illuminate all areas and check for lumens before purchasing.
Spotlights come in many different shapes and sizes. Some can produce as little as 200 Lumens, which creates a softer light while others have models that go up to 1400 lumens making for brighter beams of light.
Lights are an important part of the scenery in your garden. They can be used to create a relaxing, calm atmosphere or they can light up driveways and walkways for added safety when you go out at night. In the end, it all comes down to how much direct sunlight you’re getting and what size LED bulb you have.
Battery Runtime
For your convenience, outdoor solar spot lights use batteries for lighting. That means the sun will charge them during the day and at night they’ll light up.
Some panels can be charged in as little as 5 hours. You want to look for a light that has at least 8 hours of battery life on low mode and 5 on high.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensors are a really cool feature to have in solar spotlights. Whenever these little devices detect motion, the lights will automatically turn on.
Lights that turn off automatically will save you money and make your home safer. Sure, they’ll still alert you of movement in the yard with their sudden bursts of light, but at least it won’t be a constant distraction while watching TV.
Light Sensors
Light sensors are a useful way to save battery power, and they’re also an excellent feature in products designed for people who don’t want the hassle of manually turning lights on or off.
Light sensors will automatically detect when it’s dark outside, making it easier than ever before to turn your lights on at night without having to worry about remembering.
Lighting Range
Solar lights vary by a range of illumination, but most standard units will only provide for about 10 ft or less. If this is not enough reach and security is important, invest in a model with an extended length of 30ft or more.
You can also install multiple units in different areas so that all parts of your house get lit up nicely without any dark corners left behind.
Adjustability
When you want to create a specific effect in your yard, light adjustability can be helpful. Adjusting the angle of heads is particularly useful for wall-mounted lights because they’re fixed into place and it’s not easy to move them around.
This means that if you need more illumination in one area or less lighting somewhere else, adjusting the direction of these fixtures can help you achieve your ideal setting.
Price
There are many different varieties of lights available, but if you want the most bang for your buck then it’s better to get a basic model that features standard LED bulbs and motion sensors.
Installation
The placement of the solar-powered lights is super important when you’re dealing with bulbs that need to be charged by sunlight. Where you will place your panels can determine how quickly they charge so it’s best not to overlook this factor before purchasing them.
Solar panels need to be placed in an area where they can get plenty of sunlight, but you may not have many options if your house is surrounded by trees or buildings that cast shadows.
Weather
With the weather constantly changing, it’s important for outside lighting to be able to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at them. Waterproof lights are a must if you want your outdoor space lit up and looking fabulous.
Spotlights are mostly constructed with steel or ABS plastic to keep the internal components safe. Keep in mind that if you have a solar panel on top of it, make sure no snow falls upon them during winter so they can charge properly.
Final Thoughts
When you’re looking for outdoor solar lights, the first thing to consider is why. Do you need a light so that when it gets dark outside and your hands are full of groceries or laundry, all those little things will be easy enough for you to find?
If you want to brighten up your garden with colorful lights, it might be best for you to opt for more than one light and maybe a variety of colors.
But if powerful automatic motion-detecting security is what’s most important to you, then we would recommend spending the extra money on integrated sensors in these solar spotlights so they’ll work as soon as movement is detected outside.
To help you choose wisely we made sure all the solar-powered spotlights that we reviewed were cost-effective, well-made, and could conserve energy to extend working hours.