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Solar lights illuminate your yard without needing an electrical outlet or a short-lived battery. To help you find a lighting solution that works for your yard or patio, our team researched the best outdoor solar lights on the market today.
Here are our top recommendations.
Top 4 Outdoor Solar Lights
- Best Decorative Lights: Aityvert Solar Flickering Flame Torch Lights
- Best String Lights: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar-Powered String Lights
- Best Motion-Activated Lights: BAXIA TECHNOLOGY LED Solar Motion Sensor Lights
- Best Post Lights: Davinci Lighting Flexfit Solar Post Cap Lights
Compare Top Outdoor Solar Lights
| Product | Count | Charge Time | Run Time | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aityvert Solar Flickering Flame Torch Lights | 4 | 8 hours | 5–12 hours | 1 year |
| Brightech Ambience Pro Solar-Powered String Lights | 12 | 6 hours | 5–8 hours | 2 years |
| BAXIA TECHNOLOGY LED Solar Motion Sensor Lights | 4 | 8 hours | 8 hours | 1 year |
| Davinci Lighting Flexfit Solar Post Cap Lights | 2 | 7–8 hours | Not listed | 90 days |
| Product | Count | Charge Time | Run Time | Warranty |
Best Decorative Lights
Aityvert Solar Flickering Flame Torch Lights
- $65.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Creates a torch-like light without the risk of real fire
✔ Uses LED bulbs with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
✔ Can withstand temperatures ranging from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit
✘ The bulbs can’t be changed because of the sealed design
✘ The extension pole to increase the height isn’t included in the purchase
Key Features
- Four lights
- Eight hours of charging time
- Five to 12 hours of runtime
- Two quantity options
- 12-month warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that the torches were sturdy and easy to assemble. Many also said that friends and neighbors mistook the lights for genuine flames. Nearly all negative reviews feature complaints about the lights malfunctioning over time.
Best String Lights
Brightech Ambience Pro Solar-Powered String Lights
- $29.99
- $47.99
- 38% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a lifespan of 20,000 hours
✔ Built with WeatherTite technology, allowing the bulbs to withstand snow and winds
✔ Includes 12 replacement bulbs for when the others burn out
✘ Needs direct sunlight to charge fully
✘ Doesn’t include an attachment to link multiple strands together
Key Features
- 12 lights on a string
- Six hours of charging time
- Five to six hours of runtime
- Two length options
- Two-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Most customers were satisfied with their purchase, saying the solar lights were well-made and easy to install. Reviewers also noted that the lights elevated the look of their outdoor space. However, dissatisfied customers didn’t like that the longer strand option had the same number of bulbs as the shorter option.
Best Motion-Activated Lights
BAXIA TECHNOLOGY LED Solar Motion Sensor Lights
- $39.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a heat-resistant and waterproof design
✔ Has a motion detection angle of 120 degrees
✔ Has an easy installation process, requiring two holes to be drilled
✘ Only provides light when motion is detected
✘ Needs about eight hours of sunlight to charge during the day
Key Features
- Four lights
- Motion detection
- Eight hours of charging time
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that the product was easy to install. Many were also impressed with the product’s performance, stating that it saved them money on utility bills. Those who left negative reviews said the lights stopped working after a short period.
Best Post Lights
Davinci Lighting Flexfit Solar Post Cap Lights
- $19.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Available in multiple neutral colors
✔ Works in rain, sleet, or snow
✔ Turns on automatically each night
✘ May not be compatible with non-wood materials, such as aluminum or resin
✘ Has conflicting information on how to obtain replacement batteries
Key Features
- Two lights
- Seven to eight hours of runtime
- Two color options
- 90-day warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers said that the solar lights were easy to install. Several customers updated their reviews years later to say that the lights still worked even after encountering wind, rain, and snow. However, unhappy customers said that while the item arrived quickly and in good condition, they were dissatisfied with the light output.
Buying Guide to Outdoor Solar Lights
When purchasing lights, it’s important to understand how each model’s design affects its performance. Here are three factors to consider when buying landscape lighting.
Light Type
Before purchasing outdoor solar lights, consider your personal lighting needs. If you’re looking for lighting to hang around a gazebo or line a patio, consider more decorative models, such as the Aityvert torch lights or the Brightech string lights. If you’re looking for solar-powered lighting to increase outdoor visibility at night or ward off unwanted intruders, look for motion-activated options, such as the BAXIA motion sensor lights.
Light Brightness and Color
A light’s brightness is measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light will be. Additionally, light bulbs use Kelvin to denote their temperature, which we perceive as color. The higher the Kelvin rating a light has, the bluer it appears; a lower Kelvin rating produces a redder light.
Battery Life
Most outdoor solar lights last around eight hours on a single charge, though this lifespan can decrease based on the amount of direct sunlight it receives during the day and the time of year. For example, Aityvert’s solar torch lights last up to 12 hours during summer but just five hours during winter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Lights
Do outdoor solar-powered lights work during the winter?
Yes. Despite the short days and colder weather, solar-powered lights can work in the winter as long as sunlight’s available. However, the battery life of your lights may decrease because of the reduced exposure to sunlight.
How long do solar-powered lights need to charge?
Most solar lights need around eight hours of sunlight to charge and provide full-strength light. When you first install your solar-powered lights, let them charge for a couple of days to reach full capacity.
Can you use regular AA batteries in solar lights?
No. Solar lights require a rechargeable battery capable of harnessing and storing sunlight.
How We Selected the Best Outdoor Solar Lights
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of solar lights with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
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