4 Best Pool Lights (2023 Guide)

Regardless if you have an inground pool, inflatable swimming pool, or above-ground pool, lights into an all-day activity and help transform your backyard into an oasis. Swimming at night is especially fun because you have glowing lights and cooler temperatures.

To help you find lighting, our team evaluated the best pool lights available this summer. Explore our top recommendations below.

Top 4 Pool Lights

• Best Pool Lights Overall: Roleadro Pool Light
• Best Floating Pool Speaker: Blufree Bluetooth Speaker With Colorful Lights
• Best Pool Light Bulb: Life-Bulb LED Color Pool Light Bulb
• Best Suction Light: VIDOME Rechargeable Pool Lights

Best Pool Lights Overall: Roleadro Pool Light

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with one light and a remote
✔ Offers seven static and five dynamic modes
✔ Features a universal screw-in design

✘ Remote connection can be faulty
✘ Instructions are sparse

What Customers Are Saying

According to our research, most customers thought this light was reasonably easy to set up, given its permanent installation process. They also liked its customizable light modes. However, some customers struggled to get the remote to change these settings.

Best Floating Pool Speaker: Blufree Bluetooth Speaker With Colorful Lights

Pros and Cons

✔ Features combined light and speaker design
✔ Includes seven dynamic light modes
✔ Offers a buoyant construction

✘ Lasts for up to 8 hours on one charge
✘ Smartphone pairing can be difficult

What Customers Are Saying

Of the dozens of reviews we read, we found that happy customers praised this device’s long-lasting battery and superior sound quality. Alternatively, some users didn’t like how dim the light was and how difficult the smartphone pairing was.

Best Pool Light Bulb: Life-Bulb LED Color Pool Light Bulb

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes remote control and waterproof storage bag
✔ Offers 12 light settings
✔ Features a universal screw-in design

✘ Batteries not included
✘ Remote pairing may be difficult

What Customers Are Saying

We learned that customers who liked this pool light liked how easy it was to install, its energy-efficient design, and how bright the bulbs were. However, our team also found that a few customers had issues getting the remote to work properly, while others were disappointed it did not come with batteries.

Best Suction Lights: VIDOME Rechargeable Pool Lights

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes four lights and a remote control
✔ Lasts up to 130 hours per charge
✔ Offers 20 settings

✘ Dynamic settings can significantly reduce battery life
✘ Suction cup quality lacking

What Customers Are Saying

According to our team’s verified buyer research, positive reviews mentioned customers using this multipack for their large pools. Users also liked the lights’ sturdy construction. However, we found that a few of the most common complaints in negative customer reviews revolved around their short battery life and poor suction.

Pool Light Buying Guide

Lights add style to your backyard while illuminating your pool for nighttime swims. This buying guide will help you pick the best lighting for your pool.

Pool Light Color

Some pool lights are only available in a standard white color. However, others come in brighter colors like red, green, blue, and purple. They may also have color-changing modes.

Pool Light Installation

Pool lights come with one of two installation methods. Some attach to the walls of your pool and remain there permanently. Others float on the water, allowing you to remove them whenever you want. Only purchase attachable pool lights if you have the proper housing to install them. Otherwise, stick to temporary ones.

Pool Bulbs

There are three types of bulbs that manufacturers use in their pool lights.

• Incandescent: These traditional bulbs are large and produce white light.
• Halogen: These smaller bulbs are more efficient. They also produce white light.
• LED: Today, most pool lights feature LED bulbs because they’re longer-lasting and more energy-efficient than the other two types. They can also produce light in a variety of colors.

Voltage

Floating lights come in a range of voltages for you to choose from. However, lights that you install on the side of your pool usually only support 12- or 120-volt bulbs. Twelve-volt bulbs produce a low, steady light, while 120-volt bulbs produce a brighter light. Before deciding on a voltage for your permanent lights, check regulations in your area because some towns and neighborhoods require you to use the less powerful 12-volt bulbs in your pool.

Controls

You usually control temporary pool lights with a button. Depending on the permanent pool lights you choose, you can control them with switches, remotes, buttons, and timers.

How to Best Optimize Your Pool Lights

When choosing the pool lights for your space, there are several ways you can customize them to match your personal style and the ambiance you’re trying to create in your backyard. Our team came up with the following ways you can mix up your pool lighting to best suit your needs. 

• Create Different Color Themes: If your pool lights have color-changing LED capabilities, take advantage of the various color options to create different themes or moods. One example is setting up blue lights for a calming atmosphere or brighter red or yellow lights for a party.
• Utilize Lighting Effects: Many modern swimming pool lights offer different lighting effects, such as pulsating, fading, or strobe effects, to create light shows in your yard. Experiment with these effects to create dynamic and visually appealing lighting displays.
• Highlight Water Features: Use your pool lights to highlight any water features you have in your pool, such as fountains, waterfalls, or jets. Position the lights strategically to enhance the other elements of the pool and add to the ambiance. 
• Illuminate Landscaping: If your pool area is surrounded by landscaping or outdoor elements, use your pool lights to highlight trees, plants, or other features of your yard. 
• Combine Lighting with Music: If you have an outdoor speaker or poolside sound system, synchronize the pool lights with music to create a unique sensory experience perfect for parties or gatherings. You can also match the lighting effects and colors to the rhythm and mood of the music.
• Set a Timer: Use the timer in your pool lights or install one of your own to control your pool lights. This allows you to schedule when the lights turn on and off, saving energy and ensuring they are operational when you need them.
• Explore Additional Effects:  Some pool lights can project patterns or designs onto the pool floor or walls, adding a unique visual element to your pool.

Pool Light FAQs

What are the benefits of pool lights?

Pool lights increase your visibility when night swimming, minimizing injuries. They also repel insects that would typically be a nuisance at night.

How long do pool lights last?

Incandescent and halogen pool lights last for about 5,000–6,000 hours. LED pool lights last much longer and boast an average lifespan of 30,000 hours. Maintaining your pool can also help it and its accessories last longer.

Are pool lights safe?

You may have heard that electricity and water don’t mix. However, pool lights are safe because they use low-voltage bulbs covered with thick, non-conductive housings.

How We Selected the Best Pool 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 pool 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 critical 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 DIYers 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 countless reviews of garden, lawn, and outdoor products—from fertilizer and garden hoses to patio furniture 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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