10 Best Outdoor Solar Lights – Top Rated Solar Lights [ 2022 ]

Fitting your garden with a variety of solar lights can be a great way to keep things attractive and exciting without racking up a huge energy bill. Solar lights rely on sunlight, thus they are sustainable and an excellent way of beautifying your home for the upcoming season. The best outdoor solar lights function well and are quite attractive, making your home a beacon.

Solar lights are a great addition to any contemporary home. The best solar lights are waterproof so they are a great outdoor accessory as they can withstand any weather. They also have an automatic operation. They can be left on their own and will work to provide your lawn with light, security, and beauty. If you still don’t have solar lights in your garden, you should consider getting some now!

When buying solar lights, there are several aspects that you need to consider.
This article will cover the following topics on Solar Lights:

• Solar Lights Products Reviews
• Buying Guide
• FAQs about Solar Lights

At A Glance – Best Solar Lights

Image	Brand	Details
	TomCare Solar Lights	See Price
	InnoGear Upgraded Solar Lights- 2-In-1 Waterproof Outdoor	See Price
	URPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor-Motion Sensor Solar Lights	See Price
	ASIWO Solar Lights- Outdoor 24 LED Motion Sensor Light	See Price
	AmeriTop Super Bright LED Solar	See Price
	JSOT Solar Spotlights	See Price
	InnoGear Solar Gutter Lights	See Price
	Mpow Solar Decorative String Lights	See Price
	Gama Sonic GS-105FPW-W-WW Baytown II Lamp Outdoor Solar Light	See Price
	SolarGlow Solar Garden Lights	See Price

Top 10 Best Outdoor Solar Lights

1. TomCare Solar Lights

The TomCare solar light is designed for both illumination and decoration purposes. It can be used on patios, driveways, or gardens.

You can rely on the TomCare outdoor solar light for all your decorative and lighting purposes. They are environmentally friendly alternatives to live flames with LED lights that offer a striking glow to any outdoor space. They also feature a flickering flame effect that enhances the glamorous feel to any ambiance.  TomCare Solar Lights run on 100% solar power which eliminates the need to buy standard batteries.

They use a 2200mAH rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can light up your garden for up to 12 hours. The batteries have a charge time of 8 hours. In the summer months, these solar lights will provide light for 10 hours and 5 hours in winter.  Generally, they have a longer working time compared to other solar light options on the market.

Additionally, these lights have an automatic feature that detects the presence or absence of light to switch on at dusk and off at dawn. They do not require any wiring when installing; you will only need to place the stake into the ground.

TomCare Solar Lights are made using IP65 Waterproof Grade material which means that they can withstand all weather conditions.

2. InnoGear Upgraded Solar Lights – 2-in-1 Waterproof Outdoor

If you want to provide a lot of direct lighting in one specific area, InnoGear spotlights are the best choice. The InnoGear Upgraded Solar Lights is a 2-in-1 solar light that is both waterproof and heatproof can be installed outdoors without the fear of being damaged by strong rainfall or sunlight.

Additionally, these lights are incredibly bright—producing 200 lumens each. They also have a 4×50 lumen enhanced LED.

Installing these LED solar lights is easy since they come on stakes. To install, you will only need to mount them on a wall or press them into the ground and you are good to go. The solar head of the light can be moved around so that it can point in a particular direction or position it at the best angle to expose it to maximum sunlight.

The light also has an automatic function. It turns on at night and off at dawn and has two levels of brightness, which allow you to adjust them depending on your needs. They also come with a lithium rechargeable battery with long life, offering you maximum power while at the same time providing optimal efficiency.

3. URPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor-Motion Sensor Solar Lights

These are the best solar lights you could buy partially thanks to the motion activation feature. While you don’t have to activate this mode, it is a great way to enhance home security and save energy.

When used in the motion sensor mode, these lights come with an upgraded lighting system making the area incredibly bright. This makes them an incredible choice for your porch, driveway, or deck. When motion is detected, they will automatically turn on.

The URPOWER solar lights come with an upgraded rechargeable 1800 mAh battery. For a full charge, they take about 6-8 hours of sunlight. They can be used for 12 hours when fully charged.

4. ASIWO Solar Lights- Outdoor 24 LED Motion Sensor Light

The ASIWO solar light provides a 270-degree illumination range thanks to its Wide-angle Lighting Design.  This means that it can cover three times the area covered by normal solar lights.

This light comes with an intelligent sensor light that senses motion to improve your home’s security while providing night light. When the sensor senses anyone moving, they will light up to welcome the guest or warn you if there is anyone trespassing.

The ASIWO solar light comes with a 2200mAh, lithium battery and can work for over 10 hours when fully charged. They produce a bright light for 15/30 seconds when motion is detected.

They are IP65 waterproof which ensures that the lights work well regardless of the snow, rain or heat.

5. AmeriTop Super Bright LED Solar

The AmeriTop Super Bright LED solar light is among the best security lights available. It has a high lumen output and an incredibly sensitive motion sensor. The unit has all the standard essentials like weatherproofing and a highly efficient solar panel.

This light combines 1,500 lumens and 5,000K of brightness. The unit has three separate swivel heads that are easy to adjust to increase the lighting area.

This model comes with an exceptionally sensitive motion sensor that can detect movement up to 49 feet away. The sensor also operates at a 180-degree angle and is flexible. The motion sensor has two different settings, “auto mode” that operated from dusk to dawn, and “auto on” that turns on when motion is detected.

Each light has a stand-alone solar panel connected by a 15-foot power cord. Different from other models, the solar panel is detached from the light fixture so it must be fitted separately. While this might be inconvenient, it does allow you to place the light in an area with no direct sunlight.

6. JSOT Outdoor Solar Spotlights

JSOT Outdoor Solar Spotlights feature strong solar spotlight built-in 36 LED beads that can emit up to 1000 lumens of light, easily lighting the garage, driveway, and pathway improving security.

This unit comes with a sensitive motion sensor and 4 working modes.  This allows you to switch to any working mode that is suitable to the area such as the garden, pool, or front door.

You can light any area that you want by adjusting the solar panel direction. The units come with adjustable solar lights head and solar panels. You can move the solar panel to any direction to collect the maximum amount of sunlight. The light head can also be moved to any area that you wish to illuminate.

This light comes with two built-in 26000mAh lithium-ion batteries that can store power for up to 10 hours use.

7. InnoGear Solar Gutter Lights

If you are looking for security lights, then the InnoGear solar gutter lights are what you need. These lights detect motion and offer security to your home.

This lighting model features 36 super bright LED bulbs that switch on automatically as soon as they detect any movement within a 26-foot range. They also come with four brightness modes— full brightness, 1/4 bright, 1/2 bright, and dim mode with motion sensor.

This unit comes with up to 450 lumens of light, making it one of the most valuable security and motion sensor lights in the market. It also features a heat-proof and waterproof solar panel that protects it from scratches and frost for maximum performance in outdoor conditions.

InnoGear has a 2600mAh battery that can run for up to 10 hours when fully charged. It also has an aluminum pole for wall mounting.

8. Mpow Solar Decorative String Lights

If you are searching for a perfect way to light your porch or tent for a backyard occasion, the Mpow Solar Decorative String Lights is the solution. Mpow has some of the best outdoor decorative products in the industry.

These lights are resistant to both heat and water meaning that you can leave them outside in all types of weather. They are IP64 waterproof, so you can carry on with your celebrations without worrying about the rain, sleet, snow or any other form of precipitation.

Each string comes with 100 unique LED lights, each with a nice, warm, white glow. They are fixed to a 33-foot long cord allowing you to hang them anywhere you want. They are quite versatile, allowing you to use them to light up your garden or patio for more extravagant occasions like holidays or weddings.

These lights come with eight different modes allowing you to change the appearance based on the mood. You can choose from twinkle, chasing, fireflies, combination, and other options to light up your occasion.

9. Gama Sonic GS-105FPW-BW Baytown II

This Gama Sonic model comes with a choice of three colors allowing you to choose the one that most suits your preference.  It also comes with three mounting options—install as a post light, as a pier base lamp or a wall lamp. It has bright white LEDs that illuminate the outdoor space during the night for up to 10 hours.

If you are a DIY enthusiast, this is the light for you. It comes with easy to install parts that you can fox without any professional help. It also doesn’t require much maintenance, once installed, leave the unit and the sun will take care of the rest.

10. SolarGlow Solar LED Pathway Lights

There is no better way of improving your garden’s aesthetics than by installing some night solar lighting.  You not only need a nice looking solar lighting but practical ones as well.

The SolarGlow solar lights can light up an entire lawn with ease and are waterproof, allowing them to function optimally even when they are exposed to heavy downpours. This is because they are made using ABS plastic which makes them resistant to any type of precipitation.

The unit provides you with a soft glow to light your garden and make it easy to walk outside at night. They are easy to fix, with each coming with eight lights. The lights are affixed to stakes, which makes it easy to install them anywhere you want. Pulling them out is also easy.

These lights use LED bulbs with 15 lumens that can be replaced whenever the need arises. They run on batteries that can be recharged during the day so you don’t have to worry about regular replacements. They also come with light sensors that will recognize the presence of light at dawn and turn themselves off allowing them to charge during the day.

Solar Lights Buying Guide

Unlike other types of lights, solar lights can be left to work on their own and will provide beauty, lighting, and security to your park, garden and other areas of your home. Best solar light is waterproof to work outdoors all day and night.

Solar lights also work automatically. Whenever you want to buy solar lights, it is important to understand that they come in different designs and features. Therefore, ensure that you make a thorough comparison of the available units in the market.

This buying guide will feature the following:

1. What are solar lights?
2. How solar light work
3. The different types of solar lights
4. Features to consider when buying solar lights

What are Solar Lights?

Solar lighting is a new, advanced lighting technology that is mainly used for both outdoor and indoor lighting purposes. They rely on solar energy to produce light. You will find solar-powered lights around houses, on the streets, or in small areas like the porch.

How do Solar Lights Work?

Understanding how solar lights work is easy. The core component of these lights is the photovoltaic panel which collects solar power during the day. Once it’s collected, the energy is transformed into an electronic form and stored in a battery. The light is then used for different lighting purposes during the night.  In addition to the PV panel, solar light uses an automatic controller that turns on the light using the stored energy.

Types of Solar Lights

Finding the best outdoor solar lighting option depends on the particular functions of the light. Those factors will be directly linked to the type of light you choose. For instance, security lights tend to be more expensive than the normal pathway or yard lights. Here are some common types of solar lights:

Solar Path Lights

Walkways are the best place to install this type of solar light. Also, depending on the effect you want to achieve, you can use them to accentuate your garden. Basically, the solar lights for the pathways are brighter than the accent ones.

Furthermore, installing these lights is easy. You only need to stake them in the soil or hand them on the fence. Most models come with an off and on switch fixed on each stake.

Solar path lights can also be used as sidewalk lights or garden path lights. These can provide light for over 10 hours allowing you to do whatever you wish in the backyard at night. The light adds more brightness to outdoors which allows for more festivities to keep going long after sunset.

Solar Garden Lights

Make your garden more charming and vibrant with Solar Garden Lights.  These lights are also used for security purposes, especially those with sensitive motion sensors. When they sense movement, they will turn on instantly producing bright light.

Solar garden lights are put in the garden to produce different illumination effects in a scattered way. These are a great choice for those who want to decorate their plants with some light or cast light to the landscaping.

Moreover, solar garden lights can be used almost anywhere as long as they receive a sufficient amount of sunlight throughout the day. They must not be shaded by any plants or house structures. When fully charged, they illuminate for several hours.

Solar Fence Lights

Solar fence lights are ideal for any taste thanks to their modern. Sleek and classic designs. Some models have frosted covers on the front and on both sides to disperse the light. This way, your fence, deck, porch, and garden get a more appealing and even glow.

Fence lights are eco-friendly, affordable and require low maintenance. Some of them do not require the use of batteries but rely solely on solar energy. They collect the sun rays during the day and use it to light up during the night.

Setting up these lights doesn’t require any external power source or wires. It is an efficient and hassle-free source of light. They have an automatic function and will switch on at dusk. These lights can produce light for 6 to 8 hours on a full charge.

Solar Landscape Lights

Accent lights, unlike other types of solar path lights, are designed to bring good lighting to your garden or lawn. Additionally, they can be used to accentuate your sculpted landscape. The only drawback is that they do not provide much bright light as you would expect as they offer a cozy glow instead of the bright white light.

Similar to other solar lights, solar landscape lights are weather resistant and have an automatic function. They do not require any wire to switch on and off.

These lights come with batteries that last few years. To ensure their longevity, you need to keep the batteries away from the residue on the solar panel. Therefore, you need to clean your lights regularly to boost their life and ensure better function as well as lighting over time.

Solar Shed Lights

If the idea of lighting up the inside of your shed, deck, porch, balcony, garden beds or your pool appeals to you, then you may want to buy the solar shed light.

The lights have a solar panel that absorbs the direct sunlight that is converted into electricity for lighting purposes at night. Setting up this light is easy as it doesn’t require any wiring or some extra setup.

The lights are made of metal rather than from plastic. This ensures their durability as they can withstand all manner of elements.

Another appealing feature of the solar shed light is that they come with two power settings. The first is the low power setting in which only 24 LEDs light up. The second mode is the full power setting where all the LEDs shine to offer light at 400 lumens for one hour.

Features to Consider when Buying Solar Lights

As a result of many options available in the market today, choosing the best solar lights for your home lighting can be a bit tricky. However, there are some factors and features that you can consider when buying solar lights.

1) Brightness

This is one of the most important factors to consider before buying a solar light. This is because the efficiency of a light is determined by how bright it shines.

Most solar lights use LEDs. The brightness level of the bulbs is calculated using lumens. The level varies from one type to another.  Some models produce only 15-35 lumens, producing soft, warm lighting. Other models have higher lumens which can go up to 1000, meaning that they are much brighter.

A brighter light is crucial for security purposes.  Pathways, walkways, and driveways all require solar lights with high levels of brightness. Gardens and other landscape types prefer gentle lights. Therefore, depending on your purpose of illuminating, you should consider the level of the brightness before making any buying decisions.

2) Material

The material used to make the solar light you intend to buy is a critical factor to consider. Since your product will be used outside, you must buy devices that are made with durable and high-quality materials. The best solar lights are made with a combination of glass and metal.

It is equally important to ensure that the product you are buying is waterproof. This ensures that it functions well in any weather.

3)  Battery Type and Capacity

It is important to consider the battery type and capacity of the solar light you intend to buy. Some solar-powered batteries will require a unit that is fully exposed to the sun to be fully charged. On the contrary, there are others that can be charged even when they are not fully exposed to the sun. It is, therefore, important that you know the type of battery your unit comes with.

The battery capacity also matters a lot. For example, if you are buying a solar light to light your pathway, garden or car park, it is advisable to go for models with large battery capacity. A large battery capacity ensures that your light will work for a long duration and long hours during the night.

It is important to note that solar lights use a lot of energy to provide bright light. This means that light with a small battery will illuminate for a short period before going off. A large unit with a large battery capacity will work at the same range with the energy required to allow your light to work for as long as you want.

4)  Solar Quality

The quality of the solar light will determine how fast the light will change the sun into operational energy to light up the area. Simply, the solar quality impacts on the charging rate of the solar light. A unit with good solar quality will have an efficiency conversion rate of about 20%.

To ensure that you buy models with effective solar panels, go for those created with using new technology. Such models will work better than any models manufactured using dated technology.

5)  Style

Considering that there are numerous solar light brands today, it is essential to check for designs that most suits your taste.  There are lights that will not match your décor. Also, it is advisable to invest in a solar light that has a long life.

Another feature you need to consider is the light’s beam and the shadow. This is a feature that distinguishes a customary light from a modern one. Lights with a good shadow and beam have better levels of brightens compared to other models.

6)  Intelligent Features

Intelligent lights have more modern processors which adapt to the surroundings faster than older models. For example, there are lights with intelligent microprocessors that regulate the light production based on weather patterns.

Basically, the more intelligent your lights are, the more efficient they will be. A light that can regulate its light intensity based in the adjacent environment could conserve energy and thus last longer.

7)  Adjustability

The ability to adjust features of the solar outdoor lights is a desirable factor in any product. The majority of solar lights have numerous lighting modes, especially motion sensor lights. Depending on how you intend to use the solar light, the ability to choose bright or low lighting modes is prized.

Some lights will have the ability to manipulate orientation angles of the light bulb or the solar panel. This is quite important since the maximum performance of the solar panel highly depends on the tilt angle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We all want to light up our driveway, patio or garden with beautiful light effects. Solar lights are a great choice as they offer a gentle accent lighting to your home with an eco-friendly approach.  But even with all that, you might have some questions about how they work and how to use them. Here are the answers to some of those questions.

•   What makes up solar lights?

Most solar fixtures contain a battery, photovoltaic cell, LED light, and a light-controlled resistor.  Each of these releases energy which is used to charge the batteries the entire day. The solar lights will stop emitting energy in the evening. At this point, the resistor will detect the light presence and activate the battery.

•   How long do solar lights last?

Solar lights come with rechargeable and replaceable batteries. This is a guarantee that your lights will last for about two years. However, for this to happen, regularly check the lights and allow them to recharge periodically. You can buy the replacement batteries from the manufacturer or at an online shop. The LED bulbs have a life cycle of 100,000 hours.

•   Are there any design limitations of solar lighting?

Yes. Solar light is mainly designed to offer a cost-saving solution and for the eco-friendly purpose. If you buy units with a high wattage, you will require a bigger solar panel. With such limitations, solar lighting is only used for minimum security.

•   How do I clean solar lights?

Since most solar lights are water-resistant, they will typically be left outdoors most of the year. During this time, they can become dirty, muddy and potentially damaged. To keep your solar lights functional, you need to clean them regularly. Make sure that you remove debris from the solar panel, which will affect their illumination. You can use any of the following methods

•          Clean using a damp paper towel or washcloth to remove any dirt
•          Wipe the surface to remove any grime
•          Use warm water and dish soap to remove tough stains.

•    Are solar lights weatherproof?

While solar lights are made to withstand all weather, there are times when you don’t leave them outside. Glass models should not be placed outside when there is a lot of rain or snow. The lights should not be exposed to harsh conditions, such as extreme windstorms to prevent them from being damaged.

•  My outdoor solar light was charged all day but doesn’t come on at night. What could be wrong?

Ensure that the on/off switch is in the on position. Also, make sure that another source of light is not preventing the light from turning it on. Move the light to a darker area to see if the light comes on.  If it doesn’t work, check whether the batteries are fully charged. Place the solar panel in another area during the day to ensure that it receives more sunlight.

•   Why is there an on/off switch on outdoor solar lights?

Outdoor solar lights come with an on/off switch so you can control when you want to turn on the light. If you want the solar light to continue working all day every day, simply leave the son/off switch in the on position. If you want to use the light at a later time, you can turn it off until when you want to use it.

Conclusion

Solar lights are a great way of lighting your home. They are an eco-friendly and cost-saving alternative to electricity. With a review of the 10 best outdoor solar lights, we are sure you will find the best unit. You can also refer to the guide before you can go out shopping for solar light.