Best outdoor solar lights

Outdoor solar lights enable you to harness the power of the sun and save on those electric bills.

Best outdoor solar lights
(Image credit: @Nick de Partee on Unsplash)

Outdoor solar lights are a great way to illuminate your patios and sidewalks while cutting down on utility bills. Even better, solar lights do not require an electrical outlet, which gives you the freedom to install them wherever you'd like. These easy and cost-effective lights come in every style imaginable. Whether you need some string lights to spruce up your patio or disks to light up pathways, check out our collection below. 

Best overall

Aootek outdoor solar lights

(Image credit: Amazon)

Aootek outdoor solar lights

Illuminate staircases and more

With the right settings, these lights can stay dim until motion is detected. 

Pros:

  • Motion detection
  • Weatherproof
  • Wide-angle illumination
  • Smart brightness control

Cons:

  • Small, recessed control button

These lights with a 15.3-inch solar panel can be mounted just about anywhere, so you'll have plenty of light illuminating your front door, porch, garden, or walkway. If motion is detected within 26 feet, they will automatically brighten for about 15 seconds. Alternatively, use the all-night setting to keep the lights on all night long. The wide 270-degree illumination angle improves coverage area for better visibility and safety. These tough little guys are also weatherproofed and can withstand extreme conditions unscathed.

Best string lights

Brightech ambiance pro solar powered outdoor string lights

(Image credit: Brightech)

Brightech ambiance pro solar powered outdoor string lights

Stunning decorations for your next outdoor get-together

This light generates a warm glow, perfect for creating an enchanting canopy over your porch or gazebo. 

Pros:

  • Shatterproof and weatherproof
  • Easy installation
  • Stunning vintage aesthetic
  • Mounting stake and clip included

Cons:

  • Bulbs are a tad heavy

These waterproof, solar-powered string lights are perfect for creating a sophisticated bistro feel when added to gardens, gazebos, pergolas, or arbors. They come in a 48-foot-long set fitted with shatterproof vintage Edison bulbs that give off a warm, nostalgic glow for a cozy atmosphere. With built-in photocell sensors, they turn on automatically at dusk. The solar panel runs for five to six hours on a full charge, and a single charge requires up to six hours of direct sunlight.

Super bright

Zookki upgraded 28 LEDs solar security lights

(Image credit: Zookki)

Zookki upgraded LED solar security lights

Energy-saving no-dim mode

Each of the lights comes with 28 individually lit bulbs that combine to provide super-bright illumination. 

Pros:

  • Motion detection
  • Decent brightness
  • Impact-resistant construction

Cons:

  • No customizable brightness

For optimum illumination and motion detection, install these wall lights anywhere between 6.5 to 13 feet off the ground and preferably on either side of a pathway. With an intelligent sensor that detects motion up to 26-feet away and a 120-degree wide-angle detection, your path will always light up as you walk through. The lights waterproof, with an IP65 rating, and perfect for permanent installation.

Disk lights

INCX solar ground lights

(Image credit: Amazon)

INCX solar ground lights

Up your home's curb appeal

Simply flip the switch under the cap, stake them into the ground, and enjoy your transformed landscape.  

Pros:

  • Great lifespan
  • Shock and vibration resistance
  • Easy installation
  • Stainless steel body frame

Cons:

  • No brightness options

Decorative in-ground solar lights add an elegant or edgy touch to any plain or paved pathway, lawn, or yard. Inside the sleek metal housing is a polycrystalline silicon solar panel that offers a decent eight to ten hours runtime with a solar insolation time of eight hours. Each light comes with eight LED bulbs for optimal brightness, and an integrated light sensor automatically turns it on at dusk and off at daybreak. The sheer simplicity and beauty of these lights make them a perfect addition to any outdoor space.

Eternal flames

Aityvert solar touch lights

(Image credit: Amazon)

Aityvert solar touch lights

Gorgeous firelight design

Safely light up your patio or garden at night with a warm glow.

Pros:

  • Fire-like design
  • Auto on and off
  • Weatherproof

Cons:

  • They could be taller

Standing tall at 42.9 inches, Aityvert solar lights are a safe alternative to real flames. These nocturnal decorations provide a warm, flickering light, perfect for highlighting walkways, driveways, gardens, or pools. The daylight sensor automatically turns on the light at dusk and off at dawn and enables auto solar charging all day long. You can add edging skates to achieve the desired height.

Light up your world

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It's no secret that installing outdoor solar lights can significantly reduce your utility bills, make you feel safer, and spruce up the look of any yard or garden. The best type of light should be able to withstand the elements and produce enough light without being too obtrusive or blinding.

Our number one pick, the Aootek outdoor solar lights, has smart brightness control, upgraded motion sensors, and three lighting modes so you can customize the light to your liking.

Whenever you want to enjoy the simple pleasures of being outside beyond dusk, the Brightech ambiance pro-solar-powered outdoor string lights have your back. The vintage Edison-style bulbs give off a soft, warm glow, making it look like twilight never went away.

The flame-like Aityvert solar touch lights are perfect for aesthetically lighting up your yard at night without the risk of burning down your home. 

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Grace Monene is an avid writer with a keen eye for home and office improvement. She has a knack for finding the best little things that will improve the quality of indoor and outdoor living. When she's not writing, you will typically find her reading or testing out the latest technology.