Outdoor landscaping lighting is easy to install — a relatively small investment that makes a big impact.
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For an easy DIY home project that costs relatively little —and makes a big impact—we recommend investing in a set of landscaping garden lights. Installation can be as quick as pushing stakes in the ground around your property, and letting the sun's rays do the rest of the work. There are also corded electric and battery-operated garden lights, and some models feature more than one power source for backup.
Depending on your property's size, the power source that best suits your setup, and how brightly lit you want the area to be, each option recommend about brings something different to the table. We review the pros and cons of different power sources, discuss how to gauge brightness, and detail different styles of the best garden lights for adding flair to your property.
Depending on the layout of your outdoor space—and how bright you want it to be—there are a few things to consider when choosing the best garden lights to illuminate it.
The most inexpensive garden lights are solar-powered. While we're all for energy efficient options and ease of installation, keep in mind that these lights may be dim in comparison to corded electric and battery-operated garden lights.
Many garden lights are designed to be staked in the ground—shaped as flat disks or mini torches—that are ideal for placing along the sides of a driveway or walkway. Along with aesthetic value, these garden lights also make dark areas safe to navigate. There are also spotlights, typically used to highlight landscaping or the house, and are good for increasing safety along with upping visual appeal. Lanterns are popular for backyards to hang on tall shepherds hooks around beds or along fencing. Finally, there are decorative garden lights that add personality and whimsey to gardens, often featuring metal scrollwork and a globe light source.
Manufacturers use the unit of a lumen to measure the brightness of a light. A standard headlamp or flashlight will emit around 200 lumens, whereas floodlights will range anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 lumens. The garden lights we cover range from 10 to 80 lumens. Bear in mind that these are designed to light up a pathway, with multiple staked lights or provide a warm extra glow to your yard. If you’re looking for lighting to navigate a large outdoor area on dark nights, you may also want to consider floodlights for your property.
Water resistance may be an obvious feature, but some garden lights do a better job of preventing water and dust from getting inside than others. The ingress protection (IP) rating is comprised of two numbers: the first representing resistance to solids (on a scale from 1 to 6), and the second resistance to water (on a scale of 1 to 8). Most of the garden lights we cover are rated at least IP44.
If you don't want to be bothered with garden lights post-installation, basic solar-powered dusk-to-dawn lights are your best bet. On the other end of the spectrum are smart-enabled garden lights that are controlled via app or using voice commands that are compatible with Alexa, Google Nest, and other virtual assistants.
Here at PopMech, we have decades of experience working in outdoor landscaping and home DIY projects. We used that knowledge and expertise to inform our extensive research in order to find the best garden lights for your property. We compared each model for value against price point and looked at everything from power source, body materials, control method, and ease of installation. We also considered the garden lights' aesthetics and aimed to provide options in a range of different styles.
Have some last minute work to do in your yard before throwing your first gathering? Check out our 2023 Garden Awards for the best tools for the job, and our 2023 Patio Awards for the best barbecue and party accessories.
If you’re looking to light up your garden (and we mean really light it up) we recommend these solar-powered outdoor landscaping spotlights.
They're designed to run for 6 hours or more, according to the manufacturer, plus they're waterproof and come with a 10-year limited warranty attached. Better yet, these lights have a 10-year warranty, so if you don’t think they’re bright enough, you can have your money refunded or get a replacement.
These simple yet elegant garden lights add a touch of personal style to any outdoor space. A cracked glass texture surrounds 40-lumen bulbs for a bright and creative look. Installation is incredibly simple, and the lights use an automatic sensor to charge during the day and glow at night.
Though the glass bulbs are more fragile than other options in this list, they are water-resistant with a rating of IP44.
These mini lantern solar-powered garden lights emit a warm white glow for up to 10 hours, according to the manufacturer. They come in packs of 12 or 16 to truly illuminate your space.
The lights are 15 inches tall and stake in the ground—installation doesn't get any easier than that.
These down-to-dusk solar-powered garden lights sit flush with the ground and are completely waterproof, with an IP65 rating. They come in packs of 8 or 12, and with either warm or cool white light.
Though the minimal design is great for subtly illuminating a space, these lights only have 5 lumen each, so they aren't ideal if you’re looking to truly brighten up a larger garden or backyard.
Ring’s battery-operated garden lights use motion detection to light the way as you go. Furthermore, the smart lights are can be operated using voice control and are compatible with Alexa.
With up to 80 lumens of power per light, these are some of the brightest included in this list. The starter kit includes four lights plus a bridge, which is required for accessing smart functions.
Add a touch of flair to your yard with HOMEIMPRO’s decorative outdoor lights. Two metal wings with a cutout design diffuse the warm gold glow from a small glass bulb in the middle of the light. Each light gives off 10 lumens of light, which is not excessively bright but will add a touch of visibility to your yard.
These solar lights charge with 8 hours of sun during the day to emit up to 6 hours of light at night. The metal and glass used is very durable, and weather resistant on stormy days. Furthermore, the solar charging can still top off the lights on a cloudy day. Simply stake these beautiful garden additions into the ground, turn the switch on, and they’ll begin to charge during the day and glow at night.
Once you have your walkways illuminated, these modern farmhouse solar-powered lanterns give outdoor spaces a soft ambient glow wherever they’re mounted.
Each light has an on/off switch at the bottom, and from there, the lights are controlled via remote for evening gatherings. The strong stainless steel housing is waterproof, as the lights have an IP65 rating. However, the manufacturers recommends bringing the lights indoors in heavy wind.
All the hardware is included to mount these garden lights to the wall or the side of your fence. You can also purchase a shepherd’s hook separately to hang the lanterns above your garden's greenery
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