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Outdoor solar lights can light up your walkway, backyard, or porch without the need to find an electrical outlet or worry about running low on battery. But finding the right solar lights for you can depend on several factors, as well as your budget. Solar lights typically stake into the ground, although there are also options for solar touch lights, wall-mounted lights, string lights, and more. Depending on the quantity and type of solar lights you’re looking at, they can cost anywhere between $20 and over $200.
After examining several of the top solar light options on the market, our choice for the best outdoor solar lights is the Linkind Smart Solar Lights, which provide a wide variety of preset lighting options and specialty modes and can even be paired with music. Read our guide below for more of our top picks.
Top 5 Outdoor Solar Lights
- Best Overall: Linkind Smart 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 | Type | Run Time | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linkind Smart Solar Lights | 6 | In-ground or wall mount | Not listed | 1 year |
| Aityvert Solar Flickering Flame Torch Lights | 4 | In-ground | 5–12 hours | 1 year |
| Brightech Ambience Pro Solar-Powered String Lights | 12 | String | 5–8 hours | 2 years |
| BAXIA TECHNOLOGY LED Solar Motion Sensor Lights | 4 | Wall mount | 8 hours | 1 year |
| Davinci Lighting Flexfit Solar Post Cap Lights | 2 | Cap | Not listed | 90 days |
| Product | Count | Type | Run Time | Warranty |
Best Overall
Linkind Smart Solar Lights
- $125.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Our Testing Experience
When I tested these solar lights, I found installation to be pretty straightforward, and they easily staked into the ground in my backyard. After letting them charge during the day, I was happy to see all of the lights had a full charge in the evening despite my backyard being relatively shady.
Without downloading the AiDot app, you can still set these lights to several different singular colors by clicking a button on the bottom of each light. However, downloading the app allowed me to control each light right from my phone or set them as a group. The app took a few minutes to connect, but once I got the lights set up, I was very impressed with the amount of options available and how easy it was to change.
The brightness level can be adjusted right from your smartphone from 0 to 100%. I found these lights to be pretty bright when put on the highest setting, although I do feel they all need to be used together to get enough lighting. Regardless, when all six were going at once, it provided plenty of shine in my backyard, and they were effective when facing both outwards towards the woods or pointing directly at the house. I also really liked that you could adjust these lights from the app to determine whether you wanted them to turn on by motion, be left on all day, or automatically be turned on at dusk.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes with a variety of color options, lighting modes, and light shows
✔ Can be controlled individually or in a group
✔ Is IP-65 water resistant, so you can leave them outdoors in any weather
✘ Requires downloading a smartphone app to access presets and light shows
✘ Has a high price point
Key Features
- Six lights
- Can be controlled via smartphone app
- Can be staked into the ground or wall-mounted
- 12-month warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who gave this product a positive review liked the variety of color modes and options as well as its straightforward installation and durable, well-crafted design. However, there were a few negative reviews that pairing these lights on the app was somewhat challenging, and others felt the range was lacking, noting they couldn’t adjust the lights while inside.
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.
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