You're going to wonder how you ever lived without a solar light.
Like most of you, I purchased one just to try it out. I was curious if solar lights were a fad or reflective of a trend.
After using it for two years now, I’m convinced they are here to stay.
Read on to learn more about the best solar lights for shades and how you too can have the complete solar experience.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Sunlitec Solar Lights | Best Overall |  |
| Solar Lights Outdoor | Budget Pick |  |
| BEAU JARDIN Solar Lights Bright Pathway Outdoor Garden Stake Glass Stainless Steel Waterproof Auto On/off White Wireless Sun Powered Landscape Lighting | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Sunlitec Solar Lights
Pros:
- Create a warm ambience by setting up this solar lighting in the garden
- Very beautiful and easy to install
- Perfect for Christmas or backyard decoration
- Can be used both indoors and out
- Beautiful flicker lights
- Easy to install
- No wires or installation required
- Weatherproof
- No wiring needed
- No electrician is needed
Cons:
- They are made of plastic, which means they are not quite as sturdy and heavy-duty as some other solar lights. So you will need to take extra care when installing them
- They flicker a lot, so they are not suitable for use where complete darkness is required, such as a bedroom
- Although this is a solar lighting option, it does not run on a battery. It runs directly off the power of the sun. So this means it will not be there when the sun goes down
- These do not come with a stand. They are designed to be placed directly into the soil
- They come in a two-pack
Not only can they provide you and your family with plenty of light in the garden, they create a warm ambience, as the light flickers like a real flame.
2. BEAU JARDIN Solar Lights Bright Pathway Outdoor Garden Stake Glass Stainless Steel Waterproof Auto On/off White Wireless Sun Powered Landscape Lighting
Pros:
- Great for attracting animals at night
- Works even under cloudy conditions
These solar lights are impressive. You can just leave them out and they will automatically turn on and off. The birds like them and I believe the raccoons and.. well, my cat.. appreciates them mostly. Anyway, these lights are perfect for your garden, driveway, walkway and other outside areas.
3. Solar Spotlights
Pros:
- Battery Operated
- Easy to move
- Can be used outdoors or indoors
- Waterproof
- Simple assembly
- Rechargeable
- Good size
- Good brightness
- Wide angle far away
- Automatic on/off sensor
Cons:
- Rechargeable with USB port connection
- Lights not very bright
- Outdoor use only
- A couple of reviews mentioned difficulty in setting up
4. Solar Lights Outdoor
The larger solar panel means that this light will also absorb the sun’s rays for charging over a wider area. This is a great feature that enables the lights to stay on longer.
This will take the guesswork out of recharging the lights, and with the easy screw-in function, there is a high level of convenience with this product. This unit is waterproof, so even if you get a storm, it won’t stop these lights from continuing to operate.
The lights are also dusk to dawn, so you won’t have to switch them on and off. Simply set them up and the lights will come on automatically at night to keep your garden safe, and will turn off in the morning. Another bonus.
5. AMIR Upgraded 2 in 1 Solar Lights
Pros:
- Easy to install with no wiring and tools required
- Simple and stylish design yet practical and works really well
- It has a strong construction that will last for years
- It is extremely bright with strong solar panels
- The batteries can be recharged for up to 8 hours depending on the sunlight
The AMIR Upgraded 2 in 1 is one of the best solar lights out there. It is very easy to install and can be placed anywhere outdoors. It can last for a long time even without the sun and it is cheap to maintain because you don’t have to worry about wiring…and you can place it anywhere as long as you’ve got some sunshine to charge it. The garden lights can be adjusted up to 180°.
At night, the lights will automatically turn on. It is bright enough to light up the entire driveway or pathways and you don’t have to worry about disturbing your neighbors because the lights are warm white which is very soft. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for solar lights.
6. Solar Spot Lights Outdoor
Pros:
- Works really well
- Lights up lawns well
- Easy to install
- The lights look great
- 2 lights came well packaged and they work well
- This product comes with removable stakes so that you can mount it on the ground
- You can use it indoors which is a bonus
- It works well at night
Cons:
- The marker lights are not very bright
- The product does not come with a battery and you have to buy it separately
After testing this light out, I have found that it really works, and it looks great.
First I tried it at night, and I must say it does a great job. It lights up my room that has no electrical wiring everywhere and it also lights up my garden. It is easy to set up and has a built-in timer and auto on and off feature.
This solar powered yard light is not very expensive too.
7. Maggift 8 Pcs Solar Powered LED Garden Lights
Pros:
- Solar panel on the back to charge in the day and LED automatically turn on when night comes
- Work great in low light, and inexpensive for what you get
- Wires to the solar panel are OK, not perfect, but do the job
- Easy to place the garden lights, there are 3M tapes on the back to stick to the wall of yard.
- We write a well-organized instruction and user manual, if you get any problem, please contact us freely, we will respond within 24 hours.
Cons:
- Small, couldn’t really tell difference from 50 LEDs and 100 LEDs
- The cord is too short
- Installation is worth mentioning. You have to use the included 3M tape to stick them to the wall, which is fine, but you have to be very very careful or the lights may crack while you install them. You may even want to use silicone or clear caulk around the bottom of the light if you’re really worried about them cracking.
- Plastic is very cheap quality. It will crack if you try to install it the wrong way.
- No on-off switch, all 8 only come on when the sun goes down. It would also be nice if they had a charging indicator
Decorative Lighting Outdoor, Rainproof, Wall Lights, 3M Adhesive.
8. SURSUN Solar Lights Outdoor
Pros:
- Great Value For Your Money
- Easy To Install, Super Bright
- 100% Waterproof, Weather Resistant
- Battery Included,Can Recharge In Direct Sunlight
- 12 Hours Working Time
Cons:
- Lights Need Direct Sunlight To Make It Working
- Lights Need Direct Sunlight To Make It Working
- Need To Reset The Lights If Its Not Working After Charging It For A Long Time
- To Activate The Lights You Need To Press The Button Of Light Once
These are great, at this price it's easy to take a chance. After testing dozens of lights, quality often came at an unfairly high price. This is a great deal and I LOVE the idea of supporting a solar powered!
Not all lights are made the same, so it's important to look for the right bulb. I’ve had great success so far with this bulb: Feit Electric BR30 LED String Light Bulb (10 Bulbs, 8 Watts), available here on Amazon
Not often mentioned is that the batteries included with lights are not very good. I just got these ones. SODIAL(R) COOL WHITE 3V 0.2A 20PCS LED Battery Box for Solar Lights System Kit, it's a great deal for me and I'm very happy. I added them to my lights right away and all is fine.
9. LowVoltz Solar 6 Pack Stainless Steel Solar LED Path Lights. Outdoor Solar Pathway Lights Garden
Pros:
- Amazing design
- Affordable
- Easy to install
- Dimmable lights
- Great customer service
- Solar powered
Cons:
- Can be easily damaged
- Only works when the lights are in the sun
10. Dekugaa Solar Ground Lights
Pros:
- Available in four useful colors
- Protection from the elements
- Responsive customer service
- Removeable stakes and stake covers
- These lights are maintenance free
Cons:
- Poor instructions or instructions for installing the batteries are missing.
- Requires some light to charge well during the day.
- Battery can’t recharge when left out at night.
- The light doesn’t always turn on at the correct time; however, this can be fixed with the mechanism at the back of the light.
By using highly up-to-date technology for its construction, the Dekugaa solar-powered patio lights are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. They can even function as garden solar lights for walkways.
In addition, this product is water resistant. If you have a tendency to experience rainy weather, you don’t have to worry about these lights shorting out when exposed.
Make sure you read the directions to see which direction you need to point these lights. They’ll work best for the direction you place them, although the later hours of the night will provide you with the most light.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best solar lights to buy?
Whether you have a few towering fir trees that you want lit up on a frosty winter night, or you want to light up your garden on an evening walk, or you just want to set the mood on your patio, solar lights are a great alternative to traditional lighting systems.
Solar lights are better for the environment and your pocketbook, and are very easy to use. You just need to put them in an area that gets sufficient sunlight (they don't charge during cloudy weather) and turn them on. If you don't have the ideal spot for them, such as under trees, then you will need to incorporate them into your overall lighting system, using a light timer to turn them on at night.
Here's how to choose the best solar lights:
Look for lights that offer a variety of motion and light settings to take full advantage of the solar technology.
Solar lights with motion sensors are especially handy when it comes to saving energy and money.
What solar lights are brightest?
When you compare these products side-by-side, some are brighter than others. One of the brightest was the Sunforce 80 LED Solar Motion Light. This light is much larger than the others, and is a good option if you are looking for something more substantial.
Another bright option is the BRIGHTLINKS Solar Motion Light. This light is much smaller and can be placed on a variety of surfaces.
Another outstanding light is the Lamplight Solar Lights. Both the wall and post cap lights, measure 3.3 inches, are easy to install, and provide ambient light for a wide range.
Will solar lights work in the shade?
If you frequently use solar lights in areas that receive little to no sunlight, the ideal path would be installation in an area that gets full sunlight throughout the day, such as in your backyard.
There is nothing inherently wrong with installing these lights in shaded areas. The problem is that the structure of the light will not, at its reasonable price, provide enough light for a darkened pathway, a dark porch, or a backyard that remains in the shade throughout most of the day.
Some manufacturers make a clear differentiation in their marketing material about "full sun" installation and "partial sunlight" installation, so do your research and buy accordingly.
Even in an area that remains in the shade for most of the day, solar lights can provide great value. These solar lights could provide the perfect amount of light to illuminate any graffiti or unsightly areas of your property, or light up your backyard pond.
What are best solar garden lights?
These lights use solar energy, which makes them ecologically friendly. By going green with solar paths, you are helping to preserve the planet. Solar lights for garden are also long-lasting, powerful and LED.
But, what if you don't want to install electric wires on your garden? And what if you have no sunny place outside to install the lights? What should you do?
Not all garden lights are solar powered. Some are plugged in and can be used indoors. They can even be used on the beach in the sand! To light up your garden and improve its aesthetics using the latest solar technology, here are the best solar lights to choose from:
Energizer Solar LED Outdoor Pathway Lights 5.2 Ft
Conclusion
Our solar lamp reviews should help you find the best solar lamp for your home by answering some of the questions you may have. Will you get the maximum benefit from your solar light? What are the features to look for in a solar lamp? Are there any cons to using these? Do solar lamps offer solutions for a variety of situations? This buying guide should provide answers to all that, and show you the way to choose the best solar lamp to suit your home.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Sunlitec Solar Lights | Best Overall | |
| Solar Lights Outdoor | Budget Pick | |
| BEAU JARDIN Solar Lights Bright Pathway Outdoor Garden Stake Glass Stainless Steel Waterproof Auto On/off White Wireless Sun Powered Landscape Lighting | Upgrade Pick | |