Best Outdoor Solar Lights for 2023

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Brighten up any outdoor space—no outlet required.

Whether you have a massive backyard or a cozy patio, outdoor lights make the space inviting and comfortable all night long. Solar power is practical, sustainable, and saves money. Solar-powered outdoor lights have come a long way in recent years, and these days, you can use them anywhere you want to—no outlet required.

The lights use solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity, which is then stored for later. (On cloudy days, that means less solar power at night.) With that in mind, you should think about where you want to place them for optimal sunlight exposure. While some sunnier regions are going to naturally be better suited than others for solar power, solar-powered outdoor lights work in "most areas of the United States," according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Here are the best solar-powered outdoor lights to keep your yard lit up all night long.

For more great ways to brighten up your space, check out our coverage of the best garden lights, solar pathway lights, and outdoor string lights!

Think about the area you want to light. You’re going to gravitate toward different lights for a pathway, deck, or cooking area. For walkways, staircases, or other walking areas, finding lights that accent those areas while providing adequate light is key. The size of the lights should be enough to provide a clearly lit path without overwhelming the walkway.

However, for general yard use, hanging lights are easier to install as you can base your decision exclusively on your personal taste.

Do you want your outdoor lights to last one or several seasons? Some lights come with integrated LEDs, which means once the bulb burns out, you’re going to have to toss it. That being said, LED lights tend to last longer than their incandescent counterparts.

At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the weather resistance rating. For the water and dust-proof rating, the first number refers to the dust-proof capabilities on the Ingress Protection scale of 1 to 6 and the second number refers to the water resistance on a scale of 1 to 7. For total weatherproofing, look for ratings around IP65.

Consider what kind of atmosphere you’re trying to create. The design of the lights is largely based on your personal preferences and the style of your outdoor space. For a more modern look, minimalist lights with cooler temperature lighting may fit your style better while older, more rustic style yard may look better in warmer lights and more traditional designs.

We considered all of the different lighting needs you may have in different areas of your outdoor space. We also combed through professional assessments and reviews of these lights and read through hundreds of consumer reviews. Below, find our picks for the best solar-powered outdoor lights on the market, all of which have average customer ratings of at least four out of five stars.

This set of 12 garden lights is powered by the sun. After charging during the day, they turn on automatically at night, and provide you with 8 to 10 hours of light. The LED pathway lights are shaped like small lanterns, with a grid design over the lightbulb that would look attractive along paths outside of traditional or contemporary homes.

You can use these in your garden, flower beds, on your terrace, walkway, or driveway, or even around your pool. The lights are durable, waterproof, and impact-resistant. These lights are also very easy to install because they’re wireless.

These solar-powered LED lights are equipped with motion sensors that can be set to be on permanently, or light up on command. The lights can detect movement from 26 feet away within an angle of 120 degrees.

You have smart brightness control with these wide-angle, wall-mount, high-efficiency lights. The solar panels installed in this set of two lights feature a conversion rate that is 20.5 percent higher than comparable lights.

These Aootek lights are waterproof, heatproof, and capable of providing light and security anywhere you need them to around the outside of your house.

If you like the Edison lightbulb look, these string lights are made for you. These solar-powered outdoor lights feature 12 LED bulbs over 27 feet of durable string, with an on-off button, so when you’re ready to turn in for the night, you can power them down.

The LED bulbs last for 20,000 hours and the solar panel is rated at about 1,000 charges. (In other words, this set of lights will last you about 2.5 years.) Direct sunlight for at least six hours is recommended to fully charge these lights. The bulbs are weather- and shatterproof, and bright enough to grill and eat by on the deck.

The lights definitely give off an elegant and romantic vibe, so whip them out on date night, or for drinks with good friends. These lights also come with a two-year warranty.

These outdoor solar lights offer both practicality and whimsy in one neat package. The weather-resistant solar-powered lights feature seven colorful built-in LED "flower" light bulbs on bendable premium wire stems, allowing you to shape them into different configurations. After soaking up the sun during the day, they automatically turn on at night. The built-in batteries allow the lights to work for 8 to 12 hours after a full charge.

Installation is a snap: Simply insert the landscape solar lights into the ground and you’re done. These fun flower lights are a great choice for parties or any time you're eager to add some light and color to your outdoor space at night.

This outdoor solar-powered light charges during the day and gives off up to 10 hours of continuous light at night. This versatile fixture has three mounting options: as an outdoor wall light, on a flat surface such as a pillar or column, or using a stake as a pathway light. You can also turn this light off manually when you don't want to use it, saving the bulb for the next use.

The 50-lumen simulated flame light gives off a gentle but persistent glow, does not need wiring for installation, and really requires no maintenance once it's set up other than the occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth. The accent light is also durable and weatherproof.

If you want a subtle ground-level light, consider this option from Bell + Howell. This value-priced set of four lights can be set around a garden or on the edge of a pathway or driveway to provide gentle illumination all night.

Put these lights in a sunny place during the day and they’ll soak up enough light to shed illumination for up to 10 hours. These lights are safe to use in all weather conditions, but since they use integrated LED lights, when the bulbs burn out, they cannot be replaced.

If you want to light a walkway or path near your lawn, the Balhvit glass solar outdoor lights are a worthy option. Made with diamond glass and stainless steel instead of plastic, the solar-powered outdoor lights are built to last for years without any major damage or discoloration over time.

What sets the lights apart from many, similar pathway options is the unique light pattern that almost resembles a bright sun displayed on the ground. As a result, you could place these lights strategically to show off the beautiful pattern across your entire outdoor space.

The Winston Porter Jermery lamp post is different from many other solar-powered outdoor lights due to its larger size and standalone design. The light is built like a traditional lamp post with a planter on the bottom for a wider base. This allows you to place the lamp anywhere outside without needing stakes or soft ground.

The planter is built for soil and flowers without incurring any damage to the lamp itself. The bulb is also easily replaced, so even if it burns out, you can continue to use the lamp post.

For a minimalist, easy-to-install lights, the Solpex solar deck outdoor lights are very small and fit easily on the corners of a railing, the edges of steps, or any other surface with a corner. The outdoor lights, like many other options, automatically detect darkness and turn on without a timer.

Each light, if fully charged, can last up to 10 hours which should be enough to last through the night. You need to install these lights with screws, so they may not work on some surfaces.

The Kaxiida solar garden pathway lights are some of the most durable pathway lights on the market right now. Capable of withstanding temperatures of -20 degrees celsius to 50 degrees celsius. The solar-powered outdoor lights have the highest possible water and dust resistance rating of IP68.

The lights also come with three different lighting modes to fit your own personal preferences. Each lighting setting comes with a different battery range between 8 and 14 hours. The lights can be staked into the ground or mounted on the walls, which is nice if you want to do both without buying separate sets of lights.

Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Commerce for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.

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