Little did I know that gift searching for my friend’s house-warming party would lead me to something this awesome.
A few days back, my husband and I were brainstorming for an uncommon gift for my friend when we came across solar landscape lights. But while going through their advantages, I thought it won’t be a bad idea to get some for my home. However, the job was easier said than done!
Why, you ask? Well, the plethora of options. And that’s when I decided to choose the top 5 products that are making the right noise. Hi! I’m Stacy, and today, I’ve curated this guide by reviewing the 5 best solar landscape lights.
Now, without further delay, let’s dive in!
Top 5 Solar Landscape Lights
1. Foxdott Solar Pathway Lights
First up, allow me to talk about the Foxdott Solar Pathway Lights. Constructed from a blend of plastic and metal, these make for an elegant outdoor lighting setup. What’s more, this pack of 12 lights won’t make you break the bank.
Product Highlights
To start with, I was encouraged by the positive customer feedback. Owing to the plastic and metal parts, these lights have a long-lasting construction that can resist almost any weather without much maintenance. On top of that, there’s an IP44 waterproof rating for greater peace of mind. Talk about durability!
On that note, the installation part isn't nerve-racking either. Although the parts come fully disassembled, you don’t need to reach out for any tools per se.
The cover atop is fitted with the solar panel on the outside and the solar switch on the inside for activating the dusk-to-dawn sensor. Simply put, the lights will automatically turn on during the night and switch off in the morning for charging. The resultant brightness adequately lights up small to mid-sized pathways.
With around 6 to 8 hours of battery life, the Foxdott Solar Pathway Lights leave little room for complaint.
What’s There To Like About It?
Apart from the hassle-free assembly, I loved how the lights resist rain. Post-installation, there was some torrid rain in my area, which had absolutely no effect on their functionality. All I had to do was wipe off the plastic casing to get rid of the moisture accumulation. The lights aren’t too bright or tacky but provide just the right amount of illumination.
Another thing worth mentioning is the highly responsive and polite customer service. In hindsight, the brand ensures optimum customer satisfaction.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
The sunburst pattern of illumination may not be sufficient for large-sized pathways. In that case, you may have to place the lights closer to each other, which will probably light up only a specific area. Or, you may buy 2 such packs. And considering the affordable pricing, you don’t have to scratch the budget by a lot.
Pros and Cons of Foxdott Solar Pathway Lights
Pros
Cons
- Garden Lights Solar Powered: No wiring is necessary for this lights, the solar panel will absorb solar energy during daytime and convert it to electricity, which practically maintenance-free, also help you save the electricity.
- Automatically Work: This solar path light has a dusk-to-dawn feature that automatically shuts off in the morning and comes on at night.
- Decorative & Beauty Your Garden: It's an ideal way to enhance the look of your lawn garden area. And the solar powered light delivers bright illumination to your home's exterior by lighting dark areas along walkways, pathways and etc.
2. GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Lights
Next in line is the Gigalumi Solar Pathway Lights. The brand is known for manufacturing a lot of high performing solar-powered products, and these are no exception. Featuring a conventional yet distinct design, this unit can be the perfect addition to your driveway.
Product Highlights
At first glance, the house-shaped design of the casing got me interested in trying these lights. It’s further divided into smaller “windows”, which enhances the warm light output to intensify the illumination without becoming too harsh on the eyes.
Much like its predecessor, the installation doesn’t require any tools or wiring. You can twist open the upper cap to slide the switch and place it back on before inserting the stake into the ground. Each light is powered by a 150mAh AAA Ni-MH battery, which in turn, runs on a 2V 26ma solar panel. Under ideal conditions, the lights can last for 8 hours continuously.
Keeping in mind extreme weather conditions, the brand has focused on constructing durable exteriors. Thus, you can place it anywhere on the lawn, the only prerequisite being direct exposure to sunlight.
Last but not least, these lights are also available in a pack of 8 for smaller pathways.
What’s There To Like About It?
For starters, I liked how these lights double up as garden decorations during the day. The window casing has an old school charm that renders an elegant look to my garden. So, bonus points for that!
Unlike most other solar lights, these can get fully charged under 6 hours when the sun is the brightest. Moreover, the easy spike design means users can take them out of the ground to place elsewhere without breaking a sweat. The dusk-to-dawn sensors work to automatically switch on and switch off the lights as needed.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
In case of overcast conditions, the lights may take more than 8 hours to get fully charged and would still last only 8 hours. Furthermore, the Gigalumi Solar Pathway Lights are slightly expensive. Hence, covering a larger area may significantly add up to the cost.
Pros and Cons of GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Lights
Pros
Cons
- 【SOLAR OUTDOOR LIGHTS】Gigalumi solar lights are powered by the sun.They automatically charge during the day, over a period of 6-8 hours. Then, they turn on automatically at night, providing at least 8H of lighting.A suitable choose for beautifying the garden or as a perfect gift for family and friends.
- 【PERFECT PERFORMANCE】Differentiates with other similar products, our solar yard lights are equipped with High-resistance ABS material,2V 30ma Solar panel and 1.2V/1PC 100mAh AAA Ni-MH rechargeable battery.Each Lights is safe and reliable with high-quality,long-endurance and stable work.
- 【ELEGANT OUTDOOR DECORATION】With attractive and modern design, these bright solar garden lights create an elegant outdoor lighting experience, perfect for your garden, yard, flower bed, terrace, walkway, driveway, or anywhere else.
3. BEAU JARDIN Solar Lights
The Beau Jardin Solar Lights are a premium landscape lighting set from the brand. Sporting an all-metal construction with glass housings, these lights come in various colors to suit different exterior setups.
Product Highlights
One of the first things that grabbed my attention was the pairing of the metal construction and glass housing. The lights are made of stainless steel, and the LED housings are of patterned watertight diamond glass that reinforces the durability factor. Each light is finished off with an ABS spike for easy in-ground installation.
Similar to the Foxdott Solar Pathway Lights, the cover is integrated with a high-capacity solar panel and sensor activation switch. The former directly converts solar energy into electrical energy for charging the built-in AA Ni-MH battery. During summer, these lights can last up to 10 hours upon fully charging.
Beyond that, the entire structure is rated for IP65 waterproof protection against rain, snow, frost, or sleet. With each light producing about 6 lumens, the total brightness is sufficient to serve as parking lot guide lights. If budget isn't a constraint, then these lights are worth considering.
What’s There To Like About It?
Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about the metal body and how it will hold up in the rain. But thanks to the anti-rust stainless steel construction, I was assured of its longevity. Likewise, the glass casing appears delicate but is built to be waterproof.
However, what appealed to me the most is the long-lasting battery that can power the lights up to 12 hours with just 6 hours of charging under the Texas sun. Besides, the unique lighting effect creates a multi-level pattern to enhance the aesthetics.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
As I have already mentioned before, this isn't the most affordable option out there. But given its durability and battery life, I’d say those extra bucks are largely justified. That said, I’d have liked the contrast to be a little more comfortable on the eyes.
Pros and Cons of BEAU JARDIN Solar Lights
Pros
Cons
- Size & rustproof substantial glass / stainless steel: garden solar path light measures 16.54" in height x 4.72" in diameter. Wireless solar pathway light with auto sensor made of stainless steel with watertight diamond glass lightshade that enables you to use this bright solar garden light outdoor durably. Modern substantial textured touch of metal and glass quality of this solar power walkway light for garden patio lawn and backyard is much better than solar path way lighting made of plastic.
- Easy assembly & use: in-ground solar light is out of the box with ease. No addition tools required to install this solar ground lighting outdoor. Wireless setting up and operation with this led solar landscape lighting. Quickly install this modern solar ground garden light by pushing this glass solar landscape light outdoor into the ground.
- Auto on/off energy saving & white decor: the automatic solar powered light has a solar panel that absorbs sun light during the day to convert sunlight into electricity to recharge the aa ni-mh battery (included). Solar power lights automatically turn on at night and turn off at dawn which enables led pathway light conserves battery life for when it’s needed most. The pattern of this solar christmas light is also attractive; solar path light white is a perfect addition to your backyard!
4. Solpex Solar Outdoor Pathway Lights
Before wrapping up the list, the Solpex Outdoor Pathway Lights make an entry. These solar-powered lights cast a beautiful dual ring that can amp up any exterior setup. Plus, the automatic switch on/off cuts down on operational efforts.
Product Highlights
These Solpex Solar Lights are made of corrosion-resistant ABS material that’s suitable for all-weather use. Additionally, the polycrystalline solar panel-integrated top cover has a high conversion rate and better efficiency in converting more sunlight into electrical energy. Beneath this cover is a 1.2V AA Ni-MH battery that can be replaced. As a result, these lights last longer than some of their competitors.
Similar to all of my other recommendations, these lights are equipped with automatic dusk-to-dawn sensors. All you have to do is slide on the switch below the cover before inserting the spike into the ground. Complete with an IP44 waterproof rating, the lights can withstand sunny, rainy, and snowy conditions.
The dual-ring light projection has a long-range, meaning it can illuminate quite some distance. In tandem with the plastic lens/LED housing, you can expect these lights to have a long service life.
What’s There To Like About It?
Undoubtedly, the dual-ring projection is the biggest highlight of these lights. The vivid snowflake-like pattern is a perfect fit for all outdoor settings, be it in the lawn, garden, patio, yard, or pathway. And, the robust construction can take an accidental blow or two.
I feel the high-efficiency solar panel will come especially handy in low sunlight areas to absorb more sunlight. This way, you don’t have to compromise on the run time. Plus, the automatic dusk-to-dawn sensors will conserve energy anyway.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
I’m somewhat disappointed with the ABS stake, which tends to develop cracks upon inserting in the ground, especially in the winter months. So, be careful during installation or replacement. To counter this problem, I’d suggest coating the end with silicone spray that’ll reduce the friction between the surface and ground.
Pros and Cons of Solpex Solar Outdoor Pathway Lights
Pros
Cons
- 【Attractive Design】The double rings on the solar garden lights provide striking snowflake-like lighting patterns on your walkway at night. This design adds a beautiful glow to your solar garden lights, making it perfect for your pathway, yard, garden, patio, and walkway decoration.
- 【High-Quality】Solpex 8 pack solar pathway lights outdoor can glow for up to 8-12 hours after charge. Also, the solar lights provide vivid brightness because they are made of polysilicon solar panels, rechargeable batteries, and corrosion-resistant ABS plastic.
- 【Energy Saving】The outdoor lights are 100% solar-powered. After you turn on the switch, the solar yard lights will charge automatically during the day, turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn, saving you time and electricity bills.
5. Balhvit Solar Outdoor Lights
Yet another product with a glass-metal combination is this set of solar outdoor lights from the house of Balhvit. Promising higher brightness and long battery life, they come in a pack of 2, 4, and 8 units to suit varied customer needs.
Product Highlights
Balhvit has based the design of these lights on the fact that glass casings disperse light better than their plastic counterparts. And the execution is mostly perfect. Other than that, the rest of the frame has a thickened rustproof stainless steel build with an ABS spike at the end.
Moving on, the circular solar panel on the cover has fast charging capability and high solar-to-electric energy conversion rate up to 20%. Furthermore, the 600mAh rechargeable battery can retain charge for long periods.
As a result, the lights get fully charged in about 6 to 8 hours for lasting through the night. Combined with the automatic switch on/off mechanism, these lights work with zero user intervention. Simply fasten the light head to the metal rod with a few turns, turn on the switch below the panel and insert them into the ground.
Lastly, I should also mention that each light has a 10-lumen output, which is perhaps the brightest in its price range.
What’s There To Like About It?
I was really impressed with the glass casings, which have a groove-like design. Not only do these help distribute the light more uniformly, but they also add more depth and character to the projection. I placed them at some distance from each other and could still illuminate a significantly large area.
To top it off, both the premium glass casing and stainless steel rod are protected by an IP65 waterproof rating for multi-season outdoor use. Once fully charged, they provide uninterrupted illumination for a minimum of 10 hours.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
One thing that I observed during the trial was that for some reason, the lights don’t function automatically when placed too close to each other. In that sense, it may not be the best option for smaller pathways or lawns. Also, some internal parts are joined together by plastic screws that may affect the overall durability.
Pros and Cons of Balhvit Solar Outdoor Lights
Pros
Cons
- 【EMBRACE THE CRYSTAL BRIGHTNESS】Our glass garden lights value for the money than the plastic lamp. Glass is good at transmitting light to the maximum, like crystal in being clear and brilliant. Solar lights outdoor decorative creates a clearer beautiful pattern，adding a finishing touch to your yard patio lawn. Glamour Never Take a Night Off! The plastic shade is prone to cracking and reducing light intensity in long term due to extreme weather. Invest More， Lighting Longer， Yard more inviting!
- 【HIGHER BRIGHTNESS, LONGER BATTERY LIFE】SMD Light brightness is 10 lumens, BRIGHTER than general solar lights outdoor. Our path lights decoration lightens your garden up to 10-12 hrs after fully charging 6-8 hrs. Larger solar panels and higher solar conversion rates make sure battery fast charging. The high-capacity 900mAh rechargeable battery ensures a long period of light. The solar panel protects the battery from overcharge and over-discharge so that battery can be used longer.
- 【GLASS & STAINLESS STEEL & NEVER FEAR EXTREME WEATHER】Thanks to stainless steel, premium glass and IP65 waterproof, sun-powered driving lights outdoor withstand all kinds of weather for multi-season outdoor use. No worries about rain, snow, frost or high temperature. Anti-rust coating stainless steel is effective in preventing regenerative erosion. Compared to others, our upgraded ground spikes made of ABS plastic is equipped with a new design shape, providing better stability and sturdiness.
Buyers Guide
While shortlisting products, I found out that the hundreds of options wasn’t the only obstacle. Not only did a lot of lights bear a physical resemblance, but they also came close in terms of specifications. Hence, I listed down some key points according to my requirements and then picked the names accordingly.
So, in the following sections, I’ll walk you through some crucial factors to keep in mind before making the purchase decision.
1. Brightness And Tone
Since solar landscape lights are essentially considered accent lights, you’d want them to be bright enough to highlight the features of an area. In this regard, I’d recommend going for a set in which each light has a minimum of 6 lumens. Likewise, if you need only a couple of lights instead of the 8 or 12 packs, a total output of 20 lumens should suffice.
The color temperature (cool or warm) can also affect the brightness. While cool tones can produce sharp contrast, warm tones tend to produce a diffused output with softer contrasts. If you’re wary about the former, look for a multi-layer projection to disperse the light and reduce the sharpness.
2. Material
Most solar landscape lights are either made of plastic, stainless steel, or both due to their anti-rust and weatherproofing properties. So, unless you have any strict preferences, you can go for either.
Similarly, the LED casing or light head can be made of either glass or ABS plastic. And although apparently fragile, these casings are made of thick glass for optimum durability and weather resistance. Moreover, glass casings facilitate better clarity and illumination than plastic ones.
3. Charging Time And Runtime
Irrespective of the type (monocrystalline or polycrystalline), most solar panels charge within 6 to 8 hours, depending on the intensity of the sunlight. A full charge usually powers the light for 8 to 10 hours, with some lights lasting up to 12 hours.
4. Bulb Type
Because LED bulbs are among the most affordable and energy-efficient variants, almost all solar landscape lights use them. Plus, they last longer despite continuous use.
5. Dusk-To-Dawn Sensor
As you may have figured out by now, dusk-to-dawn sensors are responsible for the automatic operation of these lights. The light heads are integrated with the switch that engages the sensors, so make sure to slide them on before installation.
6. Battery Capacity
Without sounding too technical, the mAh (milliampere-hour) measures how much electrical charge a battery can hold. Therefore, the higher the mAh, the higher is the operational time. If you plan to illuminate the lights almost throughout the night, then I’d strongly recommend going for a battery not less than 150mAh.
7. Assembly
In line with user convenience, a majority of landscape solar lights out there have no-wiring, no-tool assembly. This means you can assemble the parts by turning them with your hands until locked. However, internal joints (like screws) made of plastic should be handled with care.
8. Number Of Lights
From what I have observed, most solar lights come in a pack of 6, 8, or 12. But if you can't find an 8 or 12 pack light within your budget, you can compensate that with more lumens output.
9. Warranty
As far as warranty is concerned, most users go for at least 6 to 12 months of warranty. Additionally, you may look for quick refund or exchange policies. Whatever the policy, a responsive customer service always helps!
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the main advantages of solar lights is that they require very little maintenance. Since the solar panel converts solar energy into electrical energy and most lights come with automatic dusk-to-dawn sensors, there isn't much to do.
That said, you may clean the exterior with a soft, dry cloth to get rid of accumulated dust and moisture. Some users also prefer coating the entire frame (except the LED casing) with an anti-rust spray.
Today, most landscape solar lights are equipped with powerful solar panels to extract maximum energy from the sunlight, even on cloudy days. However, continuous overcast conditions may affect the efficiency of the solar panel by making it work harder than usual. You may then observe low brightness or long charging periods.
Generally, dimmer lights are a sign of low charge. The lights will gradually switch off and the solar panel will automatically begin charging with exposure to the sun.
Regular batteries usually can’t store energy for extended periods like Ni-MH or Ni-CD batteries. Furthermore, alkaline batteries can power the lights only for a short period, but there’s the risk of damage to the internal parts.
Our Final Recommendation
When it comes to lighting, I’m sure none of my readers will mind free energy! That’s why solar landscape lights are fast becoming a must-have fixture for the outdoor setting.
With that, it’s almost time for me to wrap up today’s proceedings. But it won’t be fair to leave you without naming my top products from the list. In my opinion, the Foxdott Solar Pathway Lights are the best solar landscape lights on a budget. But if budget isn’t an issue, then the Beau Jardin Solar Lights take the first place on the podium.
I hope my reviews and buyer’s guide will help you find your “ideal match”. Stay tuned as I’ll be back with more such informational content.
Till the next time, adios!