Choosing the best landscape outdoor lighting could mean the difference between a poorly illuminated patio or a vibrant area bringing your plants and decor to life. Our evaluation focused on light output, solar charge to run-time ratio, beam angles, adjustable heads, and build quality. Aside from the best home appliances, lighting is a major factor in and outside of the home. Decorate your entire lawn or garden easily with our in-depth guides on lighting, landscaping, and more.
After more than 16 hours of research and testing, our top pick goes to the LITOM 12 LED Solar Landscape Spotlights – Top Pick. These 100% solar lights offer 600 lumens, 90-degree adjustability and a 120 degree lighting angle for directional or flood lighting. It also has two lighting modes and a great run to charge time ratio, only needing 4 to 5 hours of charge time for up to 12 hours of lighting. It is perfect for those times when you are cooking on the best grills after dark.
Top 7 Best Landscape Lighting Compared
#1 LITOM 12 LED Solar Landscape Lighting
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Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: These white solar lights are very bright, with 600 lumens and the choice of two lighting modes – Low (dim) and High (bright). It is a great choice for wall or ground mounting and adjustable brightening for pathways.
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- Best quality
- 90 degree-adjustable
- 120-degree lighting angle
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- May fog up in wet weather
- Lower battery life (up to 7 hours on high mode)
- Durability issues
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These spotlights hold up pretty well in rainy weather with an IP67 waterproof rating, which means it can be dropped in meter-deep water for half an hour. We also love its two lighting modes – “low” light (12 hours) and “high” light (6 hours) with a low 4 to 5-hour charge time. These solar lights offer the best run to charge time ratio of all of the solar lights on our list. Help your seedlings flourish with our best grow lights.
Thanks to its adjustable frame, it can flex 90 degrees, making it a good choice for illuminating flags, outdoor furniture, or wall decor. It can be mounted virtually anywhere, including pools and gardens. A three-year warranty is also reliable. The best smart light bulbs are a good choice as well.
#2 Solar Lights Bright Pathway Outdoor Landscape Lighting
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: This set of lights help light up your outdoors with 100% solar power and a glowing white light that lasts up to 12 hours using a lithium ion battery..
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- 100% solar powered
- Diamond-shaped LED lights
- Watertight glass
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- Small
- Minimal light output
- 10-12 hour charge time on initial use
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As each light only carries 6 lumens, it offers a more relaxed and blissful white glow. We really enjoy each light’s diamond shape for a real classy look. All in all, its lighting is more subdued and less bright than our #1 pick LITOM (600 lumens)than our #6 pick TomCare Solar Light’s dancing flames, as they are not animated.
This pick’s glass is watertight and resistant against rain, snow, and frost. It also sports a rust-resistant stainless steel base with a sharp point to drive it deep into the soil. An auto sensor also detects darkness and activates up to 12 hours of continuous light, making it great to use in the winter. Also, read about the best garage lighting.
#3 Zuckeo 5W LED Landscape Lighting
Award: Best Corded
WHY WE LIKE IT: These landscape lights will really make your patio and driveway pop with a 90-degree beam angle and 500 lumens per light It is a great choice if you prefer a corded electric option.
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- Very bright (500 lumens)
- 90-degree beam angle
- 270-degree adjustable head
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- Do not turn on automatically
- Housing not completely waterproof
- Durability issues
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This pick has a 500-lumen rating, much brighter than the 6-lumen #2 pick Bright Pathway solar lights. An all-aluminum body helps with impact and weather resistance, working in temperatures as cold as -4 degrees °F. Add to that its waterproof rating and these landscape lights are a winner in our book.
Installing these landscape lights is easy. Simply drive stakes deep into the ground and adjust each head towards the object you wish to focus on. A 90-degree beam angle covers a lot of area, perfect for inviting guests over to an evening barbeque or front porch poker game. The best smart home devices can help you to automate.
#4 MEIKEE 7W LED Landscape Lighting
Award: Best Brightness
WHY WE LIKE IT: These landscape lights add tons of color with 800 lumens in a warm white glow that is very aesthetically pleasing. It is the perfect choice if you are looking for very bright and focused light.
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- 800 lumens
- 270-degree adjustable head
- 45-degree beam angle
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- Gets hot quickly
- Do not include outlet plugs
- Flimsy brackets
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We love its spotlight-effect with a 270-degree adjustable head delivering a 45-degree beam angle, which is cool for focused lighting. Using electric power, 800 lumens per light covers entire smaller patios really well, depending on where it is positioned. It gives off a relaxed vibe in the dullest backyards.
This pick’s durability is not a concern, with an aluminum body, sturdy plastic base, and an IP66 waterproof rating, which means it stays on in rainy water. Installation takes no more than a few seconds, with a quick driving of the stake into the ground and “clicking” it into position. Read about the best smart plugs to help automate your lighting system.
#5 GIGALUMI 8 Pack Solar Ground Landscape Lighting
Award: Best Ground Lights
WHY WE LIKE IT: This budget 8-pack of solar disk lights are excellent,, using eight flat LED lights with an 8-10 hour lighting time.
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- 100% Waterproof
- Flat-shaped
- 8-10 hours of lighting time
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- Stakes may break with pressure
- Polarizing design
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This ground light’s run to charge time is really good, running 8 to 10 hours on a 4-6 hour charge, which is second to the LITOM Solar Landscape Lights. It is also water-resistant but not waterproof with an IP65 rating. This makes it a better choice for arid or dry environments.
We also love its simple installation, with a push switch under the cap activating lights and detachable stakes, which allow for both wall and ground mounting. Its lights automatically turn off during the day time and come on at night for energy savings. Unlike LEDs, no wiring or AC current is used. Check out the best smart lock to keep your home safe.
#6 TomCare Solar Landscape Lighting
Award: Best Animated
WHY WE LIKE IT: These 100% solar powered lights light it up with a soft glow and flickering flame effect. It is an excellent choice if you are looking for a “dungeon” effect and create a fun and animated space in your patio or backyard.
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- Flickering flame effect
- 100% solar powered
- Great visibility
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- 8 hour charge time on initial use
- Battery capacity may lower over time
- May be too distracting for some
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These torch lights offer really soft ambient lighting. Each lamp measures roughly 12 inches by 5 inches wide with an eight-inch stake and optional extender poles, so it towers over some shrubs and plants for greater visibility. During testing, lights can be seen from as far away as 20 feet, so they are really easy to catch.
Thanks to a built-in rechargeable battery, these solar lights run 10 hours in the summer and 5 hours in the winter. It automatically turns off at dawn and turns back on when dark. It is also waterproof and carries a hard plastic casing that won’t rust or degrade under rain or snow. You may also like the best smart outlet. The best outdoor ceiling fan will also add to a patio area.
#7 Moonrays 95557 1-Watt Low Voltage LED Landscape Lights
Award: Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: These lights do the trick with a durable diecast aluminum build and adjustable heads for focused lighting.
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- Diecast aluminum construction
- Adjustable head
- Work like spotlights
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- Below average 1-year warranty
- Low light output
- Not waterproof
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Each light gives off 65 lumens. What we love about these LED lights is its battery life, lasting up to 100,000 hours using only 1 watt. Yes, we are as shocked as you are with that figure! Unlike solar lights needing recharge times to power up, this low-voltage landscape lighting runs continuously with the same output in any lighting conditions.
A glass lens cover also helps prevent dirt and dust from clogging it. During testing, its construction really felt sturdy to the touch. We would definitely feel comfortable knocking it around without fear of breaking it. The best electric lawnmower will also help with your outdoor space.
How We Decided
Choosing the right landscape lighting could mean the difference between a dark and drab pathway or patio and beautifully lit path lights that lead to hours of conversation under the stars with your loved ones. Home improvements are a fantastic way to make sure your home and garden create a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere.
In choosing the best landscape lighting to buy, you should consider its run time to charge time ratio, design, light fixtures, adjustable head, beam angle, and overall build quality. Landscape lights should stay on for a minimum of 5 hours in the winter and 10 hours in the summer before needing to be recharged, which we feel is an appropriate trade-off. LED lights provide even more continuous power, like the Moonrays 95557 1-Watt Low Voltage LED lights which promise a 100,000-hour life span. Design is also critical, with rounded flat landscape lights ideal for pathways and spotlights for focused lighting towards an object or small area.
Lighting fixtures with adjustable head and beam angles also mean a lot, with varying degrees allowing you to project light over a larger area and point it upwards, outwards, or in different directions. Regarding build quality, we have a strong preference for waterproof rated landscape lights with aluminum builds for rust and fade resistance, as they are continuously exposed to all types of weather.
Best Landscape Lighting Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Type of Lighting
Different landscape lights serve different purposes. Path and stake lighting, like the Solar Lights Bright Pathway lights, helps illuminate walkways to prevent tripping or accidents. Others, like the LITOM and the MEIKEE, are spotlights with adjustable heads and wider beam angles to help highlight a piece of an outdoor living area, such as a plant on a wall or a patio table. - Scale
Different lights work better in smaller or larger areas. An 8-pack of rounded, flat lights work well with small pathways with no vegetation/plants and larger patios could use larger landscape lights with a higher lumen count. - Run to Charge Time Ratio
A favorable run to charge time ratio keeps your lights on for as long as possible. Solar lights usually require an 8 hour to 12 hour initial charge before running anywhere between 8 and 12 hours, depending on the number of daily sunlight hours. Look for landscape lighting that auto turns off at dawn and turns back on at dusk for maximum power savings. - Brightness
The amount of brightness we recommend depends on whether you are using landscaping lighting for decorative or practical purposes. In general, dimmer lights up to 100 lumens can give off a light glow, good enough to illuminate narrow walkways and driveways. For entire gardens and patios, we recommend a higher level of brightness in the 500 to 800 lumen range. Some lights, like the LUTOM 12 LED lights, offer two brightness modes.
