The 7 Best Outdoor Solar Lights of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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String lights, lanterns, and landscape lighting — all powered by the sun Solar Motion Sensor Flood Light

The 7 Best Outdoor Solar Lights of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

An outdoor space bathed in soft light can instantly set you at ease, and with outdoor solar lights, you’ll save money and energy while creating this aesthetic.

“When searching for backyard lights, you want to find something that provides a great ambiance,” celebrity interiors and lifestyle designer Mikel Welch tells PEOPLE.” He suggests looking for dimmable options with a “soft, warm glow,” in the form of lanterns or string lights: “Both of these styles are available as solar lights and can add ambiance to your backyard all while saving money and being eco-friendly.”

Solar lights are the perfect solution for those looking to help the environment and decrease their carbon footprint —Mikel Welch, celebrity interior designer

We tested qualities like setup, features, design, brightness, durability, and value to see which outdoor solar lights were truly the brightest of the bunch. Starting with 27 outdoor solar light varieties, our team put together each light and considered how user-friendly the setup was, how easily the modes and motion sensors worked, and how bright it was when placed in a completely dark room.

Read on for the best outdoor solar lights that PEOPLE Tested.

Automatic turn-on and shut-off feature

Can be mounted or placed in-ground

Remained undamaged by water, freezer, and impact tests

Fully charge in just four hours

Industrial design might be too austere for some

Doesn't have a motion-sensor

These outdoor solar lights from Urpower are the perfect option to keep your yard lit from dusk until dawn. They automatically turn on at night and off in the morning and only need about four to six hours to fully charge with sunlight. We loved how easy they were to set up, coming with three pieces and a screw to aid the tilting effect of each light.

We appreciated the two brightness settings and noticed that the higher setting proved more effective for reading during the brightness test. The design is more of a spotlight with the solar panel sticking out of the stake, so it didn’t feel like a classic design to us. However, the lights are adjustable and can be placed in-ground or mounted on the side of your home. They don't include a motion sensor, which may be a priority for some.

This light also survived our durability tests with ease — it remained undamaged after we poured water on it, dropped a golf ball on it, and froze it to simulate cold weather. These outdoor lights also are designed to hold up to extreme heat. Given the price, features, and long-term durability of these outdoor solar lights, not to mention the savings in energy and electric bills, we believe the Urpower solar lights are the best option for your outdoor needs.

Built-in motion sensors and several brightness levels

Passed all of our durability tests, proving their resistance to water, freezing temperatures, and impacts

Energy-efficient technology and a long-lasting design

LED lights offer a wealth of benefits, including longevity and energy efficiency, and those are just the beginning with these lights from Linkind. There are two modes: one for half-light at dusk and one for motion detection. The second mode brightens for 10 minutes after detecting someone (or something, like an animal) and then goes back to the first mode.

We like that the light and the solar panel are on the same unit — it’s more understated and less obtrusive than previous generations of solar spotlights, and the light gives off a cooler tone. These lights passed all tests, surviving water, impacts, and extremely cold temperatures in the freezer. We found that the ambient light is adequate to light a tree or provide landscape lighting, though the bright mode isn’t too much brighter than the regular one.

This light offers a simple streamlined design though, we have to admit, they remind us of a pair of binoculars — not necessarily a bad thing, but maybe not for everyone.

Passed our durability tests against water, impacts, and freezing temperatures

Extremely bright with 30 LED light panels

Light was a bit cool-toned for our preference

This light comes with all the bells and whistles, specifically with motion detection and three unique modes, earning it a score of five in most categories. Our team got off to a rocky start with this one because, with so many modes, the setup proved a little tricky at first. However, once we figured out all of the modes, it worked as expected, and was easy to switch from mode to mode.

We felt the design was somewhat basic and would have preferred more of a warm light. That being said, this light proved highly durable; it wasn’t damaged by the golf ball, freezer, or rain tests. There was no change in the light or function of the bulbs. With 30 LED light panels, these lights are extremely bright and heat-resistant for warmer climates. These lights give off a cool tone, which is not everyone's preference. Overall, we think they’re fairly priced for the quality of light and features, and if they last for several seasons, they are more than worth their price.

Adds a pop of style (and light) to any outdoor space

Provides soft, moody lighting that is bright enough to read in a dark room

Lights are durable against impacts, cold temperatures, and water

Only stay lit for about six hours as opposed to all night

Brightness level can't be adjusted

These string lights work really well for short-term lighting to add a pop of style to your outdoor space. Their design makes them a nice accent to your décor and the solar panel stake and clip options make these feasible to place in-ground (along a plant bed, perhaps) or mounted to hang above you. Our team appreciated its simple, sleek design.

These lights provided soft moody lighting, with enough light to read by when we sat near several of the lights. These outdoor string lights proved surprisingly durable for being individual units, and they survived all of our tests, holding up to water, impacts, and frozen temps. The only critique we had was that you can’t change the brightness and it doesn’t stay lit as long as other models — only about six hours. We wish that you could put several of these string lights together, but they are sold as individual strands, so you might have to just use one strand for each area of coverage.

Simple design with automatic settings, so you don’t have to manually control the lights

Came pre-assembled, so we were able to start using this set right away

Made from a durable aluminum glass casing to protect the light bulbs from the elements

No tools (besides nails) were provided if you choose to mount the lights

Only one brightness setting, and they're not quite bright enough to read by it in a dark room

Lanterns provide a classic design element to a home’s facade but can seem daunting to mount yourself. Thankfully, this set came assembled, so you can hang them with ease and use them right away. If you want to mount them, you'll need your own tools as only nails are provided. There’s no “on” or “off” button, but rather an automatic setting that kicks on at dusk. There aren’t multiple settings so the brightness level remains consistent overnight, and it was not quite bright enough to read by it in a dark room.

Throughout our durability tests, this lighting set proved triumphant — it worked after sitting in a freezer, having a golf ball dropped on it, and water poured over it. The aluminum glass casing thoroughly protects the LED light bulb, so this lantern set should last for years to come. Considering the design and durability, we think this outdoor solar light set is a good value.

Provide ambient light with eight lighting modes that last for 10 hours

Passed all durability tests and continued working after being frozen, splashed with water, and impacted by a golf ball.

Budget-friendly price, despite including 100 individual LED lights

Limited placement options apart from tabletops or hanging

Should you want something more decorative to transform your backyard into a modern oasis, string lights like this Brightown set are the obvious choice for hanging near your outdoor furniture or placing on a tabletop or outdoor décor piece. They provide ambient light with eight different light modes to suit your fancy, and they turn on and off in 60-second increments all night (or up to 10 hours). They also come at a budget-friendly price considering they come with 100 individual LED lights.

Despite their small stature, these string lights passed all of our durability tests. They did turn on when impacted, but they continued to work as normal, functioning despite freezing temperatures and water being doused upon them.

While these lights do provide an aesthetic glow, the brightness is not enough to read by it in a dark room. But that’s no matter because you can read in the daytime and entertain the masses under these gorgeous lights at night. Considering the price of these outdoor solar lights, we think they are a great value.

Sophisticated design with frosted glass

Comes in two pieces and was easy to set up

Provided enough light to read by it in the dark

Glass shattered when hit with a golf ball

Somewhat top-heavy and should be secured to a base

This elegant outdoor lantern is reminiscent of what you’d see in a movie, with characters walking past a park lamp post bathed in a soft glow. But instead of at the cinema, you could be treated to this lantern every day in your own backyard. We love how it uses real frosted glass for a beautiful and decorative look.

Sold with two pieces, this lantern is fairly easy to set up, you just need a screwdriver to screw in the bottom part. We did notice it was somewhat top-heavy and would need to be attached securely to whatever base you choose. It passed our water test, and performed well in the dark, providing enough light to read by while relaxing in your Adirondack chair.

Alas, beauty is delicate, and this stunning light shattered immediately during our impact test — the golf ball (a common hazard if you live near a course) smashed the glass and sent shards flying into the immediate area. The solar panels, however, remained unaffected. We still believe the price makes sense if you’re going to take the time to install it properly (though we’d caution you with the placement of this light if you live on a golf course).

Are you using your outdoor solar lights for decoration, security, or brightness? If you want some decorative outdoor lighting that also provides brightness at night, a set of string lights like the Brightech String Lights or an elegant post lantern like the Kemco Solar Post would be a solid choice. If you’re looking for lights to help navigate a walkway or path, then lights that stake into the ground, such as the AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Lights, would be a good pick for you. For an extra sense of security, motion-powered outdoor lights might put you at ease.

The benefit of LED lights — like the Linkind StarRay LED Solar Motion Sensor Landscape Spotlight — is their longevity and energy efficiency, but these outdoor solar lights can also have different levels of brightness. If you’re looking at the box (or description) of a light bulb, the brightness is quantified by lumens. The more lumens in a bulb, the higher the brightness, and vice versa. In terms of color, since some people prefer warmer or cooler tones, “soft white” and “warm white” are going to be more yellow/warm tones, “bright white” will be a more pure cool white tone, and “daylight” bulbs have a bright and blue hue to them.

What kind of features are you looking for in an outdoor solar light? If you tend to get wild animals in your yard, you may consider motion-sensor technology like that of the AloftSun Motion Sensor Solar Landscape Spotlight or a single spotlight to scare them off. For an outdoor space where you want different brightness levels at different times of the night, an outdoor solar light with multiple modes can provide options for your various needs. Other features that might guide your decision are mount type, resistance to rain, environmental heat or heat from a patio heater, and cold (depending on your climate).

Durability is another factor you should consider when choosing outdoor solar lights. “Whether you live in sunny Florida or brave the cold winters of Chicago, solar lights can stand the test of time,” says Welch. “These lights are extremely durable and can withstand extreme temps all year long.” All of the lights that made it on our list worked just as well after our freezer test — proving their efficiency even in frigid climates.

With some creativity and a dark room, we rounded up 27 outdoor solar lights and tested them in our lab. Our team considered elements like setup, features, design, brightness, and durability and then compared those insights with the price to determine the overall value. Each light received a score of one to five in every category.

“Solar lights are the perfect solution for those looking to help the environment and decrease their carbon footprint,” says Welch. Generally, these lights’ batteries last three to four years before needing to be replaced, but it depends on the light. The outdoor solar lights on our list have warranties between one and two years, but the LED bulbs in each could last 10 years or more. “Most LED solar lights have a lifespan of at least 10 to 15 years, so you won’t have to replace or throw them out as frequently,” Welch adds.

Yes, they do. Even though solar-powered outdoor lights prefer direct sunlight (and usually need between six and eight hours of exposure to charge), they can also charge on cloudy days. Our top pick, the Urpower Outdoor Solar Lights, can fully charge in four to six hours. That’s because the sun’s rays or solar irradiance are still transmitted to the earth — basically, the sunlight is diffused around the clouds. (Similarly to how we can still get sunburned on cloudy days.)

The short answer is no. Since outdoor solar lights rely on the sun to charge (which doesn’t have an off button), they are designed to stop charging once they’re full. This happens via a charge controller which stops the batteries from suffering damage past a certain charge point. “Solar lights are more cost-effective than standard bulbs because they are recharged via the sun and don’t require you to dig around your property,” says Welch.

Madison Yauger is a senior commerce writer for PEOPLE who’s tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories. With a background in news and lifestyle journalism, she has a wide network of expert sources and a penchant for accuracy. For this story, she spoke to celebrity interior designer Mikel Welch, researched the market, and used PEOPLE Tested lab insights comparing setup, features, design, brightness, and durability to determine the best outdoor solar lights.

Mikel Welch is a lifestyle designer who also designs celebrity interiors.

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