Many people enjoy their backyard space. Perhaps it’s the deck or patio, or maybe the big yard with an array of flowers and water features. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt how at peace people can feel in the backyard. It’s a piece of home in the outdoors.
However, like most homeowners, finding the right lights to safeguard the backyard from roaming cats, squirrels and other creatures can take time and effort. On top of that, inadequate lighting or no lighting can make traveling outside in the dark a hazard. When it comes to outdoor yard lighting, you really should consider solar outdoor lights. These eco-friendly options ensure you stay safe and that nothing is disturbed by those nighttime animals.
Understanding How Solar Lights Work
The critical aspect of a working solar light is the photovoltaic cells within the solar panel, which will collect sunlight and convert it into power that can be used when it turns dark. The best lights use an automatic system that will turn the light on at dusk and turn off at dawn.
In the daytime, the solar cells will collect the sun’s energy, ensuring the batteries are charged, and that energy is then used to keep the lights on during the night.
6 Types of Solar Lights for Backyards
Solar Flood Lights
Floodlights create a powerful, bright light on the area they are directed toward, typically installed high up to get the most coverage. These lights are ideal if you want to boost security around your home.
Solar Path Lights
The purpose of these solar lights is to give a pathway light. They usually resemble stakes you put into the ground with a solar panel found at the top. For these to work correctly, the pathway needs plenty of sunlight. If not, you’ll need to purchase a separate solar panel for the lights.
Solar Spotlights
These lights are different from floodlights in that they create a small beam of light that can be directed at a particular area, such as a backyard. Similar to path lights, spotlights have stakes that keep them in place in the ground. However, they are relatively noticeable.
Solar Step Lights
If you have problems getting up and down your outdoor steps, these lights will help. You install them along the wall of the steps, illuminating each one to help you see in the dark. These often work better than a single light installed close by.
Solar String Lights
Multiple lights coupled together on a long cable are known as string lights that can be draped wherever you want them, such as your flowerbeds or patio. This type of light is more about appearances than safety, as they don’t generate much light.
Solar Wall Light
Wall lights are set up along the outside of your home, along fencing or the walls, giving the area around it light for security and safety.
Reviews of the Best Solar Lights for Yard
Now that you know what kind of solar lights are offered on the market, it’s essential to look at the most popular products on the market. Here’s a rundown of each solar light option based on the abovementioned types.
Lepro LED Solar Lights with Motion Sensors (Flood Lights)
The Lepro LED solar light with motion sensor has 72 LED chips and three heads that can be adjusted to a 270-degree wide angle. These lights are ideal for installation in backyards and gardens and on the garage or exterior home walls. Move the spotlight upward, downward, or horizontally to get the coverage you want in the direction you want.
The easy-to-install, energy-efficient LED solar light offers a brightness of 1,000lm, covering a vast swath of area. It has an IP65 waterproof rating and is both frost and heat-resistant.
A rechargeable lithium-ion battery is provided with the light, and up to eight hours of sunlight generates an all-night light.
Enhanced Spaces Solar Path Lights (Path Lights)
You can’t get much better than the solar path lights from Enhanced Spaces when it comes to high-quality, functional, and aesthetically pleasing path lights.
A single purchase offers six lights, more than enough for many homeowners to light up their paths. These easy-to-install lights come with high-quality, bronze-colored metal stakes and authentic glass lenses. It’s a vintage look with a modern light choice that is eco-friendly and money-saving.
The ultra-bright LED lights have a long-lasting 600mAh Ni-Mh rechargeable battery and a four-inch stake that offers stability, with the lights rising 12 inches above the ground. The manufacturer offers a replacement parts warranty should you need it.
Lepro Outdoor Solar LED String Lights (String Lights)
When you have a garden or large backyard, the Lepro 25ft Outdoor Solar LED String Light provides a powerful source of light more than you’d see with path lights or a landscape lighting system. It’s got 25 feet of lighting, offering ample light for coverage. It’s designed with a built-in light sensor, turning on at dusk and off at dawn.
The manufacturer ensured that these were durable lights that could withstand all types of weather and last a long time. As such, they’re designed with an IP65 waterproof rating, so they are not damaged by rain or snow.
Gana Sonic’s Lamp Post (Lamp Post)
If you want a high-quality solar lamp post with a modern look blended with traditional style to give your yard plenty of light at night, go with the Gana Sonic Lamp Post. It’s designed with a 360-degree light reach, so sidewalks and walkways are brightened. The manufacturer also installed a built-in sensor, which will detect when the sunlight is fading.
Its cost is $380, so it’s not cheap. However, it’s considered a must-have for those looking for a lamp post for their home or business.
Homeimporo Low-Light Hanging Lantern (Yard Lantern)
The Homeimpro Low-Light Hanging Lantern creates a vintage feeling to any background. It measures 7.9 inches in diameter, stands 6.8 inches high, and comes with a steel blue finish of the cast-iron lamp (no open flames or rust).
What makes this product so worthwhile is that it can create the perfect romantic ambiance where couples can cuddle, a person can sit in silence with a glass of wine, or add some light charm to an outdoor dinner party.
The lamp will automatically turn on at sunset and last up to eight hours after a full day of charging. It generates seven lumens of light with its low LED bulb. Plus, to get that romantic feel, the manufacturer made sure to have an ornamental casing that will produce unique shadows throughout the area.
The manufacturer offers a 180-day money-back guarantee in case you are unhappy for any reason.
