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Weve tested dozens of landscape lights to find the perfect option to boost curb appeal.
The Spruce
Pay attention to the lumen count of the lights while shopping.
The number of lumens you want will depend on the size of the area you wish to illuminate.
Better yet, many options on this list allow you to adjust the brightness to your liking.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dave DeCarlo
We love that the push of a button activates three brightness modes.
Therefore, we think these work best for highlighting bushes, gates, or other lower landscape features.
Shorter daylight hours or cloudy days can affect how long your solar lights stay on.
The Lerekam Solar Spotlights feature solar panels that provide impressive brightness.PHOTO: The Spruce
During testing, these lights were on for an average of eight hours a night.
One thing to note about this light is that the on-and-off switch is hard to find at first.
It’s right under the solar panel covered with a plastic knob to protect it from the elements.
We conducted a rain simulation test using a watering can to check the product’s water resistance.
The solar lights proved highly resilient and continued shining through the rain.
To achieve their maximum brightness, these lights require an initial charging period of three days.
When setting up the lights, you must dig a shallow hole for the stake.
This will prevent any damage, especially since we found the base to be a bit fragile.
Once installed, they are easy to operate with an on/off switch.
We did notice that they were not very bright on their own.
Even in the dim mode, we could read under a single light.
In the third mode, the light remains off unless it senses motion.
We loved that these lights come in two pieces and are easy to assemble and stake into the ground.
it’s possible for you to also pivot them so they can shine in your desired direction.
These lights also have motion detection.
When testing these, we had no issues with the assembly.
There are only three parts to put together, and the base needs to be screwed in.
Or turn them on once, and they will automatically go on and off from dusk to dawn.
These smart LED strip lights from Govee synced easily with our smartphone for a hands- and stress-free lighting experience.
Plus, they have held up great after six months, even through snowstorms.
While these lights are a dream for your outdoor home decor, they do offer some security.
Because you could set schedules, they can operate similarly to a dusk-to-dawn solar light with motion sensor capability.
But, for more accurate motion sensing, opt for a traditional option like ourbest spotlight.
Strip lights take a lot more effort than in-ground alternatives.
To set up the Hampton Bay LED Outdoor Solar Spotlight, just stake it into the ground, adjust the solar panel, and wait for dusk.PHOTO: The Spruce / Michelle Lau
Just be sure to wipe down your roof with rubbing alcohol between each bracket.
It took just over two hoursthe longest installation time on our list.
Our testing showed that dark colors (like navy blue or rich purple) shone about 5 feet.
Each light has 55 lumens, so they’re great for shining on a single landscape feature.PHOTO: The Spruce
This light provides equal aesthetics and security functions, but has a totally different look than other pathway lights.
The Philips app has capabilities similar to those of our otherfavorite smart option.
We also commonly adjust the tweaks using an Amazon Alexa, which is a huge plus.
It took only eight minutes to install.
This will ensure the light is fully staked to the ground and standing upright.
We used this light to brighten a 10 by 10 feet area near our garage.
We liked how the light blended into its surroundings, instead of acting as an eyesore.
We also discovered that deer activated the motion sensor, but not small animals scurrying around.
Installation took about 15 minutes.
Despite this, we loved the impressive range of this option and the versatility of the two adjustable lights.
During testing, we loved their modern look, eight-to-10-hour run time, and IP65 waterproof rating.
The light sensor immediately switches on at dusk after charging all day in the sun.
However, with all solar lights, the run time will vary by that day’s light conditions.
We also love the modern design for an attractive option.
Plus, they’re extremely simple to install.
The LED bulbs come in warm and cool white, which might not be everyone’s favorite.
All of the options on this list are either corded electric or solar-powered.
Instead, they have an internal battery that charges during the day.
Once fully charged, solar lights can usually remain illuminated from dawn until dusk.
However, they require about six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal performance.
Theyre always ready to go.
Both smart options we recommend require anextension cordand must be plugged into the wall to turn on.
How Long Is This Gonna Take?
Strip lights take the longest to install because they are the biggest and longest lights we tested.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Brightest is Best
The brightness of landscape lighting is measured in lumens.
This takes all the guesswork out of controlling your landscape lighting.
Why Trust The Spruce?
When we dropped a golf ball on the Rayolon Solar Ground Lights, they still worked perfectly.PHOTO: The Spruce
Other outdoor lighting stories by Fields includeoutdoor Christmas lightsandoutdoor string lights.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Even on the dimmest setting, we could read a book under the AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Lights.PHOTO: The Spruce
We appreciate that you can angle the light and solar panel on the Linkind StarRay Solar Spotlight to shine directly on your favorite landscape features.PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
We loved the brightness of the Linkind StarRay Spotlight, even though every setting was similar.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce / Alicia Dolieslager
The Govee Outdoor LED Strip Lights took over two hours to install, but were worth the effort.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce / Kyle McKinnon
Using an app, you can change the color of the Phillips Hue Smart Pathway Light and set schedules.PHOTO: The Spruce
The Leonlite LED Motion Sensor Security Light is very bright at night, providing both security and functional lighting outside our garage.PHOTO: The Spruce / Stacey L. Nash
We installed the Leonlite Motion Sensor Security Light quickly thanks to a preexisting junction box.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce / Daniela Galvez
When paired together, the Alfiot Solar Pathway Lights were bright enough to light our path.PHOTO: The Spruce
One of our repeated tests in the lab was determining if they’re bright enough to read under.The Spruce
Mounted options like the Leonlite Security Light have a higher lumen count for safety reasons.The Spruce
