The 10 Best Outdoor Lights of 2024, Tested and Reviewed – PEOPLE

If youre hoping to brighten up your outdoor living space quite literally then outdoor lights are a worthwhile investment for your yard. Many people use outdoor lights for security purposes, helping to scare off animals and improve visibility in the dark, but many lights can also make your outdoor living space more usable at night.

Outdoor lighting not only makes outdoor spaces much more functional and safe, extending their use when the sun goes down, but helps to create an inviting and warm atmosphere, explains Coleman Cosby, construction director at Yardzen. Whether you're looking to create a welcoming and safe entryway or a fire pit area in the backyard for after-hours enjoyment, balanced and thoughtful outdoor lighting can make a huge difference in setting a mood and creating interesting focal points throughout your yard at night.

There are many types of outdoor lights to choose from today, including everything from motion-activated floodlights and spotlights to smart LED strips that can flash along to music. We tested 16 top-rated outdoor lights, and, to our surprise, we found that both smart outdoor lights and standard (a.k.a. non-smart) outdoor lighting performed well for practical use. Most illuminated around 10 to 30 feet, and some required a good bit of installation work, but luckily, you only have to do that once.

No matter what kind of light youre looking for, these are the best outdoor lights that PEOPLE Tested.

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5

Design

5/5

Brightness

5/5

Durability

4.8/5

Value

5/5

The light illuminates around 30 feet and is bright without being overwhelming.

The motion sensor has no problem detecting cars, people, and large animals.

The lights two heads have a wide range of rotation, making them easy to angle in any direction.

According to the packaging, the lights are not fully waterproof, so theyre best mounted in a sheltered location.

Our top all-around pick for an outdoor light is the Leonlite COB LED Security Light. Its a floodlight with two adjustable heads, and we loved that they rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to angle the light to anywhere within your yard. We were able to install the light easily within about 15 minutes without any calibration needed, and there are three settings to choose from motion detection, dusk to dawn, or manual.

We tested the Leonlite on its motion-detection setting, and it had no problem picking up movement caused by people, large animals like deer, and cars. When it turned on, the light was a warm yellow hue that lit up an area of around 30 feet, and it was just the right level of brightness that we could see around the outdoor space. Our only concern about this floodlight is that the packaging says it's not fully waterproof, so you may want to mount it in a covered location to protect it from direct rain.

Type: Floodlight | Power Source: Hardwired | Brightness: 1,800 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 59-69 feet | Detection Angle: 180 degrees

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

4.5/5

Design

5/5

Brightness

5/5

Durability

5/5

Value

5/5

If youre looking for a simple, low-cost spotlight for your yard, we loved this inexpensive model from Beams. The battery-operated design is compact and basic, and when youre installing it, you can angle it in any direction. Without any obstacles in the way, it was able to detect motion 30 feet away or more, and it lit up an area around 30 feet, providing plenty of visibility without being blinding. It only has one operation setting, and the light automatically turns off after around 20 seconds if no further motion is detected.

The only thing we didnt like was the installation process the hardware included isnt well-suited for all locations, and we had to swap in larger screws for a secure fit.

Type: Spotlight | Power Source: Battery | Brightness: 200 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 30 feet | Detection Angle: 120 degrees

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5

Design

5/5

Brightness

5/5

Durability

5/5

Value

4.5/5

The smartphone app is very intuitive to use and connects to the light easily.

By adjusting the sensitivity of the motion detector and setting motion-detection zones, you can reduce false alarms.

At its max setting, the floodlight can illuminate an area over 45 feet.

The Ring Floodlight Cam Plus is a smart security camera and floodlight in one, and its worth the investment if you want a powerful light with the ability to monitor the outside of your home. The unit is on the larger side, so youll need plenty of room to mount it, and because we tested the wired model, the installation process was a bit time-consuming, as it needed to be hardwired into the homes electrical system. However, once it was set up, the Ring app made it quick and easy to sync the camera to our smartphone, and we loved the wide range of settings available within the app. You can put it on a set schedule, adjust the brightness of the light, set up specific motion detection zones, and much more, and the app is very intuitive to navigate.

We were impressed by the lights functionality, as well. On its maximum brightness setting, the light easily illuminated an area up to 45 feet away, and the camera captured clear video footage both day and night. We also loved that you can view a live video feed through an Echo Show divide, making it easy to monitor whats going on outside your house, even if you dont have your phone handy.

Type: Floodlight | Power Source: Hardwired | Brightness: 2,000 lumens | Smart: Yes | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 30 feet | Detection Angle: 140 degrees

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5

Design

5/5

Brightness

5/5

Durability

5/5

Value

4.5/5

At max brightness, the bulb illuminates a large area, but you can turn down the brightness as needed.

Its easy to set up routines, schedules, or adjust the lights settings through the Cync app.

The lights didnt have any connectivity issues over the course of testing.

If you already have a floodlight on your home, you can turn it into a smart fixture by installing a GE CYNC Smart Bulb. The bulb is a PAR38 shape, which fits most floodlights, and to install it, all you have to do is screw it into your existing light fixture. We were able to sync the bulb with the CYNC app in less than five minutes, and once it was set up, it was easy to adjust the bulbs brightness, color, and schedule through the app. The light had no problem lighting up a small 10-foot area during testing, and it could likely be used in much larger spaces, thanks to its 1,300 lumen maximum. We didnt experience any connectivity issues over the course of testing, and overall, its a great value if you want a smart light for the exterior of your home.

Type: Bulb | Power Source: Screw-in | Brightness: 1,300 lumens | Smart: Yes | Motion Activated: No | Detection Range: N/A | Detection Angle: N/A

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5

Design

4.5/5

Brightness

4.3/5

Durability

5/5

Value

5/5

The fixture was quick and easy to install, as there was no wiring needed.

The light could reliably detect motion within 25 feet of the fixture.

The light isnt the brightest, as its solar-powered, and it can only light up an area of around 10 feet.

Theres just one operation setting, and the brightness isnt adjustable.

The Better Homes & Gardens Wall-Mounted LED Light is a stylish sconce that you can mount to the outside of your home. It has a built-in solar panel on the top of the fixture, and we were able to install the light in less than 10 minutes, as theres no wiring required. The sconce has just one operation setting, where it maintains a low brightness at night and becomes brighter when motion is detected, and it proved to be very reliable at detecting any movement within a 25-foot range. The light isnt the brightest, due to its low lumens and solar-powered design, but it can comfortably illuminate an area of around 10 feet. Plus, the design is much more aesthetically pleasing than other utilitarian lights, helping to improve the curb appeal of your home.

Type: Sconce | Power Source: Solar | Brightness: 200 lumens | Smart: No | Motion Activated: Yes | Detection Range: 25 feet | Detection Angle: 120 degrees

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5

Design

5/5

Brightness

5/5

Durability

5/5

Value

5/5

The lights special LED bulb realistically replicates the look of a flickering candle.

When it detects motion, the light is able to illuminate an area of around 30 feet.

The fixture held up well in harsh weather, including wind and rain.

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The 10 Best Outdoor Lights of 2024, Tested and Reviewed - PEOPLE