Singleton says that "solar lights charge during the day with the sun and then light up at night when they have energy." But on a more complex level, she explains that solar lights are made up of five basic components: solar cells, the photoresistor, the battery, the controller board, and the LED light. Need to know 300 lights, 30m long (2m to the first light, then 28m with bulbs evenly spaced), USB-chargeable as well as solar, eight light settings, warm white light.

If you’re looking to illuminate a specific area—whether it be your house, driveway, landscaping, or pool—the Urpower Outdoor Solar Spotlights are an excellent choice. In our testing, the automatic dusk-to-dawn lights remained on for 7 hours and 46 minutes on a full charge. They put out an impressive 200 lumens of light on the highest mode (there’s also a low setting). The lights themselves can be adjusted up to 90 degrees to direct the light where it's most needed, while the solar panel can be angled up to 150 degrees, so you can face it where it will receive the most sunlight during the day. Their weather-resistant aluminum material is to thank for the sturdiness of these lights. They were given a rating of IPX4, meaning they'll withstand some sprays or splashes of water from all directions. The lights come with heavy duty plastic spikes for easy installation along a pathway or sidewalk, making them one of the best solar lights for pathways. The Home Zone Solar Powered Wall Lantern Lights also survived our water, golf ball, and freezer testing—a testament to their impressive IP67 weather-resistance rating. Overall, this would make a great choice for anyone who wants a wall-mounted light for illuminating a small area. For lights with multiple settings, we cycled through the various patterns and colors and took note of how easy it was to change the mode. For lights with a motion sensor (such as the AloftSun Motion Sensor Solar Spotlights), we set each model to the motion-detection mode, exited the room, waited two minutes, and then returned to the room at a distance of at least two feet from the light, noting how well the sensor registered movement. There is a huge variety of lighting styles that can be powered by solar energy, from small pathway lights to large floodlights. Solar-powered lighting is a great choice for those looking for an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting option for their outdoor space.When selecting solar lights for use in coastal areas, it’s important to look for lights that are specifically rated for this environment and have a high level of weather resistance. This can help ensure that the lights will be able to withstand the harsh conditions and continue to function properly for many years. Why You Should Get It: Their IPX7 rating means they can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, making them very water resistant. We found the lantern to be top heavy, so it's worth noting that you'll need to properly secure the lantern to a post. It may take a bit more work, but the style, lighting, and functionality will be worth it.

We carefully evaluated each light on its setup process, features, overall design, brightness, durability, and overall value. We ranked each light in each of these categories on a scale of one to five and used these insights to compile this list of the best outdoor solar lights. During testing, we subjected the lights to our water, freezer, and golf ball tests—and they passed all three. They turned on upon impact with the golf ball but turned off afterward and worked as usual. Overall, these are the best solar lights if you're looking for ambient patio lighting. Wall-Mounted Lights: Wall-mounted solar lights can come in several different forms, like lanterns, spotlights, flood lights, etc. Regardless, mounting lights to a wall or fence can help illuminate the perimeter of your space for added guidance. Its IP65 rating means it is a water resistant solar light option. We observed no damage to either the light or the solar panel when we subjected them to water and golf ball tests. Post-freezer, the lights still worked as well. Ultimately, we found these to be a good deal for their price and practicality. Installing these lights is quite simple, with one option being to simply connect the light to a spoke and drive the spoke into the ground. Screws come with the light if you'd rather mount it, providing a bit of flexibility in how you're able to put the lights to use.Stake lights: These tend to be spiked stakes with bulbs at the top that provide low-level lighting, ideal for guiding the way along a path or softly lighting flowerbeds. While solar lights are not recommended for long term indoor use, there are some solar-powered indoor lights available that can provide energy efficient lighting for specific applications. Solar lights are designed for outdoor use and are not recommended for indoor use. This is because solar lights require direct sunlight to charge their batteries and operate properly. If they are used indoors, they may not receive enough sunlight to fully charge the battery, resulting in dim or inconsistent lighting. There are a few special features you may want to consider, depending on your needs and budget. Some outdoor solar lights are WiFi-enabled, so you can control them from your phone. Others feature the ability to change color or patterns (i.e. blinking or strobe lights), which can be fun during the holidays and when hosting parties. These lights will be fine in normal rain and snow showers, but you may want to bring them inside during heavy downpours combined with wind. You'll often see the water protection listed as an IP rating, an international standard that looks like "IP45."