Homeowner's Guide to the Best Outdoor Lighting | The Family Handyman

By Amanda Austin Prischak

Updated on Aug. 21, 2024

Outdoor lights add warmth, safety and style to your home's overall look. Learn about eight great outdoor lights to consider for your yard.

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The right outdoor lighting for your home adds ambiance and warmth. It can also add safety and security from burglars, who are less likely to target a well-lit house.

There are many options to weigh for outdoor lighting. The main factors include:

First, check to see if the lighting is suitable for outdoor use. Look for the UL Listing or the ETL Listed Mark. UL refers to Underwriter Laboratories while ETL refers to Electrical Testing Laboratories. Both laboratories test the safety of various products. They generally label lighting one of three ways: Safe for dry areas only, suitable for damp locations or suitable for wet locations.

If there’s no label, it’s best to assume that the light is safe for dry areas only. Definitely look for these labels when shopping for outdoor lighting.

Here are eight popular kinds of outdoor lights to consider.

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Ceiling-mount lighting is a popular option for covered porches because it provides general light and can make a statement. From small flush-mount styles to elaborate hanging pendants, there is something for every taste and space. Lower ceilings are best suited to flush fixtures to avoid anyone banging their head. The main con is that you’ll need to hardwire the fixture, and that may include bringing power to the ceiling. P.S. Speaking of making a statement, check out this flameless backyard torch that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker with lights.

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Floodlights cast a broad beam of high-intensity light to provide top-notch visibility. This illuminates your house while also adding an element of security, because burglars tend to avoid homes with well-lit yards. You’ll often find floodlights in driveways and backyards. While floodlights are an inexpensive way to make your home more secure, they often must be hardwired into your garage or house.

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Outdoor lanterns can be attached to walls, hung from a ceiling or placed on a table or rail. No matter which style you choose, you can count on lanterns to add a chic, timeless look to your outdoor patio deck or porch.

Wall and hanging lanterns look especially great next to or in front of doors, while portable lanterns are great on tables. While some lanterns are powered by electricity, solar- and battery-powered lanterns are also available. Think carefully before buying a lantern that you can’t attach to a wall, post or other solid object. Some standalone lanterns can easily be toppled by a strong wind.

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String lighting adds a soft glow and gives off a magical outdoor vibe. String lights look great suspended from a ceiling or wrapped around a deck banister, column or tree. If you’re looking for a good amount of light with pretty ambiance, opt for larger bulbs. String lights are inexpensive and easy to hang, but they often don’t provide much illumination, and they can take a beating from the elements if they aren’t in a protected area.

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Solar lights harness the sun’s energy in a special cell during the day and turn on automatically as darkness falls. You commonly see solar spotlights and path lights, although they come in other forms as well. They are eco-friendly and usually inexpensive. Downsides? They often can’t collect enough energy on cloudy or rainy days to perform well. Same in winter, when days are shorter and snow can block light from reaching the solar cell.

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Path lights illuminate and define your outdoor pathways. You can also position them to bring attention to any favorite parts of your garden or yard. You typically see them on stakes driven into the ground, but there are also path lights that sit flush with the path. If you don’t go with solar path lights, you will need to connect the lights to a power source. When hardwiring to a power source, you’ll need to bury the wiring at least 18 inches deep or encase it in conduit.

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Motion sensor lighting adds an element of security to your home and yard by automatically turning on whenever movement is sensed within a certain range. These are best pointed at walkways leading to your front and back doors, decks, patios, and potentially dangerous areas such as a swimming pool.

Compared to a home security system, they’re an inexpensive way to deter burglars. Just know that motion sensors usually need to be hardwired into your electrical system and that they’re often tripped by cars, pets and other non-threats. Take a look at these best outdoor security lights, too.

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Smart lighting can fit in with every style of outdoor decor. What makes it “smart” is that it can be controlled from a smartphone app or a voice assistant, such as Alexa.

By using the app or voice assistant, you can put the lights on a schedule, turn them on and off no matter where you are, and more. Some of the best smart lighting even works in conjunction with other smart devices, such as security cameras. While smart lighting offers a lot of convenience, it tends to come with a higher price tag than conventional outdoor lighting.