No need to manually flip a switch — these lights turn on and off with the sun! Not only are solar-powered outdoor lights great energy savers, but they can be placed virtually anywhere on your outdoor property, since they don't require a power outlet to work.
Solar lights come in a range of different formats, so whether your yard is big or small, grassy or completely concrete, there are plenty of creative opportunities out there to get your space glowing.
This type of outdoor lighting is meant to be very low maintenance: The lights are typically weather-safe and very durable, and they should be able to charge up even in indirect sunlight, displaying a strong glow for several hours overnight. Truly, you can put your ambiance on autopilot — although some of these do come with remote controls that can program the lights on and off ... or even change their colors.
The outdoor solar lights in this list reflect a range of different categories, from pathway lanterns to patio umbrellas to string lights. They've all been highly rated by reviewers for their resilience over time and the brightness of their glow. Check out these 10 different types to show off your yard in its best light.
These solar-powered lights are the perfect budget-friendly solution for lighting up an outdoor pathway or backyard area. Installation couldn't be simpler: They stake easily into any soft ground or gravel-covered area, glowing overnight once fully charged up. Buy these in multiples to visually define the perimeter of a pool, garden, or driveway.
Though they are easily movable, you should not that they are not indestructible. Users advise that these lights should not be stepped on or run over by a lawnmower, as their solar panels can easily shatter.
Stake these copper-colored solar lights into the ground and allow them to fully illuminate your outdoor walkway from dusk ’til dawn when completely charged.
Multiple users tout this set's unique color-changing abilities — these pathway lights come with a remote that lets you set them to glow in one of seven colors, or fade between multiple colors. In fact, you can even program them individually with different colors, adding a fun festive touch to your outdoor parties!
When it comes to outdoor lighting for an entertaining area, opt for something heavy-duty that you don't have to put up and take down throughout the season. This 48-foot strand of 15 Edison-style LED string lights is simply perfect for setting the mood.
These plastic-bulb lights take 6 hours to fully charge up — then, they shine brightly for 6 hours once the sun goes down. There's even an on-off switch on the solar panel for when you want total lights-out.
This solar light pathway kit is an affordable and reliable solution for brightening up your front steps or backyard area.
In addition to being easy to install, the lights are weather-safe and made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel. They're quite bright at 10 lumens each, and you can expect 8 hours of illumination once they've charged up.
Outdoor solar-powered lights are wonderful, but one unfortunate side effect is that they can draw the bugs to wherever you're sitting. Prevent an evening full of mosquito-swatting with this genius bug zapper that provides a buzz-free atmosphere.
It comes with a stake, tabletop stand, and three connector poles that allow you to convert it from a table torch, to a pathway light, to even a mid-sized or tall garden torch! It'll run for up to 6 hours after a full day of direct sunlight.
Reviewers love the flickering flame effect, as well as the fact that it doesn’t emit any scent or make any “rude” zapping sounds ... even though it works very effectively.
When the sun goes down, walking down dark pathway steps (especially if they're slippery) can be a recipe for disaster. These stainless steel, weather-resistant solar lights help guide the way.
To install, you can screw them to your area of choice with the included hardware — there's no wiring required! They're a great option for stairs, but they can also be mounted to decks, garages, sheds, or the side of your house.
By day, this patio umbrella provides a 9-foot-wide diameter of shade underneath its tiltable, UPF 80-rated canopy. And by night, its 32 solar-powered LEDs can power on with the push of a button to shine for about 5 hours at a time.
This umbrella is made of powder-coated aluminum, comes with its own stand, and weighs just 11 pounds total. And in case of inclement weather, you can easily close it up or put it into storage.
These weather-safe. flickering flame pathway lights let you enjoy garden torch-like ambiance without having to keep an eye on them. Reviewers love these for how realistic the flames look.
These solar-powered lights charge up during the day and can run up to an impressive 12 hours at a time. Stake them into the ground by your pool or around your yard perimeter, and enjoy the light show once the sun goes down.
Whether you're looking to illuminate your garden at night or provide ambient lighting around the fire pit, these bronze-colored, weather-safe lanterns glow in the most eye-catching way.
They recharge throughout the day to glow for up to 10 hours overnight. When they're on, each lantern's gorgeously patterned exterior throws intricate shadows onto the surrounding surfaces.
When you're adorning your banisters with lights, the last thing you want to worry about is manually plugging and unplugging them. This dual set of solar-powered string lights comes in handy for that.
These 72-foot strands link up to solar panels that stake into the ground and glow for 10 hours when fully charged. They're also equipped with eight mesmerizing glow modes to have them twinkle or fade in and out in different light patterns. Users love using them as glowing garden or patio adornments in any season, year-round.
Melanie YatesSenior Home Decor EditorMelanie is the senior home decor editor of Best Products, where she's been researching and testing out home and bedding products since 2015 — her work can also be found on House Beautiful and Women's Health.
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