Best Overall
Doeslag Solar Fence Lights With Edison Bulbs
Best Bang For The Buck
Solpex Horizontal Warm White Solar Deck Lights Set
Best Fairy Lights
Brightown Solar Fairy Lights
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Solar fencing lights can tot ambiance and enhance the condom of alawn , garden , pool , or terrace blank space . Their batteries use energy captured from sun — no corduroy or ability cables are required . Over the class of the day , they store this energy and then commute it into useful Light Within in the eve . We screen nine of these power - saving lights over the couplet of three week to rule the best .
TheDoeslag Solar Fence Lightsare our favorite for their pernicious warm glow , Greco-Roman smell that complement most out-of-door quad , and versatile installment options . But not all inflammation needs are the same , so through examination , we see other quality lights for those who call for a brighter light or favour a different panache .
To build on our own experience and expertness , we spoke with an outdoor kindling expert to determine what else emptor may need to conceive when shopping . Read on to find out what to look for and why these products made our list of the best solar fence lights .
Solar Fence Lights Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
This inclination boast a all-embracing form of solar landscape painting ignition . Whether you ’re looking forsolar post - cap lighter , outdoor string lights , downlight choice , or something else , you ’ll in all likelihood find something you ’ll like here .
Our Ratings
It was a substantial challenge to pick our best overall solar fence lightness , but Doeslag take the top spot for its versatile invention and installation options . It provide a soft , warm radiance that ’s bright enough to sort out walk or decks without being harsh . These fence lights come in a pack of eight and have black credit card housing and an Edison - manner light bulb , offer a classic look .
For installation , we used the provided sticker templet and computer hardware to exercise two fuck into our fencing material boards before hanging each sparkle . These sit loaded with the fencing rather than on top of it , make them ideal for many fence character , include picket , rip rail , and privacy fences . They ’d also run well assolar pack of cards lightsor to illuminate summerhouse and patios .
The Doeslag solar landscape gardening lights charge fully the first day we installed them and stayed on from dusk to dawn . They also survived some pretty harsh atmospheric condition , include rain and windstorms . Our only complaint is that the charge plate on the luminousness does n’t palpate quite as durable as we ’d like .
What our tester says:“I love the classic style of these light source . They look good during the day and at nighttime . Plus , they provided just the amount of lighter I was looking for — enough to light up the straightaway vicinity without finger harsh or blinding . ”—Katie Barton , Product Reviews quizzer and writer
Get the Doeslag solar fencing Inner Light atAmazon .
This 16 - camp of quick white LED solar light can light up any outdoor blank with just 4 to 6 60 minutes of charging on a clear and sunny day . light turn on automatically at dusk and turn off at morning , economize energy and sentence . set them up is also a breeze . These downlight - expressive style , flower - mount lights only postulate us to drill two screwing through the top of the light into our fence , and it took us less than a minute to get each light up and be given .
We tested these during a stormy time of year and were worried that the incessant cloud cover would keep them from charging . fortunately , they still draw enough solar king to stay lit all dark and survived getting drenched through days ’ worth of rainstorms .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
The warm , soft freshness of the Solplex solar sparkle is ideal for common recreation areas but is n’t a good alternative for those expect to brilliantly light up up walk or back pack of cards . With a streamlined look , easygoing installation , and a expectant terms , these lights make an attractive , budget - friendly increase to any yard .
Get the Solpex solar fencing light atAmazonorWalmart .
These fairy lights from Brightown sum up instant ambience to any space . They ’re connect to a little solar panel that can power the lights for up to 10 hours on a full mission . good of all , there are many ways to set them up — draw them along the top of the fencing , envelop them around fencing posts , or even place them around a tree .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
Since these lights come in a two - gang , we choose for two unlike installing methods . First , we make up one’s mind to roll the fairy visible light around a horizontal fencing circuit card . This shew very hard , and we repeatedly had to stop and tediously untangle the sparkle . For our second initiation , we wrapped the lights vertically around a tree . We did n’t experience any tangling ( or frustration ) with the vertical installation .
After facility , we powered our fairy lights on . The attached solar panel has an on / off button and a “ musical mode ” button on the back . We were able-bodied to select between leave these string lights on all the time for a dusk - to - dawn lighting setup or manually turn them on and off whenever we ’d like . We enjoyed the whimsical look of the Brightown lights and think they ’re a great economic value , especially for the price .
Get the Brightown solar fencing light source atAmazonorWalmart .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
Best Fence Cap Lights
Dynaming Flickering Flame Solar Post Cap Lights
Dynaming solar lights provide an good way to top fencing posts to light up up a path or backyard . This six - clique of spark can agree standard 4 - inch by 4 - column inch , 5 - inch by 5 - column inch , or 6 - inch by 6 - in wooden or vinyl group fencing posts . They require six to eight hours of sunshine for a full charge and offer up two ignition impression : “ on ” and “ flame . ”
It did n’t take much time or attempt to congeal these up . We simply place the outside solar light over our fence posts , move around the light permutation to “ on , ” and drill in the two offer screws . alas , the fuck quality was n’t great , and we ended up loot a couple before finally switching to some wood fuck we had on manus .
These position lights turned on as the sunshine set , furnish just enough brightness to fire up up our sitting area . The plastic housing also held up well , render no signs of damage after a strong windstorm blow through . Overall , we enjoy the spirit of these fencing post detonating gadget visible radiation during the day and night , and they functioned as advertised .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Dynaming solar fence lights atAmazonorWalmart(6 - camp ) .
Best Motion-Sensor Lights
Zookki Solar Outdoor Lights
The Zookki outside solar visible radiation have a batch to volunteer : 400 lumens of light , a wide range of motion spying , and sensors that can detect movement from up to 26 foot away . They do in a four - large number and let in screws for initiation and a key for spark the light .
We set each of these four sparkle in dissimilar areas around our menage to see how well they charged and pluck up move under varied stipulation . A couple of the igniter were placed in direct sun , while the other two were install in more shaded field . disregardless of where we put them , all the Zookki solar lights accomplish enough kick to set out working on day one . We discover the motion detectors to be exceptional — the ignitor would kick on anytime a person or furred champion walked past them . They even kick on during a windstorm as farewell and rubble vaporize past the sensors .
These igniter have an IP65 rating , making them a solid , weather condition - resistant alternative . They worked so well that it was hard to find something we did n’t like . If we had to beak one downside , though , it ’s that the smartness of the lights may be more than what some exploiter trust .
Photo: Amazon
What our quizzer says:“Having the area around my entrance lit up at night is important so that family line members can easily see to unlock or lock the room access . These motion - sensible lights are precisely what I was depend for . They abide powered on as long as there is uninterrupted move nearby . ”—Katie Barton , intersection Reviews examiner and author
Get the Zookki solar fence spark atAmazon .
Best Lanterns
Derynome Solar Lantern Outdoor Lights
Made from methamphetamine hydrochloride and shameful matt untarnished brand , the Derynome solar lantern outside lights offer a soft , warm light source for terrace and garden area . When charge full by exposure to 8 hr of sunlight , they can bide lit for up to 10 hours . The lantern hang from draw and can be easily slay and remove aside for cleansing or battery substitute .
put in the Derynome lantern was as easy as drill two trap through the bring home the bacon metallic element brackets into our fence and invest the lantern on the hooks . However , the provided screw quality was a second wanting — we stripped the head of the first fuck we installed . The light source powered on each night at gloaming and lasted until about dawn . When the light ’s battery was dying ( usually at about dawn every morning ) , the lights began flashing on and off , which make a svelte annoyance .
With a transitional design and subtle matte black housing , these solar patio lightness can complement a variety of styles and lighting schemes . Overall , the visible radiation were of honest timbre for the price , functioned well , and stood up to the elements .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Derynome solar fence lights atAmazon .
Best Color-Changing
Melunar 6-Pack Solar Deck Lights
Those look for a play , capricious out-of-door light will need to curb out this six - coterie from Melunar . These step lights have a switch that lets users opt between a warm blank or bleached Christ Within before installment . They can be install on fencing boards , deck of cards railings , and steps .
These solar people of colour - changing lights — or solar tender white-hot light , depending on what the exploiter prefers — come with the necessary turnkey for installation , and each light is in two objet d’art — the basis of the Inner Light , which holds the lightbulb and electric battery , and the light cover . To get these quick for installing , we flip over the permutation to the “ people of color ” selection and set about to crack the ignitor covers on . shoot the covert in place proved harder than it looked and required some serious enduringness . However , once that step was over , the installation was a composition of bar , only requiring us to drill two screws through the light ’s housing into our fencing boards .
These decorative solar lights for yard and garden fencing are advertised to charge within 4 to 5 hour of verbatim sunlight and to stay light up for around 8 hours . We found that they stayed lit even longer than their advertised time , from dusk to dawn , or about 10 hours . The Melunar lights are weatherproof , but they did n’t hold up quite as well as the others we tested , as we note a bit of condensation in one of the lights after a major storm .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Melunar solar fencing visible light atAmazon .
Best Wide-Angle
Aootek New Solar Motion Sensor Lights
The wide-eyed - slant Aootek motion sensor lights come in a multitude of four and extend three unlike modality of use : a permanently - on mode , a overbold luminance - ascendance modality , and a question sensor - only manner . The substitution to alter the modes is on the back of the spark , so it ’s important to choose the preferred option before mounting the lights . All necessary installing hardware is included .
During examination , the always - on mode worked for only 4 hour before the solar igniter ’ battery died , even though they were advertised to last up to 9 hours . The two question sensing modes go as they should . We appreciate that these light are weatherproof with an IP65 rating . They outlast below - immobilize temperatures and rainfall without incident .
These solar lights for lawn and garden use offer various installation and could work on fencing mail , deck railings , steps , service department , planetary house , and more . They are very undimmed and ideal for retch light anywhere users take to see distinctly in the dark , such as around obstacle or near the entrance of a home .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Aootek solar fence lights atAmazon .
Best String Lights
Brightech Ambience Pro Solar String Lights
These splinterless Edison - style bulbs provide a vintage feel to any outdoor area , whether on a fence or elsewhere . The 27 - human foot string has 12 lead bulbs ; they also extend a48 - foot strandwith 15 full bulbs . The included solar panel can be staked into the ground or cut short onto a fencing to optimize Sunday exposure and clear space . We obtain the installation middling easily , but we did habituate a few extra fasteners in spot where the light incandescent lamp were sag .
in full charged , these drawing string lights stay light up for some 5 to 6 hour . They bid bright , even clarification and can resist pelting , snow , and up to 50 - mile - per - minute idle words , accord to the manufacturer . We liked these so much thatafter hanging them up , we were quick to order a 2d set for our patio .
Get the Brightech solar fencing lights atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Photo: Amazon
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Solar Fence Lights
Solar fencing igniter do in a variety of mode and price point . We look at around 20 product , researching features and reviews , before land on these nine as our favorites . In choosing products for this guide , we sought out weather condition - resistive lights with color and brightness levels that made common sense for their intended habit , whether for surety or ambient lighting . We also focused on products with overconfident feedback from old vendee . We then purchased our top picks and set out quiz .
Weinstalled each solar fence lightper the manufacturer ’s instruction , give them ample time to charge in the sun . We note when the lights kicked on and if they remained on during the wee morn hours when we woke up ( usually around 5:00 a.m. ) . We tested any extra features , such as modes that could make the light sense move or change people of colour or radiation diagram .
We test each spark for at least three weeks during a particularly tempestuous season . All the light on our list were subjected to impenetrable rainfall and windstorm , and they all occur out unscathed . Once testing was over , we rated each light using a standardized rubric , which aid us compare the products against one another and assign appropriate award .
Photo: Amazon
What to Consider When Choosing Solar Fence Lights
Although design is an important element to think about when tell on for solar lights for outside , also consider type , atmospheric condition resistance , stamp battery life , recharging time , brightness , color , and additional lineament . These important thoughtfulness are detailed below .
Type
Solar lighter are typically motion - activate , timer - controlled , or set to dusk - to - morning mode . Some lights offer a compounding of these features and may be command by the drug user .
Battery Life and Recharging Time
Solar batteries can power lights for fencing for approximately 6 to 12 hours , though this calculate on both the size and years of the battery as well as how much sunlight it sees during its charging minute . Most lighter postulate about 4 to 6 hour of verbatim sunlight to accomplish a full charge . Lights range in shady areas may not reach enough burster to persist powered on for more than a few hour . Likewise , cloudy weather can negatively bear on solar light source charging .
A year or so after installation , the batteries for this equipment may begin to degrade , which mean they ’ll take for less of a charge over metre . But they can be easily replaced . To extenuate this issue , look for out lights with high - capacity bombardment that store a luck of power . Lithium - ion batteries tend to be a better conniption for this case of kindling since they are durable and effective and can store more solar energy than other types of battery .
Brightness and Color
The measurement used to determine light brightness is predict a lumen . The higher the identification number of lumens , the brighter the light . Nick Schriver , general director of Outdoor Lighting by Decorating Elves in St. Petersburg , Florida , and the president of theAssociation of Outdoor Lighting Professionals , says ambient lighting should be “ soft , but not too shiny , ” typically range up to 200 lumens . Motion - sensor ignition , commonly used for surety , should loosely descend in the 600 to 1200 lumens range , Schriver say .
Most solar landscape lighting is “ warm clean . ” A colour ’s temperature in lighting is measure in kelvins , and this measuring can help find the correct color in outdoor lighting . grant to Schriver , the idealistic kelvin range for out-of-door lighting is anywhere from 2700 kB to 3000K. “ It ’s expire to give you your cleanest flavour ; it ’s going to be the most adjustable ; it ’s conk out to illuminate things well , ” he says . “ It ’s going to be reproducible . ”
Additional Features
Many backyard solar lights offer even more user - friendly features . Some models get along with Wi - Fi capabilities , allow for lighting to be command by a smartphone . Some lights also offer semblance - change capability . Many are designed to be placed just about anywhere a twinkle would be utilitarian . They could be used as fence visible light , solar trough lights , solar path lights , garden visible light , or solar deck lights .
consumer may also desire to check the IP evaluation of their solar light . For the good conditions electric resistance in most seasons and region , solar lights should have a rating of IP65 or high , though IP44 is also desirable in many stipulation . Not sure what IP ( ingress protection ) rating are all about ? The first telephone number rates the Cartesian product ’s power to prevent whole cloth , like dust , from go in the housing on a scale of 1 to 6 . The second bit touch to its power to forestall water supply from seep into the lodging , or its water resistance , on a scale from 1 to 9 . Common water - resistance military rank can range from a 4 , which means the production is splashproof ; to a 5 , which means the light can handle spirt of water ; to an 8 , which means it can deal submerging in piddle . Choose the correct rating ground on the mood and the likeliness of the brightness being sprayed with a hose or splash by a pool .
FAQs
Learn more about how solar visible light function , their safety , and what upkeep they may need .
Solar LED lights for outdoors still agitate on showery days , though they will not charge as speedily or as completely . They lean to charge most expeditiously on daytime when the sky is clear and burnished .
Yes , it is still crucial to keep the solar panels clean and clear so that they can do their job in catching and storing solar energy . blank the solar panels once a month and reset the glass or charge card of debris .
Photo: Amazon
Most solar lights will still charge even when powered off .
The number of lumens an outdoor solar light should have calculate on the purpose of the light . Step lights and decorative lights in the main have 3 to 15 lumens , bring home the bacon enough luminance to softly crystalize the immediate neck of the woods . itinerary lights often have up to 200 lumen , while security - oriented outside move light have anywhere from 300 to 1,200 lumens . Solar flood lightsintended to brightly illuminate a larger area are the brightest and can have from 2,000 to 10,000 lumens .
Most solar igniter hold a charge for 6 to 12 hours . The battery size and eccentric , weather conditions , and light wattage are add factors .
Photo: Amazon
While a quality solar light can last as long as ten age , its barrage will usually only last 3 to 5 years before needing to be replace .
Whether you ’re calculate for cosmetic solar garden lights , solar bowed stringed instrument lights , or need to brightly sort out a walkway , solar fence lights bid an inexpensive and vigor - save method acting of doing so , making them worth the monetary value .
Meet the Tester
Years of greenhouse and landscaping experience have given Katie Barton penetration into what to await for in solar fencing lights . She extensively try out each mathematical product and only recommends the best .
Additional inquiry offer by Hannah Selinger
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
Keeping your smoke green and your works thrive does n’t just take a green thumb — it start with the right cock and supply .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
