Be it for security or aesthetic purposes, solar path lights are budget-friendly solution to illuminate the outdoors without the hassle of drilling or checking out for electrical outlets. Compared to traditional lights, they are a bit expensive. However, they don’t need any maintenance as these light work on solar light – so practically no electricity bills. And moreover, they are easy to install so you don’t have to spend money on professional help. If you have decided to invest solar path lights, then consider the below factors…
Brightness
The brightness is usually measured in terms of lumens (Lm). Solar path lights come with range between 2 – 200 lumens. Based on the purpose (decorative or security), you have to choose the brightness of a solar path light. Use solar lamps that comes with 2 – 50 lumens will suit for decorative purpose, whereas light with 50 – 200 lumens is meant for security purpose.
Battery Life
The solar path lights come with an inbuilt battery that stores that solar energy. So, it is essential to have a long battery life that lasts for hours (whole night). In general, a fully charged solar-powered light will have 6 – 8 hours. Both charging time and illuminating time will affect the battery life.
Number of Lights
The size of the garden/area will let you know the number of lights to be installed for enough lighting. For this, check out the lights which offer multiple lights in a single pack, including 6 pack, 8 pack and 10 pack solar path lights. So, based on your purpose, you have to choose the number of lights for your area. Apart from this, there are various other factors to consider before getting solar path lights. We have clearly mentioned in the “Buying Guide”. We have also listed the Best Solar Path Lights after careful analysis and testing.
10 Best Solar Path Lights In 2023
10 Best Solar Path Lights In 2023 Reviews
1. Beau Jardin 8 Pack Solar Lights Bright Pathway Outdoor Garden
Best outdoor solar lights Best batteries for solar lights Best solar flag pole lights Best solar lanterns Best Solar Brick Paver Lights Best Solar Shed Lights
Check Price On Wayfair While there are many brands of solar path lights out there, Beau Jardin can be a great option for many thanks to its high-performance models, including the one present in this article. The Beau Jardin solar path light is present in the 1st position in this article as it offers an excellent battery pack to the user. You also get a decent number of lights in each pack of this solar path light since it offers a total of 8 of them. Coming to the best feature of these solar path lights, they offer an excellent battery life of 8 to 12 hours long. Since these Beau Jardin solar path lights are a bit on the premium side, you also get an excepted 1-year long warranty. Best Features:
Includes 8 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 8 to 12 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Comes with a decent number of lights Excellent battery life rating Uses a waterproof design
Cons:
Slightly on the expensive side
2. GardenBliss Best Solar Lights For Outdoor Pathway
Check Price On eBay As many users prefer to have multiple solar path lights in their backyard, GardenBliss has offered just that with its value for money solar path lights present in this article. GardenBliss’ solar path light is present in the 2nd position in this article as it offers the highest number of solar path lights in a single pack. Thanks to its included 10 solar path lights, you can easily light up a large area with ease. Unfortunately, these solar path lights have a very poor battery life of just 4 to 6 hours long, which is the lowest in this article. However, the lights themselves can last for a long time thanks to the included 1-year long warranty. Best Features:
Includes 10 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 4 to 6 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Great for using in a large area Includes a double waterproof seal Decent brightness output
Cons:
Poor battery life rating
3. Solpex 8 Pack Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor
Check Price On Walmart You should also consider Solpex if you are getting solar path lights since it comes with various handy features making it a viable option for many. This Solpex solar path light is present in the 3rd position in this article as it can be a great pick if you want multiple waterproof solar path lights. In each pack of these Solpex solar path lights, you get a total of 8 lights for decent performance, even on a large area. As for the battery life, you get a decent 6 to 8-hour long battery life with these solar path lights. A great thing about these lights is that all of them use a waterproof design. Another great thing about this light is that you get a 1-year long warranty with it. Best Features:
Includes 8 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 6 to 8 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Includes multiple waterproof lights Offers a decent battery life Ideal for decently large spaces
Cons:
Not the most value for money option
4. Gigalumi 8 Pack Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor
Check Price On Walmart As you can most likely tell by its name, Gigalumi is a brand of lighting products which also makes various solar-powered products like these solar path lights. Those of you on a budget should go with the Gigalumi solar path lights as it is the cheapest option in this article. Despite having such a low price tag, you still get a total of 8 solar lights in each pack resulting in a high value for money. All of these solar path lights also offer a decent battery life of 6 to 8 hours long, which is similar to more expensive options out there. Although, as it is an entry-level solar path light, you only get a 60-day long replacement warranty with it. Best Features:
Includes 8 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 6 to 8 hours long Offers a 60-day long warranty
Pros:
Affordable solar path lights for budget buyers Offers a high value for money with multiple lights Decent battery life rating
Cons:
Short warranty period policy
5. ExcMark 10 Pack Solar Lights Outdoor Decorative
Check Price On Walmart Those looking for solar path lights to light up a large pathway or any other large area should consider ExcMark and its solar path lights mentioned in this article. With these solar path lights from ExcMark, you get a total of 10 solar path lights in each pack, which is quite high for most users. Since these are warm white lights, these offer a great ambiance lighting in your backyard. Coming to the battery life rating of these solar path lights, you get a decent rating of 6 to 8 hours long with these lights. Unfortunately, as ExcMark is a bit new, it does not offer any warranty to the user, which means that it is not the most reliable option out there. Best Features:
Includes 10 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 6 to 8 hours long Uses warm white LED lights
Pros:
Offers multiple lights in each pack Decent battery life rating Viable for a large area
Cons:
Lacks any kind of warranty
6. LeiDrail Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor Garden Path Light
If you want a solar path light with a long battery life, then you should consider LeiDrail and its solar path lights as they tend to last for a long time in most cases. Apart from offering a long battery life, you also get a decent number of solar path lights in its given size of 6 light packs. All of these lights use a waterproof design for proper protection against rain. Installing them is also quite easy using the inbuilt ground spike. Talking about the best thing about these solar path lights is that you get an excellent battery life of 10 to 12 hours with it. Just like many other options out there, LeiDrail also offers a 1-year long warranty to the user. Best Features:
Includes 6 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 10 to 12 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Comes with an excellent battery life Uses a reliable waterproof design Easy to install and use
Cons:
A bit on the expensive side
7. Osord Outdoor Solar Pathway Lights
While Osord might not be the most popular brand of solar path lights out there, you surely get many handy features making it a decent option for the given price tag. The Osord solar path light comes with a total of 4 solar path lights in its each pack, which is to be expected at its given price tag. These lights use an automatic power switch that can extend the battery life by quite a lot. Speaking of the battery life, these solar path lights are rated at 6 to 8 hours long, which is on par with other options out there. You also get a 1-year long warranty with this solar path light so that you can expect it to last for a long time. Best Features:
Includes 4 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 6 to 8 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Uses an automatic power switch Decent battery life rating Offers 2 different color modes
Cons:
Features only 4 lights in a pack
8. Jsot Outdoor Solar Pathway Lights Landscape Path Light Decorations
Check Price On eBay You can also consider JSOT if you are looking for entry-level solar path light models, as we have mentioned a great feature-rich option from it. JSOT’s solar path light offers a total of 4 solar path lights, which is quite similar to the previous one. One of the most unique features of this solar path light is that you get both warm and cool colors with it. Just like the previous solar path light, it also comes with a battery life of 6 to 8 hours long for decent battery backup. Talking about the warrant, these solar path lights offer a 1-year long warranty to the user as well. Best Features:
Includes 4 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 6 to 8 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Includes 2 color modes Offers decent battery life Entry-level solar path lights
Cons:
Comes with only 4 solar lights in a pack
9. Maggift 6 Pack 25 Lumen Solar Powered Pathway Lights
Check Price On Walmart At the last option in this article, we have Maggift and its solar path lights in this article which offer decent brightness and battery life rating to the user. This Maggift solar path light offers a total of 6 lights in each pack, which is quite decent for the given price. A great thing about these 6 lights is that they offer a high brightness of 25 lumens to the user. Just like most other options in this article, you also get a 6 to 8-hour long battery life with it. Although the warranty of these lights is given at 6 months long, which is a bit lower compared to others. Best Features:
Includes 6 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 6 to 8 hours long Offers a 6-month long warranty
Pros:
Offers a decent brightness output Comes with many lights in a pack Uses a waterproof design
Cons:
Slightly lower warranty period
10. Xmcosy+ Solar Lights Pathway – Solar Pathway Lights 4 Pack
Compared with other brands out there, Xmcosy+ is a bit new when it comes to solar path lights, which still manages to offer a decent number of handy features to the user. While these solar path lights from Xmcosy+ are quite feature-rich and handy, you only get 4 of those in a single pack, which might be an issue for many. Thankfully, these LED lights do offer a high brightness rating of up to 40 lumens. Another great thing about this solar light is that it offers a high battery life of 8 to 10 hours long for peace of mind. There is also a 1-year long warranty included with these lights, which means that you can expect these IP65 solar path lights to easily last for a long time. Best Features:
Includes 4 solar path lights in a pack Rated battery life of 8 to 10 hours long Offers a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Outputs light at a high brightness Comes with a high battery life rating Uses an IP65 waterproof design
Cons:
Comes with only 4 solar path lights
How to Choose Solar Path Lights:
With so many options, it would be quite difficult to choose the right solar path lights for your garden and outdoor. To help you pick the right one, we came up with some key factors that you have to check out while buying the solar path lights.
1. Purpose:
Though these solar path lights are quite useful for a variety of reasons, you have to decide what’s the main purpose of using them before making its purchase. The two main possibilities of using this solar path light – security or decoration purpose. Let’s know about them in detail. Decorative Purpose – If you want to use solar path lights for outdoor decorative purpose, then the lighting capacity or lumens are not considered most. For this, you have to focus on the path lights that provides soft illumination along with colour-changing feature, which makes it most attractive and beautiful. Security Purpose – Want to feel more secure when getting into your home, then install these solar path lights meant for security purpose. For this, you have to check the lumen output or lighting brightness along with the height of the lamp of a particular solar path light. In case, security is your main purpose, then prefer to purchase a solar motion light rather than path lights. Also, one can choose solar path lights for both security and decoration purpose. For example, choose Moonrays, which is a bright and beautiful option that receives a lot of positive reviews.
2. Weather Changes and Resistance:
Since these solar path lights are meant for outdoor usage, each lamp offers a certain level of water resistance. But remember that not all of these withstand extreme temperatures or weather patterns. One has to keep these things like heat above 100°F, heavy winds, heavy rains/flooding, frost or snow, etc. in mind while choosing the solar path lights. You have to consider an essential indicator called IPXZ waterproof protection grade, which is an international standard that refers to the resistance of a product against the presence of water or dust. Here the first number (X) is referred to as the grade of protection against dust particles and the second one (Z) refers to the water protection (submersion resistance over time). Staying in tropical areas, then find a model that can easily handle large amounts of rain. If looking for low to the ground models then consider the yard area, where you are placing should ever be submerged in water for extended periods. For this, you can select a model with a covered head, a tall post, and a water resistance certificate. The same applies to areas with frequent snow or frost attacks. Also, lamps made with weak materials like plastic may susceptible to battery damage and thereby ruin them quickly. In some cases, ice can cause crack casings, which would be a problem for those who placed 20 or more lights in their path. Also, some solar panels are smaller, which affect the battery charging rates in low-light areas.
3. Waterproofing:
It is essential to choose a water-resistant light while living in a wet climate. Or else you have to take out the lights whenever it snows or rains. In case, if you’re living in a primarily dry & warm climate, then waterproofing of lights won’t matter most.
4. Lumens or Brightness:
The lumen (lm) rating of a given light will let you know how bright it can illuminate. A general rule is the higher the lumen rating, the brighter the light will be. The lumen range that most solar lamps run will be 2 – 200 lumens, in which the lights with lower range (2 – 50 lumens) are meant for decorative purpose and the higher range (50 – 200 lumens) solar path lights is to provide security. Brighter lights are the best choice to place them not too close to the home. So, choosing a light with a higher lumen rating will brightly lit the area in the long run without the need to purchase more to cover the whole area. Want to convert lumens to watts, then here is a quick way.
5 lm = 0.8W 15 lm = 0.25W 30 lm = 0.50W 50 lm = 0.80W
5. Pack Size:
Usually, most people prefer to buy only 1 – 3 solar lights for a path to save money, especially having a smaller garden (or) small walkway (or) along the lining of the house border. In general, 10 or more lights are required to cover an entire outdoor area. Most of these solar path lights are packed in a pack of 2 or more, which saves your money. We suggest you choose a minimum of 4 per pack, unless and until you are using them exclusively for decorative purpose.
6. Color Temperature:
It is essential to check out the color temperature in Kelvin (K) of the solar path lights, as it let you know the color of the light a bulb will illuminate. Choose the wide side of spectrum under 3000°K to use them for outdoor lighting around the garden or patio. In case, if safety is your priority, then go with products having temperatures around 5000°K. So, the brighter the light, the more noticeable the pathway and thereby provides efficient security to your home.
7. Battery Life:
Either you are using solar-powered lights regularly or occasionally, you should select a model with strong battery life. Choosing solar lights that take a longer time to charge and lasts for a few hours is always considered a useless option. The average battery life of a fully-charged solar light should be 4 – 5 hours. A few options have motion-activated sensors or an auto-shutoff feature, which makes it easy to maintain their charge (without using it continuously the whole night). Motion-activated lights are the best option for those who want to use their lamps while returning home from work or running nightly errands. It is quite helpful that not to search around for the switches or keys. As the lamps get automatically turn on to lighten your pathway and shut off once you move away without consuming much of its battery charging.
8. Battery Capacity:
The battery capacity of solar lights will indicate to you how long it will take to charge and how long it lasts. The main advantage of picking a solar light with high battery capacity is that it works well and lighten up the area for consecutive nights, even if it is cloudy or winter days (when the solar radiation is not good). While if you choose a path light with low battery capacity, then its battery gets charged fully in a single day. But you will have light at night during a sunny day, not on a cloudy day. So, the battery capacity of a solar path light based on the solar resource in your area. If you have a good resource then opt for either high or low battery capacity lights, whereas if not having a good resource then pick the one with high energy storage capacity.
9. Charging Time:
The amount of sunlight the solar panels receive on a daily basis will determine their charging time. So, the more sunlight (charging time) it receives during the day, the longer it will last at night. Moreover, the light’s output will fluctuate with seasons (like high in summer and low in winter). So, it is best to choose a model that can able to brighten the space with little charging time, especially, if you are living in a cloudy area. The solar lights will take at least 8 hours to charge full, which means you are unable to use these lights if you have dark days or gloomy weather.
10. Material:
There are 3 main types of materials available for solar landscape lights – stainless steel, metal bronze, and high-density plastic. While considering both the materials of the light fixture and solar panel, we will find the best solar path lights come with plexiglass or tempered glass. There are some models with patterns or textures that add interest factor and make them more attractive. But clear vision is more preferable than opaque, if you consider about its brightness. Stainless steel and metal bronze are considered the best options regarding durability and temperature performance. Moreover, stainless steel has a higher melting point, less temperature conductivity and stronger than bronze, which makes it consider superior to bronze. While high-density plastic material is most vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. So, when placed in areas having extreme heat means, it results in battery damage in plastic models. Whereas regions having freezing temperatures can cause cracking. Though, it is less expensive than other material yet not durable or last longer.
11. Construction:
The construction of a solar path light will affect its performance and overall satisfaction. All you need is to examine your light to know the number of solar panels and their location, which is observed on the top. Here the battery life also plays a huge role in the effectiveness of the solar path lights. So, to make the best use of these solar lights, you have to place them with the panel in an open area, where it receives the most sunlight to recharge the batteries. Some top-notch models capture sunlight from all around the top with multiple panels. This will ensure a reliable recharge in any conditions. Also, you will find new solar-powered products, which offers a different type of solar panel that captures sunlight efficiently, even in low light conditions.
12. Type of Light Bulb:
The best light bulb for solar path lights is LED, incandescent, halogen and fluorescent with the change in the evolving technology and power source. Among these types of light bulbs, LED are considered the best light bulb with their longevity, practicality and cost. An ideal solar-powered device will optimize energy usage with less amount of heat dissipation. This means most of the power goes into the light rather than dispersing into an immediate area without return. Simply to say, you can save your money and enjoy the lighting for a longer time.
13. Durability & Safety:
In general, these solar lights for walkways/pathways are a bit expensive, which makes it essential to find durable lights. For instance, LED light kits are durable, sturdy, and can’t break. If you are using glass or plastic, then they may break, and these broken lights may be safety hazards, especially if you have kids or pets running around. Choosing a durable light will prevent it from breaking yet last longer, which means your light won’t power off in the midway through summer. So, always invest in a product that lasts longer and let you match with landscaping path lights. Another thing to consider is the battery, which aids in product lasting for years. Usually, the battery life last for 2 – 4 years, whereas solar panels and LED lights can last up to 25 years. The general rule is – the longer the battery lasts, the less its replacement it requires.
14. Aesthetic Design:
Solar path lights are generally available in a wide variety of styles. Either you choose Victorian vibes, classic craftsman designs or ethereal looking orbs, there is always a light that suits as per your taste. For those who love to have high-tech lighting, they can go with motion-activated lights (or) the one which glows in a flickering pattern (such as candles). One can observe solar path lights that come in bronze, silver brown or matte black appearance. So, you can choose a unique design view (like from antique look style to modern design) from different light patterns with different sizes and shapes that suits your home. Also, you can choose disk lights that won’t show themselves above the ground, in case if you don’t like the lamps outs of sight. Or you can pick hanging solar pathway light if you like them above the ground.
15. Warranty:
It is quite essential to check the warranty offered by a manufacturer for their product before purchasing them. Most solar path light models come with a minimum of a 1-year warranty. Make sure to pick the one that comes with a long warranty to grab a decent quality solar-powered light at your price range.
Tips to use the Solar Path Lights:
Here we are providing you with ten crucial tips that let you know how to use the solar path lights effectively.
Make sure that the batteries are charged fully. If you’re using them initially means, you have to charge the batteries completely for at least 3 days before you start using them. Take out the protective plastic screen off the solar panel before you use and charge it. As it is meant to protect the fixture while shipping. Apply less force on the base to insert these path lights on the ground otherwise the light fixture may break if it is made of cheap quality materials. So, you have to soften the soil with water (if needed). To save your money and enjoy hassle-free long run solar path lights, you have to check the return and warranty policies along with customer service provided by the manufacturer on their product. Also, check out other customer reviews and ratings on the product. Make sure to clean the adjusted placements and solar panels, in case if you found the lights are losing their brightness. This allows them to perform properly with brighter and long-lasting lights. Living in a location with winter snow, then store your path lights during this season to make sure that they last for multiple summers. Thus, you can grab the longest lifespan and biggest return on your investment. Since not all lights receive the same amounts of direct sunlight, which means they won’t illuminate with the same brightness. We have limited control over its brightness. So, keep them on the radar to enhance consistency in their performance. The solar-powered lights work best until and unless their battery does. So, replacing batteries in these lights will help to prolong their longevity. A few models will let you get quick access to the batteries, while others won’t. Since the sun changes its angle throughout the year (upon different seasons), which in turn, affects the light output. The solar-powered lights require optimal peak sun hours. If not, you will observe their performance (light brightness and lighting time) will vary whenever the season changes. Always understand the lumens count and their range of a particular light, to know whether their range will match with your lighting needs or not, before its purchase.
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