This article has been updated with the prevailing opinions as of October 2023.
If you have ever wanted lights in your garden you will know that installing conventional lighting can be a real headache.
Why?
Because you need to have power run out to your garden and you will have to pay a qualified electrician to do this for you and that will cost money.
Table could not be displayed.It can also be a major disruption to your garden!
So what is the alternative? Well in this solar garden lights review we will show you why they are becoming more and more popular.
The outdoor solar Lights that are available now are so much better than the previous versions. The old solar lights could only emit a light that was pretty dim, and they were not very reliable at all.
All this has now changed and there are some great garden solar lights available that have powerful LED’s that produce a very bright light. LED’s are a lot more efficient than conventional light bulbs, as they hardly create any heat when they are working which means that you need less power to make them work.
It is easy for you to install solar lights in your garden. All you need to do is to position them so that they receive some direct sunlight to make them work. There are no requirements for the installation of power cables.
The biggest problem you will have is deciding which of the many outdoor solar Lights that are on the market today. So our review will help you by narrowing the lights available down to the best five.
All of the solar lights that made our top five list did so on the basis of performance and price. You will see a review of each product (with customer pros and cons) and you will have all of the details you need to decide which of the five you should purchase.
We looked at quite a number of garden solar lights when we were deciding on our top 5 list. After our testing, we have formulated the best five solar lights for your garden.
List of the Best Solar Garden Lights 2023
1. Solpex Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor
If you are looking for color mosaic outdoor solar Lights then the Solpex Solar Lights are a very good choice. You can use them as elegant pathway lights, for your driveway or as an attractive feature in your yard.
Made from stainless steel they are very durable and hardwearing. This is a new 6-pack from Solpex and each pack contains a yellow, blue and purple lampshade. These lights really do look good when illuminated in the dark.
When you get your Solpex Solar Lights you will need to go through a small piecing-together exercise but this is really easy. Obviously there is no wiring involved and all you have to do is to unscrew the cap of each lamp and then install them into the soil.
These garden solar lights performed very well in direct sunlight and averagely in poor sunlight as you might expect. The Solpex Solar Lights use an AA size rechargeable battery which is solar charged. After achieving a full charge we were able to get around 9-10 hours of continuous light.
There is good weatherproofing with these lights and they can withstand all kinds of conditions including heavy rain, snow and warm and sunny weather. The Solpex Solar Lights have an IP44 waterproof rating. The product comes with a good warranty that provides for a replacement up to a year or a refund.
The solar panel specifications are 2 volts and 40 milliamps. The rechargeable batteries supplied with the lamps are Ni-MH 1.2 volts producing 200 mill ampere hours. Each lamp measures 15.35 inches in height by 2.95 inches in width. The lamps only weigh 7 ounces each.
The Solpex Solar Garden Lights are very reliable and work well when they have enough sunlight to fully charge the batteries. The build quality is very good and they really do look pretty when illuminated. The only problem is that they may not be bright enough for some people.
- “These lights look really beautiful” – a lot of customers commented on how lovely the lights looked when illuminated in their yard or driveway. They were particularly impressed with the mosaic effect.
- “These lights are well made” – purchasers were impressed overall about the build quality of the Solpex Solar Garden Lights. A few customers were very happy that glass was preferred to cheap plastic.
- “The battery charges well even when it is cloudy” – a few customers stated how impressed they were that the batteries kept on charging even if the weather was cloudy and there was not much sunlight. One customer said that the batteries even charge enough when it is raining to provide a few hours of light during the night hours.
- “The lights are fairly small” – there was one negative comment about the Solpex Solar Pathway Lights being too small. This was certainly not the viewpoint of the majority of people that had purchased the lights.
- “They lights need to be brighter” – there were a couple of comments about the LED’s needing to be brighter with this product. Most of the customers were satisfied with the brightness level though.
2. Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights
It may be that you are looking for more than 6 outdoor solar Lights and if this is the case then you should consider the Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights. These come in a pack of 8 and can be used as landscaping lights for pathways, patios, driveways and gardens.
Again these are well made outdoor lights, constructed from stainless steel they are very strong and durable. The lenses on these lights are plastic and not glass, but they do look authentic. When these lights are illuminated they create a star pattern, sun like effect at ground level which looks pretty cool.
You only have one color choice which is silver and white. They do look pretty elegant though, and there is something to be said for making all of your garden lights consistent. The solar panel in these lights will charge an AA Ni-MH battery during the day so that you can illuminate the night sky for around 8 hours.
Warm white LED’s are used and these have a six-lumen output and are eco-friendly. The installation of the Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights is really easy – you just need to push them into the soil. The lights will automatically illuminate during the night and switch off automatically at sunrise.
The AA batteries are 500 mill ampere hours and come pre-installed. The dimensions of each light are 15.83 inches in height by 4.72 inches wide. Each light weighs less than 6 ounces. The Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights are weatherproofed to withstand the elements. Rain, snow, hail or sunshine and the lights will keep on charging.
Like all garden solar lights, the Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights will charge better when they are exposed to direct sunlight. In cloudy conditions then the batteries will still charge but you will not get many hours of light during the night.
The Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights are a good option if you are looking for a single-color light set that put out a reasonable amount of light during the night hours. The batteries will certainly charge well when the solar panels are in direct sunlight and the sun-like pattern is impressive.
- “The lights were very easy to put together and install” – a number of customers said that they were happy with the assembly and installation process with the Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights.
- “Bright and beautiful” – the majority of customers were satisfied with the brightness of these solar garden lights. People thought that the star pattern made by the lights was good and that overall the lights were “pretty”.
- “They are very sturdy lights” – quite a few reviews were about the good build quality and the sturdy look and feel of these lights.
- “Last for a number of hours” – customers liked the fact that they got at least six hours of light at night when the batteries were fully charged.
- “Only two hours of light” – a few of the customers were unhappy with the amount of time that the lights were on in the dark. One customer said that they only got two hours of light from a fully charged battery. This was not the general viewpoint.
- “The performance has faded” – a few negative comments about the Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights working well to begin with and then fading in performance as time went by. Again there were only a few comments in this regard.
- “Cheap-looking lights” – a handful of customers felt that the lights were cheap-looking and would not last very long. This was in contrast with the majority view.
3. SolarGlow Stainless Steel LED Solar Garden Lights
These garden solar lights are made from stainless steel and produce a bright white light. They will output up to 15 lumens and they come in a pack of six. These are certainly some of the brightest garden solar lights that we have come across.
The idea with these lights is to beautify your yard or driveway (or anywhere outside) and also make the area safe at night. They have good weatherproofing and are resilient to snow and ice, hail, rain and warm sunshine.
Installation is really simple with the SolarGlow Stainless Steel LED Solar Garden Lights. You just take them out of the box and then push them into the ground. They are pretty durable, but if the ground is hard it is best to make a hole first.
Like all outdoor solar Lights there is a battery inside the light which is charged by the solar panel. The lights performed well in direct sunlight giving around 8 hours of lighting at night. When the weather was overcast the batteries still got charged but the number of hours of light was reduced.
The SolarGlow Stainless Steel LED Solar Garden Lights have a rugged construction using ABS plastic and have been built to last. The lights are fully sealed so that they will not be susceptible to moisture ingress. The manufacturer offers a lifetime replacement guarantee with these lights.
Once you have installed the lights let the solar panels charge the batteries and then when night falls the lights will automatically illuminate. As soon as dawn breaks they will automatically switch off and use the sun’s power for recharging the batteries.
Each light weighs just over 9 ounces which is heavier than some of the other solar lights but they are made from sturdy materials. The dimensions are 15 inches by 4.9 inches and they are silver in color with a white light.
The SolarGlow Stainless Steel LED are well made and give off the brightest light of all of the solar garden lights that we have tested. They performed well during our tests and are a good choice.
- “Very bright solar lights” – quite a few customers were very happy with the brightness of these garden solar lights.
- “The quality is good” – customers said that they were happy that the posts for these lights were made from stainless steel and not plastic.
- “Assembly and installation easy” – most purchasers felt that the SolarGlow Stainless Steel LED Solar Garden Lights were easy to assemble and install in their yards and driveways.
- “The company stands by their product” – the lifetime guarantee was very well received by a lot of buyers. That felt that the company really stood behind their product.
- “Lights do not stay lit for long” – there were a few complaints about how long the lights stay lit after the batteries had charged all day. This was not a common complaint.
- “Stopped working in the rain” – these lights are supposed to be weatherproof but one customer said that his lights stopped working when it rained at night. Nobody else made a remark like this.
- “They don’t work anymore” – a small number of purchasers claimed that their lights stopped working after a short time. This was not a commonly held view.
4. LED Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor
With a choice of three colors which are classic black, upscale silver and chic copper you should be able to find LED solar pathway lights outdoors that will complement the style of your garden or driveway.
These outdoor solar Lights will display a star-shaped shadow on the ground when they are illuminated and this looks very appealing. The lights are reasonably bright as well and do a good job providing the extra visibility required at night.
There is a pre-installed, 300 mAh NICD rechargeable battery rated at 3.2 volts. The solar panel in each light will charge the battery and on full charge you will get around 8 hours of light during the night. We got at least 7 hours with a fully charged battery.
The LED solar pathway come in packs of 4 lights. Each light is 14.4 inches by 2.3 inches. They are made of resilient stainless steel and glass lampshades and aluminum ground insert.
The LED solar pathway outdoor Lights are water and corrosion-resistant and will withstand extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, hail and hot sun. These are budget solar garden lights and they might not stand up to the test of a heavy snowfall.
Installation is very easy as with other garden solar lights. There is a switch for “automatic” and you must set this so that the lights will illuminate in the darkness and switch off once the sun begins to rise.
Overall the LED Solar Pathway Outdoor Lights performed fairly well and a good lower-cost alternative.
- “Lights produce a warm white glow” – people were happy in general with the warm white glow that these solar lights produced. There was certainly enough light there for enhanced visibility at night.
- “Usually last throughout the night” – a lot of customers said that when the batteries in their LED Solar Pathway Outdoor Lights had been fully charged they would last most of the night hours.
- “Good value for the price” – customers commented about the value that they received with these lights at an affordable price.
- “Not very durable” – there were a few comments from customers about the quality of these lights. Some said that the plastic anchors broke a lot.
- “They just stopped working” – a few people commented that their LED Solar Pathway Outdoor Lights just stopped working one day. This was not the consensus viewpoint.
- “Only a few hours of light” – a number of customers were disappointed about the short time that a fully charged battery would last during the night hours.
5. Maggift Powered LED Garden Lights
This is another set of outdoor solar Lights in the budget category. These lights are available in 8 packs. These have a lantern design and will provide a reasonably bright light that is warm. Some would call this “romantic” solar garden lighting and if that’s your thing then these could be for you.
You can easily install the Maggift Powered LED Garden Lights in your garden, your patio area, your walkway or driveway – in fact pretty much anywhere. The lights are made of plastic but they are reasonably durable. The plastic spikes can break so make holes in the soil first before you install them.
In our tests we needed more than 8 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge the batteries. The manufacturers claim that you can get up to 10 hours of light from a fully charged battery but we were only able to get around 7-8 hours. Still pretty good though.
There are 8 LED’s in the lights and they are 11 inches in height by 2.32 inches wide. The lights are marked as water-resistant and should withstand frost, snow, and rain. The Maggift Powered LED Garden Lights performed well and represent very good value for money. They are made of plastic but the lantern look is quite appealing.
- “Really easy to assemble and install” – a lot of customers were happy about how easy it was to assemble and install these garden solar lights.
- “These lights make a beautiful pattern” – the lantern-type pattern was a hit for a lot of customers.
- “The brightness is good” – a number of purchasers remarked on how bright these Maggift Powered LED Garden Lights were.
- “They just don’t work” – a couple of customers complained that they had been charging the batteries of these lights for a number of days and they still did not illuminate at night. This was not the majority view.
- “Lights were damaged” – one or two customers received defective lights when they arrived at their homes. These would have been replaceable and it wasn’t an experience that a lot of people had.
Things to consider when buying solar garden lights
Are you thinking about solar garden lights but not sure what to look for? Here are the main things to consider when making your purchase:
Solar panel quality
The solar panel is responsible for converting sunlight into electrical energy that powers the light. A high-quality solar panel will be more efficient at converting sunlight into electrical energy, which means the light will run for a longer period of time on a single charge. Additionally, a high-quality solar panel will be more durable and weather resistant, so it will last longer.
There are a few things to look for when you’re trying to determine the quality of a solar panel:
- The size of the panel: A larger panel will typically be able to produce more power than a smaller one.
- The type of cells used: There are two main types of cells used in solar panels, monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline cells are made from a single crystal of silicon, while polycrystalline cells are made from multiple crystals. Monocrystalline cells are generally considered to be of higher quality because they’re more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity.
- The warranty: A good warranty is always a good sign when it comes to electronics like solar garden lights. A longer warranty means that the manufacturer is confident in its product and stands behind it.
Battery type and capacity
The most common type of battery used in solar garden lights is a lead-acid battery. These batteries are typically the least expensive option, but they also have the shortest lifespan and require the most maintenance.
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are another option for solar garden lights. NiCd batteries tend to be more expensive than lead-acid batteries, but they also have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the most expensive option, but they also have the longest lifespan. Li-ion batteries are quickly becoming the preferred type of battery for solar garden lights due to their superior performance.
Light output
How bright do you want your lights to be? Do you want them to provide enough light to see in the dark, or are you looking for something more subtle that will provide a gentle glow?
There are a few different things that affect light output, including the number of LEDs and the type of batteries. The more LEDs, the brighter the light will be. If you’re looking for really bright solar lights, look for ones that have at least 10 LEDs. The type of batteries also makes a difference. Lithium-ion batteries tend to provide more power than alkaline batteries, so they will produce brighter lights.
Weather resistance
You want to make sure that the lights you purchase can withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at them. Look for lights that are made out of durable materials like metal or plastic and that have a waterproof sealant.
Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the solar panel on the light. The larger the panel, the more light it will be able to produce. If you live in an area that gets a lot of sunlight, then you won’t need as large of a panel as someone who lives in a more shady area.
Installation
While most solar garden lights are designed for easy installation, some can be more difficult than others. If you’re not comfortable with installing electrical products, it’s best to choose a solar garden light that comes with everything you need for a quick and easy install.
Fortunately, most solar garden lights are relatively easy to install. Many simply require you to stake them into the ground, while others may need to be attached to a wall or other surface. In either case, installation should only take a few minutes per light.
Customer service and support
Make sure that the company you’re buying from has a good reputation for customer service. This can be done by reading reviews online or talking to people who have purchased solar garden lights in the past.
Many companies offer a limited warranty on their products, so it is important to read the fine print and understand what is covered.
FAQ
How to clean solar garden light solar panels?
- Use a soft cloth or brush to remove any dirt or debris from the surface of the panel.
- Clean the panel with mild soap and water solution if it is very dirty.
- Rinse the panel with clean water and dry it off with a soft cloth.
- Repeat these steps as needed to keep your solar panel clean and working properly.
How many lumens do you need for bright solar lights?
For walkways and paths: 50-200 lumens
For gardens: 200-400 lumens
For driveways: 400-600 lumens
Is it OK to leave solar lights out in the winter?
Yes, solar lights are designed to work in all weather conditions, including winter.
However, If you live in an area with long, dark winters, it’s probably best to bring your solar lights inside until springtime. But, if you live in a milder climate or get plenty of sunny days even during winter, leaving your solar lights out shouldn’t be a problem. Just make sure to check them occasionally to make sure they are still working properly.
Conclusion
Solar garden lights are a great way to add some extra light to your garden without increasing your energy bills. We hope that you find the perfect solar garden lights for your home and enjoy using them for many years to come.
Summing Up
We hope that you found our outdoor solar Lights review informative and are now ready to make a purchase.
The top solar garden lights in this review really are the best when it comes to style, performance and cost.
Go for the Gigalumi Solar Garden Lights if you want high quality and a choice of colors.
If the brightness of the lights is important to you then we recommend the SolarGlow Stainless Steel LED Solar Garden Lights.
If you are on a budget then the Maggift Powered LED Garden Lights are the ones to choose.
If the choices we gave you weren’t enough, take a look at the following list and find some other interesting options for your garden or pathway:
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