The best way to decorate your home and spread holiday cheer is by using the brightest outdoor solar lights that are eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and durable.
Here are the brightest outdoor solar lights you can buy in 2020:
- Best Overall: ZOOKKI Solar Lights Outdoor ZK-SL-101
- Most Efficient: Aootek DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights
- Longest Sensitivity Range: LEPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor 005-SL-938DC-WH
- Best Overall: Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor SPOT-WARM-2P
- Most Durable: LITOM Solar Landscape Spotlights
- 360° Rotatable: Ollivage Outdoor Solar Lights
- Best Overall: Toodour Solar Christmas Lights Green Lights
- Best Fairy Light: Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights
- Best For Holiday Decoratio: JMEXSUSS Solar String Light
| Top 9 brightest outdoor solar lights | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | ZOOKKI Solar Lights Outdoor ZK-SL-101 | Read Our Review |
Most Efficient | Aootek DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights | Read Our Review |
Longest Sensitivity Range | LEPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor 005-SL-938DC-WH | Read Our Review |
Best Overall | Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor SPOT-WARM-2P | Read Our Review |
Most Durable | LITOM Solar Landscape Spotlights | Read Our Review |
360° Rotatable | Ollivage Outdoor Solar Lights | Read Our Review |
Best Overall | Toodour Solar Christmas Lights Green Lights | Read Our Review |
Best Fairy Light | Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights | Read Our Review |
Best For Holiday Decoratio | JMEXSUSS Solar String Light | Read Our Review |
Flood Lights
Best Overall: ZOOKKI Solar Lights Outdoor ZK-SL-101
- Small solar panel
The ZOOKKI Solar Lights Outdoor ZK-SL-101 takes the cake as one of the brightest solar flood lights out there. It is equipped with 28 bright LEDs with seamless adjustable settings; rain-, heat-, & snow-resistant cover, amazing brightness, and higher photovoltaic efficiency than any other poly-silicone solar panels. They all result in an efficient product that every single solar flood light user, especially those wanting to use it as a security measure will benefit from owning.
However, what we love most about this product is its simple yet effective design.
With all the tools needed including key pins, expansion pillar-hinges, and installing screws come included, the installation process is a walk in the park. As the possibility to relocate the solar panel is not varied, you should let the lights go in the spots you want to illuminate.
| ZOOKKI Solar Lights Outdoor ZK-SL-101 Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 28 |
Lumens | 400 |
Lighting Angle | 125 degrees |
Outdoor sensing range | 26 feet |
Charging Time | 8 hours |
Working Time | 8 hours |
Highlight Features | 1200mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery Lifespan 5000 hours |
ZOOKKI Solar Lights Outdoor ZK-SL-101 delivers the best possible combination of the best solar-powered box of light.
Most Efficient: Aootek DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights
- Capable of withstanding rain, snow, and other extreme weather
- Durable and suitable for long-term use
- Provide far brighter lighting and wider detection range
- Offer 3 working modes
- Mediocre motion sensing
The key to the Aootek DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights is the conversion rate - up to 20.5% maximizing the lighting effect.
It comes with three modes, which Aootek describes as Security light mode, Permanent On-all-night model, and Smart brightness control mode. Various optional modes appeal to many more kinds of users than many other products since they offer an excellent combination of steady & motion sensor, which makes the DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights unique.
The biggest concern for most users is the inconsistency between where the motion sensor detects and where the lights shine, which is worth considering if you expect the motion detection to work as the security flood light.
| Aootek DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 92 |
Lumens | N/A |
Lighting Angle | 120 degrees |
Outdoor sensing range | 26 feet |
Charging Time | 6-8 hours |
Working Time | 6 - 9 hours |
Highlight Features | 20.5% conversion rate Waterproof level: IP65 High-impact ABS finish type 2200 mah rechargeable lithium-ion battery |
Aootek DG36-04 Solar Outdoor Lights please those who rave about the functionality and the brightness of motion sensor lights.
Longest Sensitivity Range: LEPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor 005-SL-938DC-WH
- Easy to use
- Super bright
- Withstand extreme weather conditions
- Durable & long-lasting
- Adjustable design
- Run time should not be varied
The LEPOWER Solar Security Light has the longest outdoor sensing range, by a lot. It is 49 feet which is almost twice as much as the next closest choice on our list.
Rather than the longest sensitivity range, though, is the adjustability. This product actually comes with three separately-mounted pieces, the amorphous silicon solar panel and two solar flood lights with the independent light angle.
If you’re going to mount the LED light on a corner or you have a large yard or a wide entryway/driveway, the 005-SL-938DC-WH is also a perfect choice. You can independently adjust the light heads to significantly cover a longer distance than any other models on our list and with a way wider angle of up to 180 degrees.
What seems to be a matter is that there is no exact answer in how long the LEPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor 005-SL-938DC-WH can last. However, though each reviewer might have a different experience, it is enough for most of them.
| LEPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor 005-SL-938DC-WH Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 48 |
Lumens | 1,500 |
Lighting Angle | 180 degrees |
Outdoor sensing range | 49 feet |
Charging Time | N/A |
Working Time | N/A |
Highlight Features | Built-in 3000mAh Lithium-ion battery IP65 waterproof rating; adjustable head 2 optional modes 50,000-hour lifespan |
LEPOWER Solar Lights Outdoor 005-SL-938DC-WH ensure efficient lighting and add extra security for your property.
Spot Lights
Best Overall: Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor SPOT-WARM-2P
- Easy to install & use
- Approved for safety
- Ensure long-lasting performance under most weather conditions
- Short charge time & long working time
- Cup-style design
- Seal should be better
Combining cup-style design, adjustable settings, hassle-free illumination, and one of the shortest charge time yet longest run times out there, the Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor SPOT-WARM-2P is not surprisingly our best value choice.
Each SPOT-WARM-2P solar spotlight consists of four powerful LED bulbs, each of which produces 50 lumens, making each individual piece shine at 200 lumens. Though it might not be the highest brightness out there, it still delivers a strong beam for lighting every single prize-winning outdoor feature.
The only gripe that some reviewers had is that Nekteck Solar Lights SPOT-WARM-2P are not sealed that well as expected. They reported that ants might infiltrate these lights, create a ton of dirt inside, and might even destroy the inside.
| Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor SPOT-WARM-2P Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 4 |
Lumens | 200 |
Lighting Angle | 180 degrees (90 degrees for the solar panel, 90 degrees for the light head) |
Outdoor sensing range | N/A |
Charging Time | 4-5 hours |
Working Time | 6-10 hours |
Highlight Features | Solar conversion rate up to 20% 2-in-1 installation Waterproof level: IP64; 2 modes - high light mode & dim light mode |
Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor SPOT-WARM-2P is specially designed for illumination and accentuation of any dark or specific places of your properties.
Most Durable: LITOM Solar Landscape Spotlights
- Made of high-impact ABS plastic
- Short charge time
- Withstand all kinds of terrible weather
- Super bright
- Auto on at night / Auto off at sunrise
- Limited side-to-side swivel
For our top pick, that is, the affordable product combining outstanding features. After considering a long list of options, we’ve settled on the LITOM Solar Landscape Spotlights in large part because of their durability.
Out of all items listed above, these Solar Landscape Spotlights by LITOM have the highest IP67 waterproof rating - the only one that meets the standard of truly waterproof. Also, the enormous technological breakthroughs make it more resistant to not only rain but also any other types of terrible external environment conditions, such as hail or wind.
Reviewers also love their brightness - 600 lumens in its high light mode for 6 hours working, and 350 lumens in its low light mode for 12 hours working.
One feature noted as a negative aspect of these Solar Landscape Spotlights by LITOM is the limited side-to-side swivel.
| LITOM Solar Landscape Spotlights Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 12 |
Lumens | 600 |
Lighting Angle | 120° lighting angle & 90° adjustable bigger solar panel |
Outdoor sensing range | N/A |
Charging Time | 4-5 hours under direct sunlight |
Working Time | 12 hours on low light mode & 6 hours on high light mode |
Highlight Features | IP67 waterproof rating 2-in-1 function & 2 installation options |
LITOM Solar Landscape Spotlights can illuminate your garages, stairs, yards, gardens, freeways, and fences for many years to come.
360° Rotatable: Ollivage Outdoor Solar Lights
- Easy to install & widely applicable
- Perfect lighting solution for industrial workstations, storage rooms, patios, garages, workshops, etc.
- Auto on/off dusk till dawn
- Endurable and long-lasting
- Long charge time
If you expect to way more widely distribute the illumination from your purchase, go for the Ollivage Outdoor Solar Lights which feature two light heads that can rotate 360°.
Each of the spotlights is easily mounted on walls with screws, allowing them to be adjusted and pointed independently and flexibly to any angles you want.
Also, the Ollivage Outdoor Solar Lights come with a motion sensor and give off up to 800 lumens, making them the next generation solar spotlight for not only an aesthetic light but also a security light.
Like other solar lights, the possible run times of the Ollivage Solar Lights Outdoor can be varied depending on a complete charge. For the longest performance possible, expect to charge in anywhere from 1 to 2 sunny days under direct sunlight without any shelter.
| Ollivage Outdoor Solar Lights Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 30 |
Lumens | 800 |
Lighting Angle | 120° |
Outdoor sensing range | 5-8m/16.4-26ft |
Charging Time | 1-2 sunny days under direct sunlight without any shelter |
Working Time | 12 hours on low light mode & 6 hours on high light mode |
Highlight Features | IP65 waterproof rating 17% conversion rate Built-in light sensor element |
Ollivage Solar Lights Outdoor can provide your outdoor living space with utmost illumination at the widest angle possible.
Solar String Lights
Best Overall: Toodour Solar Christmas Lights Green Lights
- Easy to install and operate
- Withstand all kind of weather
- Control the solar string lights charging at daytime and auto on at dark
- Widely applicable
- Suitable for both indoor & outdoor decorations
- Many color options & many modes
- Not come with the highest waterproof rating
The Toodour Solar Christmas Lights take the top spot on our collection of the brightest outdoor solar string lights thanks to its all-around good performance combined with excellent reliability.
Don’t let the name - the Solar Christmas Lights fool you! They are not just for Christmas, but about any events, whether it is weddings or Halloween. With a set of solar fairy lights, you will get up to 200 IP5-rated waterproof LED lights and spread them across 72 feet (they come in a 2-pack).
The multiple sets of colorful lights here look almost like a bunch of flowers, and can definitely look eye-catching seen from afar or up close. They are extra bright with durability, variety, and versatility. 2 switches & 8 different modes together with memory function can create a great luminous display to satisfy your diverse needs with great ease.
The only minor negative that users consistently noted is these lights are rated only IP65 - not the highest rating possible. It is enough to prevent dust and particles from entering the lights.
| Toodour Solar Christmas Lights Green Lights Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 200 |
Lumens | N/A |
Length | 72 feet |
Charging Time | 6-8 hours |
Working Time | 8 hours |
Highlight Features | Rechargeable 1200mAH NI-MH Battery IP65 waterproof rating 2 switches & 8 different modes Built-in memory chip |
Toodour Solar Christmas Lights Green Lights can wrap around any trees or wherever you want to light up during festival seasons.
Best Fairy Light: Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights
- Made of thin and flexible copper wire
- Safe for use
- Energy-efficient
- Easy to install and disassemble for storage
- Uncoated copper wiring
Those wanting to install outdoor fairy lights will never go wrong with these Brightown solar-powered string lights. This product is actually a set of 200 tiny yet super bright decorative LED IP65 waterproof enabled string lights on a 66-foot copper wire.
The 66-foot-long strand that holds the lights is made from thin and flexible copper wire that can build any shapes you want and allow you to set a warm-white soft glow anywhere from your yards and gardens to your pools and patios.
These lights with 8 working modes can provide continuous illumination with an alluring atmosphere for approximately 8 hours after a full charge of from 6 to 8 hours under direct sunlight while the steady 360° viewing angle makes it shine in every single direction.
Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights can even be used in a large jar to dress up your dessert table or drape around houses or over bushes to create a glimpse into the holidays.
| Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 200 |
Lumens | N/A |
Length | 66 feet |
Charging Time | 6-8 hours |
Working Time | 8 hours |
Highlight Features | Rechargeable 1200mAH NI-MH Battery IP65 waterproof rating 8 impressive lighting modes |
Rather than enhancing the look of your gardens, yards, gateways, or pergolas, the Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights provide any outdoor parties with dream-like decorative lighting.
Best For Holiday Decoratio: JMEXSUSS Solar String Light
- Eco-friendly
- Convenient to move
- Auto work on at dark and charge sunlight daytime
- Safe to touch
- Could be more water-resistant
Moving to the last option on our list of the brightest outdoor solar lights is the JMEXSUSS Solar String Light which can be paired up for an exceptional light display.
Though this string of lights might be a bit shorter than previously units reviewed above, you still can string them far along your houses or shrubbery during Christmas time for a holiday glow.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the JMEXSUSS Solar String Lights come with IP44 waterproof rating, thus they are likely to hold up against the weather not that well as expected.
| JMEXSUSS Solar String Light Specifications | |
|---|---|
LED Quantity | 100 |
Space between LEDs | 10 cm/3.94 inch |
Length | 42.7 feet |
Charging Time | 6-8 hours |
Working Time | 8-12 hours |
Highlight Features | 8 Modes (combination, in wave, sequential, slo glo, chasing/flash, slow fade, twinkle/flash, and steady on) Waterproof rate: IP44 |
JMEXSUSS Solar String Light creates more of a warm, joyful, and festive atmosphere to embody our party spirit.
How To Choose The brightest outdoor solar lights?
Flood Lights
Brightness (Measured in Lumens)
- Like any other types of outdoor solar lights, flood lights, especially the ones designed for security, should be bright. When it comes to lumen, some units might be on the lower side, but you can install them with multiple other lights.
Spot Lights
Work Time/Charge Time Ratio
- When choosing any outdoor solar spot light, it is important to know how long it can stay on. The settings might influence the run time, but most users prefer units with longer run times.
- To help your solar lights fulfill its run time, you should provide them with enough daylight to complete a full charge. And the charging duration value is the estimated time that these batteries need to be fully charged if staying in direct sunlight. Lower numbers of hours are favored since fewer charge times mean that your lights seem to get enough charge to work for many more hours.
Durability
- In terms of durability, IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are the main factors to take into consideration. These ratings that apply to rust & water resistance include two numbers - the first one for dust-proof ability and the second one for water resistance.
- These numbers actually vary quite a bit on the scale. The first number can range from 1 to 6 and the second one is from 1 to 9. The higher numbers correspond to greater durability in any inclement weather conditions.
String light
Strand Length and Ease of Installation
- Typically, solar string lights don’t have to be plugged into any power source but connected to a solar panel via a cord. And its length should vary according to how much outdoor space you expect to cover. The greater coverage needed, the longer the cord should be. Also note that besides the length, the lights’ cord should also be bendable and shapeable, thus allowing users to install them wherever they want.
Light Modes
- Most outdoor solar string lights turn on at night and off in daylight but if possible, it’s better to purchase a product with an auto switch that can activate various optional modes and motion-sensor that automatically turn them on/off according to the ambient light around.
Which Brands Make The brightest outdoor solar lights?
LITOM
- Despite only 6 years’ experience in the lighting industry, LITOM has gained an excellent reputation for the innovation of design and technology for providing customers all around the world with the best lighting experience possible.
- Focusing on customers’ specific need and devoting their time to meet their demands, LITOM has built up a wide array of first-class solar-powered lights and excellent customer service to lighten up over five million people's way home.
ZOOKKI
- For ZOOKKI, innovation and quality are always their first concern. With their effort to make every single electronic product and accessory precision manufactured, they seem to receive 100% customers’ satisfaction.
Aootek
- Aootek is proud to be a global leader in solar-powered LED lighting product innovation. Driven by the passion to make our daily tasks a breeze, their teams of creative designers and talented engineers transform concept to incredible reality.
FAQs
Why are my solar lights not very bright?
Water and dirt created by heavy rain and wind might seep into the housing, thus hindering operation. To solve this problem, just blow out all debris accumulated around and inside each light’s battery or solar panel housing.
Do solar lights work on cloudy days?
While the strength of sunlight is certainly diffused on cloudy and rainy days, solar panels still charge and produce electricity though it cannot be more than 25% of their typical output on any other sunny days. This amount is obviously much less than during direct sunlight periods, but it is still enough for your solar lights to work.
Are solar lights any good in winter?
Your solar lights can work well in winter as long as their solar panels receive a decent amount of daylight to power up their batteries to a level that allows the light to function without any faults.
Do outdoor solar lights need direct
Though outdoor solar batteries can charge up by incandescent light, it is much more effortless to provide them with sunlight. The larger amount of direct sunlight received during the daytime, the longer your light will be staying illuminated at night.
Can solar lights be fixed?
Fully-charged solar light batteries can easily be fixed. Turn off the solar lights while still leaving them unused outside in the direct sunlight for from 48 to 72 hours, and then turn them on.
Will solar lights work in the shade?
Solar lights can work in the shade but it’s better to keep them free of most shadows for the entire day.
Conclusion
You don’t have to wait until the holiday season to have solar lights around your house. The brightest outdoor solar lights will make use of the unlimited source of renewable energy while embodying a joyful spirit.
