If you're wanting to create your own paradise in your garden, you might be looking to invest in patio heaters and gorgeous garden furniture, but there's a quick and easy way to make your garden magical instantly: lighting! That's why we're helping you find the best outdoor lights for your garden in 2023, from fairy lights to solar-powered illumination.
Whether you have loads of spare room, a small balcony or just a windowsill, adding some outdoor lights can transform your home - keep scrolling for the best ones available to buy online now.
Best outdoor lights at a glance
- Best Outdoor Curtain Lights: UOUNE Curtain Fairy Lights
- Best Outdoor Festoon Lights: Usboo Solar String Lights
- Best Outdoor Plant Lights: DeeprBlu Night Lights
- Best Outdoor Solar Lanterns: 3 Lucena Cream Tassel Solar Lanterns
- Best Outdoor Fairy Lights: Koopawer Battery Waterproof Fairy Lights
- Best Outdoor Wall Lights: Sebson LED Outdoor Wall Light
- Best Outdoor Parasol lights: Outdoor Umbrella Light
- Best Smart Light: Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance Lily LED Outdoor light
- Best Outdoor Lantern Lights: Malvern Outdoor Lantern Bundle
How we chose the best outdoor lights
- Price: We considered lights that had a competitive price point without sacrificing quality. When it comes to outdoor lights, you don’t always want to go for the cheapest option.
- Quality: We only considered lights and brands known for their commitment to quality. Though we couldn’t personally test all the lights in this guide, we combed the web for outdoor lights that received top marks in reviews for being well made, working well, and long-lasting
- Energy Efficiency: We strove only to include outdoor lights which were energy-efficient, to save on electricity bills and reduce environmental impact. All of the lights in this guide are LED - a popular choice because they consume less energy and have a longer lifespan compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
- Weather Resistance: We made sure all the lights we chose were able to withstand the elements and looked for high IP (Ingress Protection) rating - the higher the rating, the higher their resistance to water and dust
Best Outdoor Lights To Buy Online Now
Best Outdoor Curtain Lights: UOUNE Curtain Fairy Lights
- Length: 3 metres
- Number of lights: 300 LED
- Light colour: Warm white
- Weather resistance: IP67 Waterproof
- Power source: Mains powered
- Material: Copper, plastic
- Remote? Yes
These curtain lights are among Amazon’s most popular, with over 2k positive ratings. They have eight different modes, and the really great thing is that whichever mode you have selected at the moment you switch them off, will automatically be engaged when you next switch them on, so there’s no annoying scrolling through modes to get to your favourite setting. There’s also a timer setting so they switch off after six hours.
Best Outdoor Festoon Lights: Usboo Solar String Lights
- Length: 3 metres
- Number of lights: 300 LED
- Light colour: Warm white
- Weather resistance: IP67 Waterproof
- Power source: Mains powered
- Material: Copper, plastic
- Remote? Yes
These curtain lights are among Amazon’s most popular, with over 2k positive ratings. They have eight different modes, and the really great thing is that whichever mode you have selected at the moment you switch them off, will automatically be engaged when you next switch them on, so there’s no annoying scrolling through modes to get to your favourite setting. There’s also a timer setting so they switch off after six hours.
Best Outdoor Plant Lights: DeeprBlu Night Lights
- Size: Tennis ball size
- Number of lights: 2 LED
- Light colour: Multicoloured
- Weather resistance: IP68 Waterproof
- Power source: Battery
- Material: Plastic
- Remote? No
If you would like a touch of colour in your back garden, these colourful delights will really pack a punch. They are fully waterproof and they float too - so if you have a hot tub, you can also use them to illuminate it at night. There are two colour modes, both of which cycle through colours at different intensities. The balls run on a battery which you can’t replace - but the manufacturers say you can use they two or three times a week for two hours each time and expect them to last for half a year. If you forget to turn the light off, it shuts off automatically after two hours to save power.
Best Outdoor Solar Lanterns: 3 Lucena Cream Tassel Solar Lanterns
- Size: 30cm diameter
- Number of lights: 3 LED
- Light colour: warm white
- Weather resistance: IP20
- Power source: Solar powered
- Material: Plastic
- Remote? No
Add a boho touch to any outdoor space with tasselled lanterns. Make sure to hang them in a sunny spot, for six to eight hours of illumination every evening. They’ll need a full day of sunlight to get a good glow in the evening. Each lamtern features six tassels.
Best Outdoor Fairy Lights: Koopawer Battery Waterproof Fairy Lights
- Length: 10 metres
- Number of lights: 100 LED
- Light colour: Warm white
- Weather resistance: IP65 Waterproof
- Power source: 3 AA batteries (not included)
- Material: plastic
- Remote? No
Classic fairy lights are perfect for any type of garden, and these reliable ones from Amazon can be threaded through tree branches, railings and more. The trade-off of having to replace the batteries means you can place them in areas that don’t have access to a plug or have to worry about charging them up during the day with solar power. They have close to 7k positive reviews on Amazon. There’s a timer and memory function (6 hours on and 18 hours off) to save on energy.
Best Outdoor Parasol Lights: Outdoor Umbrella Light
- Size: radius 25.4cm
- Number of lights: 12 LED
- Light colour: Warm white
- Weather resistance: IP65 Waterproof
- Power source: 4 AA batteries (not included)
- Material: Resin
- Remote? Yes
If you have a patio umbrella this set of lights is perfect. It clamps around the pole and will fit most sizes. It’s battery-operated and comes with a one-year guarantee for piece of mind. The colour is a slight chocolate brown which looks stylish and contemporary.
Best Outdoor Wall Lights: Sebson LED Outdoor Wall Light
- Size: 25 x 6.5 x 17.6cm
- Number of lights: 1 LED
- Light colour: Cool white
- Weather resistance: IP54 Waterproof
- Power source: Mains powered
- Material: Polycarbonate, Plastic
- Remote? No
This modern and chic mains-powered light does require fitting - pick your location wisely as it’s very bright, and it’s not dimmable. But if you’re looking for a light to illuminate a driveway or any other area well, this is a great choice. It’s a sensor light - the strength of the sensor can be adjusted by twisting the dome over the sensor to reveal the two screws. The left one is for how long the light stays on once triggered. The right one is for how much light is needed before it turns on.
Best Smart Light: Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance Lily LED Outdoor light
- Size: 25 x 6.5 x 17.6cm
- Number of lights: 1 LED
- Light colour: Cool white and multi-coloured
- Weather resistance: IP65 Waterproof
- Power source: Mains powered
- Material: Polycarbonate, Plastic
- Remote? No - requires a Phillips Hue Bridge control (not included)
You do require a Philips Hue Bridge (which is an Alexa-compatible smart device control panel you fit in your home) for this light, but it’s well worth the investment. You can set times, adjust the light to the setting and colour of your choice and control it from your tablet or use voice control. It can be mounted on a hard surface using the screw panel or on your lawn or ground using the supplied spike. There’s a two-year guarantee included.
Best Outdoor Lantern Lights: Malvern Outdoor Lantern Bundle
- Size: 65 x 23cm, 30 x 16cm
- Number of lights: 2 LED
- Light colour: Warm white
- Weather resistance: IP44
- Power source: small light - 3 x AA batteries (not included), large light 3 x C batteries (not included)
- Material: Metal, perspex
- Remote? No
Lights that are cleverly disguised as candles? Sign us up! Each lantern contains a realistic-looking ‘melted’ perspex candle and the lanterns have hinged doors so they’re easy to clean. There’s a six-hour timer so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off. From courtyards to flower gardens, these will sit pretty and radiate an unmissable glow.
What you need to consider when buying outdoor lights
- Purpose: What are your outdoor lights goals? Do you simply want to illuminate your pathway, or do you want to turn your garden into a romantic dreamy space? Your needs will determine the different type of light you buy
- Power source: Think about how you’ll power your lights. Some made need to be plugged into a power source, others might run on batteries or be solar powered. All options have advantages and disadvantages.
- Brightness: Light strength is measured in lumens. If you’re wanting your lights for security purposes or to illuminate a pathway for instance, you’ll want a higher-lumen bulb than an outdoor light that’s designed to add ambience to your outdoor space.
What are the different types of outdoor lights?
- Curtain lights: aka fairy curtain lights/waterfall lights, decorative lighting often used to create a visual effect resembling a cascading waterfall or a curtain of light. (hence the name). These lights usually consist of a series of small LED bulbs or fairy lights attached to a vertical cable or string. They hang down in multiple vertical strands, creating a curtain-like appearance.
- Festoon lights: Another type of outdoor decorative lights which are also known as string lights or fairy lights. They consist of a series of small light bulbs connected by a flexible cord or cable, and create string-like appearance. The light bulbs are usually spaced evenly along the length of the cord. They’re available in a number of different styles and colours.
- Wall-mounted Lights: Providing a bright light source, these are installed on exterior walls and are available in various styles. They can be used for both decorative and functional lighting.
- Bollard lights or stake lights: These short, sturdy posts, with a light on top, may be used to mark boundaries, pathways, or driveways. You can get them in various styles and materials.
- Solar-powered lights: Harness energy from the sun during the day and use it to illuminate at night. They’re a particularly cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for outdoor lighting.
- Umbrella/parasol lights: Either fit on the inside of the parasol or around the pole. These are usually battery-operated.
