Having sufficient and reliable exterior lighting is very important both for aesthetics and safety purposes.
If you’re looking to light up your outdoor spaces, solar-powered lights are a great solution.
By harnessing the power of the sun, these lights can illuminate your driveway, deck area, pathway, or even your entire yard.
The key is finding the best solar street lights to match your requirements and preferences.
While that sounds easy enough, some may still have doubts as to how effective and dependable they really are.
Are Solar Street Lights Any Good?
Generally speaking, solar lights carry many benefits.
Even so, they also have some disadvantages you should be aware of before making your purchase.
More than anything, many are venturing into this lighting choice because it is a more environment-friendly lighting option.
Plus, going solar will save you money on your electricity bill.
Solar lights are also much easier to set up since you won’t have to suffer from the hassle of running electrical wires and cables.
You will also appreciate that they don’t require much maintenance.
The problem, however, is that the upfront cost is usually higher. You might need to shell out a few hundred bucks to light up every inch of your outdoor space.
Since they depend on the sun to recharge, their performance heavily relies on the weather and where you position them.
Still, as you can see, the pros of installing solar street lights far outweigh the cons.
If you ever decide you want to go this route, here are the best of the best solar-powered street lights that are worth every penny.
Comparison Chart
Best Solar Street Lights Reviews
1. TENKOO 10W Solar Street Lights
TENKOO is a well-known brand in the solar market recognized for its integrity, strength, and remarkable product quality.
The TENKOO 10W Solar Street Lights is among the most budget-friendly options you’ll find.
Review
This TENKOO street light operates at just 10W and, when charged fully, offers an impressive 1,500 lumens of brightness.
As a point of reference, this is around the same brightness as a standard 100W incandescent lightbulb.
With this number, it can light up an area measuring 16 x 16 feet.
If you’re looking for a street light that will flood an area larger than that with very bright light, this isn’t it.
Nevertheless, it is more than enough to light up a decking area or the space in front of their garage.
Like most solar-powered items, this is an all-in-one unit with a built-in battery and solar panel included.
The lithium-ion battery has a 13,200mAh capacity, which will fully charge in approximately six to eight hours.
Once fully charged, it offers eight to 10 hours of lighting in Bright mode or more than 35 hours in Dim mode.
The TENKOO solar light is an intelligent energy-saving light that operates on both light and motion sensors.
The light sensor will allow the light to automatically turn on at dusk (at 20% brightness) and then switch off at dawn.
On the other hand, the motion sensor adjusts the brightness level up to 100% when it detects movement.
It’s a great option for adding low light to your outdoor areas, all while the motion detector acts as an extra home security measure.
This light is extremely easy to install, too; you simply fasten it to an existing pole or mount it on a wall with screws and a gasket.
Despite this product being half the price of others on this list, it comes with a three-year warranty.
It’s not the brightest solar street light, but it gets the job done and provides excellent value for money.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly price
- Automatically turns on and off
- Detects movement and adjusts brightness
- Covered by a three-year warranty
- Free returns
- Fantastic customer service
Cons:
- Not as bright as other solar street lights
- Doesn’t seem to stay lit (after dark) for as long as it should
2. Werise 300W Solar Street Light
If you need a stronger and brighter light than the first one, you’re better off with this Werise 300W solar street light.
Werise produces solar street lights and floodlights that help save more energy, all while providing a hassle-free experience at the same time.
Review
With 234 high-quality LED beads, this 300W solar street light provides a massive 12,000 lumens of brightness.
This is a very powerful and extremely bright light, several times more so than a traditional light bulb.
As such, it would be great for lighting larger outdoor areas. It would also make an extremely effective security light.
The highly efficient solar panels mean that the lithium-ion battery needs only around six to eight hours of full sunlight to recharge.
Once the 48,000mAh battery is full, you can expect around 11 hours of operation on its brightest setting or up to 36 hours on the dimmer setting.
Like the TENKOO solar light, this Werise unit operates on a light sensor, turning the lights on at dusk and off again at dawn.
You also receive a remote control for convenience, which you can use to power the light on or off and adjust brightness settings.
The die-cast aluminum frame and the panels and light offer good durability and lighting performance.
It has an IP65 waterproof rating and, therefore, perfectly suitable for outdoor use.
It arrives with a set of solar assembly accessories and is easy to install.
You can expect to enjoy around 50,000 hours’ worth of service from this solar light.
To protect your purchase, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, as well as a three-year product warranty.
Werise also provides lifetime free after-sales service, which includes technical support from the manufacturers themselves.
Pros:
- Very powerful and bright
- Automatic operation
- Comes with a remote control
- Extended operation
- Runs on a large-capacity battery
- Lifetime after-sales service
Cons:
- More on the expensive side
- No motion sensor
- The remote control is of poor quality
3. NIORSUN 400W Solar Street Flood Light
NIORSUN manufactures a large variety of lighting solutions, both solar and electric.
With its impressive specs, this NIORSUN street light offers the most power but is also the most expensive on this list.
Review
This 400W solar street light from NIORSUN boasts 864 LED beads, offering 10,000 lumens of brightness.
It is perfect for lighting large outdoor areas, such as farms, parking lots, or sports arenas.
It has an IP67 waterproof rating, making it extremely weather-resistant. Impressively enough, it will even work underwater (up to three feet) for 30 minutes.
It boasts both light and motion sensor modes, as well as dusk-to-dawn lighting for an impressive 14 long hours when fully charged.
If you prefer, the light will provide dimmer lighting throughout the night and only switch to its brightest setting when it detects motion in the area.
This will alert you to strangers approaching your property while saving maximum power.
This product also comes complete with a remote-control device, which you can use over distances up to 26 feet.
Thanks to this, you can conveniently switch between Induction mode, Constant Lighting mode, and Timing mode.
You’ll like that this NIORSUN light is easy to install, either on a pole or wall, and all installation accessories already arrive with your purchase.
NIORSUN also provides worry-free after-sales service for two years and offers friendly customer service that promises 100% product satisfaction.
Pros:
- Most powerful solar light on this list
- Can light very large areas
- Equipped with light and motion sensors
- Remote control included
- Includes two years of after-sales service
Cons:
- Most expensive solar light on this list
- The mounting system could be of better quality
4. Joylight 200W Solar Street Light
Joylight is a company that claims to have optimized the design and production process of solar products.
As a result, it produces high-powered solar street lights at lower costs.
This 200W solar street light, despite having impressive features, is the second most budget-friendly option on this list.
Review
This light is a newer version that offers twice the brightness, coverage, and lighting time than other options under similar parameters.
Joylight achieved this by selecting highly bright LED beads with a second optical design lens, which, in turn, provides higher efficiency lighting.
Hence, with this unit, you can light a larger area more uniformly than you could with other 200W models.
This light will be ideal for people who need something more powerful than the TENKOO solar light but don’t want to spend twice the money.
Not only does this solar light come at a reasonable price, but it’s also of great quality.
It features aluminum-alloy housing and is sturdily built with a superior IP67 waterproof rating.
The light boasts sensor-controlled dusk-until-dawn lighting.
Besides that, you also receive a remote control that has undergone repeated testing to ensure long-lasting quality.
Like the other options, this solar light is easy to install on a pole or wall, but you can also install it on the ceiling or ground.
The adjustable metal mounting bracket can be set to different angles to suit your lighting needs.
And if you are installing it on the ground, you will appreciate the IP67 waterproof rating.
Joylight offers a 30-day risk-free trial, and if you’re not happy with the product, it will issue a full refund.
Following your trial period, Joylight also offers a 36-month product warranty.
Pros:
- Highly efficient
- Provides uniform light over a large area
- Adjustable mounting bracket offers more flexibility
- Includes anti-break remote control
- 30-day risk-free trial and three-year warranty
- Second most affordable solar street light on this list
Cons:
- The solar panel feels quite flimsy
- Operating instructions are quite vague
5. LEDMO 360W Solar Street Light
Last but not least is this 360W solar street light from LEDMO.
This brand specializes in all sorts of LED lighting products, including those that run and rely on the sun’s power.
Review
As expensive as it is, there’s a good chance you’ll find that this LEDMO unit is actually worth every centavo.
For one, it packs 360W of power into a sturdy, well-built unit.
The light contains 360 high-brightness LED lamp beads, and the battery has a large capacity of 40,000mAh.
The battery is particularly impressive in this model.
Basically, it has a longer life span, better safety, and better stability than lithium-ion phosphate batteries.
It charges fully in just five to eight hours. Lastly, it will light for 12 hours in bright mode or about 36 hours in dim mode.
This dusk-until-dawn solar street light has light sensors, turning the lights on and off automatically when needed.
You can also set a timing mode for three, five, or eight hours.
It would work well to light a large decking or swimming pool area or a large yard or paddock.
With that much power, it can fill a large area with full bright light.
You also have a choice of nine different levels of brightness, which makes this solar street light incredibly versatile.
Some lights may be too powerful and bright for residential needs, but this model lets you choose the exact brightness level to suit your mood.
You also get a remote control with this solar light, which operates at a long distance of 40 feet.
This is a much wider range than the other remote-controlled lights on this list.
Thanks to this, you can position your solar-powered light at the bottom of a large yard or paddock.
As with all of the other solar lights on this list, this unit is very easy to install with no electrical connection needed.
It comes with all mounting accessories, and the bracket means you can mount it on the wall, ceiling, ground, or other locations by adjusting the angles.
When it comes to weather-resistance, this solar light is only rated IP65.
As such, you should avoid installing it on the ground if you live in an area prone to flooding.
Pros:
- Longer battery life
- Very powerful and bright
- Nine different brightness settings
- Remote control device covers a large distance
- Adjustable mounting bracket
Con:
- One of the more expensive options listed here
How Do I Choose a Solar Street Light?
Similar to most other products on the market, not all solar lights are created equally.
There are a few things you should consider before investing. Of course, the solar light you buy should also best reflect your needs.
Location
Where you’ll be placing your solar light is very important.
Some solar lights need full sun to charge, while others can charge in partial shade.
Therefore, if the area you want to place your light on is quite shady, you’ll need to make sure the solar light can work in these conditions.
Also, if you live in an area that doesn’t receive a lot of sun due to overcast weather for months on end, solar lights might not be for you.
Operating Time
How long you want your lights to stay on is another important factor.
If you’re lighting up pathways or steps, you may not need your lights to run until the wee hours of the morning.
Now, if you want it to remain fully lit all night, get a solar light with a more powerful solar panel and larger battery capacity.
Brightness
It would help if you also consider how large the area you want to light is, as well as how brightly you want it lit.
If you are buying the light for security reasons, you’ll most likely want to make sure it can brightly light an entire area for the whole night.
If the lights are more decorative or require atmospheric lighting, amber LEDs or dimmer lights will be more appropriate.
For street lights, in particular, you should look for an absolute minimum of 700 to 1,000 lumens of brightness.
Then again, if you need to flood a larger area with light, shop for solar street lights that offer perhaps 10 times this.
Operation
Obviously, you want to be able to control when the light comes on.
Many solar lights operate from dusk until dawn or until they run out of power.
If you want more control, you’ll need a power switch or remote control.
If the light is some distance away from the house, pick a model with remote control.
Also, check the remote control’s operating distance, as you don’t want to have to walk halfway down your yard to use it.
How Long Do Solar Lights Last?
You can expect the batteries in solar lights to last anywhere between two and four years before needing replacements.
That’s just the battery, though; what about the light itself?
When it comes to durability, you can rely on LED bulbs to impress even the skeptics.
The LED bulbs in solar lights can last for up to 30 years.
We have written more about this topic, here.
What Is the Best Solar Street Light?
Ultimately, the best solar street light will be one that meets your requirements.
This means you have to give some thought to the size of the area you want to light and how bright you want the light to be.
This list contains our five favorite solar street lights that offer good quality and value for money.
Out of the five, the best solar street lights for us is the one from LEDMO.
It is a very bright and powerful light. Yet, unlike all of the other lights on this list, it offers nine different brightness levels.
This makes it possible to use just about anywhere; simply choose the brightness setting to suit the area and your mood.
The light is also remote control-operated, and the remote provided operates across a great distance of 40 feet.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a warranty.
