Solar flood lights are a great way to light up your outdoor areas without adding to your electricity bill or drawing power from your off-grid solar set up. They’re easy to install, long-lasting and very affordable!
With so many options out there, picking the right one can be tough. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 8 best solar flood lights to make your decision easier. Check out the specs, features, pros and cons below:
The 8 Best Solar Floodlights
| No. | Name | Lumens |
| 1 | A Zone Solar Motion Sensor Flood Light | 800 |
| 2 | Sunforce Triple Head LED Solar Motion Light | 1000 |
| 3 | LePower LED Solar Security Lights | 1600 |
| 4 | LITOM Solar Flood Light | 526 |
| 5 | Otdair Solar Security Lights | 550 |
| 6 | TBI Solar Security Lights | 2200 |
| 7 | PSG Solar Security Flood Lights | 5000 |
| 8 | XMCOSY Solar Security Lights | 1600 |
Advantages of Using Solar Floodlights
There are many advantages to using solar flood lights, including:
- Environmentally friendly – solar lights are powered by the sun and do not use any fossil fuels, create any excess waste or pollution. Adding solar to your lifestyle is a great way to move towards a more sustainable way of living.
- Cost-effective – beyond the initial investment in buying the lights there is no ongoing cost and no added cost to your electricity bill.
- Easy to purchase and install – all the lights on this list are affordable options that are easy to install yourself and don’t require any special skills or tools. They can be installed at home or on an RV.
- Weatherproof and durable – all the lights on this list are water and weatherproof, suitable for use outdoors and in a wide range of temperatures.
- Minimal maintenance – aside from cleaning the panels to remove dust and grime, these lights do not need any maintenance.
- Useful features – most of the lights on this list have motion sensors, low light sensors and a range of brightness settings to choose from. This means you can set them how you want them and leave them to do their thing without having to turn them on and off manually every day.
- Long run time – most of the lights on this list have a decent run time. This means they will hours and hours on a single charge and will keep their charge when not in use.
Check out this short clip by EnergySage on the environmental benefits of solar energy:
[youtube video=”HJYEKrIRGNE”]
How to Select the Right Solar Floodlight
There are thousands of solar lights and solar flood lights to choose from. The options are endless and each one has slightly different specifications. When choosing the right solar flood light for your needs, take into consideration:
Brightness
The brightness of the solar flood lights on this list is measured in Lumens (Lm). A standard 60-watt fluorescent bulb in your home is around 800 Lm and that is usually enough to light a whole room brightly enough to read in.
When it comes to outdoor lighting, the brightness required depends on the application – for example, lighting some steps or a footpath will require substantially less light than lighting a courtyard or outdoor pool area from above.
To give you an indication of the brightness needed for different outdoor lighting applications, Energy Today recommends:
- Path lighting:100 – 200 lumens
- Step lights: 12 – 100 lumens
- Flood lights: 700 -1300 lumens
- Motion sensor lights: 300 – 700 lumens
- Pond/pool lights: 200 – 400 lumens
- Hardscape lights (on walls): 50 – 185
- Landscape: 50-300 lumens (50 is good for a garden or small shrubbery)
As you can see, the brightest flood lights recommended here are 1300 lumens. For this list, we have selected solar flood lights that range from 550 to 5000 lumens – so you won’t find yourself in the dark with these lights!
Run Time
Run time refers to how long your lights will shine from a single full charge. There are various factors that affect how long they will shine for but in simple terms, the brighter light, the shorter the run time.
At full brightness, some lights will last around 6 hours and others will last longer. On dim or medium brightness, some will last as long as 40 hours!
Most of the lights on this list have different brightness settings. Motion sensor lights can be adjusted to shine on bright when they detect movement and then dim when there is no movement. This prolongs the run time by minimizing the time spent on full brightness.
Run time is an important factor to consider and it may well be worth reducing the brightness in exchange for longer run time so think about the number of hours you will need the lights to shine and how bright they need to be to meet your needs.
Extra Features
The lights on this list have various extra features, such as motion sensors, low-light or dusk to dawn sensors and various brightness modes that allow you to choose how bright you want your flood lights to be at any given time. Adjusting the brightness and being able to only run them on their brightest setting when needed also lengthens the run time and reduces the amount of power needed.
We also looked for lights that do not require additional purchases like external batteries, solar panels or mounting fixtures. Most of the solar flood lights on this list require no additional purchases and come equipped with all the extras.
Water Proof – Ingress Protection Rating
All the solar flood lights on this list are water and weatherproof. Most of them provide an Ingress Protection Rating (IP) score of IP65 or IP66. IP Rating is a measure used to classify the different levels of sealing effectiveness provided by an electrical enclosure against foreign bodies such as water.
IP65 and IP66 rated enclosures for electronics are able to withstand moisture and even direct jets of water. As such, a solar flood light with an IP Rating of IP65 and up will be suitable for outdoor use and waterproof.
Our Selection Criteria
Our selection is based on the considerations we discussed above, namely:
- Brightness;
- Run Time;
- Extra Features; and
- Water and Weather Proof Rating.
We looked at each of these criteria and then also looked at user reviews on Amazon for feedback from real-life users. The solar flood lights on this list all have a rating of higher than 4/5 on Amazon.
The 8 Best Solar Floodlights
#1: A Zone Solar Motion Sensor Flood Light
- Brightness: 800 Lm
- Run Time: Up to 40 hrs
- IP Rating: IP66
- Extra Features: Motion sensor, low light sensor (automatically comes on when it gets dark), two brightness modes, looks like a security camera so acts a deterrent for security purposes.
Description:
The A Zone Solar Motion Sensor Flood Light is wireless, with the solar panel on the light itself, and utilizes LED globes. It comes with built-in Lithium-ion batteries and takes 5 to 6 hours to charge in full sun.
It has a motion sensor with two brightness modes, 800 Lm and 40Lm. The motion sensor triggers the brighter light mode and then reverts to the dimmer mode when no motion is picked up by the sensor.
Price it on Amazon: A Zone Solar Motion Sensor Flood Light
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.3/5):
Pros:
- Motion sensor works very well
- Easy to Install
- Very bright on bright mode
Cons:
- Solar Panel only tilts back and forth, can’t swivel left and right
- Beam is quite focused, more like a spotlight
- On/Off button is covered so you can’t tell if it’s on or off when you install it before its charged
#2: Sunforce Triple Head LED Solar Motion Light
- Brightness: 1000 Lm
- Run Time: +-3 hrs if on continuously
- IP Rating: Waterproof (no IP rating provided)
- Extra Features: Three lamps can be adjusted individually, motion sensor, three time durations for bright mode when triggered by a sensor, automatically detects dusk, the panel is separate to unit
Description:
The Sunforce Triple Head LED Solar Motion Light consists of three lamps that can be adjusted to point in different directions and a separate solar panel. It comes with the solar panel, wires and batteries so no additional items need to be purchased.
The solar panel being separate from the light means the light can be installed in a position where it does not get a lot of sun and the solar panel can be placed in a separate location, where there is better sun. It can also be installed inside, with the panel outside.
Price it on Amazon: Sunforce Triple Head LED Solar Motion Light
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.5/5):
Pros:
- Very bright and wide-angle beam
- Easy to Install
- Charges well, even if the sun is not bright
Cons:
- Motion sensor timer goes to a max of 120 seconds before lights dim again
- Motion sensor range is limited
- Longevity is inconsistent
#3: LePower LED Solar Security Lights
- Brightness: 1600 Lm
- Run Time: +-1.5 hrs if on continuously (bright)
- IP Rating: IP65
- Extra Features: Three lamps can be adjusted separately, motion sensor, anti-glare filter
Description:
The three lamp heads can be angled individually and the motion sensor can pick up movement up to 70 ft away. There is only one brightness level but the lights can be set to light up when motion is detected or to be continuously on.
The solar panel is separate from the light and the wires provided are long (15 ft) so the panel can be installed some distance away from the light if needed. Lithium-ion batteries are included.
Price it on Amazon: LePower LED Solar Security Lights
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.4/5):
Pros:
- Very bright and beam direction is adjustable on both sides
- Easy to install and sturdy fabrication
- Holds charge for a long time in cloudy weather
Cons:
- Motion sensor is very sensitive and easily triggered, especially in the rain
- Motion sensor issues (some reviews solved this by cleaning it)
- No dusk to dawn function, so it needs to be switched to motion sensor mode manually
#4: LITOM Solar Flood Light
- Brightness: 526 Lm
- Run Time: up to 24 hours on the lowest light setting
- IP Rating: IP65
- Extra Features: Motion sensor, three brightness modes, wide-angle beam
Description:
The LITOM Original Solar Flood Light is a single head with the panel on the light housing and a wide-angle beam. It has three different light settings – medium, dim and motion sensor. The run time is very long and it can shine for up to 24 hours on the dim light setting.
It comes with the light (LEDs) and solar panel but the required Lithium-ion Batteries are not included and need to be purchased separately. These lights have over 20 000 reviews on Amazon and over 70% of them were 5 stars!
Price it on Amazon: LITOM Original Solar Flood Light
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.4/5):
Pros:
- Small but very bright
- Long run time on a single charge
- Easy to install and durable
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Bright light on motion sensor is only bright for 20 seconds at a time
- Motion sensor is very sensitive – picks up small movements and movements at a distance
- Motion sensor sometimes turns them on during the day
#5: Otdair Solar Security Lights
- Brightness: 550 Lm
- Run Time: 30 hrs on lowest setting / 6 hrs on the highest setting
- IP Rating: IP65
- Extra Features: Motion sensor, low light sensor, three adjustable lamps
Description:
The Otdair Solar Security Light consists of three LED lamp heads that are adjustable. It comes with a solar panel on the lamp fixture and built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries.
The motion sensor automatically detects low light conditions and turns on. The lights are on but dim until it picks up movement and then it shines brightly for 30 seconds (or longer if the movement continues).
Price it on Amazon: Otdair Solar Security Lights
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.5/5):
Pros:
- Very bright and wide-angle, adjustable beams
- Long run time
- Easy to install and well-fabricated casing
Cons:
- Some reviews had issues with water getting into the motion sensor
- Mounting brackets not very sturdy or not supplied with delivery
- Poor customer service
#6: TBI Solar Security Lights
- Brightness: 2200 Lm
- Run Time: 8 hrs
- IP Rating: IP65
- Extra Features: Motion sensor, three light modes, three adjustable lamps
Description:
The TBI Solar Security Light consists of three adjustable LED lamp heads, a solar panel on the lamp fixture and built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. The light’s wide-angle beams can light up an area of up to 800 square feet.
The motion sensor automatically detects movement at night and switches the lights on at their brightest. It can also run all day and all night, on a dimmer brightness.
Price it on Amazon: TBI Solar Security Lights
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.1/5):
Pros:
- Long run time on a single charge
- Very bright and wide-angle, adjustable beams
- Easy to install and very secure when mounted
Cons:
- Issues with waterproofing – water getting into the fixture
- Housing material not very sturdy
- Poor customer service
#7: PSG Solar Security Flood Lights
- Brightness: 5000 Lm
- Run Time: 30 hrs on dim, 6 hrs on bright
- IP Rating: IP65
- Extra Features: Motion sensor, low light ‘dusk to dawn’ sensor, various brightness modes
Description:
The PSG Solar Security Lights are a single lamp head with 180 LEDs that produce up to 5000 Lm. The solar panel is on the top of the light fixture and it comes with built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. The fixture is small and discrete.
It comes with a motion sensor and a ‘dusk to dawn’ low light sensor to automatically come on at night. The motion sensor picks up movement and the lights come on bright for 20 seconds and then return to dim mode unless further movement is detected.
Price it on Amazon: PSG Solar Security Flood Light
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.2/5):
Pros:
- Very bright for such a small light
- Easy to install
- Motion sensor works well
Cons:
- Brightness less than some reviewers anticipated
- Mounting bracket is plastic not metal
- Bright mode when motion sensed does not stay on very long
#8: XMCOSY Solar Security Lights
- Brightness: 1600 Lm
- Run Time:
- IP Rating: IP65
- Extra Features: Motion sensor, always-on mode, adjustable dual head, a separate panel with 16 ft cable
Description:
These solar LED security lights consist of a dual head and motion sensor, with a separate solar panel and 5 built-in NI-MH batteries.
It comes with a motion sensor or an ‘always on’ setting. The motion sensor picks up movement and the lights come on bright for up to 120 seconds and then return to dim mode unless further movement is detected.
Price it on Amazon: XMCOSY Solar Security Lights
What the Amazon Reviews Say (4.5/5):
Pros:
- Very bright and lights up a large area
- Easy to install and sturdy fabrication
- Motion sensor works well but only when it is dark
Cons:
- Motion sensor only works when it is dark
- Limited range for motion detection
- Slight delay between motion and light coming on bright
Conclusion and our Two Top Picks
In conclusion, there are thousands of Solar Flood Lights to choose from but not all Solar Flood Lights are made equal and not all are suitable for your specific requirements.
However, on this list, all the lights featured are very bright, have useful extra features and a long run time. No matter what your application, there is something for you!
These are our top picks from the Solar Flood Lights on this list:
Top Pick #1 – Sunforce Triple Head LED Solar Motion Light
The Sunforce Triple Head LED Solar Motion Light is a top pick because it is very bright, has a long run time, waterproof, very easy to install and comes with a separate solar panel.
A separate solar panel means the light can be placed in a position where it does not get direct sunlight and the panel mounted somewhere where the panel does get full sun, making it a flexible option that can be used almost anywhere. The lamp heads are power-efficient LEDs and produce great light. They are also adjustable, so you can light up the areas you need with only one unit.
It comes with everything you need and no additional purchases are needed. The affordable price point, great user reviews and overall quality of the product make it a winner for us!
Top Pick #2 – PSG Solar Security Flood Lights
We love the PSG Solar Security Flood Lights for their small size and super bright light. They’re attractive and discrete, have the solar panel built onto the top of the light and have a long run time. They come with everything you need – light, solar panel and built-in batteries – so they’re easy to set up and you don’t need to buy anything extra to go with them.
They’re waterproof, made of quality materials and have a large capacity battery. The user reviews were overwhelmingly positive and praised how bright they were, as well as their long run time.
They’re very affordable and appear to last a long time – that’s a winner in our books!
Useful Resources:
Energy Today: How Many Lumens Do I Need for Outdoor Lighting?
Solar Electric Energy Company: The Advantages of LED Lights for the Environment
Hylite: What Are Lumens in LED Lights?
Gama Sonic: Benefits & Advantages of Outdoor Solar Lights
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Solar Flood Light?
Solar Flood Lights are lights that have their own solar panel and battery. They do not need to be connected to any other power source and will not draw from your home or off-grid solar power set up. Check out the full review here for the 8 best solar flood lights available.
How Bright Are Solar Flood Lights?
Solar Flood Lights can be very bright (5000 lumens +) depending on the light you get, the battery size and the number of LEDs in the light. Check out the full review here for more info on how bright they are and how bright you need them to be.
Are Solar Flood Lights Environmentally Friendly?
Solar Flood Lights are a great option for the environment as they use renewable solar energy, last a long time and many have replaceable and recyclable batteries too. Check out the full review here for the benefits of using Solar Flood Lights.
