You’ve got a great backyard, but no one can see it at night. Instead of cluttering your yard with extension cords, you are looking into solar walkway lights. We’ve read through hundreds of reviews and product specs to bring you the best solar walkway lights for your landscape.
Want to skip all of the reading and get straight to the best option? No problem. Here’s our top picks for the best solar walkway lights.
| Product | Award | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Solpex Solar Walkway Lights Outdoor | Best Overall | 4.6/5 Stars |
| Ollivage Solar Torch Flame Lights | Best Aesthetics | 4.8/5 Stars |
| Gigalumi Solar Powered Walkway Lights | Best Budget Option | 4.5/5 Stars |
| Yujeny 4 Pcs Solar Landscape Walkway Lights | Best Multicolored | 4.4/5 Stars |
| Gigalumi Solar Lights | Best For Garden Paths | 4.5/5 Stars |
Read on for details on each of these solar path lights, as well as a few tips to help you out with the buying process.
How We Reviewed The Best Solar Walkway Lights
The first thing we did is filter out any product with less than 4 stars. We have found the the aggregated reviews of customers save everyone time and headache with poorly made products. Then, we filter out products with less than 50 reviews. They may be good, but they are not time tested. We only recommend options that have been field tested for at least a year.
Next, we look at warranty and return policy. If there are any complaints in the reviews about customer service, we take that into account when stack ranking the solar walkway lights. You should be able to return damaged or defective products months into owning them. You should also be able to return products that you just don’t like.
Then we look at the aesthetics. If you are putting this in your yard, you want it to look good. Of course, it has to provide lasting light. But it should also enhance the beauty of your yard.
The last two things we look at are quality and price. The amount of time the solar walkway lights can keep your walkways lit are a top priority. And second to that is price. We share a best budget option and best overall option. This allows you to make a decision that is right for you.
Best Solar Walkway Lights Buyer’s Guide
There’s nothing better on a summer’s evening than relaxing with a cool drink in your backyard. The only thing that can top this is having your backyard illuminated by elegant lighting. Solar walkway lights are beautiful and are an easy way of adding some light to your backyard.
Adding solar lights to an outdoor path can make even the barest backyard beautiful. They are also useful for safety reasons as they will, of course, light your way. So no more accidentally spilling drinks and nibbles as you walk from the house along an uneven and dark path.
Solar walkwaylights are also a great energy-saving option. As you can tell by the name, they are powered by sunlight. So you don’t have to worry about your electricity bill going up with their use. The only money you will spend on them will be the original purchase.
So, which solar lights are the best? Here’s the list of the best solar walkway lights available today.
Best Overall: Solpex Solar Walkwayway Lights
Our top pick are the Solpex Solar Walkwayway lights. They have a great design that will look great in any outdoor space.
They are easy to use and quick to charge. They cast a warm but full light. They are ideal for any backyard pathway.
These solar walkway lights have a very elegant and classic design. Although there are simpler and more modern-looking solar wakway lights available, these are the style most people like to have in their backyard.
These solar walkway lights turn on automatically when it gets dark. This is a great feature as you don’t want to have to go along turning each one on as it gets dark.
A very important feature of these lights is that they are waterproof. It can be a bit daunting putting anything electric outside. But as they are solar-powered and well made, these lights will be absolutely fine.
No electricity is needed. These lights are entirely powered by the sun.
Once fully powered, they can light up your pathfor 6 to 8 hours. Generally, around 4 to 6 hours of sunlight charging will result in 6 to 8 hours of light.
So, all you need to do is put them together, put them in the ground, and let the lights and the sun do all the work.
These are some beautiful and traditional looking lights that have been made in a modern style. And, for all that, you can get them for a very affordable price.
Pros
- Turn on automatically
- Waterproof
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Need to buy multiple packs to light long paths
Best Aesthetics: Ollivage Solar Torch Flame Lights
These lights are a great way of adding some subtle lighting to your backyard.
Some other solar walkway lights have LED lights that have a yellowish and unnatural glow.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you enjoy a yellow glow. But these solar walkway lights are designed to imitate the glow of a real fire in a torch.
As well as having a similar coloring to real flames, these solar walkway lights also flicker.
So you can have the cozy and elegant lighting of a real flame torch. But without the concern of having real flames in your backyard.
You won’t have to sit with one eye on your drink and one on the lights.
Compared to other solar path lights, these are quite a lot taller. So they will definitely make an impact on your outdoor space.
These lights are also waterproof which definitely wouldn’t be the case for a torch with real flames.
Even though you likely won’t be sitting outside to enjoy the lights in the rain.
It’s still a great feature to know that they will still work after getting wet. This definitely would not happen with real flames.
Although these lights come on automatically when it becomes dark, they also have an on/off button.
This is a great option for winter months or just when you don’t want to be out in the backyard.
The lights will be able to charge in the sunlight and then store up that energy until you want to use it.
So, if you live in an area where it is often cloudy, this means that a few days of sunshine can be used to power the lights.
This can then be saved up for a specific evening when the lights will be appreciated.
Pros
- Imitates real flames
- Affordable
- Waterproof
Cons
- Very tall
Best Budget Option: Gigalumi Solar Powered Path Lights
These solar walkway lights are very aesthetically pleasing. They look similar to a torch you might see someone carrying along a Victorian street in a period drama.
They have a very elegant and traditional style. But they are still very regimented. These lights, due to their square shape, look very formal.
These lights only come in a set of 2 or 4. Whereas other lights will come in sets of 6 or more.
This is useful if you only want to dot a couple of lights around your backyard.
But, you will need to order multiple sets if you want to fully line a walkway. This will be quite an expensive process.
The price for 4 of these lights is close to the price of 6 or more other lights.
But, if you love this unique style and are willing to pay for them, then go ahead.
These lights are also quite short in comparison to other options. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
These lights are best suited for someone who is looking to add a little character and subtle lighting to their backyard. Garden lights don’t always have to be the main attraction.
The style and height of these lights allow them to gently light the backyard from below. They also have a golden and amber hue which adds to the subtlety.
Pros
- Elegant style
- Warm lighting
- Easy to use
- Easy to set up
- Weatherproof
- Waterproof
Cons
- Relatively expensive
Best Multicolored: Yujeny 4 Pcs Solar Landscape Walkway Lights
The solar walkway lights are very different from the other options available on this list.
They do not have the classic and muted style of a traditional lamp or torch. But they are definitely a lot of fun.
If you regularly have parties, especially for your children, then these lights are a great option.
They come in three different styles and a range of very bright and bold colors.
Due to the bright colors of the lights, the black spikes they sit on are obscured in the dark.
This is really cool as it makes the lights look as though they are floating across the lawn.
This will give your backyard a cool and otherworldly vibe. This is great fun for kids (but can also definitely be enjoyed by adults).
If you don’t enjoy the flat and circular style of these lights. They do come in two other styles.
These styles are more similar to the other, more traditional, lamp style lights. But they still have a range of different colors and are very unique.
These lights are also quite a lot smaller than most other solar walkway lights. They sit very close to the ground so may not give off as much light as other options.
These lights might not give off very much light. Their color and unique shape is the main draw.
So it’s worth considering whether you need lights to make your backyard path easier to navigate. Or if you want to just make it look cooler.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Physical on/off switch
- Unique styles
- Available in multiple styles
- Multi-colored
Cons
- Limited ability to cast light
Best For Gardens: Gigalumi Solar Driveway Lights
These are very simple and modern looking solar walkway lights. They are best suited for an outdoor space with modern furniture. They will suit a minimalist aesthetic.
These lights, due to their size and simplicity, are the most affordable option on this list.
So, if you need to cast some light across your backyard path for safety reasons, then these are the perfect options.
Especially if you’re more concerned about lighting the route than the general aesthetic that the lights provide.
They are not very tall, this is a good thing if you just need to add some lighting to a dark outdoor space.
They sit low to the ground so will be able to illuminate the walkway. Although they are relatively short, the bulb and light themselves are quite big.
This means that they will not get in the way but will provide a suitable amount of light.
These lights can be made a little more fun and provide a warmer aesthetic as well. They are available in packs of 12.
These can be cold white, warm white, or multi-colored. The multi-colored option changes color too.
So you will be able to add a little personality or charm to your backyard, as well as the necessary light.
Pros
- Simple design
- Multiple colors available
- Easy to use
- Easy to install
- Waterproof
Cons
- Only one style available
Understanding The Types of Solar Path Lights
Powering Solar Walkway Lights
It can take a little time to get your head around the concept of these lights. Although we all know that solar rays can power electricity.
It can still be surprising to see light being produced from something not connected to a wire or a socket.
But solar power is an excellent way of powering outdoor lights. Solar power is renewable so you don’t have to worry about changing batteries.
They are also completely self-sufficient. They will charge from the sunlight during the day. Most will then come on automatically as the light fades.
Some will also have physical on/off switches. This is useful for a couple of reasons.
You sometimes have weather that means the days can be quite gray and dark but not dark enough for the lights to come on.
So, with the switch, you will be able to switch them on whenever you like.
It also means that you can switch them off if you’re not in your backyard.
This is even more energy-efficient and eco-friendly as you can store the energy for when you need it.
So, if you want a little more control over your outdoor lights, it’s a good idea to invest in a set that can turn on automatically and also be physically switched on or off.
Solar Walkway Lights Style Guide
The style of solar walkway lights varies quite a bit. The most traditional style mimics the look of traditional lamps. They are also available in the style of tiki torches or completely different shapes.
Although style should, of course, be dictated by your own taste and preferences. The style will also impact their use as actual lights.
The style you choose should depend on whether you want the lights to make your path lighter so you can see the walkway more clearly.
Or if you just want to add some ambiance to your backyard.
The color will also have an impact on this. Generally, you can find solar path lights in a cold white, a warm white or amber, or multi-color.
If you need light to make your walkway safer, then a bright cold white is the best choice.
If you want some ambiance, then a warmer color or even multi-colored lights is a great choice.
They won’t cast light as well as the cold light but they will still, obviously, provide some light.
Waterproofing Solar Path Lights
When it comes to having anything outdoors, it’s important for it to be waterproof. The vast majority of solar path lights will be waterproof.
But it is very important to double-check the lights you have chosen are waterproof before you buy them.
You don’t want to have to hurry to take them in or find covers for them whenever it rains. They will also be affected by dew which will appear every morning anyway.
It might seem dangerous to allow something electric outside in wet weather. But solar walkway lights are designed to be completely safe and watertight.
Just like street lights and outdoor Christmas lights. There is no cause for concern.
Watts And Lumens
When it comes to lights, we normally talk about their strength in watts. But lumens are also a consideration.
The number of watts shows the power of the bulbs. The lumens show the amount of visible light.
As mentioned in the style section, the amount of light that can be cast is important. So it’s worth considering how many watts and lumens there are in the lights you want.
You might need to light an outdoor path because it is too dangerous to walk in the dark. For this, you need a higher number of lumens.
If you want a warmer and more subtle light, then a lower number of lumens might be a better choice.
When it comes to outdoor lighting, don’t assume that brighter is better. Even if you need to illuminate a walkway for safety reasons. If the lights are too harsh and bright, they will be more of a hindrance than a help.
Try to find lights that cast enough light onto the path but still have a warm glow. This will give you the best of both worlds. You will be able to see where you’re going and enjoy the cozy ambiance provided by the lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you turn solar lights off at night?
This depends on whether or not you’re going to need, or want, the light.
If you aren’t going to be outside, then it might be a good idea to switch the lights off. This will conserve energy.
Especially if it hasn’t been a very sunny day. The solar lights might not have been charged very much so they might be wasting what little energy they have stored.
Here are more tips on how to make your solar lights last longer.
What are the brightest lumens of solar lights?
Lumens for outdoor lights can range up to around 1000 Lumens. But this isn’t necessary for path lighting.
The recommended number of lumens for walkway lighting is around 100 Lumens. This will provide good visibility without being too harsh.
Check out our review of the best solar lights for outdoors.
Do solar lights charge on a cloudy day?
As you can tell from the name, solar walkway lights are powered by the sun. But this does mean that they can vary in their strength and longevity.
If you live in an area that often has a lot of cloud coverage, then some lights might not last as long as others.
More and brighter sunlight will power the lights up more. But that doesn’t mean solar lights won’t charge when it’s cloudy.
Make sure to check out the max amount of power each light can reach. The sun is pretty powerful so, even when you can’t see it through the clouds, it is still there and will still power your lights.