Driveway Lights – Our Top 20 Picks to Buy
Driveway lights enhance safety and aesthetics, offering innovative options like solar power and Bluetooth controls. This guide illuminates the best choices for your home’s nighttime allure.
When selecting driveway lights, consider factors like power source, brightness, style, and control features. Solar-powered lights are eco-friendly and low-maintenance, while Bluetooth-enabled options offer convenience through remote control. Look for lights that complement your home’s architecture and provide adequate illumination for safety. Durability and weather resistance are also key for longevity. This buying guide will focus on these aspects to help you make an informed decision.
Discover the perfect balance of functionality and charm with our expert recommendations for driveway lights. Read on to discover our selected products to transform your driveway into a welcoming path.
1. Siedinlar Solar Driveway Lights
These “road markers” provide a potent but friendly source of light from the ground up. They are solar-powered LED lights with enough battery capacity to provide up to 15 continuous hours of lighting.
The design is surprisingly elegant for those who bother to look closely. However, they were created to be discreet: less than an inch high, the Siedinlar lights are easy to hide along a gravel pathway or on the sides of the driveway itself. They are made from pretty stiff metal and are ranked as IP68 waterproof, so there is no need to worry about stepping on them or setting a nearby sprinkler.
This model comes in two versions: a white-light and a blue-light one.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to install | Require additional batteries to operate the timer |
| Step resistant | The ON/OFF switch is hard to find |
| Will resist rain, blizzard, or intense heat | – |
| Up to 15 hours of continuous lighting | – |
2. URPOWER Solar Lights
The URPOWER solar lights are typical “stake lights”: that is, they are mounted on thick styrene stakes, with the light and the photovoltaic cells resting on top, joined by a resilient hinge. This provides them with two significant advantages:
- They are straightforward to install: just stick them on the ground
- You can adjust the angle of the bulb and the cell easily, depending on what you need.
The LED bulbs can provide up to 10 continuous hours of light, provided they remain under direct sunlight. However, they will still get 6 hours of energy if kept under partial light. The URPOWER lights are also IP64 waterproof so that they can resist water and rough weather.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Resilient | No timer setting |
| Easy to install | No ON/OFF switch |
| Can be adjusted separately | – |
3. Happybuy Solar Driveway Lights
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These Happybuy Driveway Lights are, at first glance, very similar to the Siedinlar ones. However, they are equipped with a set of screw holes, screws, and adhesives, which adapt to a broader array of floor types.
These solar-powered offer a very decent amount of light through two separate rows of LED bulbs. These are available in blue, white, green, orange, and red lights. They can provide up to 72 consecutive hours of light, visible for over 870 yards. They provide a safe and cost-effective option to make your driveway safer during bad weather. However, changing the light colors also makes them great as a decorative accent for pool decks and balconies.
The case itself has an IP68 waterproof rating and can handle up to 20 tons of direct weight.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very resilient and weather-resistant | No ON/OFF switch |
| Easy to install | The outer case feels plasticky |
| Can remain on for three days straight | – |
4. GardenBliss Solar Lights for Outdoor Pathway
The GardenBliss solar light set is an efficient set of solar-powered LED lights. At first glance, they do not have much in the way of bells and whistles. Yet, thanks to their sleek design and quality finish, they provide an exquisite option for anyone interested in landscaping.
Each small lamp is mounted on top of an adjustable stake, between 8 to 12 inches long. The lamp will offer light at a full 360-degree radius and hides the photovoltaic cell and the light sensor on top. The lights will turn themselves on automatically as soon as dusk sets in but won’t be affected by nearby lamps.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Adjustable stake length | No ON/OFF switch |
| Long-lasting battery | Very light |
| Elegant | – |
5. JACKYLED Solar Driveway Lights
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These driveway lights are solar-powered, small, and discreet but still provide a decent amount of light once activated. They can last for up to 72 consecutive hours after 10 hours of charging.
Each light comes inside a die-cast aluminum case, featuring the photovoltaic cell on top and two bright LED bulbs on each side. Each case is less than an inch tall, and each light provides up to 500 lumens of white light. They need to be screwed onto wood floor panels or asphalt directly – and the latter may be difficult to do by yourself.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sturdy construction | They only come in white |
| Very bright illumination | Need to be pre-charged in direct sunlight for three days before first use |
| Includes screws | – |
6. Solpex Silver Solar Driveway Lights
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The combination of stainless steel stakes and cold white lights provides the Solpex Solar driveway lights with a futuristic appeal. This is a pretty budget-friendly option and will work great if you want to create a path through a big garden.
The lights themselves only provide up to 8 consecutive hours of light after a full charge, which may not be enough for the winter. Although the stakes themselves are solid and garden-friendly, the photovoltaic cell on top of the light is left a bit unprotected: make sure not to touch it directly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Light | Short per-charge life |
| Easy to install | The photovoltaic cells are delicate |
| The polished steel finish makes them elegant | – |
7. TomCare Solar Lights Upgraded
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Why bother with flammable tiki torches when you can have a solar version that looks almost the same? The TomCare solar lights were created for anyone who likes the warm glow of fire around their garden but doesn’t want to deal with the extra risk
Each torch has an additional ground stake, extending the pole’s length from 32 to 43 inches. The lamp is covered with a mesh of ABS material, which hides a rich yellow-orange LED bulb. Beneath the lamp, there is an ON/OFF switch that also allows you to set them to “flickering mode.” When flickering, the mesh and the light color will make them look like real fire torches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tall and resilient | The flickering effect shortens the battery life |
| Up to 12 hours of consecutive light | Harder to install with additional stake (if desired) |
| “Fire torch” flickering effect | – |
8. Signature Solar Garden Lights
Small, budget-friendly, and easy to use, the Signature Solar Garden lights are just the right height to highlight your flower beds and garden paths.
Each small stake lamp is rain, moisture, and snow resistant. They provide up to 15 lumens in all directions. They do not have an ON/OFF switch, so instead, they will turn on automatically at sunset, thanks to the sensors located right below the photovoltaic cell.
The stakes themselves have a smooth finish, reminiscent of polished steel. The lamps look minimalistic and chic. They provide white light only, but the lamps can be black or silver.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly | The bulbs provide less light than competing brands |
| Resistant to extreme weather | Very light and could be knocked off by the wind |
9. VOLISUN Solar Driveway Lights
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With these driveway lights, VOLISUN chose to privilege more light for a longer time: with 6 LED bulbs per light and the ability to stay active for up to 5 consecutive days, these are an outstanding option for commercial spaces or sports fields.
The case is slightly taller than those of most other driveway lights, which makes them less discreet. They only provide white light. These lights are all IP67 waterproof, moisture-proof, and rustproof. They can resist up to 20 tons of pressure. Due to their vast battery capacity, you can only charge them fully with direct sunlight.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ON/OFF switch for light sensing mode | Tall and bulky |
| Up to 5 days of continuous operation | – |
| Can be screwed onto the floor or stuck with stone adhesive | – |
10. Moonrays Richmond Solar Path Lights
The Moonrays Richmond solar path lights try to honor their name from a pure design standpoint: they look ideal for creating the sort of romantic nuance that we associate with the moon. Rather than bright yellow lights, they offer 30 lumens of warm white light. The lamp is designed to provide a 120-degree beam angle, which can still illuminate a pathway thoroughly but leave the rest at a more discreet level of twilight.
Each stake is just over 18 inches tall, providing a knee-high source of light that won’t get lost in your flower beds. They can run for up to 8 hours after being fully charged.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Well-designed and unusual | Short run time of only 8 hours |
| 30 lumens of light per lamp | Can only be installed on soft earth |
| Provide light up to 48 inches away | – |
11. SmarketBuy Solar Lighting for Driveways
The SmarketBuy solar dock lights are meant to be durable and practical rather than beautiful. However, you can hide the slightly blocky casing and compensate for the slightly aggressive white light they produce with proper landscaping.
Each dock light needs 8 hours of continuous sunlight for a full charge. Afterward, they will stay lit for up to 72 consecutive hours. They are equipped with crystal light photovoltaic cells, which last longer than those featured on cheaper models.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very weather-resistant | They don’t look as beautiful as they could |
| Long run time | – |
| Short recharge time | – |
12. SOLMORE Solar Driveway Lights
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If you are looking for a more futuristic look that will fit a garden driveway and a pool area with the same ease, consider the SOLMORE driveway and dock lights.
Each dock light includes 6 LED blue light bulbs (3 per side) and a wide, light solar panel on top. They require 12 consecutive hours of bright (but not necessarily direct) sunlight for a full charge, and they can provide up to 10 hours of light at night. The aluminum frame is resistant and rated IP68 waterproof and shockproof.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can take heavy loads and direct rainfall or hail | Require a long charge time |
| Provide very bright lights | – |
| Great for road safety and pool decks | – |
13. Voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights
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Though a 360-degree beam may offer the best safety standard for roads or shores, regular gardens can often benefit from more creative solutions. The Voona Solar LED outdoor lights provide an exciting alternative thanks to their delicate “sunray” pattern. This can be used to create fascinating patterns around a lawn or a flat court.
Beyond the style touches, the Voona lights are functional and efficient. Each one can provide only 6 lumens. They compensate for this because it only takes them 8 hours to recharge fully and provide over 24 hours of continuous lighting. Each stake is 15 inches long, and you can unscrew the spike from the rest of the lamp for easier removal.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautiful sunray pattern | Only 6 lumens of light |
| Short recharge time | No ON/OFF switch |
| Light and resilient | – |
14. Moonrays Payton LED Solar Path Lights
The Moonrays Payton model uses much of the same hardware as the Richmond model and offers a similar construction and durability. They also use the same type of LED bulb and battery. The main difference lies in the lamp: the Peyton model replaces the smooth glass cover with a “hammered glass” one. This creates a “still water” look for the light, which will appear textured with tiny bubbles.
Each lamp can illuminate an area of up to 12 inches and withstand rain, snow, and dust.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Weather and dust resistant | Only available in warm white |
| Easy to install | No ON/OFF switch |
| The “hammered glass” lamp creates a softer atmosphere | – |
15. GIGALUMI Solar Walkway Lights
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Sleek and discreet, the GIGALUMI solar walkway lights are more suited to walking paths than proper driveways. However, if you have an eye for exterior décor, you will find that their minimalism and color options offer a lot of potential.
These lights are available in cold white, warm white, a multicolor pack (green, red, yellow, and blue), and color-changing versions. They can provide up to 8 hours of continuous illumination.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to install | Short run time |
| Small and light | They feel frail |
| Many color options | – |
16. HGTV LED Solar Outdoor Path Lighting
Well-constructed and beautiful, these outdoor path lighting option stays true to its brand. HGTV paid a lot of attention to the design details, although the hardware is still acceptable. These lights can offer up to 3 lumens each, and they can stay on for ten consecutive hours.
However, the lamps and stakes are made entirely from stainless steel, with an oil-rubbed finish. The glass lamp is slightly textured, which provides the outgoing light with extra warmth.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautifully constructed, with great attention to detail | Only 3 lumens of light each |
| Easy to install and remove | Only 8 hours of run time |
| The stakes are resilient and can handle shock, bangs, and rain | – |
17. CHINLY Waterproof Solar Driveway Lights
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Driveway lights are rarely as used for décor as garden stakes: they often find their place around driveways and steps. Because of these, most models stick to bright, cold white or blue lights. Sensing this gap in the market, CHINLY made their lights available in warm white and a multicolor pack.
These lights are ranked as IP67, so they are waterproof and can withstand heavy blizzards or intense heat. They can provide up to 40 consecutive hours of light but need 15 hours of sunlight for a full charge.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Available in different colors | Require long charging |
| Resilient and weather-proof | Need drilling |
| A long run time of up to 40 hours | – |
18. APONUO Outdoor Solar Lighting for Driveways
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If you are interested in the brightest possible lights or live somewhere with very harsh winters, the APONUO may be the most efficient choice for you. This is because these driveway lights only need 4 hours of direct sunlight to charge fully. Then, they can stay on for up to 72 consecutive hours. In addition, each lamp is made up of 6 LED bulbs and is visible from a distance of 875 yards.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Visible from a very long distance | Not very pretty |
| Large battery capacity, provides up to 72 hours of consecutive operation | Only available in cold white |
| They charge quickly | – |
19. MAGGIFT Solar Outdoor Solar Driveway Lights
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Driveway lights may be great for road safety – but that doesn’t mean they cannot be made more discreet. If that’s what you need, the MAGGIFT disc light may be an acceptable compromise. Ultra-slim and completely smooth, each one of these “discs” is surrounded by a series of 12 LED lights.
The MAGGIFT lights are also flat enough to be half-hidden in a lawn, screwed in a gravel walkway, or into the asphalt. Both the lights and the solar panel are completely protected by a hard waterproof and shockproof case that can withstand up to 200 kg.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 12 bulbs per light, irradiate around a wide area | Only up to 8 hours of consecutive operation |
| Include an ON/OFF switch | – |
| IP68 waterproof | – |
20. YiLaie Solar Driveway Lights
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These solar LED deck lights offer a similar futuristic look as the MAGGIFT discs, although they are not as fond of rough conditions. On the other hand, they can be stuck onto steps, planks, and tiles using the 3M tape included).
The sides of each disc is completely covered by small LED bulbs, and therefore all 360 degrees around it will be illuminated. They can offer up to 15 hours of continuous light and only need 6 hours to be fully charged.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easier to install on tile or hardwood floors | They cannot be screwed onto concrete |
| Great battery capacity | – |
| Fast charging | – |
What Makes the Best Driveway Lights?
In a nutshell, the best driveway lights are reliable, energy-efficient, durable, and easy to install. In that sense, LED lights usually offer the best value for money.
Rotating lights that can beam light in several directions will provide a more efficient solution for those with vast front space. When possible, try to choose a solar-powered option: these are more likely to be wireless and will eliminate the hazards entailed by outdoor wiring.
Solar lights are energy-efficient by definition and are usually easy to install. Hardwired lights require you to run buried wires through your backyard, which an electrician must handle. Meanwhile, wireless solar options often work on a “stick (to the ground) and go” basis.
Read more: Brick Driveway Edging
Durability and Reliability
When it comes to ensuring durability and reliability, you want to look at two specific features:
- The type of solar light needed: high-end solar lights can charge with partial sun rather than direct sun. Depending on your region or in the presence of nearby trees and shrubs, this will provide a more reliable and extended light source.
- The type of light bulb they use: as a general rule, LED bulbs last much longer than old-school incandescent bulbs. However, they still break at some point. Some driveway light models use special bulb sizes that may be hard to find at a local hardware store or are too expensive to replace.
More Features
Other features that usually mean “good value,” but that may not be as universally necessary, include:
- Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity. If you have Smart Home capabilities installed in your home, such as Alexa or Google Home Assistant, this will allow you to control these lights remotely. You can use this to set conditional schedules, synchronize them with proximity sensors, or even check on them remotely.
- Proximity sensors. At low-traffic times (such as after 10 PM), proximity sensors will allow you only to illuminate your driveway when someone is passing by. This can help you save a considerable amount of energy.
FAQs about Driveway Lights
Discover answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about driveway lights:
What is the best lighting for a driveway?
The best lighting for a driveway balances aesthetics, safety, and functionality. LED lights are a popular choice due to their energy efficiency, longevity, and brightness. Solar-powered lights are also favored for their eco-friendliness and ease of installation. The choice depends on your driveway’s specific needs, including length, surrounding landscape, and personal style preferences.
What is the cheapest way to light a driveway?
The most cost-effective way to light a driveway is by using solar-powered lights. These lights do not require wiring or an external power source, reducing installation and energy costs. Additionally, motion sensor lights can be economical as they only turn on when needed, conserving energy.
How do you light a long dark driveway?
Lighting a long, dark driveway effectively requires strategic placement of lights to ensure even illumination. Opt for lights with a longer range and higher lumens to cover more area. Solar-powered stake lights or LED bollards spaced evenly along the driveway are good options. In areas without direct sunlight, consider low-voltage or LED lights connected to a power source.
How many lumens do I need for my driveway lights?
The number of lumens needed for driveway lights depends on the desired brightness and the size of your driveway. For general driveway lighting, 100 to 200 lumens per light are typically sufficient. For areas needing brighter illumination, such as entry points or steps, consider lights with 300 lumens or more. Remember, it’s about balancing visibility with creating a welcoming ambiance.
Conclusion
There are probably hundreds of additional options for driveway lights out there. However, we have strived to combine a good balance of budget-friendly, high-quality products. If your landscape already has a theme, you can also find many specialty options, which, although beautiful, may not be as versatile.
