Best Outdoor Floodlights, According to Months of Testing

Oct 17, 2024

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Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

In This Article

Better Homes & Gardens / Jennifer May

Outdoor lights can improve the ambiance and curb appeal of your home, but floodlights in particular are a good idea for safety purposes. Designed to illuminate a large space, outdoor floodlights can have a visibility range of 30 feet or more.

Lee Churton, manager of ProElec Electrical Services, suggests paying attention to lumens when purchasing a floodlight. “1,200 to 4,000-lumen floodlights are best for residential use, especially if it’s placed at the front of the house as you don’t want to be blinded when returning home in the dark,” he says.

If security is a top concern, you can go a little higher. “For other areas and larger properties, you can go for a brighter light that can deter intruders, too.”

We tested 62 lights at home, evaluating them on brightness, smart features, and power sources. For more on how we tested outdoor lights, see our testing process below.

The security light features dual lamp heads that rotate 360 degrees as well as up and down.

It is not fully waterproof.

The Leonlite COB LED Security Light stood out for its two rotatable heads that circle 360 degrees as well as straight up and down. They offer superior visibility and the ability to light the yard from all angles. The lights feature three modes, including manual and auto settings.

During testing, we noticed that it emitted a warm yellow light, which we felt blended much better with the environment compared to a stark white light. Although these outdoor lights require hardwiring, we found no calibration necessary, making them relatively simple to install.

On-time mode gives you full control over the light using a switch. There are also two auto modes—motion detector or dusk-to-dawn. We ended up using dusk-to-dawn the most because it helped deter critters like skunks, deer, and possums from hanging out on our property.

Our only issue with this light fixture is that it’s not fully waterproof and is best mounted in a location that is at least partly shielded from heavy rain or snow such as a covered deck or patio.

How It Performed After Six Months

After six months of testing, it performed just as well as it did the first day we installed it. It held up well to wind, rain, and even snow, and we felt safer in our yard because of the light. We also loved that it’s an affordable price, especially for how bright it is. We wish it came with smart features, but overall, it still remains the best outdoor floodlight.

Product Details: Watts: 20 watts | Brightness: 1,800 lumens | Light Beam Angle: 180 degrees | Motion Sensor: Yes | Power Source: Hardwired

The motion sensor has an impressive range of up to 75 feet.

It’s not bright enough to be an effective security light on its own.

The Lepower Outdoor Solar Security Lights save you money because they run on solar power, helping to lower your electric bill. The set includes a double-headed floodlight and a solar panel that has to be installed in a generally sunny location within 15 feet of the lights.

For testing, we mounted the light on a tree facing our back gate. While we didn’t think it was bright enough to be an effective security light, it worked well as a supplemental perimeter light, especially for access points like a back or side gate that typically don’t get a lot of light.

The motion sensor detects movement up to 72 feet, which is a pretty impressive range. It’s possible to change the setting so the light stays on for up to 90 minutes as long as it's fully charged.

You won’t find a slew of features on these lights other than being able to adjust lighting time and detection distance. It also doesn’t come with a switch box to turn it on and off.

How It Performed After Three Months

These lights continued to perform well throughout our testing period, incurring no damage from weather. We maintain that they are probably most effective in illuminating a smaller space or as supplemental lighting.

Product Details: Watts: 4.4 watts | Brightness: 1000 Lumens | Light Beam Angle: 180 degrees | Motion Sensor: Yes | Power Source: Solar Power

It can link up with other Ring devices as well as Amazon Echo for full smart home control.

You can’t adjust the color of the light.

There are lights and then there are smart lights. The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus earned top marks across our testing categories including value, features, and design. It works with the Ring app along with Alexa to offer voice control plus access through your phone and Echo devices.

It consists of two LED floodlights which have to be hardwired into your electrical system. The packaging is well-organized and includes places to keep the pieces and tools separate, which helped make the installation process easier.

You can control the brightness through the app and also adjust the light’s angle to illuminate specific areas. Keep in mind that the light does not change colors. In testing, it significantly brightened a 20x20-foot area around the garage.

The motion detector lets you create custom zones. Other cool features include two-way talking if someone is standing in front of the camera and a siren that you can sound to scare off potential intruders or pesky critters.

Plus, if you are already a Ring user, you can link all your devices to make your security system more robust. The light is available in packs of one, two, three, and four.

How It Performed After Six Months

The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus continued to be one of our favorite outdoor floodlights after six months of testing. The light was bright and powerful throughout the testing period, and we watched the security footage almost every day through the app.

The quality of the floodlight did not change, but it did get dirty from various weather conditions. It can be cleaned with a garden hose or a gentle setting on a pressure washer.

Product Details: Watts: 24 watts | Brightness: 2,000 lumens | Light Beam Angle: n/a | Motion Sensor: Yes: | Power Source: Hardwired

Since these are just bulbs you can easily screw them into an existing fixture.

If you don’t already have a fixture in the desired area, you’ll need to buy one separately.

These 90-watt color-changing lights from GE go far behind your typical white hues. It’s a great option to set the mood for any occasion—a romantic outdoor dinner, a house party with friends, or a holiday.

It features millions of color options that can be changed from the app, which also lets you control the lights remotely and has a scheduling feature. Additionally, the lights sync with Amazon Alexa, so you can link them with other smart lighting.

During testing, we set it to cool white, which gave off a strong, bright beam that illuminated the area sufficiently. Installation was a breeze—since it’s just a bulb, we were able to screw it in the existing fixture in three minutes. If you don’t have a fixture, you’ll need to get one separately.

Overall, these light bulbs met all our expectations and then some. They are available in two- and four-packs as well as single bulbs at some retailers.

How It Performed After Six Months

The GE Lighting CYNC Smart LED Light Bulbs maintained the same level of brightness throughout our testing period. We synced up the lights with our Alexa and scheduled them to come on every evening, and this function worked perfectly. The various color options were fun to change during holidays, and we used the red and green hues during the Christmas season.

Product Details: Watts: 90 watts | Brightness: 1,300 lumens | Light Beam Angle: n/a | Motion Sensor: No | Power Source: Electric

At only 45 watts it’s not only brighter than the halogen bulbs we used before, but uses less energy.

It lacks settings to adjust brightness and motion sensors.

Compared to a 150-watt halogen light we previously used, the Sansi Outdoor Integrated Light was a big improvement. Not only did it improve the lighting around our home, but, at 45 watts, it was a lot brighter and used less energy than our old halogen flood light.

The flood light consists of three LEDs on either side of its mounting box that can be moved for the light to shine at different angles. The bulbs emit 5000K bright white light which we found quite powerful; during testing it was able to light a 50x80-foot backyard plus deck.

Keep in mind that the light has to be hardwired. However, because it needed no calibration or special set-up, we were able to install it ourselves with the help of the directions—which were clear and easy to follow. That said, inexperienced DIYers might want to hire an electrician.

The floodlight comes with an energy-saving dusk-to-dawn sensor that turns the lights on and off at sunset and sunrise. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have a motion sensor, and you also cannot adjust this light’s brightness levels.

How It Performed After Six Months

After six months of testing, the quality and durability of this light remained the same—despite experiencing rain, snow, hail, and temperatures ranging from below freezing to 100°F. The light continued to be bright and illuminated a wide area, which made us feel safe.

Product Details: Watts: 45 watts | Brightness: 6,000 lumens | Light Beam Angle: 320 degrees | Motion Sensor: No | Power Source: Hardwired

If you’re looking for a versatile outdoor floodlight that comes with rotatable heads and three light modes, the LEONLITE COB LED Security Light is our top recommendation.

To find the best outdoor floodlights, we spent 3,936 hours testing 62 lights, evaluating them based on brightness, features, and power source. First we determined where to place the lights (ideally in a place that did not get moisture) and followed the mounting instructions that come with the light.

Some of the models were hardwired and needed an electrician to help with installation. We then timed how long the installation took

Next, we assessed the motion sensor, if applicable, to determine its detection range (the furthest distance someone can walk by to activate the light). We also checked to see how long the light stayed on. We also tested whether the motion sensor sensitivity settings were adjustable.

For battery-powered lights, we recorded how long the battery lasted before it needed to be replaced. We evaluated other aspects such as ease of use, color, brightness, and how well it held up in inclement weather.

In the case of smart lights that required an app, we timed how long it took to set up and noted how user-friendly the app was. We connected smart lights to any devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home we had on hand.

Better Homes & Gardens / Jennifer May

We found these solar lights to be an inexpensive and effective pick for security lighting you can install yourself. Each lamp consists of 40 small LED lights and a motion sensor. We did wish it came with more features like a timer or the option to adjust the brightness.

These lights weren’t bright enough to provide much extra security and their reach did not extend past the deck onto the rest of the property—we would have needed to install additional lights to illuminate the entire yard. We also didn’t love that the motion sensor only kept the light on for 90 seconds.

The Lepower Outdoor Solar Security Lights were originally our best budget pick; however, they failed to live up to our expectations after six months of testing. For the first three months of testing, they performed well, but as we continued to use them, we found that their brightness decreased over time. We also felt the lights were too sensitive no matter where we placed them.

Better Homes & Gardens / Jessica Eno

The brightness of outdoor floodlights is typically measured in lumens, and models for home use vary from 500 to around 4,000 lumens.

“The brightness you choose for your outdoor floodlight should be dependent on location,” Churton says. “For example, the front of a property should have a lower light so as not to be too bright when it comes on as you’re walking to the front door.”

For more of a burglar-deterring outdoor floodlight, you could opt for a brightness of up to 10,000 lumens. Floodlights used in larger properties, industrial spaces, and sports grounds can go as high as 30–40,000 lumens.

While brightness is measured by lumens, the amount of power that a light bulb consumes is measured by watts. It’s worth noting that LED lights are far more economical than halogen light bulbs. For instance, a 30–50-watt LED bulb is equivalent to a halogen bulb of around 500 watts.

While not all outdoor floodlights also function as motion sensor lights, many do. They’re useful for security purposes since they automatically turn on when detecting movement within a certain range. They can also help lower your electric bill as they only turn the light on for a limited time.

Some outdoor floodlights have smart features such as remote operation via app or smart home device, scheduling capabilities, video, two-way audio, and the ability to change light color. These lights tend to be more expensive than basic options, but they offer advanced customization.

Outdoor floodlights are hardwired, corded electric, solar-powered, or battery-powered. Churton suggests that hardwired is the most reliable, but says that “a reputable electrician should always be conducting the installation so as to find the best local power source, and get the job done safely.”

Corded electric is a good option in areas that have an outlet nearby, such as a patio, balcony, or deck, otherwise you’d have to use an outdoor weatherproof extension lead. Solar and battery lights work great for areas where hardwiring isn’t possible, such as at a gate, the back of a garden, or up in a tree.

Solar floodlights save you money and are better for the environment, however, they are often not as bright as wired models and can be a bit unpredictable since they need adequate sunlight to work properly. This bore out in our testing, like with the Lepower Outdoor Solar Security Lights.

“Security is the main reason people opt to install outdoor floodlights,” Churton says. “Background lighting for visibility is another important factor, and floodlights come in handy when you want to take out the trash, or walk to your car in the dark.”

Floodlights, including outdoor smart lights, can also be used to create ambiance in a garden, and many landscapers situate them high up in trees to illuminate a backyard and create a ‘moonlight-bathed’ effect.

Installation will depend on the power source. Hardwired floodlights are best installed by an electrician or someone with electrical expertise, while solar floodlights or lightbulbs that are simply screwed into an existing light fixture can take just a few minutes to install.

Corded electric lights simply need to be plugged in and placed in the proper area, but note that you will need an outlet or power extension near the light. “A socket source can also be used,” Churton says, “but that would need to be fused down.”

The larger the space, the brighter the floodlight should be so that it can cover more ground. Smaller gardens, patios, and driveways could sufficiently be illuminated with a floodlight of around 700 to 1,500 lumens, and owners of small to medium gardens of 500 to 1,500 square feet in size should opt for floodlights with 1,600 to 3,000 lumens.

Larger backyards and gardens of over 1,600 square feet would need a brighter outdoor floodlight of around 3,000 to 9,000 lumens in order to get the optimal lighting for the space. For reference, large outdoor car parks use floodlights of 9,000 to 20,000 or more lumens.

Nor'Adila Hepburn is a freelance writer who specializes in writing in-depth buying guides for Better Homes & Gardens in the home and lifestyle categories. To find the best outdoor floodlights she used insights from our tests and evaluated picks based on brightness, motion sensors, power source, and smart features.

Kat de Naoum has over 10 years of commerce writing experience. For this article, Kat spoke to Lee Churton, the manager at ProElec Electrical Services.

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