10 Best Solar Path Lights to Spruce Up Your Driveway – Reviews 2021

Looking for some pathway lights to spruce up your house? If you have a long driveway and no lights on it, it’s time to do some renovation.

Even if you have a house that is lit up fine, without proper lighting on the walkway or the driveway, it will just look gloomy and there are also security reasons. Instead of buying a light system that is wired power, why not go green?

Get yourself the best solar path lights on the market and save yourself a lot of time and effort from digging ditches, running wires and putting in circuits.

With the best solar walkway lights, you can just stick them in and go. It will save you electricity bill, time and give you a nice ambient light to highlight your beautiful pathway.

Are Solar Path Lights Any Good?

These lights are powered by the sun, they store that power in a battery and they put out bright light for eight hours. They are fast and easy to install. This is the way to go if you want to do something to spruce up your own home.

I also love the idea of solar because they are self-contained, no wires to mess with and it is free electricity.

There are some typical cheap solar lights out there that are absolute garbage and won’t last more than a couple of months after you install them.

And there are some high-end models that use quality materials, circuits to protect the battery and bright lights.

It depends on how much you want to spend on them. Normal solar lights will have an LED light, a battery, and a small solar panel.

The solar panel will charge the battery during the day and at night the battery will discharge to light up the LED bulbs. Once the battery runs out, the light turns off.

This is bad for a couple of reasons:

1. As the battery drains, the LED will go dim and that’s why you will see some solar lights become tiny blue dots and don’t do anything other than that.

2. Discharging the battery all the way isn’t good for the lifespan of the battery. That’s why a typical solar pathway light doesn’t last for more than a few months.

But they are very cheap, and you could always buy them as you need. A quick tip: buy twice as much than you actually need and replace them when the lights are malfunctioning.

Now, if you choose to go with more high-end models, they will have circuitry that monitors the battery power and ensures consistent light output while the light is on and also protects the battery by turning the light off after a certain time.

With that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the best solar driveway lights on the market.

12 Best Solar Path Lights Reviews:

1. SolarGlow Solar Garden Lights - Super-Bright 10 Lumens

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These garden lights from SolarGlow come in a pack of 6 that shine bright clear light that is just as good as low voltage lights. 10 lumens brightness is enough to cover the sideway and make your driveway visible at night. It’s a cost-effective solution because these lights come in a set.

I really like the appearance and simplicity of these solar powered lights. You can use them right out of the box and installing them take mere seconds. Just plant them where you want them, give enough daylight to fully charge the battery and these lights will light your yard for 6 hours.

The ground stake has a sharp point to easily push these lights into the ground without applying too much force. They are also easily removable and comes with an extension so that you can adjust the height. They also have a good light radius.

If you want bright lights to cover larger areas, then buy two or three sets of these and you won’t regret it. They have good customer support, and if anything goes wrong, they will definitely respond to your complaints. Just make sure to put them where they can get sunlight all day long.

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2. GardenBliss Best Solar Lights for Outdoor Pathway

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GardenBliss is a premium solar-powered light manufacturer that has been in the industry since 2015. Although they are a new company, the lights they make are thoughtfully designed. This is the best solar driveway lights in this list and the pack comes in a set of 10 lights that are very bright and also saves you a lot of money because you will get 10 of them at an affordable price.

These lights are 100% waterproof, looks elegant and beautiful, and shines brighter and longer thanks to their NiMH batteries. The double-waterproof seal allows them to withstand any weather condition. These lamps have a high-end style to them and also larger in size.

With a solid build quality and longer lasting LED lights, and also for the price, they are really hard to beat. They have hassle-free installation and you can assemble them in less than 10 minutes. The sensors on these lights automatically turn on the light when the sun goes down.

GardenBliss has included larger lights for extra-brightness. You will also get two height options to adjust the height. The premium quality Polycrystalline solar panels can even charge on cloudy and snowy days. In a nutshell, they are a great set of lights for the price.

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3. GIGALUMI Solar Lights Outdoor Garden Led Light Landscape/Pathway

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These stainless-steel lights from GIGALUMI comes in a set of 12 and a great value option for homeowners that want something affordable. They have an elegant design that is perfect for pathway, driveway, decks, and patios. The beauty of solar light is that you don’t need to set any annoying wires.

All the energy comes from the sun, illuminates for 6 to 7 hours at night and saves electricity bill. They provide a nice and bright accent light to your yard, bushes and flowers. These lamps use 1.2V rechargeable Ni-MH batteries that usually last longer than most other stake light battery.

They are also very quick and easy to install. All you need to do is unscrew the bottom part, turn the switch on, and place them in a place where these lights can get sunlight for a long time. Don’t place them in shades or else they won’t have enough sunlight to charge their batteries.

These solar garden lights have a stainless-steel construction that makes them explosion proof and will not cause any overheating issue. They are also designed to withstand rainy nights, sunny days as well as small snowy days. Just make sure they can grab sun lights for 8 to 10 hours if you want them to shine for the whole night.  

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4. Signature Garden 6 Pack Solar Garden Lights

Save money on your electricity bill with these stake lights from Signature Garden. These are bright 15-lumen solar lights that come in a pack of 6. You can use them throughout the year because they have great weather protection feature. They work well in summer, winter, spring, and fall. Plus, they are very easy to install.

Signature Garden is a family owned business and they will make sure you get the best purchase experience ever. They have impeccable customer service and will always respond to your queries. The LED solar lights will illuminate your landscape for 8 hours.

Installation is also very easy, and they can be used right out of the box. They have cool white type color temperature. These lights look nice and also feel very well made. Inside, there will be a single rechargeable AA battery and does a very good job of maintaining power for 6 hours on average.

They have a clear, aluminum lenses and give a nice glow to the plants at night. Also, keep in mind that the poles are metal instead of plastic. Which also increases the durability of the product. With simple and clean lines, it will be very easy to put them into the ground. They are also very bright and can cover larger areas with ease. 

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5. OxyLED Solar Garden Lights, 3 Pack Solar Garden Stake Light

These decorative garden lights from OxyLED and very bright and will stay lit all night. These are lovely LED lights that automatically change color and a fun way to spruce up your outdoor path, patio, yard or lawn. This set comes in a pack of 3 and each of them is beautifully designed.

You will get a solar dragonfly, butterfly and hummingbird light. All of them are molded with high-quality material to make them more durable and lightweight. They have a decent amount of water protection but won’t last if soaked into water. However, they will function in all weather and with 2V 60mA solar panel and 400mAh, they will shine brightly for a long time.

You can also control this light manually via the on/off switch. With a fully charged battery, they can easily last for 8 hours. The most attractive feature of this product is the color changing LED lights. The LED’s rotate between 7 different colors. The panels can absorb sunlight even on cloudy days.

They are also very easy to set up and they have very solid construction. Durable abs plastic case with a stainless-steel body make for a durable product. The poles are aluminum made with crystal clear acrylic figurines on them. If you want a fairy tale themed garden, then these are the lights for you. 

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6. Moonrays 91754 Richmond Solar LED Metal Path Light

Moonrays is a popular brand in the solar industry and they have been making quality products since 1086. These LED lights from them are the brightest solar powered lights in this list. With 30 lumens brightness, they are actually 25 times brighter than most standard stake lights.

On top of that, they have a warm white color tone that makes them look even brighter. These metal path lights come in a pack of 2. They have a 120-degree wide light radius that can cover 36” area of illumination. The products come pre-assembled with fully charged AA NiMH batteries.

These are 1500 mAh batteries that can last up to 8 hours. They are also highly weatherproof which means you can use them year-round. Durable plastic and bronze construction that will last longer and won’t wear out or crack in snow. Installation is also quick and simple, and you can use them right out of the box.

The stakes are metal that sticks to the ground firmly. These light bulbs are very durable, and you won’t have to replace them each year. Plus, they can withstand extreme heat and always remain cool to touch. They have 14-inch above ground height which is useful for rainy days and occasional floods.

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7. Enchanted Spaces Solar Path Light, Set of 6

These path lights from Enchanted Spaces features real glass lens and come in a set of 6. Each of them emits 1 lumens brightness and gives enough light to light up your pathway. The star-shaped light pattern gives a fascination look to your landscape.

You don’t have to assemble them, and they are usable right out of the box. The LED lights are pretty durable and should last for years. If the batteries ever get worn out, you can contact the manufacturer and they will send replacements. Speaking of batteries, these are 600mAh Ni-Mh AA rechargeable batteries.

The upper part is made of aluminum and heavy plastic and light shine through them. They give out a lovely spoke pattern. Whether it is sunny or cloudy, the solar panels charge the battery enough to illuminate your landscape well past your bedtime.

The ground stakes are metal which won’t easily wear out and they also gave good weather protection. No assembly required all you need to do is push them to the ground and make sure they get enough sunlight throughout the day. It’s also a great value option because the product comes in a pack of six lights.

8. SURSUN Outdoor [16pack]-Solar Powered Pathway Bright White Light

With 1.2 lumens of brightness, these solar powered LED lights will produce just the right amount of light to see your landscape but not bright enough to collect bugs. They come is a set of 16 and can illuminate for 8 to 10 hours with 6 to 8 hours of charging time.

They are also very easy to install. There is switch under cap, make sure to turn it on, install the bottom spike and place them in a place where they can get sunlight for 8 hours without any shade. The whole process will take only mere seconds and they will automatically turn on after dusk and turn off after dawn.

The ground stakes are made from corrosion resistant stainless steel for durability and will last longer. They are highly weather resistant, so you don’t have to worry about rain or snow. These lights are factory tested to work on any weather condition. With an IP44 waterproof rating, you won’t have to worry about heavy rainfall.

Each of these lights come with 3AA 1.2V 400mAh NI MH rechargeable batteries. They are pre-installed and have a working time average of 8 hours. These bright LED’s have a cold white light color and look great on any landscape. You will really love these classy slim lined solar lights because of their attractive appearance and price.

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9. voona Solar LED Outdoor Lights 8-Pack

These bright lights from voona can give 6 lumens of output and have a sun pattern effect. These are ideal for decoration and illuminating your driveway, pathway, garden, and patio. This product comes in a box of 6 lights and all of them have a durable stainless-steel construction.

These stake on lights have a clear plastic top that provides a nice light effect on your landscape. They have a beautiful warm white color tone that spruce up your garden space creating a comfortable and romantic atmosphere. These products are made to work under any kind of weather condition.

They can illuminate up to 8 hours if they get proper sunlight during the day. Make sure to place them in a place where they can sunlight for more than 8 hours. Also, ensure that they are not near any strong light source at night, or else they won’t turn on. If the ground is hard, dig a hole first and then place them.

These solar-powered accent lights have a durable ground stake, stainless steel tube with clear plastic lamp. The sun power solar cap is weatherproof, but I didn’t find any IP rating but I’m guessing it is IP44. Each of these lights has pre-installed NIMH AA 500mAh rechargeable battery. 

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10. Solar Lights Bright Pathway Outdoor Garden Lights

Whether you want to decorate your door, beautify your garden or light up your pathway, these bright solar lights from BEAU JARDIN are a great value option. Stainless steel top cap and pole add make these lights very durable and they also have an IP66 waterproof rating. The watertight diamond glass emits bright lights throughout the night.

You won’t find any plastic on these lights. A nice upgrade to traditional lights with a more substantial textured touch of glass and metal. They come pre-assembled and you quickly install them into the ground. They are durable thanks to their rugged ABS plastic construction. 

To conserve battery life, they have an auto on/off feature that will automatically turn the light on at night and turn them off at dawn. The solar panel absorbs sun ray during the day to charge the AA Ni-MH battery. They need a minimum of 8 hours of charging time during the day.

These diamond shaped LED lights have 6 lumens brightness which more than adequate for landscape lighting at night. They are also highly weather resistant with an IP65 waterproof rating. You can easily use them all year round and won’t have to worry about snow, frost, rain or flood.

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11. Bebrant Solar Torch Lights Upgraded- 42.9-inch Flickering Flames Solar Lights

Bebrant solar lights aka tiki torches are a safe alternative to the real flames. From a distance, you won’t even notice the difference. The look more like actually enclosed torches with real flames. Like real tiki torches, you don’t have to fill them with oil. These are solar powered torches that give a wonderful ambiance.

When fully charged, they will easily last for 8 hours. Made from durable plastic, these lights are 43 inches tall and look great wherever you place them. Just like the actual flame on a tiki torch, these flickering fake flame lights will never fail to draw your attention.

It’s also safer than the real deal because there is no danger of fire. You don’t have to manually light them on because they have sensors that will turn them on at dusk and off at dawn. It’s a nice alternative to tiki torch without the mess and odor. They have 96 LED’s and each of them flickers warm yellow lights.

They are also very easy to install. You don’t have to mess around with wiring or electric because they are solar powered. All of these torches come with built-in 2200mAh rechargeable battery. They will shine bright easily for 8 to 10 hours. They are also highly weather resistant. They have an IP65 waterproof and dustproof rating for your peace of mind. 

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12. Brightown 6 Pack Outdoor Solar Path Lights

These exquisite outdoor solar lights can brightly light up your landscape, pathway, driveway, and garden. Their cool white tone creates a romantic and comfortable atmosphere. The solar panel is larger, very strong and sturdy. It uses advanced technology to absorb more solar power and last longer.

The acrylic shade on top allows the lights to shine brightly. They are also very easy to install. All you need to do is rotate the shade to fix the solar panel, turn on the switch, insert the connection rod, add the ground take/spike and finally insert them on soft ground.

There is no lumen rating on this, but they look bright with beautiful accented lights. They are also waterproof and weather-resistant and engineered with withstand any weather conditions. They also have a durable construction made from tough ABS plastic material.

These solar path lights will last longer, and you won’t have to worry about exposing them to rain, heat or snow. They take approximately 6 to 7 hours to fully charge the battery. Since they have low energy consumption, they can shine brightly for more than 8 hours with minimal charging time.

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What To Look For Before Buying?

With so many energy-saving, eco-friendly options flooding the market, buying the best solar path lights can be a little tricky. For business owners and homeowners alike, buying an outdoor path light is a great option because they are easy to install, cost-efficient and attractive.

Some of them are shockingly brighter than wired lights while others can give a natural ambient light vibe to your pathway.

Having a dimly light garden or a driveway can potentially hazardous because you won’t be able to tell what’s lurking in those dark areas. Whether it’s for security reasons or just to spruce up your yard, investing in a quality solar path light is a good idea.

Thanks to the affordable solar panel technology, these lights soak up sun’s ray during daytime and illuminate in the dark at night. Some have high lumen rating, long battery life, and sturdy construction while others are just plain crap.

When it comes to buying one, you should get a light or a set of lights that have good design and aesthetics. They should be balanced with their size and shape and you should also think about the placement and purpose.

Here are some key features that will help you find the perfect solar-powered light for your driveway or garden.

Purpose

Before buying any of these lights, first, find out what your specific needs are. If it’s the security you want, there are motion activated security lights out there with more state-of-the-art features.

Whether it is to prevent kids from slipping at night or keep unwanted visitors out of your lawn, these lights are perfect. However, for a homeowner, a solar-powered light is more of a decorative thing.

Depending on how long your driveway is, you should buy these lights accordingly. However, this is only the first deciding factor and there are other key features that will help you finalize this decision.

Weather

These lamps are made for outdoors and because of that, they will have some sort of water resistance feature. It will vary from lamp to lamp and each of them will have a different level of weather protection capability.

Some can easily withstand extreme weather like heavy snowfall, rain or high temperatures while others not so much. These lights are small and most of the outer components will be plastic.

If you live in tropical areas, you should buy a solar light that handles large amounts of rain and flood. Make sure the ground stake is sturdy and has burbs to hold the light in place if heavy wind occurs.

It’s better to have extension wands so that you can adjust the height of the lamp to prevent them from getting submerged in water. If you choose to buy low-to-ground models, make sure they can handle water for a long time.

The same goes for frost and snow. These rechargeable batteries don’t do well in a colder climate. The weaker plastic material won’t be able to handle snow or frost which can lead the battery damage.

If you don’t want ice to crack 20 or so lights that you have recently bought, I would suggest you pick them up, keep them in a warm place and place them when summer comes.

Amount of Sunlight

The next important thing to consider is how much sunlight you get on average. A solar light needs at least 8 hours of sunlight for the battery to get fully charged. Since these lights are powered by solar lights, it is important to consider the amount of sunlight you get on a daily basis.

Also, the more charging time these panels can get, the longer they will last at night. Depending on the seasons, the output will fluctuate. They will be high in the summer and low in the winter.

If you are located in a cloudy area, try to find a light that needs little charging time to work properly.

Since most of these lights need an average of 8 hours charging time to run at least 6 hours at night, you should make your purchasing decision depending on this factor alone.

It is because you might not be able to use your solar lights if you go through gloomy weather and dark days for a long time.

Brightness

Determining how bright your lights will be is also an important factor. Most of the time, the brightness will depend on the size of the panel. The amount of light these lamps can emit is usually listed in lumens.

10W LED light is equivalent to 600 lm. If you are familiar with watts, you will know that the higher the watt, the brighter the light will be. Same goes of the lumen, more means brighter.

There are some solar panel lights that will only illuminate a space dimly because they have incredibly small built-in panels. These lights are mostly sold as decorative lamps and a great way to beautify your lawn or yard.

If you want to brighten up large space, then you need to buy bigger lamps with a large light radius. They should also have a high lumen rating. To cut cost, you should buy them as packs that contain more than 4 lights in a pack because you are covering a large area.

Buying Reasons 

There are two main reasons why you should install a solar-powered path light.

1. Decoration

2. Safety

For homeowners that want to decorate their lawn, these solar lamps have a variety of designs. Some look like a mushroom, some have string lights, and some have quirky torch-like shape. However, they are not very bright and takes a long time to charge. They are also less powerful.

They are also not that sturdy so they will easily break if you accidentally step on them or run a lawnmower over it. If you plan on adding decorative lights, mind the placement.

For security purpose, there are different solar lamps available with different style options. They are also very bright and have a sturdy build. However, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality. They blend in well with your driveway and have a more modernish look to them.

Battery Life & Charging Time

On a full charge, most of these lamps will stay lit for 5 to 6 hours depending on the condition of the battery and the size of the lamp. A lot of brands out there might claim that their lights will provide 8 hours of illumination, but that’s not always true.

If your lamp takes more than 8 hours of charging time, a succession of 2 or more gloomy days could lead to no light for a week or less. Since most of us live in mixed climates, you should consider the average time your lamp needs to fully charge. 

Maintenance Tips

1. Make sure to clean the solar panel once a month because dirt builds up over time and they lose the ability to charge the battery properly.

2. Batteries don’t work well in cold temperature and they can easily get damaged due to moisture build up. Make sure to check them at least at every quarter of the year.

3. Clear the light cover because they can get cloudy over time and lessen the brightness.

4. Always keep spare lights in stock. If something goes wrong, and by any chance, you don’t get any replacement lights, you can easily swap them out.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do solar powered path lights work?

They have solar panels on top that collect power from the sun to charge their rechargeable batteries. They also have sensors built-in to them that signal when the sun is down. When it gets dark, these lamps will automatically turn on and they will turn off their lights at dawn.

2. How easy it is to install these lights?

They are very easy to install because most of them come pre-assembled and you just stick them to the ground, let them charge for 8 hours or so. Make sure to turn the switch on if they have one and they will automatically light up when it gets dark.

3. Are the batteries replaceable?

Yes, the built-in batteries are replaceable and if they get damaged during the warranty period, manufacturers will ship new ones to you for repair.

However, there are some cheaper models that don’t have this feature. You need to replace the whole set and most of the time, they are replaced by the manufacturer.

4. Do all solar lights turn on and off automatically?

No, the cheaper ones don’t have sensors to automatically turn the lights on and off. Instead, they have a manual switch.

5. How long do these lights last?

The average life expectancy of a solar-powered path light is around 2 years. Assuming the battery lasts that long, most of the LED bulbs will function properly for years. It’s the battery that is the problem because they can’t handle the change in weather well.

Final Verdict

And that concludes our best solar walkway lights review. Hopefully, you found the best one for your landscape, pathway, driveway, and patio in our solar sidewalk lights reviews.