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Outdoor motion sensor lights are hardwired, solar-powered, or operated by batteries. Installing a hardwired light may require the help of an electrician, which is something to keep in mind as it’s an additional cost. These lights are typically brighter and often have larger detection ranges/light beam angles. The light fixtures are heat and frost-resistant, so they can keep working through all sorts of weather and in a variety of climates. A large solar panel helps make these lights more efficient, reducing the charging time needed and helping them to work better on cloudy, rainy days.
The lights work with all standard-size E26 blubs so you can easily find a replacement bulb when needed. Plus, you can choose a color temperature (such as daylight white or a warmer light) of your choice. AUTO: The light automatically turns on when motion is detected. You can set how sensitive it is and adjust when it turns on (day or night), using the Lux Knob.Range & Angle: The range of an outdoor motion sensor light refers to how far away an object or movement can be to trigger the light. Detection ranges are typically 20 to 100 feet, and some motion sensor lights let you customize the distance. The angle of detection usually falls within 180 degrees horizontally, and some models are adjustable.
The first thing you should consider is the range and angle that you’ll need for your property—and your property only! It’ll be highly annoying for your neighbors if they can easily trip your motion sensor lights from their yard or, even worse, from their home! So, if you live on tighter lots, a shorter range might actually be better, while if you live on a large piece of property, you’ll want something that extends a long way out. If you want to illuminate the area by your door, you’ll most likely want a light with a smaller detection range—this will decrease the number of nuisance turn-ons from animals but will provide enough light for anyone walking toward the door. Being an LED light, the low-wattage bulbs produce just as much light without using as much energy as traditional bulbs. If you’re purchasing your motion sensor light with the intention of lowering your power consumption, the LEONLITE LED is a good choice. Even if you live in an area with a lot of rain or other inclement weather, the light’s IP65 waterproofing and solid aluminum construction can hold up to a lot of punishment from the elements. The fixture has a lifespan of 50,000 hours, meaning you’ll be using it for years to come. Made of die-cast aluminum, the fixture is durable, waterproof, and resistant to corrosion. The LED bulb will save energy when compared to similar incandescent bulbs and should last up to 50,000 hours. The light’s color temperature is 5,000K for a daylight appearance when turned on. Because it’s hardwired into the home’s electrical system, keep in mind that you may need to have an electrician install this fixture for you. Dusk-to-Dawn: It turns the light off during the day and schedules it to turn on only at night. You can adjust the light sensitivity using the Lux nob to turn the light on earlier or later in the day.Brightness: You might assume that brighter is better, but that’s not always the case with outdoor motion sensor lights. Whereas a lumen rating between 6,000 to 10,000 lumens lights up your entire yard, stairway or pathway lights can go as low as 100 to 200 lumens and still provide optimal illumination. Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.
The detection range is adjustable so you can opt to have it cover a smaller portion of your driveway or yard. The heads can also be rotated 360 degrees to point the light in different directions. You can also set the timer for the motion sensor light from five seconds to five minutes, depending on your preference. This is a very affordable light, on top of being battery-powered, which is reflected in its capabilities. It has a decent detection angle, at 120 degrees all around, and the range and brightness are both on the lower end. You can’t adjust the timer that shuts off the light 20 seconds after it stops detecting motion, but modest lumen output and a relatively short cut-off timer help contribute to excellent battery life. When used in a low-traffic area, the batteries in this light can last a year or more. The adjustable sensor unit provides motion sensing with a wide 180-degree detection angle and a range of around 69 feet. That range is adjustable via a convenient dial on the bottom of the sensor, and you can aim the sensor head itself to focus on the direction that any intruders are most likely to approach from. We love the straightforward setup, and the solid, well-made construction, although we found the included gasket a bit flimsy. If your house is pre-wired for a light, and already has a junction box, installation requires nothing more than a screwdriver, some wire nuts, and some electrical tape. We were also pleased that you can adjust the angle of the motion sensor, which has a 180-degree range. You’ll want to consider the power source. Some of these lights are solar powered and store up their batteries during the day so that they may be used at night, but that also requires they be placed on the side of your house that gets a lot of sunshine to be most effective. You should probably get an outdoor motion sensor light if you’re considering them. You’ll feel more secure, they’ll give convenient, energy-saving light, and you might even have a lower power bill. Which of our recommended units you buy will depend entirely on your needs, but all can confidently be called the best outdoor motion sensor lights. Why trust usAngle refers primarily to the detection angle, which is the field of view that the sensor can cover. A motion sensor light with a detection angle of 180 degrees can sense movement anywhere in front of it, so placement isn’t a big concern. If a sensor has a lower detection angle, then you need to consider placement more carefully. Shahidi recommends mounting motion sensor lights angled 30 degrees down to ensure optimal visibility around the perimeter of your home. Larry Campbell, licensed electrical contractor and The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board member, additionally recommends mounting the lights 8 to 12 feet above the ground, noting that, in his experience, 6 feet seems too low. Outdoor and mounted solar lights are very easy to install but they need to be placed in areas with direct sunlight. They don’t work as well in some climates with a lot of rain and cloudy weather. Battery-powered lights can be placed anywhere and are typically very easy to install. To increase safety at night (especially helpful for older adults), also consider installing motion sensor lights beside pathways and on stairs. The best outdoor motion sensor lights to use near the front door should pair function and style, like this pair from Brightever. These decorative lights have a detection range of 40 feet and a detection angle of 220 degrees, so they provide enough coverage for a porch or side-of-the-house entryway. Lumens are a measure of how bright the light is. More light is not always better, explains McGowan, as you want to make sure your light doesn’t shine into your neighbor’s window. The best outdoor motion sensor lights for your yard will feature lumens that suit the size of your space.
In most cases, it’s as simple as replacing an old lighting fixture with a new one,” Klosterman says. “However, if you need to run a new electrical line and install a switch, the job may be better suited for a home pro.” Editor's Note (September 2023): This product review was originally written and published in 2020. To make sure we are still recommending the best products for your needs, we recently reviewed this story to make sure it is still accurate and that we stand by what we wrote. Despite newer models and options being available, we still feel confident that this product is one of the best choices, and therefore have included it in The Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights and The Best Outdoor Floodlights.We used the “auto” motion sensor mode as we don’t need that side of the house illuminated all the time. Well-made housing and hardware gave us confidence that this light will last for a while. We were impressed with the features of almost everything that came with the LeonLite, especially considering its affordable price. The only thing we didn’t love was the quality of the foam gasket that came with it, which is standard for lights at this price range. Compared to the rest of the construction, it stood out as being lower quality than the rest of the included hardware. The lumens of an outdoor motion sensor dictate how large an area it can light up. Lo recommends that, “up to 4,800 lumens should be sufficient.” Less is fine if you’re lighting a smaller area, while you may need more if you have a very large yard or driveway that you want to light up. The average residential street light puts out about 5,000 lumens, so keep that in mind if you have a large area to cover. The light’s motion sensor is a bit limited, which is typical of battery-powered motion sensor lights, offering only 120 degrees. The range is surprisingly strong, besting our best value model by 4 feet. The spotlight is quite small, meaning it’s excellent for side doors, pet areas, or as a supplemental light when the main light is turned off. On the bottom of the motion sensor are a switch and three knobs. The switch lets you choose between three modes and you can control illumination and timing: They need either two days of full sunlight to charge or eight hours on the provided USB cable, each of which is time-consuming.
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