Best Outdoor Security Lights 2023: Buying Guide & Picks

In our home, external lighting plays as much of an important part as internal lighting. And with the massive amount of effort put in to take care of the inside, we have to keep up the good work on the outside – but with a different approach. Outdoor lightings are supposed to give you and your family security and peace of mind – so that you can go to sleep every night knowing that you are protected.

One of the best ways to keep your home protected is by setting up an external security lighting system. And for those who are aiming for the best outdoor security lights out there on the market, we’ve got your back. Read on to find out more about the information we have to offer in this extensive guide.

There are a few types of security lights that stand out on the marketplace – due to their ability to deliver the most security and value for money. Here are the most notable types of outdoor security lights:

Motion sensor lights: look for motions and illuminate – to either get you to where you want to go safely or make anybody with bad intentions think twice before approaching your property. Those lights are perfect in scenarios where you are away or asleep but still want to keep an eye on the safety of your home.

Floodlights: are known for broad beams and high-intensity illuminations – and work the best when you have large areas like yards or fields to light up. The point is to “flood” those massive areas with light – which can be useful after the sunsets.

Spotlights: work the best for specific places like pathways or entries with their narrow, focused beams of light – and can illuminate various directions at once with numerous heads.

Accent lights: are suitable for providing accent to a landscape or other areas – but with a limited illumination range of spaces around the targeted area.

1. Arlo Security Light  

Specifications:

• 400 lumens

• IP65

• Works with Arlo Apps, Alexa, …

Pros:

• Easy to install

• High lighting selectivity

• Comes in both wired and wireless versions

•  Works with smart applications for customization

Cons:

• Pricey

2. HEATHCO HZ-5872 Security Light

Specifications:

• 2500 lumens

• 5000 Kelvins

• 120V

Pros:

• Large coverage areas

• Bright lights

• Smart detection range

Cons:

• Bulky

3. Sengled Smart Light Bulb  

Specifications:

• 650 lumens

• IP44

• 2700 Kelvins

• 230° beam angle

Pros:

• Mobile and Wi-Fi control options

• Works with smart applications

• Synchronized design

Cons:

• Fixed angle

4. Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera   

Specifications:

• 2000-3000 lumens

• IP65

• 2K video with HDR

• Works with Arlo cameras, Alexa, …  

Pros:

• Built-in camera

• Bright floodlight

• Multiple powered options

• Extensive features

Cons:

•  Expensive

5. MAXSA LED Wall Sconce  

Specifications:

• 85 or 50-100 lumens

• IP44

• 3500 or 6500 Kelvins

• 23 feet detection range

Pros:

• Synchronized design

• Easy installation

• Different colors

Cons:

• Not durable

• Not the brightest light

We have briefly covered the types of outdoor security lights and their general applications above. For those who are looking to get the best possible outdoor security lights, here is a list of what to look for:

Power source: Depending on how you want to set up your security lights, you have the following options based on their power source.

Hardwired lights: As long as your home has power, they will work just fine (unless power breaks happen). You will have to wire them into your electrical system – which makes for harder installation.

Battery-powered lights: These options allow for easy installation, but you will have to keep an eye on the power level of the batteries to keep them going.

Solar-powered lights: Those are the most environmentally-friendly options, but you have to set them up correctly and in the right place – so consider carefully before getting one.

Detection range: As soon as your security lighting system detects something that it is programmed for, lights will be turned on automatically. The typical detection range is about 20 – 100 feet away, and with the detection angle (of the lights) of about 120° - you will be good to go.

Types of bulb: Finding the perfect outdoor security lights is all about finding the balance between energy consumption and brightness. Based on these 2 factors, LED lights are considered to be the most cost-efficient options for these applications – but they can be expensive upfront. Incandescent bulbs are cheaper, but you will have to compromise on these aforementioned aspects.

The deciding factor here is your choice on what matters the most – cost or energy-efficiency.

Lumens: The more lumens that your lighting systems have, the higher intensity of the light, and the better coverage of areas around your home that you will have. Make sure to check the number of lumens on the pack to make sure that it fits your needs before purchasing.

Lighting period: This factor indicates how long the light will remain on before getting turned off automatically. The typical lighting period is about 20 seconds, but most advanced systems will allow adjustments for a shorter or longer time – depending on your needs. Compared to hardwired ones, the other 2 options will generally come with shorter lighting periods – mainly to save power.

Add-on features: Modern outdoor security lights come with some add-on features that can be useful in your user experience. Those are the ones that you certainly do not want to miss:

Auto–reset: Due to the nature of security lights, the lighting will either turn off or on and remain in the same status when power surges happen. With the auto-reset feature, you will not have to manually reset the system after such incidents. You can program it in whichever fashion that works in your favor.

Adjustable sensitivity: False signals can always happen with those security lights when you leave them fixed at a specific level of sensitivity. This can create false alerts and waste of power – which you can eliminate by adjusting and programming the sensitivity to suit different times of the day.

Adjustable illumination coverage: With adjustable heads and illumination coverage on outdoor lights, you can customize every aspect of security lighting that suit your needs.

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What are the things to keep in mind when setting up your outdoor security lights?

In order to get the best out of your outdoor security lights, follow these tips:

• Before installing your security lights, take a look around your place and create a detailed map on where each of them will be placed.

• Prioritize areas that offer electric outlets or wires for power connections, but most importantly – make sure that you get the most out of your lights’ illumination ranges in those areas.

• Keep your lights well-organized by separating them away from each other (the distance of 10-20 feet is ideal) to ensure that they give your home decent coverage in both protection and lighting.

• You can mount your lights anywhere around your home – as long as you keep an eye on the effectiveness of their layout and the areas that they cover.

Are moving lights better than stationary ones?

Moving lights are not for everybody, and they can even be distracting for some people. However, if you are looking around for one of those – look at the pivoting capability of your option. In particular, pay attention to the range of it and the time it takes to complete a full cycle.

For security lights that move based on motion-identifying sensors, they will still give you lighting on any moving subjects – but not as effective as other motion detection systems.

Do you have any online controls over your security lights?

Many outdoor lighting options come with other accessories to form a security system. Those are the ones that will give you control over the entire system through the use of online network or mobile apps.

You can use smart apps to keep an eye on the operation of these outdoor security lights – and they will give you details about the current status of your lighting system. From there, you can make many advanced adjustments to customize the level of protection of your home.

This feature is especially suitable for people who have to travel regularly away from home – as it gives them an additional method to keep their properties safe while on the road.

What are the uses for smaller outdoor security lights?

Not everybody is going to use massive lighting units for their security needs, and that is where smaller outdoor lights can come in handy. For narrow spaces in and around your home, those small-sized lights can fit in comfortably:

• Windows or doors

• Pools, landscapes and other decorative spots

• Sidewalks or driveways

As long as you have a good understanding of how those smaller lights fit and work around your property, you can use them to control your lighting system better and improve your security setup.

How to check whether your outdoor security light is weather-proof or not?

Since these security lights are set up outdoors, they need to be weather-proof to keep your property protected at all times. When buying your outdoor security light of choice, check the IP (Ingress Protection) or UL (Underwriters Laboratory) of your option for weather-resistance capability:

IP ratings: This rating indicates how hard or easy it is for your light to withstand difficult scenarios where dust and water is involved. The number in the rating means the level of resistance it has against these outside factors – and one with the rating of IP65 or IP67 will deal well with weather phenomena like snow, rain or flood.

UL ratings: This rating refers to the ideal types of locations that your outdoor security lights can be used for the best results. Options that are rated for wet locations can operate well in outdoor applications where water is involved.

With a good external lighting system being set up and used properly, keeping your home protected from outside factors at night has never been easier. If you want the cream of the crop out of these options, Arlo Security Light is the one you should go for. However, for larger properties’ owners - Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera and HEATHCO HZ-5872-WH Security Light are promising floodlight options that will not disappoint.

Get a good understanding of your security lighting needs first, then take the information that we provided you in this article into consideration before heading out on the market. You will be amazed by what these smart devices can do to improve your home’s security.