The Best Solar Flood Lights for Your Outdoor Security Needs – Reviews and Ratings of the Top Solar Motion Activated Security and Flood Lights

As I’ve worked on upgrading my yard and house, I’ve come to realize how important having the absolute best quality products are.

Whether I’m lighting up a flagpole, inserting some fun garden lights for ambiance, or trying to make my driveway and pathways safer, I need lights that I can rely on.

And since my upgrades are all about solar-powered everything, it was time to look into the best solar flood lights that run on solar power instead of the old models I grew up with.

If you’re looking to upgrade your lights around the home, I highly recommend checking out the options I’ve found below. They’re economical, durable, high-quality solar flood lights that are worth investing in for your home.

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How Do Solar-Powered Flood Lights Work?

Solar flood light with an on-off switch or solar lights that turn off and on automatically work similarly to each other. Both types of lights have a solar panel which is made up of photovoltaic cells.

These cells draw in sunlight and use the energy to convert it into power – electricity – that can then power your flood lights.

The solar panels are connected via a single wire to the flood lights and use the wire to transmit the energy just like a standard powerline uses the wire to send power to the house.

The main difference in how these types of lights vary from each other include things like wattage of the solar panel, the type of light bulb used – though most are LED at this point – and whether or not they have a motion sensor or a standard on/off function.

What Do You Need to Know Before Buying a Solar Flood Light?

There are a few things to consider before purchasing a flood light. Each aspect has positives and negatives, so consider carefully to figure out which options work best for you.

Battery Backup

While solar power is a great way to cut down on your carbon footprint and keep your power bill low, there are occasions where you may need a battery backup.

The backup is useful for situations like winter when your solar panels may not draw enough power to keep the light running as long as you need.

Brightness

The brightness levels you need depend entirely on your purposes for the light.

If you’re trying to light a walkway for safety reasons or light up the garage door so you can find your way in, you’ll have different needs.

Low, warm light comes from 20 to 60 lumens. Higher lumens will give a clearer, brighter path.

On/Off Switch or Automatic

Finally, you’ll want to decide if an on/off switch or an automatic or dusk to dawn light is most appropriate for your family.

For me, I need the auto off/on because, well, we’re forgetful around here. Having a motion sensor that comes on automatically without my needing to remember if I pushed a button or not gives me a sense of peace.

I don’t often have loads of traffic in and out of the house at night, so when guests do come, or I get back late, it helps me feel better that automatically the pathway will be lit and safe for anyone to travel.

But others will prefer the off/on switch rather than the automatic.

This may be because they want to keep the pathway lit only on certain times or days, or because they live in low light areas and want to preserve power for when it’s needed.

What are the Benefits of a Solar-Powered Flood Light?

There are some obvious benefits of having the brightest solar flood lights outdoor light in use. But in case you’re wondering what the advantages of solar over general power is, you can consider these things.

Solar Flood Lights are Eco-Friendly

First off, solar-powered security lights are the most eco-friendly option out there. They use the free, renewable power of the sun.

That means no power plants are creating energy, which means no carbon footprint.

You simply install the device and go for years and years without having to replace or deal with anything on the lights, other than basic maintenance.

The Best Solar-Powered Motion Security Light is Budget-Friendly

The best outdoor solar flood lights are also budget-friendly.

You have the initial setup cost – the light and solar panel – and that’s it.

You don’t invest thousands of dollars over the next decade paying for the power to run it. Instead, that free renewable energy from the sun keeps your house lit and secure.

Solar Powered Security Lights are Easy-to-Install

And because solar flood lights don’t require messy wiring into an electrical system, they’re super easy to install. In fact, just about anyone can do it.

Grab a few simple tools, decide where to place the light, and attach the light there while mounting or placing the solar panel in a spot where it will get the most sunlight possible. Easy as that.

Solar Flood Lights are Attractive

The lack of wires and sleek design of most modern solar flood lights makes them much more attractive than the other options for flood lights.

They mount easily, don’t have wires going all over the place, and generally look sleek, modern, and interesting rather than tacky like some of the other options out there.

They’re Low Maintenance

Finally, solar powered motion activated flood lights are low maintenance.

Once they’re installed, you only have to clean the solar panel and light on occasion – usually a couple times per year only – and then you’re good to go. This is the case for years, as long as there’s no damage done to the light itself.

How We Chose the Best Solar-Powered Outdoor Flood Lights

I wanted to make sure that I was only recommending the absolute best of the best, so I spent several hours looking around for the most highly rated options on the web.

I found solar floodlight review pages that offered most of the same options as each other, and hosts of options on Amazon.

I put all of the best choices into a single list and went through the solar dusk to dawn light options and the commercial solar flood lights to find the top-rated options. Most of them fell beneath my standard ratings of 4+ out of 5 stars, so they were dropped from my list.

Next, I looked at everything to make sure they had more than a couple dozen reviews before I bothered reviewing myself. This knocked the list down to about fifty lights. That was too many to review on my own, so I chopped the list further by making sure each light meets my qualifications for a high-quality product.

Finally, I looked for the features and benefits of each given light and reviewed only the best of the best from this list. The top choices from all that researching and reviewing resulted in my list of the best solar security flood lights below.

Best Motion Activated Solar Flood Lights

For most of us, a motion activated light is a great option for the yard. They turn on only when they sense motion, which means they save energy and keep from waking us up unless there’s a reason to trigger on.

#1. LEPOWER Solar LED Security Light – Best Motion Sensor Flood Light for Low Light Environments (EDITOR’S CHOICE)

Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

For a powerful, incredibly easy to use flood light, I’d like to recommend the LEPOwer Solar LED security light.

This thing has a whopping 950 lumens – meaning it’s incredibly bright – and has two easy to understand and use settings.

The first mode is motion sensitive automatic, which is perfect for someone who comes and goes a lot in evening hours.

The second mode is the motion sensitive permanent “on” setting. This second setting is ideal for someone in a low light environment who doesn’t need to mess with dealing with turning the light on and off.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 10 to 12 hours
• Hours of Light: varies heavily based on light levels
• Wattage: unknown, amorphous solar panel
• Lumens: 950 lumens
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: 180 degrees
• Detection distance: 49 feet

The LEPower Solar LED Security light is sensitive to movement, but will not respond to wind, rain, or illumination. It will, however, trigger on with human and animal movement or a moving car.

The solar panel and light are both made of highly durable materials to last for years to come.

They’re waterproof, with waterproof connectors, a 15-foot cord that connects the two to each other, and has a wide range of motion for the perfect placement to get exactly the sun exposure your panel needs and allowing the light to project bright white light on the path you need lit up.

The light has two heads that combined provide 950 lumens of light and has heat dissipation technology built in to prevent them from overhearing.

The light heads will still light up on low light days, though they won’t be as bright as high energy inputs would create. This means that folks who live in Alaska or the far north will be able to use these lights even in winter.

The light has a 33 to 49-foot motion range, meaning any motion within that range will trigger the lights. The light itself provides an angle of 180 degrees of light for a wide range of coverage for your driveway or yard.

The light is rated IP65 for waterproof quality, and the light comes with a 1-year warranty. If you want to test it out for a short-term period, the light also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.

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#2. High-Power Commercial Grade Light from RuggedGrade – Best 1000 Lumens Solar Motion Flood Light

Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

If you find yourself in need of a super powerful, incredibly rugged light – i.e. a commercial grade solar flood light – you’ll definitely need to check out the High Power from RuggedGrade. This sucker is one of best solar powered outdoor flood lights with the most rugged construction around.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 1 day
• Hours of Light: 10 to 12 hours
• Wattage: 10W
• Lumens: 1000W
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: unknown
• Detection distance: unknown

The adjustable mount on the High Power RuggedGrade commercial light is one of the best features. It’s easy to adjust both the light and the panel to get the most benefit out of both.

Another is the three lighting modes to choose from.

Depending on where you’re positioning the light you could need anything from the low light of just 10% of the brightness while resting with full light on motion detection.

The second mode is always on 500 lumens for a reasonably bright, steady light.

Mode 3 is always on 1000 lumens for a steady bright light.

The light is made of high-quality, heavy-duty construction and is built to last while weathering all kinds of rough weather.

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#3. Sunforce 82080 80-LED Solar Motion Light – Best Simple Flood Light

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Sunforce 82080 is a powerful light that works on a motion sensor, which means it’s a great solar-powered flood light for a family with a lot of driveway activity at night. The light itself has 80 LED beads that kick out 900 lumens for a bright, but not obnoxiously bright, amount of light.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 1 day
• Hours of Light: 8 to 10
• Lumens: 900 lumens
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: 180 degrees
• Detection distance: 30 feet

The Sunforce solar motion security light is the best solar security light for areas with low light levels throughout the year.

A big part of that is that the light comes with an amorphous solar panel which is specifically useful for this kind of situation. So, if you’re up north in the Yukon, live in the cloudiest city in the USA, or otherwise have a climate that doesn’t lend itself to consistent sunny days, you’ll want to check this out.

The light is fully weather resistant and can be mounted just about anywhere. The solar panel can be placed up to fifteen feet away from the light as well, to help make sure you can position it in the place you’re most likely to get the most direct sunlight possible.

The Sunforce comes with 3 AA rechargeable batteries for your battery backup. They also come with the mountain hardware you need for placing the light and solar panel in the best places for getting your driveway and yard lit up.

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The Best Dusk to Dawn Flood Lights

There are advantages to a dusk to dawn light as well. These lights keep things lit through the night, though they usually aren’t quite as bright as the automatic on/off lights to prevent keeping folks inside awake all night. Of course, depending on where you position the lights, you may want something brighter anyway.

As for my house, I personally prefer dusk to dawn lights because they allow someone to have access to light even outside the trigger range for the light. This means when my elderly guests come by, they’re not stumbling in the dark, looking for some help.

#1. Chinly 100W Solar Powered Flood Lights – The Brightest LED Flood Light (EDITOR’S CHOICE)

Overall Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

For an incredibly bright – possibly “ow! That hurts!” kind of light scheme for your yard, you’re going to want to check out the Chinly 100W Solar Powered Flood lights. These suckers provide up to 5000 lumens of light. That’s five times the average brightness of flood lights.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 8 hours
• Hours of Light: 10 hours
• Wattage: 100W
• Lumens: 5000 lumens
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: 120 degrees
• Detection distance: unknown

The whopping 196 LED lights in the rectangular single head of the flood lights from Chinly will keep anything brightly lit for as long as the power lasts – which is all night. They’re rated for IP67 – incredibly weather proof – and built to last for many years.

The light works as a flood or security light with the crazy brightness and has remote control options that allow you to truly control everything with them.

The lights provide coverage for 120 degrees, with 590 remote control range for using the various functions and features of the light.

It’s designed to last up to 50,000 hours, with a range of almost 300 meters square – about 3000 square feet.

The light has several modes including auto mode and 3/5/8 hours modes. You can adjust the lighting modes for brightness as well, with full or half lighting, with the ability to increase or decrease the brightness by increments.

The light and panel use a 16-foot cable to connect so that you can position both for optimum use for your needs. The light also provides dusk to dawn lighting for up to 10 hours with only 8 hours good sunshine charging time.

You can install the light either by hanging it or by affixing it to a wall or post with the provided screws.

The Chinly light comes with a 2-year warranty.

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#2. Solar Flood Lights with 120 LEDs from Hulppre – Best Extreme Weather Solar Flood Lights

Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

The Solar Flood Lights with 120 LEDs from Hulppre are a fantastic, versatile solar powered flood light that has three different mounting options that meet your every need for placement.

The light can be mounted on a wall, like most flood lights, but you can also affix it to a post or pole for more unique placement in the yard, or via a stake – provided by Hulppre – for a broader light-up for the yard.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 8 to 12 hours
• Hours of Light: 10 to 12 hours
• Wattage: 20W
• Lumens: 1000 lumens
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: 120 degrees
• Detection distance: unknown

The Hulppre solar flood light is made from extremely sturdy materials that are rated to IP65 waterproof and can handle up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

This means these lights are great for anyone living in a desert environment or other temperature zone – think Florida with intense heat and extreme rain.

The lights are framed with sturdy aluminum and tempered glass, with 120 LED lights powering up to 1000 lumens.

The solar panel and light use a 16-foot cord for perfect placement and provides you with up to 12 hours of light. The panel is high efficiency and is also able to provide light after cloudy days.

The light works as either an automatic light or has a waterproof on/off switch as well, providing you with the most control possible.  The Hulppre light comes with a 14-month warranty and has a 30-day money back guarantee.

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#3. Solar Pir Security Light – Best Front Door Flood Light

Overall Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars

If you’re looking for a straight-forward, no-nonsense flood light, the Solar Pir from Sunlong is the way to go. It’s highly rated by tons of users and will last a long time.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 1 day
• Hours of Light: 8 to 10 hours
• Lumens: 800 lumens
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: 160 degrees
• Detection distance: 9 to 32 feet, depending on the angle

The Solar Pir from Sunlong is a great flood light for using in just about any space. It provides a bright natural white light for covering patios, doorways, and decks.

The cord between panel and light is 16.4 feet, so you’re able to place both easily to cover the most area while getting the most sun exposure possible.

The light and panel are waterproof and able to withstand heavy weather conditions and have a life span of about 2 years in the battery backup. When it comes time to replace the pack, it just takes a few simple tools.

The light has a sensing angle of 160 degrees, with a range of between 9 and 32 feet, depending on the angle at which the light is set.

It has an easily adjusted sensitivity to light option, which means you can tweak it for lower or higher light situations, depending on your needs, and is, of course, a dusk to dawn light.

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#4. Semilits Solar Flood Lights – Best Mid-Brightness Solar Flood Lights

Overall Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars

For a mid-range lumens light, the Semilitis Solar Flood Lights are a fantastic option for your yard. The lower lumens are great for homes where just a bit of brightness is needed without drowning the yard in brightness.

The 500 lumens from the Semilitis provides you with wide coverage and long-lasting light.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Charge time: 8 to 12 hours
• Hours of Light: 8 to 10 hours
• Wattage: 6W
• Lumens: 500
• Backup battery: yes
• Detection range: 120 degrees
• Detection distance: unknown

The Semilitis lights have 54 LED lights in the single, rectangular head provide your yard with 120 degrees of 500 lumen-bright light. The solar panel provides 6 watts of power over 8 to 10 hours, and the back-up battery makes sure the light stays lit all night, as needed.

This dusk to dawn light provides constant light at a lower wattage than many options, so it’s a great option for homes and businesses that need light that won’t blind the neighbors.

The light comes with a 16-foot cable that connects the light and solar panel so that you have a wide area in which you can mount both for optimum use. This light can either installed on the wall or on the provided spike.

The light comes with a 14-month warranty.

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The Best Solar Flood Lights Around

Now that you’ve seen the many options, you’re ready to shop.

Think through your needs – motion detector, multi-function, or dawn to dusk – and your climate.

If you’ve got low sunlight terrain you’re working with, consider lights with amorphous panels.

If you live in places with bright, consistent sunlight for more of the year, you’ll want to do with panels that are monocrystalline or polycrystalline instead.

The above best solar powered motion security light reviews are all mono or poly unless otherwise stated.

Don’t forget to think through the range you need, the angle of detection you need, and the brightness you want for your lights. Once you’ve got all these things in hand, you’ll be good to go for choosing the right solar powered security lights for your home, office, or worksite.