One of the best ways to save money, be green, and still light up the drive and yard is through solar-powered lights. There are a ton of different styles and options out there, but one of the most convenient choices is the solar gutter light.
Today we’ll take a look at how they work, the benefits of having them, and, of course, some solar gutter lights reviews so you can choose the right ones for your home.
Quick-Find Table of the Best Solar Gutter Lights
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How Do Solar Gutter Lights Work?
Every solar powered light has a collection – or grid – of photovoltaic cells that make up the solar panel. These cells are the smooth, black grid-looking portions of the solar light that collect sunlight and convert the energy into useable electricity that runs the lights.
Many of these lighting systems have an automatic system component that turns the lights on and off when daylight rises or falls. This is through the use of outdoor motion sensors and light sensor technology.
This combined with the solar cells enables the batteries to store energy from the day of charging until nighttime when the light powers on and keeps things lit when needed.
Do you Need to Place Solar Panels in Direct Sun for the Gutter Lights to Fully Charge?
While it’s recommended that you position panels in direct sunlight, they technically only need to be exposed to daylight or other light sources. Direct sun will result in the strongest, fullest, charge, however.
How to Choose the Best Solar Gutter Lights
There are several things you want to keep in mind as you shop for your solar gutter lights.
- Battery charge time: How long does the gutter light require in direct or indirect sunlight/daylight to recharge for a full night’s worth of light?
- Hours lit: How long will the gutter lights stay lit on a full charge? On a partial charge? Will it be long enough for your average needs?
- Brightness: How many lumens does the solar gutter light put out? Will it be bright enough on a partial charge? (Note: the higher the lumens, the brighter the light.)
- Auto power: Is there an auto on/off switch or is it manual? Which is more suitable for your needs?
- Mounting options: Do you need clip-on gutter solar lights? Is a standard mount better?
- Brightness modes: Is there more than one brightness option? Is it the right one, if there’s only one? Will it be bright enough in that mode, too bright, or just right for your needs?
- Durability: What’s the reputation for the particular manufacturer and the model? Is it durable enough that it can handle the weather in your area? Is it waterproof to the degree you need it to be? Can it handle heavy snowfall? Lots of wind? Lots of rain?
Reviews on the Best Solar Gutter Lights
After loads of research and reviewing these gutter lights, we’re happy to provide you with this collection of the best solar powered gutter lights. They’re each high-quality, well-recommended, and do the trick for lighting up the lawn or drive.
We looked for specific things as we reviewed:
- Trusted brand
- High ratings from real customers
- Ease of install
- Ease of use
- Reasonable pricing
- Versatility
- Overall high-quality
If you’re looking for the top of the line, reasonably priced solar power gutter lights accessible to anyone, look no further than the InnoGear offerings.
Their solar gutter lights – wall light style – are simply the best out there. They’re made from high-quality materials, are easy to put together and install, come with lots of modes, shine brightly, as well, do everything you could want from a solar gutter light.
- Modes offered: 4
- Pack size: 2
- Number of bulbs: 36 LED bulbs
- Lumens: 450
- Motion sensor: Yes
- Mounting style: Outdoor wall sconce
What We Loved
First off, we love how sturdy and stable these lights are. They’re solidly built from weather-resistant materials that can handle heat, rain, and wind. They’re hermetically sealed with an internal loop to avoid issues with just about any kind of weather that might get thrown at them.
We also love the working modes the light offers. They have quarter brightness, half brightness, dim light with motion detector trigger to full brightness, and motion detector off with full brightness.
There are so many circumstances when these various modes would help that we can’t help but just love them.
We love how bright the lights are with such high capacity. It just takes standard daylight hours to charge for the night. And with that motion sensor put to the right setting, the lights will last up to 12 hours. That means they work in lower light environments.
Plus, this set comes with an aluminum mounting pole for easy, faster mounting and positioning exactly how you need them.
What We Didn’t Love
Honestly, there aren’t any cons on this one. They work well. They’re reasonably priced. They’re high-quality. They met every standard we look for.
Our Verdict
The InnoGear Solar Gutter Lights are top-notch. They meet everything we’re looking for, from mountain capability, to ease of install.
From light brightness to number of bulbs – this one is honestly the best solar gutter light set you’ll find on the market. The only potential “drawback” might be if you’d prefer clip on solar gutter lights instead of wall sconce style.
If you’re looking for a great gutter light that offers some ambience and safety rather than a bright, glaring light, then look at the JSOT Solar Gutter Lights.
They’re perfect for patios and other areas where you want some ambience. Plus they’re modestly priced and come in a pack of six lights for easy, perfect spread.
- Modes offered: 1
- Pack size: 6
- Number of bulbs: 9 per each
- Lumens: 75 per each
- Motion sensor: No
- Mounting style: Wall mount or clip on
What We Loved
These low light sun-power gutter lights are really great for creating a warm, ambient setting in your yard. They each have 9 bright LEDs that don’t overpower you, providing enough light but definitely not too much.
The style is very decorative, especially because you can remove the lamp covers and leave them exposed for a brighter/whiter light or keep the lamp on for a warmer feeling light.
The lights charge thoroughly throughout the day and last up to 8 hours overnight.
Plus you can install them to the wall or by clip on for just about any workable space.
What We Didn’t Love
The only thing we didn’t really love is that they don’t have a motion detector. In a lot of settings, this isn’t an issue, but in some, it would be. It’s more a taste or situational issue than a problem, however.
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for low, warm, inviting solar garden lights, then the JSOT solar gutter lights are a great option. They come in a six pack, with each light holding 9 bright LED bulbs.
They can mount on the wall or via clip on – becoming fence lights and gate lights – and they’re reasonably versatile. They don’t have a motion sensor, though, so if you’re looking for that, you’ll need to find something else.
If you’re looking for a super bright set of solar gutter lights, then look no further than the Creative Design 46 LED solar gutter light set.
It has four lighting modes, making it super versatile, plus they’re bright, stylish, and use a motion sensor and a big enough range to work as a bright flood light.
- Modes offered: 4
- Pack size: 2
- Number of bulbs: 46 LED lights per each
- Lumens: 500+
- Motion sensor: Yes
- Mounting style: Mountain pole
What We Loved
We love the four outdoor lighting modes that make this a super versatile, easy to use gutter light. You’ve got the auto light up at quarter brightness from dusk to dawn, the auto light up to half brightness from dusk to dawn, dim light with motion sensor to full brightness, and the off plus motion sensor to full brightness. These four modes give you just about as much versatility as you could ask for in a solar gutter light.
The powerful 46 LED lights make this a really bright choice at full light power. They have 34 LEDs on the front and 6 LEDs on the side, providing the brightest and best coverage for the area.
The lights are super easy to install, too, which is, of course, a huge must. The mountain pole can easily be adjusted and positioned to help the solar cells receive maximum light exposure for the brightest charge.
Plus, the lights are incredibly heatproof and water resistant with IP65 rating against wind and rain.
What We Didn’t Love
The only downside to these is that they don’t work well in regions where there’s heavy cloud cover and rain fall or snowfall often. They need that full power sunlight exposure to fully charge.
Our Verdict
If you want a bright set of solar gutter lights motion sensor powered, then you definitely want to consider the Creative Design 46 LED solar outdoor lights.
They’re the brightest around, with the widest light coverage, incredibly weather-proof, well-designed, attractive, and easy to install and use. The only potential issue is for folks who live in low light terrain. You’ll unfortunately need to look for lights with a different style of solar panel that works better in low light regions.
For powerful security lighting that won’t blind you when it goes from dim to bright light, try the InnoGear 24 LED solar light set.
It comes in a 4-pack, with each light containing 24 LED bulbs for that median brightness. Plus it has amazing motion detection up to 16 feet out and at 90-degree wide angles.
- Modes offered: 1
- Pack size: 4
- Number of bulbs: 24
- Lumens: 150
- Motion sensor: Yes
- Mounting style: Wall sconce
What We Loved
The InnoGear 24 LED light choice is a really great option for anyone looking for a security light at median light levels. The lights have a solid security mode of dim to bright upon motion detected. They’re sensitive enough to catch movement, but not so sensitive that they light up when a moth flits through the path.
They light up a much wider path than many of the other outdoor solar gutter lights as well, which is great for anyone looking for a bigger yard and outdoor garden coverage.
The lights are super easy to use and install, which we love, and they have a simple on/off switch to run them. You can have them installed in less than give minutes, actually.
And they’re incredibly weatherproof with an IP65 weather rating.
What We Didn’t Love
We really couldn’t find any specific negatives to this one. The only things that might not be favorable to all are just a matter of taste or need. If, for example, you want a dusk to dawn light, this isn’t it.
Our Verdict
The InnoGear 24 LED solar security lights are an amazing solar-powered, energy saving option for median light levels. The lights are bright, but not too bright, warm, and clarifying.
The motion sensor light has great range – within 16 feet and at 90-degree angles – and works well on a day’s charge. We really don’t have anything to say otherwise, unless you’re looking for dusk to dawn light, in which case you should look elsewhere.
For anyone looking to cover a larger portion of lawn area, the Roshwey Solar gutter lights are a great, low-light option.
They’re bright enough to see by but not bright enough to keep anyone awake. Plus, they’re a dusk to dawn light, so no hassles, and no fussing. Just install and let them go.
- Modes offered: 1
- Pack size: 6
- Number of bulbs: 9
- Lumens: 150
- Motion sensor: No
- Mounting style: Long or short bracket, double bracket, or clip
What We Loved
First off, we love the versatile mounting methods available with this one. They can be wall mounted on the short bracket, the long bracket, or a double bracket option, depending on the stability level you need. Or, if you like, you can use the included clip to mount them on a fence or gutter or other edged surface.
We also love the unique design of these lights. They’re just… fun. A lot of folks have compared them to a UFO in shape. So, sci-fi fans will love them.
The lights also have a long service life, which is a must. They can withstand heavy rain and moderate winds up to IP55 rating, meaning they work for most backyards.
And finally, we love the color range on the LEDs with the 7 shades: red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, purple, and white, all feeding that cool white light into a much more interesting and less harsh shade of light.
What We Didn’t Love
The only potential downside is the brightness. While the cool white light results in brighter light than a warm, yellowish light would, it’s still not that many lumens coming off. If you want something uber-bright, you should look at some of the other options instead.
Our Verdict
Ultimately, we love this 6-pack for a larger lawn that needs some low-light level spread. The cool white lights are fed by multiple shades of light, making the whiteness less harsh on the eyes than a straight “white” light normally is.
They’re also quite durable, very easy installation, and generally just a great light for anyone who doesn’t want something overly bright.
Benefits of Solar Gutter Lights
There are a lot of reasons that people choose to use solar eave lights at their home and office.
Low Maintenance
First off, solar lights of any kind tend to be low maintenance. You simply install them and then let them do their thing.
You only need to clean off the solar cells occasionally – once or twice a year, unless there’s been lots of severe weather – and check every now and then to make sure there’s no damage. That’s pretty much it for the lifetime of the solar lighting system.
Eco-Friendly
Of course, solar gutter lights are eco-friendly. They don’t require standard electricity, but rather create that electricity by converting the sun’s energy into usable power. So, no drain on the grid.
Budget-Friendly
Thanks to the many advances in the solar energy industry, solar lights are barely any more expensive upfront than standard lights that serve the same function.
So that means you have low up-front costs if you install yourself. And as time passes, the pay for the difference through the fact that you don’t have to pay more on that energy bill.
They don’t require batteries or other replacement parts, generally, either, so outdoor solar lights for gutters are super budget-friendly now and future.
Easy to Install
Also, gutter mounted solar lights are easy to install. There aren’t any wires to figure out how to connect to an outlet – or hide safely by burying or rewiring anything.
They just connect to the solar panel, which often is connected closely, and that’s it. You mount. You make sure they’re in direct – or as direct as you can get – sunlight, and make sure the switch is turned to the mode you want. Easy-peasy.
No Wires to Trip You Up
And not only is the “no wires” thing amazing for installation, but it means the solar lights are much safer. And anyone can safely use them. No wires to trip over. No electrical outlets or connections to deal with prior to setup. It’s a win-win, seriously.
Drawbacks of Solar Gutter Lights
Like with anything great, there are a few small drawbacks to using rain gutter solar lights.
Up-Front Costs Are Still Higher Than Standard Gutter Lights
Although the price difference isn’t huge anymore, there are still a lot of solar products – at least the ones from high-quality brands – that tend to cost more than standard gutter lights. So, the initial cost may be a little higher than the cheap option from Amazon. But if you’re looking for something that will last, the extra little bit isn’t, hopefully, that big of a deal.
Solar Energy is Quite Weather Dependent
Though solar energy products can still run on low light – such as cloudy weather light – they do still heavily rely on at least a base level of daylight to stay powered and strong.
If you live in an area where the sun doesn’t shine often during certain parts of the year – we’re looking at you Seattle, Russia, and Alaska – then going solar may not be the easiest and best route for you.
If, however, you’re in a sunny location, or at least receive average numbers of sunny days, then you should be fine. Solar gutter lights typically have backup batteries that store energy for future use.
A Lot of People Find Solar Panels Unattractive
There are many solar led gutter lights that have the solar panels tight, small, and close enough that you can’t really notice them. But there are still a lot that honestly aren’t the most attractive choice on the market.
If aesthetics is hugely important to you, there definitely options. But you will have to be more selective than some and carefully place the panels in locations where they won’t be seen too much.