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Our Top Picks
Best Overall: LEONLITE LED Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights at Amazon
“Durable, bright (1,800 lumens), and can detect motion up to 70 feet away.'
Best Budget: LITOM Original Solar Lights at Amazon
“It’s highly functional and won’t put a dent in your wallet.”
Best LED: Sengled Smartsense Outdoor LED Bulbs at Amazon
“These LED light bulbs are energy efficient and long-lasting.”
Best Solar: Lande Solar Motion Sensor Flood Lights at Walmart
“Uses solar energy to power the LED lights at night.”
Best Decorative: Heath-Zenith Mission-Style Security Light at Amazon
“These light fixtures have an oil-rubbed bronze finish and seeded glass.“
Best Flood Lights: Defiant Motion-Activated Flood Light at Home Depot
“Has three lamp heads and casts light in a 270-degree detection zone.”
Best Wireless: Mr Beams Outdoor Wireless LED SpotLight at Home Depot
“This spotlight installs in a matter of minutes with the included hardware.“
Best Flush Mount: Heath-Zenith 4-Light Octagonal Flush Mount at Wayfair
“The motion-sensing ceiling light is easy to install and has a nice design.”
Best Overall: LEONLITE 2 Head LED Outdoor Motion Sensor Floodlights
Excellent
When choosing the right security lights for your home, there are many factors to consider before making a purchase. You'll want to think about the design, brightness, light range, and reactiveness. If you're looking to invest in a lasting product, one of the best security lights available today is the LEONLITE 2-Head LED Outdoor Motion Sensor Floodlight. It's durable, bright (1,800 lumens), and can detect motion up to 70 feet away.
This two-headed fixture lets you angle the lights in whatever direction you choose, and the ultra-bright LED bulbs will ensure you can always see what’s going on in the backyard. The light comes with three operation modes: manual, auto, and “dusk to dawn.” If you want this to act as a conventional security light, you'll want to utilize auto mode. When it’s on auto mode, the lights will turn on when the sensor detects motion and you can set how long it stays lit before shutting itself off. Because this has an IP65 waterproof rating it can withstand harsh weather conditions, but it comes with a five-year warranty in case you have any issues.
Reviewers rave about these LED Floodlights from LEONLITE, saying that the adjustable dual heads were great for lighting up select areas of their yard. Plus, the LED bulbs will last much longer than standard light bulbs and save you money on energy costs, and the motion sensors were quite reactive.
Best Budget: LITOM Original Solar Lights
If you need to install a number of motion sensor lights outside your home, you may be looking for a low-cost option, and the LITOM Original Solar Light Outdoor costs less than $20 per unit. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing light, but it’s highly functional and won’t put a dent in your wallet.
These lights run off solar power with a battery backup, so you don’t have to wire them into your home. They’re outfitted with 24 LED lights that have an illumination range of 270 degrees, which is 50 percent wider than most competitors. The fixture has a motion sensor that can detect movement up to 26 feet away, and the lights are heat-proof and waterproof, so you can mount them on your garage or another uncovered area. Another benefit is the high-efficiency solar panel which helps them charge up faster than normal solar lights.
Reviewers love that these budget-friendly outdoor lights are extremely bright and don’t use electricity, and many say the motion sensor is triggered with the slightest sign of movement.
For added security, consider installing a home security system or security camera, which is easier than you might expect and will give you peace of mind.
Best LED: Sengled Smartsense Outdoor LED Motion Sensor Bulbs
If you already have an outdoor light fixture, you can make it motion-activated with the Sengled LED Light Bulbs. These innovative bulbs have built-in motion sensors that let you easily transform standard fixtures into motion-activated lights.
These LED light bulbs are energy efficient and long-lasting, saving you money on both electricity and replacement bulbs. They have a built-in motion sensor that detects movement up to 30 feet away, and they’ll automatically turn on for 90 seconds. They’re easy to install—just treat them like regular light bulbs—and you can safely place them outdoors as they’re wet-rated. According to reviewers, these LED motion-sensing bulbs are durable and efficient, and they’re a great option for anyone who wants to upgrade an existing light fixture.
Check out our other reviews of the best outdoor light bulbs. There's a multitude of options that range from bug-repelling bulbs to dimmable units.
Best Solar: Lande Solar Motion Sensor Security Flood Light, 2-Pack
You can harness the power of the sun with solar-powered outdoor motion-sensor lights like the Lande Solar Motion Sensor Security Flood Lights. This two-pack of light fixtures include solar panels that charge during the day, using solar energy to power the LED lights at night.
Each of the fixtures has adjustable LED lamps that you can angle in whatever direction you choose, and their motion sensors can detect movement up to 16 feet away. The lights will automatically start at dusk and turn off at dawn, and the lights themselves illuminate a 180-degree area. Many reviewers say the lights are brighter than they expected, but some do note that the fixtures are a bit tricky to install.
Interested in reading more reviews? Take a look at our selection of the best outdoor solar lights.
Best Design: Heath-Zenith Mission-Style Motion-Sensing Decorative Security Light
Many motion-sensor lights are quite utilitarian, with a plain design and limited color offerings. However, if you’re looking for outdoor lights to put on your porch or to act as landscape lighting, opt for something more visually appealing. In this case, we recommend the Heath-Zenith Mission-Style Security Light, which comes with a beautiful exterior that will match just about any decor.
These light fixtures have an oil-rubbed bronze finish and seeded glass that makes them a classic addition to the exterior of your home. They detect motion up to 30 feet away at 150 degrees, and you can use them with 60-watt incandescent bulbs (which you have to buy separately). Once the light is on, you can choose whether it shuts off after 1, 5, or 10 minutes. It also has a manual override that allows it to function as a standard light fixture, as well.
Best Flood Lights: Defiant Motion-Activated Outdoor Triple-Head Flood Light
Floodlights are typically brighter and cast a wider path of light than standard outdoor lights, and if you want to illuminate your whole yard, the Defiant Motion-Activated Outdoor Triple-Head Flood Light is an unbeatable product. This light has three lamp heads and casts light in a 270-degree detection zone, so you can see everything that’s happening in your yard.
This flood light has several unique features, including an adjustable color temperature, which allows you to choose whether you want a cool or warm light. The light is powered by bright LEDs that will last for years and save energy, and the motion detector can sense motion up to 70 feet away, making it ideal for those with larger yards. Plus, it’s marketed as easy to install by DIYers, with just three steps. 'After getting it installed I waited until nighttime to adjust the controls, and it's so bright that I can see the whole driveway and then some. It was easy to install and works great,' enthused one online reviewer.
Best Wireless: Mr Beams Outdoor Weatherproof Wireless LED Ultra Bright Spot Light
Electrical wiring can be quite confusing, so you may prefer to buy a wireless light that’s easier to install. In this case, one of the best products you can buy is the Mr Beams Outdoor LED Ultra Bright Spot Light, a motion-activated fixture that runs on four D-batteries.
This motion-activated LED spotlight can detect movement up to 40 feet away, automatically turning on its bulbs, which illuminate areas up to 400 square feet. The light turns off after 20 seconds to conserve battery power, and based on an average use of eight to ten activations per day, your batteries should last for about a year. This spotlight installs in a matter of minutes with the included mounting hardware, and the weatherproof design allows you to place it anywhere around your yard, garage, porch, or deck.
Best Flush Mount: Heath-Zenith 4-Light Octagonal Flush Mount with Motion Sensor
Many motion sensor lights are designed to be mounted on the wall, but there are also some ceiling- or flush-mounted options, including the highly rated Heath-Zenith 4-Light Octagonal Flush Mount Light. It has a weather-resistant finish that allows you to mount it in a damp area, such as a porch, and it will match well with both traditional and contemporary decor.
This flush-mounted light uses three incandescent bulbs, and the octagon frame features a frosted glass shade that gives off uniform illumination. It also includes a 360-degree motion sensor that detects movement up to 30 feet away, and you can hardwire it to a switch if you want to manually control it. Reviewers say this motion-sensing ceiling light is easy to install and has a nice design, but a few customers mention that it feels a bit low-quality considering the price point.
Products Tested byThe Spruce
How We Tested
Our reviewers spent 147 hours testing one of best outdoor motion sensor lights available. To get the most accurate results, our testers installed it at home and observed how it reacted to different motions, night after night. We asked our reviewers to consider the most important features when using this outdoor motion sensor light, from its range to its reactiveness. We've outlined the key points here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in an Outdoor Motion Sensor Light
Location The spot where you plan to put your motion sensor light often dictates which one is the best fit. If you’re putting it on the porch, you may want a wall- or ceiling-mounted unit, while a light on the garage often benefits from having dual-headed sensors. There are also stake-style lights that are perfect for walkways and other areas of your yard.
Wiring Think about whether you’d prefer a hard-wired motion sensor light or a battery-powered unit. Hard-wired products are generally more complicated to install, but you won’t ever need to change the battery. On the other hand, battery-powered units can be placed anywhere and are usually much easier to install.
Design Depending on where your motion sensor light is located, you may want to consider how important its design is to you. Some units look like standard outdoor lights and will match your home’s aesthetic, while other products are more plain and utilitarian.
Test Results: LEONLITE Dual-Head LED Outdoor Security Light (Best Overall)
Excellent
What We Don't Like
Small light range
This device was a “great motion light for the price,” according to one of our testers, who also found it to be easy to install, durable, “very bright,” and effective. Even a slight drawback — a small range — didn’t really make a difference to our reviewers. “The light range may not be big,” one person said, “but it fulfills its purpose by lighting the entrance when someone is approaching. I’d still say it’s enough light.”