After speaking with Dalderop and Sam Levene, Director at LLI Design, about what to look for when buying outdoor lights, we researched and judged dozens of bulbs on their cost, brightness, smart capabilities, and energy efficiency to find the best outdoor light bulbs to suit your needs. Our best overall pick is the Philips Hue White Outdoor, a smart, affordable, bright, and energy-efficient light bulb that ticks almost every box you could want from safe and effective outdoor lighting. Here are the best outdoor light bulbs. Many regard the Philips Hue outdoor light bulbs as some of the best on the market, and, within this range, its White Outdoor light bulb is a top seller. The dimmable LED bulb combines smart features, including remote controls and automation, with durability for an affordable price. Elsewhere, it has a weatherproof design, and Philips claims it will last up to 25,000 hours. The one downside to the Philips White Outdoor bulb, and it’s quite a substantial one, is that the light’s smart features won’t work without a Philips Hue hub. The Hue hub is available separately, and purchasing one can more than double the initial outlay. The lower starting price of the bulb softens this blow, and if you can afford the hub, it’s worth the extra money, but this may not be for everyone’s budget. Price at time of publish: $55 The bulb offers 1200 lumens but doesn’t have a dimmer function. The light’s color more closely resembles daylight to soften the brightness and make it easier on the eyes. The output is softer and more appealing than the artificial white light used on other bulbs, making this option suitable for indoor and outdoor use. While marketed as an outdoor light, be aware that this bulb is water-resistant but not waterproof. For example, it won’t work as an exposed floodlight, but you can use it under a cover or similar. Price at time of publish: $13 The GE CYNC bulbs we’ve selected for this list are the Smart Outdoor Flood Light bulbs because they offer millions of color options, including a tunable white spectrum. Besides using the app to change the lighting and set the mood, you can schedule the bulbs to turn on and off. They can also be remotely accessed. Previous CYNC lights we’ve tested often dropped the connection. GE appears to have solved this with this latest version, where the issue was much less prevalent. Price at time of publish: $45 Fitted into each bulb are a motion sensor and a photocell sensor. Once the motion sensor activates, the light will stay on for five minutes. The light will then turn off and disable the motion-sensing features at dawn before turning them back on at dusk. These bulbs are the easiest outdoor light bulbs to install and set up on this list. Our one complaint is that the motion sensor’s sensitivity can be temperamental. Price at time of publish: $35 Edison bulbs get their name because they look like the early bulbs invented by Thomas Edison. They are typically incandescent bulbs with filaments, but Sunco’s version uses LED technology instead. This tech makes them longer-lasting—Sunco promises 15,000 hours—and more energy-efficient, offering the equivalent of 60-watts for just 8.5. One downside is that these bulbs are on the large side, and you’ll need to have a dimmer switch fitted to use their dimmable features. Price at time of publish: $16 The softer lighting emitted from these Hansang bulbs makes them less suited to large outdoor parties or for particularly dark yards. However, they are great for more cozy, intimate gatherings. These bulbs are also suitable for indoor use and might be particularly beneficial in the bedroom because of the warm color temperature. Price at time of publish: $16 GTAREN promises that the bulb will last 50,000 hours, which is the equivalent of 23 years when used for an average of four hours a day. There is a very slight delay (around a second) between flicking the switch and the lights reaching full brightness, but this is a minor complaint, as is the fact that these bulbs are large. They’re not suitable for small spaces because of this size and just how bright they are. Price at time of publish: $40 In this mode, the light will automatically turn off at sunrise, too, thanks to its built-in photocell sensor. Alternatively, when in Always On mode, you manually turn the bulb on and off, disabling the motion-sensing features. This bulb is sensitive and might respond to blowing leaves. We like this feature, but it could be distracting if the light is outside a window or similar. Unfortunately, the motion sensitivity isn’t adjustable. The bulb’s light is also on the soft side, especially if you want to use it as a floodlight. On the plus side, the bulb is waterproof, not just water-resistant. Price at time of publish: $30
Motion and Security Features
Some outdoor bulbs are great for security purposes, thanks to built-in motion sensors that will turn the light on if an object passes by. Others will illuminate the night with 360-degree light distribution, making it easier to see shadowy corners or the edge of your yard. Some models can be programmed to turn on automatically at dusk, or you can use an app to turn them on and off from your smartphone. These options for automation can give you more peace of mind and increase the comfort and security of your yard.
Weather Resistance
If you’re looking for an outdoor light bulb, you may need to think about types of potential weather exposure. While some bulbs are considered weatherproof and can stand up to rain and snow, others need protection from the elements. “From a technical perspective, always make sure that the fitting you are using has the appropriate ingress protection rating (IP rating). This tells you how waterproof the fitting is for the location in which you are going to install the fitting,” says Levene. “Some fittings will need [a] lower IP rating if they are in a sheltered location such as under a soffit or eaves. Whereas other fittings will need more if they are in a more exposed location.” Levene also recommends getting help from an electrician “who should be able to advise on requirements and local regulations.”
Why Trust The Spruce?
Victoria Woollaston is a freelance science, technology, and lifestyle editor with more than a decade’s experience testing and reviewing consumer products. She’s had first-hand experience with the majority of outdoor light bulbs in this list, as well as a number of others from different manufacturers and of different types. Her home uses a motion-activated floodlight on the front and pedestal lights combined with dimmable overhead lights in her yard. As a guideline for choosing bulbs, here’s how the two compare:
40 watts = 450 lumens60 watts = 800 lumens75 watts = 1100 lumens100 watts = 1600 lumens150 watts = 2600 lumens
Steps and walkways: 100 to 200 lumensSecurity lights: 700 lumensHardscape lights, such as outdoor patio lighting: 50 to 200 lumens, depending on the areaLandscape lights: 50 to 300 lumens, depending on the area or object being litMotion sensor lights: 700 lumensFloodlights: 700 to 1300 lumens, depending on the area or objectPool lights: 200 to 400 lumens
To learn what to look for when choosing outdoor light bulbs, Woollaston spoke with Sam Levene, Director at interior design and architecture studio LLI Design, and Jeroen Dalderop, co-founder of Innr. Using these expert insights, she looked for outdoor light bulbs that were easy to set up and that conserved energy without sacrificing brightness and features. She also judged them based on design, price, and smart capabilities. She prioritized outdoor light bulbs that would suit most home and garden setups and which offered more than just light to make them better value for money.
