Skip to main content

HappySprout may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best dusk to dawn outdoor lighting for your home

Sometimes referred to as LED barn lights, dusk to dawn outdoor lighting systems help increase security around a home’s perimeter. They typically feature a light sensor to automatically turn on at dusk and turn off at sunset. They tend to save on energy costs since they only illuminate when needed.

Many dusk to dawn outdoor lighting options are photocell-activated systems designed to sense natural light and then automatically adjust for longer or shorter night times. Many systems remain off unless motion is detected. Give these superior dusk to dawn outdoor lighting models a look to see how they can secure your home.

Lithonia Lighting Adjustable Twin Par Holder

Best Overall

Believe your security needs call for one of the best dusk to dawn outdoor lighting systems? Then get this one by Lithonia. It’s designed to provide focused illumination for outdoor use in residential spaces, walkways, patios, and play areas for a safer and more secure exterior. The system’s tool-free adjustable heads move up and down and side to side so light can be focused in two directions.

Maxxima LED Outdoor Wall Light

Best Design

If a dusk to dawn outdoor lighting system with a great design interests you, get the Maxxima LED Outdoor Wall Light. Resembling an old-fashioned lantern, it sports a black aluminum base and clear glass. The light is ideal for mounting outdoors by a front or side door, garage, porch, or most any other location. The fully integrated LED fixture offers 580 lumens and 3000K of warm white light output.

Bbounder Dusk to Dawn Outdoor Area Lights

Easiest to Install

If you’re concerned about any difficulty with installing a dusk to dawn outdoor lighting fixture, consider the easy-to-install option by Bbounder. It can be quickly affixed on an exterior wall or with various types of mounting arms. The lights are ideal for outdoors, a backyard, garage, street, commercial area, walkway, or parking lot. Featuring LED technology and photocells, the lights can reduce electric bills by 88 percent.

Linkind LED Solar Landscape Spotlights

Best Solar

Desire good solar-powered dusk to dawn outdoor lighting? Then the Linkind LED Solar Landscape Spotlights could be for you. The pack of four solar-power LED spotlights has high-brightness LED lamp beads and offers a 90-degree beam angle to produce up to 650 lumens of 6500K light output. The angle can be adjusted 180 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically.

Ensure there is bright light shining outside your home all night long by employing good dusk to dawn outdoor lighting fixtures. These primo options offer LED lights, automatic on/off capabilities, durability, and low-electricity usage.

Add a fire pit to your garden to take advantage of cool spring nights
How to build a DIY fire pit in your garden
Fire pit made of wall blocks with a lit fire

As winter turns into spring, the nights are finally warm enough to start going outside again, but still a little too cool to fully enjoy. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a fire pit that you and your friends could sit around? We certainly think so! If you’d like to get outside and enjoy your garden after dark, here’s how to create your own DIY fire pit.

Read more
How to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget and create the ideal cooking space
Building the outdoor kitchen of your dreams without breaking the bank
An outdoor built-in kitchen deck

There are many fantastic ways to enjoy your yard, especially during spring and summer. If the idea of inviting your friends and family over to sit outside and enjoy a nice home-cooked meal sounds appealing, then an outdoor kitchen should be at the top of your wishlist. The only caveat? They can be quite costly. For some, knowing how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget is a must—thankfully, that's entirely possible! All you need is some careful planning and some creativity.

Keep reading to get our tips on designing and building your dream outdoor kitchen without breaking the bank.

Read more
Is it safe to cut string lights hanging over your deck?
Your guide to choosing and cutting outdoor string lights safely
Hanging outdoor string lights

The many outdoor lighting options out there have the capacity to transform any backyard, deck, or patio into something remarkably beautiful. But have you ever bought a string of lights only to have it be slightly too long for where you want to hang it? And then you have to decide where to put the excess portion because you don’t want to leave it dangling, but you might not want it to look off-balance from the other end. If you don’t mind a little asymmetry, then don’t sweat it! But if you do, you’re probably wondering, “Can you cut string lights?” The short answer is yes.

Read more