About Outdoor Lights
Good outdoor lights welcome guests at the door, light the way up the walk and help light the sides and back of the house at night. Every fixture has to handle the weather, so check its rating first, then size it to the door, post or path it serves.
Types of outdoor lights
- Outdoor Wall Sconces Lanterns and sconces for front doors, garages and patios. The first light guests see.
- Post Lights Lanterns that top a post along a driveway or front walk.
- Outdoor Ceiling Lights Flush mounts, pendants and lanterns for covered porches and entries.
- Landscape Lights Path lights, in-ground lights, bollards and spotlights that light walkways and show off trees and the front of the house.
- Outdoor Lamps Outdoor lamps are table and floor lamps made for patios and porches, for light right where you sit outside.
- Deck Lights Step lights set into stairs and walls, and pier-mount lights for rails, columns and gate posts, so people can see where they're stepping.
- Security Lights Bright floodlights, often with motion sensors, for driveways, side yards and the back of the house.
How to choose outdoor lights
- Rating and size Check the rating for where the light hangs, then size it to the door. The charts below cover both.
- Controls Dusk-to-dawn sensors switch lights on and off automatically. Motion sensors turn lights on when someone approaches and use less energy the rest of the time.
Outdoor light ratings explained
| Rating | What it handles | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Damp rated | Humidity and condensation, no direct water | Covered porches, screened patios, solid-roof pergolas, under a deep roof overhang |
| Wet rated | Rain, snow, sprinklers and hose spray | Exposed walls, posts, open patios, open or slatted pergolas, anywhere wind-driven rain can reach |
| Coastal finish | Salt air that corrodes standard finishes. "Marine grade" is a maker's term, so check the claim | Homes near the ocean or a salt-water bay; within a mile or two, choose one |
Outdoor light size chart
| Where it goes | How to size it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One light by the door | About 30% to a third of the door's height | 80" door: 24" to 27" tall |
| A pair by the door | About a quarter of the door's height each | 80" door: about 20" each |
| Garage door | A quarter to a third of the door's height | 7 ft (84") door: about 21" to 28" each side |
| Mounting height | Center about 66" above the threshold | Beside front and garage doors, just above eye level |
Outdoor light specs explained
- Finish Powder-coated aluminum and solid brass are good outdoor finishes. Unlacquered brass darkens over time and can turn green near salt water. Near the coast, pick a coastal-rated finish, since a chipped powder coat lets salt reach the metal.
- Dusk-to-dawn sensor Turns the light on at dusk and off at dawn, so porch lights run without a switch.
- Motion sensor Turns the light on when someone approaches. Best for security and side-yard lights.
- Color temperature 2700K to 3000K looks warm on a house. Security floodlights often run 4000K to 5000K, which reads as bright white but glares more. DarkSky recommends 3000K or lower, shielded and aimed down.
Outdoor lighting questions
What's the difference between damp and wet rated?
Damp-rated lights handle humidity and condensation but not direct water, so they belong under a solid roof that keeps rain off them: a covered porch or a screened patio. Wet-rated lights are built for direct rain, snow and hose spray, for exposed walls, posts, open patios and open or slatted pergolas. If wind-driven rain can reach the fixture, choose wet rated.
How big should outdoor lights be by the front door?
One light beside the door should be about 30% to a third of the door's height. A pair should be about a quarter each. For a standard 80" door, that's about 24" to 27" for a single light, or about 20" each for a pair. Outdoor lights look smaller from the street than they do in the box.
How high should outdoor wall lights be mounted?
Center wall lanterns about 66" above the threshold, just above eye level, so the light reaches faces and the lock. Choose a frosted or shielded lens to cut glare. On a garage, mount lights beside the door, centered about 66" up; a light mounted over the door sits about 6" above it.
Can I use an outdoor lamp on a covered patio?
Yes, if it's rated for outdoor use, and it puts light right where you sit, which a wall light can't. Choose damp rated under a solid roof, wet rated anywhere rain can reach it. Plug it into a GFCI outlet with a weatherproof in-use cover, or choose a cordless rechargeable lamp. Use only outdoor-rated lamps outside.
What color light is best outside?
2700K to 3000K looks warm and welcoming on a house and doesn't wash out its colors. Security floodlights often run 4000K to 5000K, which reads as bright white but glares more and spills farther. DarkSky International recommends 3000K or lower, shielded and aimed down.
Should outdoor lights have motion sensors?
For security lights, yes: they switch on when someone approaches and stay off the rest of the time, so they use less energy. For porch and entry lights, a dusk-to-dawn sensor keeps the house lit through the evening without anyone flipping a switch.
