Best Outdoor Light Bulbs

Tech Edged may earn a commission through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Beautiful home with bright outdoor light bulbs

Table of Contents

Outdoor bulbs are climate-durable lights used to illuminate patios, balconies, porch pathways, gardens, and other popular outdoor areas. They have particular designs, which are built to withstand harsher climates compared to regular bulbs. For example, most outdoor bulbs can withstand heavy rain, very low/high temperatures, and strong winds. These bulbs are also more durable and can be installed in special casings.

Before you buy bulbs for your outdoor lighting, you must do a little survey. You should decide where you want to install these bulbs, what purpose these bulbs will serve, and how many bulbs you need. This will help you decide on factors such as illumination, light temperatures, wet ratings, and power consumption. For example, if you’re looking for bulbs that light up pathways, getting dusk-till-dawn bulbs will be helpful. However, if you want a party environment, colored lighting would probably be more attractive.

It is also important to know what kind of bulb you’re buying. Not all bulb holders are the same, and specific items are marked with a particular code like E27, E26, T5, etc. These markings denote the type of base in which you’ll install the light. You need to make sure that your bulb and holder have the same base. We’ve put together a list of factors you should consider when buying outdoor lighting.

What to Look for In an Outdoor Smart Bulb

LED

Filament bulbs were the norm for decades, but as electric circuits became less and less expensive during the turn of the twentieth century, they found their way into lighting. LED lights use electrical diodes, which emit light when current passes through them. These bulbs are much more efficient than conventional lighting, with a 5W LED bulb giving out the same light roughly as a 60W conventional bulb. They are also more durable and less prone to fading and flickering.

Brightness and color temperature

The brightness of a bulb is measured in lumens and is displayed on the packaging. The higher the number of lumens, the higher the brightness. Many bulbs can also be dimmed using electrical switches or mobile apps. Outdoor bulbs used as a singular unit are usually quite powerful with brightness ranging from 1000-5000 lumens, while bulbs used in groups are usually less bright. Another specification you’ll see on the box is color temperature, which is measured in Kelvins. Simply put, color temperature refers to the shade of light. The higher the temperature, the more crisp and bright the light, while lower temperatures give out a warm glowing feeling.

Motion sensor and security features

Lights with motion sensors are usually used in pathways or rooms tucked away from the daily use areas, such as garages or attics. Motion sensors detect any movement across their face and turn the lights on automatically. These sensors are also used in security lights, which are installed next to possible security breaches. These security lights are usually quite powerful and turn on immediately when they sense movement while also sending alarm notifications to your security system. These lights were susceptible to false alarms or going off due to small animals in the past. However, modern image processing techniques can differentiate animals and inanimate objects from humans, making these lights more accurate.

Weather-resistance and lifespan

Weather resistance is usually marked as an IPS rating on the package. You can check out what these ratings mean here. However, in general, weather-resistant lights can withstand heavy rainfall and windstorms due to better designs. These lights are less susceptible to extreme temperatures and can operate in both humid and dry conditions.

The lifespan of a light bulb is usually written in the form of hours. They usually range from 15000 to 25000 hours. Sometimes, manufacturers might write the number of years instead of hours. It is important to know that the number of years is dependent on how many hours the manufacturer allotted to a day. If you use it for more hours, the light will last for less time.

Smart capabilities

 Modern Smart lights are interconnective with smart home assistants and hubs. These lights usually use Bluetooth or WiFi to connect with each other and other smart home devices such as hubs and voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Hey Google. Once connected, you can use apps on your phone or voice assistants to control these lights without manual switches. You can also use extended features like setting up timers, creating lighting routines and schedules, and integrating lights with other sensors such as locks and motion detection. Smart lights give you extended control and functionality and can be integrated into a personalized smart home network.

Best Outdoor Light Bulbs

Hykolity Led Flood Light

hykolity Outdoor Led Flood Light, Waterproof PAR38 LED Bulb, Dimmable, 15W=150W, 5000K Daylight, 1600lm, E26 Base, UL Listed (6 Pack)

Verdict: Best Outdoor Flood Light Bulb

Hykolity’s LED floodlight offers durability and weather protection in a high-quality plastic design. This floodlight is dimmable and quite energy efficient. You won’t get smart home connectivity, though.

Specifications

Bulb Type: Dimmable Par38 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 25,000 hours | Brightness: 1600 lumens | Color temperature: 2700-5000K | Power consumption: 15 watts | IPS Rating: IP65 (wet location rated)

Benefits

  • Good brightness for  a 15W bulb
  • Wet location rated
  • Durable

Drawbacks

  • No smart connectivity

Hykolity’s LED Floodlight is an excellent product based on its quality and durability. Floodlights are usually a lot more difficult to replace, and they are prone to occasional power problems. So to get a floodlight that offers a decent illumination profile while providing durability is quite impressive. Apart from the 1600 lumens of brightness, you get a 5000K temperature that perfectly mimics daylight. Hykolity’s floodlight is also wet rated, so you can install it directly outside a window or a door without worrying about water getting into the base or bulb.

Unfortunately, Hykolity’s floodlight is not smart, so you can connect it to a smart home assistant/hub. You can control it through a dimmer switch, moving between 5% and 100% brightness. Additionally, you get a 3 years warranty with this light, which is more than what other floodlight manufacturers offer.

LOHAS Dusk to Dawn Light Bulb

LOHAS Dusk to Dawn Light Bulbs Outdoor, Light Sensor Bulb 60W Equivalent, A19 LED Bulb Daylight 5000K, 9W Photocell Sensor LED, 900LM Auto On/Off Porch Light, E26 Base for Garage, 2Pack

Verdict: Best Dusk Till Dawn Bulb

Lohas’s Dusk to Dawn LED bulb offers durability, energy efficiency, and decent illumination on an E26 base. It has a large photosensor installed on its body that can detect sunlight and only turn on if sunlight isn’t falling on it. This means you can avoid manual switching and ensure that your home stays lit during the entire night.

Specifications

Bulb Type: A19 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 30,000 hours | Brightness: 900 lumens | Color temperature: 5000K (Daylight) | Power consumption: 9 watts | IPS Rating: N/A

Benefits

  • Photocell sensor removes the need for manual switching
  • Durable

Drawbacks

  • It cannot be used in heavy rain

Lohas’s Dusk to Dawn LED bulb is perfect for areas of your home where manual switching can be avoided. This bulb has a photoelectric sensor built right into it. It’s the red spot you see on the body. The sensor can detect sunlight and turn off automatically if light falls on it. The sensor is larger than on most streetlights, which helps Lohas’s bulb capture more light and be sensitive to smaller changes. This means you can use it inside a casing, like in street lights, garden lights, garages, or simply light up a dark pathway.

This LED bulb offers 900 lumens at 5000K temperature, which appears as daylight. It is also more durable than most bulbs, with Lohas claiming 30000 hours of lifetime. You’ll need to install them on an E26 base and will need to keep these bulbs away from heavy rainfall.

Cree Lighting Connected Max Smart LED Bulb

Cree Lighting Connected Max Smart Led Bulb Par38 Outdoor Flood Tunable White + Color Changing, 2.4 Ghz, Works With Alexa And Google Home, No Hub Required, Bluetooth + Wifi, 1Pk

Verdict: Best Outdoor Smart Bulb

Cree’s Smart Bulb offers an excellent color and temperature range in a durable and weatherproof bulb. It can be connected via WiFi or Bluetooth to multiple Smart home assistants and be used through voice commands. In addition, you can download the mobile app for additional features such as timers, routines, and grouping more than one bulb.

Specifications

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | Bulb Type: PAR38 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 25,000 hours | Brightness: 1200 lumens | Color temperature: 2200K-6500K | Power consumption: 14 watts | IPS Rating: UL Wet Rated

Benefits

  • Can be controlled through voice control using Alexa, Siri, or Hey Google
  • Wide color and temperature range
  • No hub required

Drawbacks

  • No manual dimming

Cree is one of the leading brands in smart home lighting, and its PAR38 bulb is a great option for use outdoors. It is wet-rated, which means you won’t have to worry about heavy rain. In addition, this LED bulb offers a decent illumination of 1200 lumens using 14W of energy. The temperature and color of lighting are adjustable. You’ll get an RGB range of colors and 2200-6500K white light temperatures which helps set any mood you want outside or inside.

The defining feature of Cree’s Smart LED bulb is its smart home connectivity. You can connect this bulb with multiple voice assistants such as Alexa and Siri and use it through voice commands. In addition, the mobile app offers complete control over the bulb. You can turn it on/off, set color/temperature, create timers, group multiple bulbs, or set routines to complement the natural light.

Brightown Outdoor Patio String Lights

Outdoor String Lights 25 Feet G40 Globe LED Patio Lights with 13 Edison Plastic Bulbs(1 Spare), Waterproof Connectable Hanging Lights for Backyard Porch Balcony Party Decor, E12 Socket Base, Black

Verdict: Best Outdoor Edison Bulb String Lights

Brightown’s string lights offer an excellent experience for outdoor gatherings. Each string has 25 bulbs on it, with each bulb providing 23 lumens of warm 2700K light. These lights also have an IP44 rating, which means they are resistant to most weather extremities.

Specifications

Bulb Type: G40 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 1000 hours | Brightness: 23 lumens/bulb | Color temperature: 2700K Warm White | Power consumption: 5 watts/bulb | IPS Rating: IP44

Benefits

  • Weatherproof with an IP44 rating
  • Easy to install

Drawbacks

  • Not energy efficient

Brightown’s Patio String lights are a great addition to your free-flowing outdoor décor. A 25 feet string holds 25 bulbs, and multiple strings can be interconnected. Since the string is also used to deliver power, you can simply plug in these bulbs without worrying about additional wiring. They give a warm 2700K light at 23 lumens each. Each bulb consumes about 5W, so they’re not very energy efficient, but if you only need them for outdoor gatherings, wattage might not be a problem.

These bulbs are also IP44 rated, which is resistant to most extreme weather conditions. These string lights can withstand high/low temperatures, heavy rainfall, and the strings are sturdy enough to withstand wind and storms. You can use an additional dimmer to manually dim the bulbs. Brightown uses C7/E12 base for its patio lights.

Diximus Low Voltage Landscape Bulb

Diximus 12 Volt 7 Watt Low Voltage T5 Landscape Bulb - Landscape Light Bulbs - Low Voltage Landscape Light Bulbs - 10 Pack (Clear)

Verdict: Best Landscape Garden Bulb

Dixomus’s Low Voltage Landscape bulbs offer a low energy, high illumination, and an easy-to-install design. You can use these bulbs to light up pathways, gardens, patio, and similar landscapes. You will need to use them inside a weatherproof casing, though.

Specifications

Bulb Type: T5 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: N/A | Brightness: 81.7 lumens | Color temperature: Bright White | Power consumption: 7 watts | IPS Rating: N/A

Benefits

  • Powerful illumination for 7W
  • Low voltage bulbs usually last longer
  • Easy to install

Drawbacks

  • Not wet-rated so can only be used inside a casing

Diximus Low voltage bulbs are designed to be used in your garden, pathways, fencing, or similar landscapes. These bulbs have a T5 base, which makes them compatible with most modern outdoor lighting holders. The low voltage coupled with a powerful illumination of 81.7 lumens makes these bulbs excellent for low energy-high illumination applications.

Diximus’ Landscape bulbs give out a bright white light and are easy to replace with a simple push-in installation. However, considering the T5 base and the tender design, these bulbs should be used only in casings and not in direct rain.

FanNicoo LED Corn Light Bulb

FanNicoo 2 Pack 500W Equivalent LED Corn Light Bulb 5500 Lumen 6500K 60W Large Area Cool Daylight White E26/E27 Medium Base for Outdoor Indoor Garage Warehouse Factory Workshop Street Backyard

Verdict: Best LED Corn Bulb

FanNicoo’s LED Corn bulb is powerful, durable, and energy-efficient. Its high illumination of 5500 lumens, coupled with optimal heat dissipation and long lifetime, make it a perfect choice for Large Outdoor Areas, Street Lamps, Porches, Barns, Backyards, etc.

Specifications

Bulb Type: E26/27 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 36,000 hours | Brightness: 5500 lumens | Color temperature: 6500K (Daylight) | Power consumption: 60 watts | IPS Rating: N/A

Benefits

  • Very powerful at 5500 lumens
  • Long lifespan
  • Easy to install

Drawbacks

  • Not IPS rated, needs a casing

FanNicoo’s LED Corn bulb offers a powerful lighting profile and is a perfect replacement for traditional large bulbs, which take up more space and energy. This bulb uses 300 pieces of SMDs controlled by about 2835 LED chips to provide a powerful 5500 lumens of light with a bright white temperature of 6500K. This makes FanNicoo’s Corn Light bulb ideal for large outdoor areas, street lamps, porches, barns, backyards, etc.

In addition to the powerful lighting profile, this bulb has a smart distributed heat dissipation mechanism, which ensures that the bulb operates at the optimal temperature. FanNicoo’s LED corn bulb can last for up to 36000 hours. Its superior thermal profile also ensures it works in a wide temperature range of -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sunco Vintage Edison Filament Bulb

Sunco Lighting 2 Pack Vintage LED Edison Bulbs 60W Equivalent 8.5W 800LM Dimmable ST64 Filament 4000K Cool White E26 Medium Base Light Bulbs High Brightness Clear Glass Waterproof UL Energy Star

Verdict: Best Outdoor Edison Bulbs

Sunco’s Edison Filament bulb has a nice vintage look, decent power consumption, and a vibrant color rendering index, which makes it perfect for outdoor use. In addition, the IP65 rating ensures that rainfall or temperature variations won’t affect its bulb’s performance.

Specifications

Bulb Type: ST64| Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 15,000 hours | Brightness: 800 lumens | Color temperature: 2700K-6000K Cool White | Power consumption: 8.5 watts | IPS Rating: IP65

Benefits

  • Dimmable
  • Wet Rated
  • Elegant vintage design

Drawbacks

  • Not very bright compared to other products on

Edison filament bulbs had been around for centuries, and with the advent of electronic circuits, everyone thought their time was up. But it seems that elegant filament designs are hard to let go of. If you’re looking for a nice outdoor filament bulb, you can’t go wrong with Sunco’s product. You can buy one at five temperature variations, and at 8.5 W of power consumption, you can line up multiple bulbs together without spending too much energy.

The 800 lumens might be a bit low if you’re going for a single light, but when you line up multiple bulbs or attach them with ceiling cords, they give out a nice blend of warmth and illumination. Sunco also claims that the 90+ color rendering index provides you with a more color-vibrant experience, especially outdoors. This bulb is also wet rated, which means rain won’t be a problem.

FEIT Non-Dimmable Led Bug Light

Feit Electric A19 Outdoor LED Bug Light, 60-Watt Equivalent, Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb, E26 Medium Base, 120V, 22 Years Lifetime, Yellow, Pack of 1, A19/BUG/LED/BX

Verdict: Best Bug Repellent Light Bulb

Feit’s LED Bug Light is a low-power durable option for outdoor lighting. It emits a shade of yellow light invisible to insects, so you can place multiple bulbs and not have any unwanted guests. With 25000 hours of a lifetime and a damp rating, this bulb is ideal for moist environments but might fail during heavy rain.

Specifications

Compatible with: None | Bulb Type: A19 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 25,000 hours | Brightness: 400 lumens | Color temperature: Yellow | Power consumption: 5 watts | IPS Rating: Damp location rated

Benefits

  • Insects can not see the light
  • Durable
  • Uses less power

Drawbacks

  • Low illumination
  • Susceptible to heavy rain

If you’re using a bulb outdoors, insects and other creepy crawlies can be a major problem. Bug repellent bulbs emit certain colors of light that insects do not recognize and humans can still use for illumination. Feit’s LED Bug light is one of the best products in this department. It’s not power-hungry, and its damp rating means it can be used outdoors in moist settings. However, heavy rain can damage it.

This bulb is also quite durable at 25000 hours of lifetime. While the 400 lumens might be a problem for outdoor lighting, the low power consumption means it’s better to line up multiple bulbs for a better lighting experience. It is not dimmable, though, but at only 400 lumens, you can adjust your lighting preference by reducing the number of bulbs.

LIFX Color BR30 WiFi Smart LED Light Bulb

LIFX Color 1100 Lumen BR30 E26 Bulb,White, 1-Pack

Verdict: The Best Color Changing Outdoor Bulb

LIFX’s Color BR30 offers a wide range of colors and temperatures, which help set up any mood outdoors. The 1100 lumens of brightness ensure that you don’t need many to achieve the perfect lighting experience. This bulb is also IP65 rated, so it can withstand heavy rain and harsh temperatures. The free mobile app offers a range of functionality, including voice commands through Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google.

Specifications

Compatible with: Google Home,Alexa, HomeKit and Siri | Bulb Type: BR30 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 20,000 hours | Brightness: 1100 lumens | Color temperature: 1500K – 9000K | Power consumption: 11.5 watts | IPS Rating: IP65

Benefits

  • RGBW LEDs provide a broader color palette than other colored bulbs
  • Wide temperature range for white light
  • Intuitive app and smart home/assistant compatibility

Drawbacks

  • Only available in Edison Screw

LIFX’S Color BR30 Smart Bulb is the perfect addition to an outdoor environment. It has an RGBW color range that contains billions of colors, much better than the 16M colors provided in the RGB spectrum. Moreover, this bulb has a wide temperature range for white light, integrating perfectly and providing a much more comfortable environment. You can use it to create warm dining experiences in addition to vibrant party themes. It connects directly through the 2.4GHz WiFi and can be controlled via the LIFX app.

The LIFX app allows you to remotely control the bulb’s status and lighting and set up different routines and timers to complement the natural light. It is also IPS65 certified and can be used outdoors in extreme weather conditions. 1100 lumens for only 11.5W of power is quite an energy-efficient profile. In addition, the phone app can be used to set up routines and timers or group the product with other smart home devices.

Sunco LED Candelabra Bulb

Sunco Lighting Dusk to Dawn Light Bulb Outdoor Candelabra LED B11 2700K Soft White, 500 LM, Edison Vintage Filament E12 Base, Photocell Sensor, for Sconces Chandeliers, UL 6 Pack 5W Equivalent 40W

Verdict: Best Outdoor Candelabra Bulb

Sunco’s LED candelabra bulb offers decent illumination, low power, and 15000 hours of operation, making it a great choice for outdoor decorative uses. It is especially suited to be used in sconces, and the built-in photosensor ensures that this bulb operates from dusk till dawn without needing you to turn it on.

Specifications

Bulb Type: B11 | Hub Required: No | Lifetime: 25,000 hours | Brightness: 500 lumens | Color temperature: 2700K,300K, 4000K, 5000K | Power consumption: 5 watts | IPS Rating: n/a

Benefits

  • Photosensor removes the need for manual switching
  • Decent illumination for a candelabra bulb
  • Energy-efficient

Drawbacks

  • Not dimmable
  • Fixed temperature

Sunco’s  Candelabra bulb is a great option for decorative lighting, and at 500 lumens, it can be used as more than just a decorative light. In addition to the elegant filament design, this bulb has a photoelectric sensor that can detect light and automatically turn on at dusk and keep illuminating through to dawn. So once you’ve installed the bulb, you can leave it to operate on its own.

This candelabra bulb is available in four light temperatures but can not be dimmed. It is ideal for Sconces. In addition, using up only 5W of power for its 15000 hours of a lifetime, Sunco’s candelabra bulb will save you quite a lot of energy. You will need to use a casing for it since this item is not wet-rated.

Final thoughts

There is a huge variety of outdoor lights available, and the product you buy will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Some lights are used to illuminate landscapes and pathways, while others light up dining settings or parties. Before you buy an outdoor light, make sure you’ve taken a look at all the specifications and have a good understanding of your landscape.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments