Key Takeaways
- Outdoor flood lights and outdoor spot lights each have specific uses that add beauty and improve security.
- Flood lights illuminate a wide area, while spot lights cast narrow, high-intensity beams to illuminate specific features.
- Flood lights can brighten a yard, patio, deck or planting bed to make your home more attractive to guests and less appealing to trespassers.
- Spot lights can draw attention to trees, shrubs and other landscape features, as well as areas that might be especially vulnerable to intruders.
- Options like motion-sensor flood lights, LED flood lights and smart-compatible spot lights illuminate your outdoors conveniently and efficiently.
- A combination of outdoor flood lights and spot lights layers lighting for maximum effectiveness.
Differences Between Spot Lights and Flood Lights
You may hear the terms flood light and spot light interchangeably, but these two types of lights cast different types of illumination and have specific uses. If you’re creating an outdoor lighting design, chances are you’ll want some of each.
Outdoor Flood Lights Illuminate Larger Areas
A flood light casts a wide beam of light that covers a large area. Compared to a spot light:
- The beam is wider, typically extending to an angle between 45 and 120 degrees.
- The light intensity over an area is lower.
- The light is often best for illuminating an area near the fixture.
When to Use Flood Lights
The coverage of the light from a flood light makes this type of bulb or fixture a good choice for lighting:
- Patios
- Decks
- Driveways
- Yards
- Entryways
These lights illuminate obstacles and tripping hazards and brighten walkways. Wide illumination makes flood lights good choices for outdoor security lighting, as well as decorative lighting, like illuminating a home façade or a front flower bed.
Outdoor Spot Lights Create More Intense Illumination
A spot light casts a narrow beam to illuminate a smaller area. Compared to a flood light:
- The light beam is narrower, usually extending to an angle between 10 to 40 degrees.
- The light is concentrated over a smaller area.
- The light maintains intensity to a greater distance.
When to Use Spot Lights
Use the focused lighting of outdoor spot lights to illuminate:
- Individual trees or shrubs
- A statue or fountain
- Outdoor holiday decorations
- Shadowy areas that create blind spots
Spot lights typically serve as decorative lights in a home landscape, though strategically placed outdoor spot lights can also improve security.
Read our guide to outdoor security lighting to get details on security flood lights, spot lights and more tips on placement and deterring intruders.
Outdoor Flood Light and Spot Light Capabilities
You’ll find similar options when shopping for flood lights and spot lights:
- Motion-sensor flood lights and spot lights turn on when they detect movement and off shortly afterwards.
- Dusk-to-dawn lights automatically turn on at night and off in the morning.
- LED (light-emitting diode) flood lights and spot lights use energy more efficiently than standard lights.
- Solar flood lights and spot lights don’t require you to install wiring.
- Smart-compatible lighting works with smart home systems for maximum control and customization.
- App-compatible lighting offers control from your smartphone.
Combining Outdoor Flood Lights and Outdoor Spot Lights
For effective outdoor lighting, use both flood lights and spot lights. Flood lights that illuminate your landscape and home exterior can be attractive to guests and make a home easy to find, while spot lights directed at specific trees, shrubs and décor items draw attention to stand-out features. Layered lighting is also useful for security. General lighting can make your yard less tempting to intruders, while spot lights keep entry points like porches, garage doors and gates visible from your home and the street.
Don’t have time to do it yourself? Learn about our lighting installation services and then shop for outdoor lighting with installation available.
Beautify Your Landscape and Improve Security With Help From Lowe’s
Shop Lowes.com for the flood lights and spot lights you need to improve security and boost your home’s curb appeal even at night. If you have questions, visit your local Lowe’s. A Red Vest associate can show you the available options and help you create a layered lighting solution for your landscape.