Why Finding the Best Flood and Security Lights Matters
- Exterior doors
- Windows on the ground level
- The driveway
- Walkways
- Storage areas
- Gates
Also consider lighting particularly dark areas such as shrubbery beds, decks, patios, pools and gardens, to limit easy hiding places.
Note that illuminating only specific areas can make unlit
parts of your landscape more difficult to see at night.
Don’t have time to install outdoor lighting yourself? Let us install your new lighting. Shop for lighting with installation available, including:
Look for the option to add an installation purchase when you add the lights to your cart.
Types of Lights and Light Sensors
Security lights should be high enough to resist tampering. Check your manual for recommendations. In general, you should consider a height between 8 and 15 feet. Installing a motion-sensor light higher than 15 feet can reduce its effective detection range.
Switch-Controlled Flood Lights
Switch-controlled flood lights are the simplest and most economical flood light fixtures you can buy. You can turn them on and off as needed, leave them on through the night to light the way for guests and use them to make your property less appealing to intruders. While these fixtures tend to be less expensive than more sophisticated lighting, they use more energy if you leave them on all night. And, depending on the switch location, it may take you time to turn them on if you need to check on outdoor activity.
Screw-in sensor adapters can give you a quick upgrade to switch-controlled lights. They fit easily into the light sockets and add dusk-to-dawn or motion-sensing capabilities. You can also find light bulbs with built-in sensors. Pay attention to the use location. A light bulb motion sensor may be for indoor use or enclosed outdoor use only.
Dusk-to-Dawn Flood Lights
Dusk-to-dawn flood lights automatically turn on at night and off during the day. Dusk-to-dawn outdoor security lights are a step up from switch-operated lights and have a relatively easy setup. Simply point the lights for proper coverage, making sure that nothing blocks the sensors.
Dusk-to-dawn security lighting means you don’t need to remember to turn the lights on and off or leave exterior lights illuminated while you’re away from home. This type of light illuminates your property throughout the night, helping deter intruders and allowing you to quickly see activity on your property. Many lights have a manual mode that allows you to turn them on or off at will. Different lights have varying detection zones and distances, so check this information before you make a purchase.
Keep in mind, if a sensor is in a shaded area, the light may turn on sooner and off later than you expect. Sensors on the east side of a house turn on and off sooner than those on the west side. Check the operation of dusk-to-dawn lights periodically and clear obstructions, such as dirt or spiderwebs, from the sensors.
Switch-operated and dusk-to-dawn security flood lights are convenient for any outdoor tasks that require light at night, such as working on a vehicle or playing basketball on the driveway.
Motion-Activated Flood Lights
Motion-activated flood lights turn on when they detect movement and off automatically, so the lights will stay off when you don’t need them and continue to operate when you’re away. Motion-sensor lights can be the best exterior security lights for some homes because they quickly alert you to activity when you see them turn on. They’re also convenient for tasks such as taking the trash out to the street at night. They typically have a manual mode, allowing you to turn them on and off at a switch. Some motion lights have a dusk-to-dawn mode, so if you leave them on in manual mode, they turn off and reset at dawn.
During setup you adjust the sensors to cover a particular area and set the detection distance. You might need to tune the sensors to prevent the lights from coming on for expected activity, such as cars passing your house or trees blowing in the wind. Even with proper setup, normal activity may activate the lights. These sensors are usually better at activating when something moves across the detection field than when something moves toward or away from the sensors.
Our motion light how-to guide and video show you step-by-step instructions on how to install outside flood lights with motion detection.
Other Types of Outdoor Lights
- Area lights and wall pack lights are more common in a commercial setting. But depending on your property, these utility lights can also be useful to illuminate barns, detached garages, storage areas, walkways or driveways. You’ll often find these lights with motion or dusk-to-dawn sensors.
- Landscape lighting provides general illumination. While you might install landscape lighting for decorative appeal, it can also improve security and safety.
- Spotlights use a tighter beam than flood lights. They offer a more intense field of light but only cover a small area. You might use them to light individual trees and shrubs.
- You’ll also find spotlights and flood lights with motion-sensing security cameras.
See our landscape lighting project and our guide to outdoor lighting for more ideas and tips on illuminating your outdoor areas.
Bulb Types
Security and flood lights are either incandescent, halogen or LED (light-emitting diode) lights. Incandescent fixtures and bulbs are typically less expensive to purchase than comparable LED fixtures. Halogen lights are a type of incandescent light that produces bright, intense light and halogen bulbs typically last longer than standard incandescent bulbs. LED flood lights use less energy to create a similar level of light to comparable incandescent and halogen lights, so they can save on the cost of operation over time. LED lights also have a longer life, making them the best outdoor security lights for some homes, since they need replacement less frequently. And, LED lights produce directional light, which is a key factor for flood lights.
Incandescent lights indicate brightness in watts. LED lights indicate brightness in lumens. Higher numbers mean more light. Many fixtures that use screw-in bulbs accept either incandescent or LED bulbs. LED lights often have a wattage equivalent to help match brightness when upgrading from incandescent lights.
Lights
may indicate color temperature in kelvins (K) or even allow you to adjust color
temperature. Lower color temperatures have a yellow tone, while higher
temperatures give a brighter, bluish light, more similar to daylight. Flood
lights usually have relatively high color temperatures to provide more
effective illumination.
Our light bulb guide and LED light guide give you details on different light types, brightness and color temperature so you can be sure you’re choosing the best type of security lights for your home.
Power Sources
When shopping for security lights, note the power source and installation type.
Hard-wired security lights
require connection to existing wiring, so they’re good for replacing existing
fixtures. Hard-wired lights may require installation by a licensed electrician,
but they have a consistent power supply unless there’s a power outage.
Solar security lights offer easy
installation with no need for connecting wiring. While they may charge with
ambient light, solar-light security fixtures might need several hours of direct
sunlight for optimum charging. Some include solar panels you can position to
collect the most direct light possible.
Battery-operated security lights
also offer simple, wireless installation and you can set them up wherever you
need them. However, you need to replace the batteries periodically.
Battery-operated lights are usually LED lights, a factor that reduces battery
usage.
Follow the use and installation instructions for your lights as well as applicable electrical codes, including requirements for permits and inspection.
Security Light Features
Understanding available features helps you take advantage of added convenience and get the most use out of your lights:
- Wireless, linkable lights can activate other lights or other devices, such as cameras and doorbells.
- Wi-Fi connectivity lets you control the fixtures through an app on a mobile device.
- Adjustable-brightness levels and high/low light-intensity options let you customize light levels to your needs.
- Time-on settings let you control how long motion-sensor lights stay on after the sensors detect movement.
- Range settings let you configure the detection zone.
- Ready-to-go presets let you choose between getting the lights working quickly without testing or customizing time-on and distance settings.
- Dual detection zones let the sensors detect movement in front of as well as below the lights.
- ENERGY STAR® certified lights are designed to meet United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for energy efficiency.
Find the Best Spotlights and Security Lights at Lowe’s
Outdoor spotlight and security light options include switch-activated lights, dusk-to-dawn lights and motion-sensor lights. Switch-operated lights cost less to purchase, but light- and motion-activated fixtures offer more convenience and can use less energy over time. Power options range from simple solar- and battery-powered fixtures that require no wiring connections to hardwired installations. Whichever type of lighting is best for your home, you can find the fixtures and bulbs you need at Lowe’s. Shop Lowes.com for lighting with the features you need in a variety of price ranges. Or stop by your local Lowe’s and talk to a Red Vest associate. They can help you find the best outdoor security lighting for just about any situation.