Best Overall
Leonlite LED Motion Sensor Floodlight
- The security light features dual lamp heads that rotate 360 degrees as well as up and down.
The security light features dual lamp heads that rotate 360 degrees as well as up and down.
- It is not fully waterproof.
It is not fully waterproof.
The Leonlite COB LED Security Light stood out for its two rotatable heads that circle 360 degrees as well as straight up and down. They offer superior visibility and the ability to light the yard from all angles. The lights feature three modes, including manual and auto settings.
During testing, we noticed that it emitted a warm yellow light which we felt blended much better with the environment compared to a stark white light. Although these outdoor lights require hardwiring, we found no calibration necessary, making them relatively simple to install.
On-time mode gives you full control over the light using a switch. There are also two auto modes—motion detector or dusk-to-dawn. We ended up using dusk-to-dawn the most because it helped deter critters like skunks, deer, and possums from hanging out on our property.
Our only issue with this light fixture is that it’s not fully waterproof and is best mounted in a location that is at least partly shielded from heavy rain or snow such as a covered deck or patio.
How It Performed After Six Months
After six months of testing, it performed just as well as it did the first day we installed it. It held up well to wind, rain, and even snow, and we felt safer in our yard because of the light. We also loved that it’s an affordable price, especially for how bright it is. We wish it came with smart features, but overall, it still remains the best outdoor floodlight.
Product Details: Watts: 20 watts | Brightness: 1800 Lumens | Light Beam Angle: 180 degrees | Motion Sensor: Yes | Power Source: Hardwired
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MIKE NAVARRO
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MIKE NAVARRO
Key Terms to Know
- Lumens: A unit that measures a light’s brightness.
- Kelvin: Expressed as K—used to measure a light’s color temperature. Typically, the higher the number, the whiter the light will appear.
- Hardwired: Lights that are hardwired connect to the electrical system of your home. They need to be installed by an electrician.
Best Smart
Ring HD Motion-Activated Floodlight Camera
- It can link up with other Ring devices as well as Amazon Echo for full smart home control.
It can link up with other Ring devices as well as Amazon Echo for full smart home control.
- You can’t adjust the color of the light.
You can’t adjust the color of the light.
There are lights and then there are smart lights. The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus earned top marks across our testing categories including value, features, and design. It works with the Ring app along with Alexa to offer voice control plus access through your phone and Echo devices.
It consists of two LED floodlights which have to be hardwired into your electrical system. The packaging is well-organized and includes places to keep the pieces and tools separate, which helped make the installation process easier.
You can control the brightness through the app and also adjust the light’s angle to illuminate specific areas. Keep in mind that the light does not change colors. In testing, it significantly brightened a 20 x 20-foot area around the garage.
The motion detector lets you create custom zones. Other cool features include two-way talking if someone is standing in front of the camera and a siren that you can sound to scare off potential intruders or pesky critters.
Plus, if you are already a Ring user, you can link all your devices to make your security system more robust. The light is available in packs of one, two, three, and four.
How It Performed After Six Months
The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus continued to be one of our favorite outdoor floodlights after six months of testing. The light was bright and powerful throughout the testing period, and we watched the security footage almost every day through the app.
The quality of the floodlight did not change, but it did get dirty from various weather conditions. It can be cleaned with a garden hose or a gentle setting on a pressure washer.
Product Details: Watts: 24 watts | Brightness: 2000 Lumens | Light Beam Angle: n/a | Motion Sensor: Yes: | Power Source: Hardwired
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER MAY
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER MAY
Best Color-Changing
GE CYNC Smart Outdoor Flood Light Bulb
- Since these are just bulbs you can easily screw them into an existing fixture.
Since these are just bulbs you can easily screw them into an existing fixture.
- If you don’t already have a fixture in the desired area, you’ll need to buy one separately.
If you don’t already have a fixture in the desired area, you’ll need to buy one separately.
These 90-watt color-changing lights from GE go far behind your typical white hues. It’s a great option to set the mood for any occasion—a romantic outdoor dinner, a house party with friends, or a holiday.
It features millions of color options that can be changed from the app, which also lets you control the lights remotely and has a scheduling feature. Additionally, the lights sync with Amazon Alexa, so you can link them with other smart lighting.
During testing, we set it to cool white, which gave off a strong, bright beam that illuminated the area sufficiently. Installation was a breeze—since it’s just a bulb, we were able to screw it in the existing fixture in three minutes. If you don’t have a fixture, you’ll need to get one separately.
Overall, these light bulbs met all our expectations and then some. They are available in two- and four-packs as well as single bulbs at some retailers.
How It Performed After Six Months
The GE Lighting CYNC Smart LED Light Bulbs maintained the same level of brightness throughout our testing period. We synced up the lights with our Alexa and scheduled them to come on every evening, and this function worked perfectly. The various color options were fun to change during holidays, and we used the red and green hues during the Christmas season.
Product Details: Watts: 90 watts | Brightness: 1300 Lumens | Light Beam Angle: n/a | Motion Sensor: No | Power Source: Electric
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JODI ESPINOSA
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JODI ESPINOSA
Best Adjustable
SANSI Motion Sensor Outdoor Floodlight
- At only 45 watts it’s not only brighter than the halogen bulbs we used before, but uses less energy.
At only 45 watts it’s not only brighter than the halogen bulbs we used before, but uses less energy.
- It lacks settings to adjust brightness and motion sensors.
It lacks settings to adjust brightness and motion sensors.
Compared to a 150-watt halogen light we previously used, the Sansi Outdoor Integrated Light was a big improvement. Not only did it improve the lighting around our home, but, at 45 watts, it was a lot brighter and used less energy than our old halogen flood light.
The flood light consists of three LEDs on either side of its mounting box that can be moved for the light to shine at different angles. The bulbs emit 5000K bright white light which we found quite powerful; during testing it was able to light a 50 x 80-foot backyard plus deck.
Keep in mind that the light has to be hardwired. However, because it needed no calibration or special set-up, we were able to install it ourselves with the help of the directions—which were clear and easy to follow. That said, inexperienced DIYers might want to hire an electrician.
The floodlight comes with an energy-saving dusk-to-dawn sensor that turns the lights on and off at sunset and sunrise. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have a motion sensor. You also cannot adjust this light’s brightness levels.
How It Performed After Six Months
After six months of testing, the quality and durability of this light remained the same—despite experiencing rain, snow, hail, and temperatures ranging from below freezing to 100°F. The light continued to be bright and illuminated a wide area, which made us feel safe.
Product Details: Watts: 45 watts | Brightness (in lumens): 6000 Lumens | Light Beam Angle: 320 degrees | Motion Sensor: No | Power Source: Hardwired
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / PATRICK MCGOWAN
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / PATRICK MCGOWAN