The 8 Best Pool Lights of 2024 to Turn Your Backyard into an Oasis

Best Overall

Pentair MicroBrite Swimming Pool Compact LED Light

It provides vibrant white LED illumination for an inground pool.

It provides vibrant white LED illumination for an inground pool.

This product should be installed by a professional.

This product should be installed by a professional.

This is our top pick for a pool light because it is a small but mighty product. It fits in a standard 1.5-inch pool wall fitting (no big light niche necessary), and it delivers a premium bright white illumination that will enhance the look of your pool for years.

While it’s small enough to fit into tight areas, such as on steps or sun shelves it is also powerful enough to illuminate an entire pool. In an average 30 to 40 foot inground pool, you only need two of these microbrite LED pool lights to serve the whole pool.

One thing to consider is that you should have a professional install these lights, especially if it’s a new pool or you’re switching from old incandescent lights to LED lighting. This product comes with a 100-foot electrical cord and it runs off of 12 volts so you will need a transformer box to make sure it’s safely installed. It also comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

While we love how bright this compact light is, it is only available in a static white light mode—it doesn’t have any color changing abilities. If having a dynamic color changing mode is a priority for you, keep scrolling. Overall, we like this pool light because it delivers high-quality illumination in a small package.

Key Terms to Know

Static: If a light as a static mode, that means the light will remain steady in one color.
Dynamic: A dynamic lighting mode means there's a repeating pattern, like flashing or color-changing.

Best Budget

Intex Floating LED Pool Light

There is no installation needed to operate this floating solar pool light.

There is no installation needed to operate this floating solar pool light.

You can only get two to five hours of illumination at a time.

You can only get two to five hours of illumination at a time.

The Intex Floating LED Pool Light is one of the best pool lights because it’s inexpensive and easy to use. There is nothing to install, no batteries to replace, and no remotes to worry about losing. Once this floating solar pool light has been fully charged in the sun, you can expect to get two hours of illumination when using the white static light mode or five hours of light in the smooth color changing mode.

It has LED lighting and a plastic shell, and it measures 6.6 inches in diameter. In an average-size backyard pool, we recommend using two or three of these floating solar pool lights to add ambiance. If you already have a built-in pool light, this budget-friendly pool light is also a great way to supplement the light or to create a party atmosphere with the color changing mode.

Compared to the cost of a permanent in-ground pool light plus installation costs, this is a worthwhile option. It’s also a great option for an above-ground or inflatable pool.

Best Splurge

Frontgate LED Color Changing Glow Balls, 31.5 inch

Give your pool a luxurious resort-like feel with colorful glowing orbs.

Give your pool a luxurious resort-like feel with colorful glowing orbs.

They are not solar powered, so you have to take them out of the pool to charge them.

They are not solar powered, so you have to take them out of the pool to charge them.

Whether you’re hosting a pool party or just want to create a tranquil sanctuary for yourself, these oversized LED color changing glowing balls will make your pool look aesthetically pleasing. They are free floating like a pool float and move gently around with the pool’s current. The largest of these best pool lights is 31.5 inches in diameter, but you can also purchase smaller sizes in a 23.5-, 15.75-, or 10-inch diameter. Consider using a combination of sizes to create a dynamic and visually appealing look.

The glow balls are made with molded polyethylene and designed to resist the effects of chlorine, saltwater, and sun damage. They emit a soft LED light that can be set to one of three modes: static white, a static color, or dynamic color changing. The two medium-sized balls also feature a candle flicker mode. You can manually turn the glow balls on and off with an integrated switch or use a remote control.

However, keep in mind that this product is not solar powered. To recharge a glow ball, you have to take it out of the pool and plug it into a charger. Once the battery is fully charged, you can expect up to eight hours of ambient lighting. Another factor to consider before buying several large glowing orbs is where you will store them during the off season. Make sure you have enough room in your storage shed to store these pool lights with your pool toys and other pool accessories.

Best LED

Poolexa SS1050x 10-inch Large LED Multicolor Inground Pool Light

It uses 86% less energy than a 500-watt pool light and fits into a standard pool light niche.

It uses 86% less energy than a 500-watt pool light and fits into a standard pool light niche.

It doesn’t come with a remote, but you can change the light color from the controller box or via an app on your mobile device.

It doesn’t come with a remote, but you can change the light color from the controller box or via an app on your mobile device.

If you’re looking to make your inground pool more energy efficient, this best pool light can help reduce energy costs. This LED pool light is a great replacement light option as it claims to use 86% less energy than a 500-watt pool light, and it fits into a standard 10-inch pool light niche. It also comes in a 6-inch LED pool light option for smaller pool light niches.

This is a corded light that must be installed by a skilled DIY-er or lighting professional, but once the wiring is in place it’s easy to secure the light because there is no ring or gasket needed. The entire light is self-contained and made with stainless steel.

There are more than 20 different color modes available and they can be activated by a touch of a button on the control panel. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a remote control, but it’s possible to control the light from an app on your mobile device via bluetooth.

If you have several lights to replace, you don’t have to install a control panel for each light. One control panel can be used to manage a 10-inch light and one or two six-inch lights. The light and control panel come with a two-year warranty.

Best for Above Ground Pool

Nitelighter LED Pool Light

It’s easy to install on steel wall above ground pools without drilling into any surface.

It’s easy to install on steel wall above ground pools without drilling into any surface.

It’s only 1,350 lumens, so it isn’t as bright as other options on our list.

It’s only 1,350 lumens, so it isn’t as bright as other options on our list.

The Nitelighter LED Pool Light is easy to install on a steel wall above-ground pool. All you have to do is lift the top rail and slide the light in place, and then tighten it with the thumb wheel on the back until it feels secure. We like that you don’t have to drill through the wall of the pool to install this light.

It comes with a 28-foot cord, and features a built-in two-hour automatic shut off. This pool light is an LED with 1,350 lumens, so you can expect it to provide ambient lighting, but it won’t be as bright as pool lights you may see in inground pools.

To extend the life of the light, we recommend removing the light when you winterize the pool, or take it out of the water when the pool isn’t being regularly used.

Overall, we like that this pool light offers a budget-friendly way to illuminate an above ground pool without having to drill through the sides of the pool or make any permanent alterations to the pool.

Best Floating

Dazuma Round Colorful RGB Waterproof Solar Pool Lights

It recharges itself during the day and provides eight to 10 hours of illumination at night.

It recharges itself during the day and provides eight to 10 hours of illumination at night.

It may take more than one floating pool light to illuminate your pool.

It may take more than one floating pool light to illuminate your pool.

Floating pool lights are a fun way to add illumination to your pool, and this solar-powered light has a lot of options to customize the look of your pool. This LED light can alternate between 16 colors, and you can leave it on a static light mode in the color of your choice or select one of four dynamic color changing modes. You can also select from eight brightness levels. Using a remote to make these changes, you can easily create a serene environment or a vibrant pool party atmosphere.

This pool light has a diameter of almost 10 inches (there is also a 13-inch version available), and it is nearly 3 inches high. If you have a small round pool, one floating light might be enough to illuminate the pool, but we recommend getting a few of these lights to create a lively ambience. They are sold individually and in sets of two, four, six, or eight, and you can get a little bit of a discount per light if you buy one of the sets.

One detail we really like about this light is that it provides illumination for eight to 10 hours on a full charge. That is almost twice as long as the budget-friendly Intex Floating LED Pool Light. The flat design also prevents them from tipping over, so you are more likely to get a full charge if your pool gets direct sunlight.

Best for Inground Pools

HQUA PN01DC LED RGBW Color Change Inground Pool Light

This color-changing LED pool light comes with everything you need for installation, including a 100-foot cord and transformer.

This color-changing LED pool light comes with everything you need for installation, including a 100-foot cord and transformer.

It has to be installed in a wet niche; it can’t be installed directly on a flat pool wall.

It has to be installed in a wet niche; it can’t be installed directly on a flat pool wall.

This is a great option for a replacement light on an in-ground pool. The color changing LED light is more energy efficient than an incandescent pool light, and it can produce eight colors, including white (which is not always available on colored LED lights). Each color can be set to a static mode or the light can be set to one of two dynamic color-changing modes: jumping or flashing.

To install this light, it needs to be placed in an existing wet niche for a 10-inch light. It comes with more than 100 feet of cord, which you can cut to the size you need. It also comes with a transformer that converts the power to 12V, so you don’t have to purchase any extra supplies to complete installation, however we always recommend working with a professional for proper installation.

There is a remote to change the colors of the pool from anywhere on the pool deck. In static mode, you can adjust the brightness of the light, and in the dynamic mode you can change the speed of the color changing pattern. There is also a push button control box that allows you to operate the color options.

Best Solar

Game Underwater Show Light Solar LED Pool Light

This light makes it easy to add dynamic lights to your pool without having to install anything permanent or manage remote control settings.

This light makes it easy to add dynamic lights to your pool without having to install anything permanent or manage remote control settings.

The light has a range of 15 feet, so it may not fully illuminate larger pools.

The light has a range of 15 feet, so it may not fully illuminate larger pools.

If you’re looking for a solar-powered option, the Game Underwater Show Light Solar LED Pool Light is the best option for you. When fully charged, it will provide up to six hours of dynamic color changing illumination. Instead of one color changing at a time, it projects multiple colors at once, creating a disco ball effect. The light automatically shuffles between seven different dynamic modes, which means you don’t have to do anything except enjoy the lights.

This pool light will automatically turn on and off, but there is also a manual switch if you want to wait until a specific time to start the lights. The light is 5.5 inches in diameter and spreads light up to 15 feet. Depending on the size of your pool, you may want to consider getting a couple of these inexpensive solar pool lights to fill your entire pool with color.

To extend the life of the solar pool light we recommend taking it out of the water in the off season and storing it in a cool, dry place.