Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor Lighting: Wall Lights That Welcome, Guide and Protect

When the sun goes down, your home's exterior has to do three jobs. It must help you and your guests see the path and the front door safely, it should discourage anyone who has no business being there, and it should make the house look inviting from the street. Well-chosen outdoor lighting does all three without flooding the yard with glare or bothering the neighbors.

This collection focuses on the fixtures that make the biggest difference: outdoor wall lights and sconces for front doors, garages, patios and side entrances. You will find simple lantern shapes, hooded and blade designs, cube lights and up-down sconces, mostly in aluminum and glass, with some iron, metal and travertine details. Styles lean modern, minimalist, industrial and vintage, and a few options feature motion sensors or solar power.

The guide below explains where to put lights, how high to mount them, which color temperature to choose and what to check before you buy for outdoor use.

Know Your Zones: Entry, Path, Patio and Garage

Think of the outside of your house as a set of zones, each with its own purpose. The entry needs enough light to see keys, locks and steps. Paths and steps need soft, low-glare light so nobody trips. A patio or deck calls for relaxed, warm light for dining and conversation, and a garage or side door needs bright, practical light, often on a sensor.

Light each zone separately and give each its own switch. Always light the front door and any steps, because those are the places where accidents and missed deliveries happen. Then add accent and atmosphere around them.

Outdoor Wall Lights for Doors and Garages

Wall-mounted fixtures are the workhorses of exterior lighting. Browse our outdoor wall lights for simple aluminum lanterns, offset blade designs, hooded shades, black cubes and opal glass shapes. Because they mount directly on the wall by a door or garage, they use no ground space and light the area where people actually stand.

For sizing, use a fixture whose height is about one third to one quarter of the height of the door. A standard 80-inch door suits a light roughly 20 to 27 inches tall, and a pair of lights on either side of the door feels balanced. Mount entry lights 60 to 66 inches from the ground, or about at eye level, and keep them within 6 to 12 inches of the side of the door frame.

Motion Sensor Lights for Security and Convenience

A light that turns on when someone approaches uses less energy and draws attention to unexpected movement. Our motion sensor wall lights are ideal for side gates, garages, backyards and dark corners where you do not want a light on all night. Many people use a motion light in the back and a steady, warm light at the front.

When you place a sensor light, think about where the sensor points, since a sensor aimed at a busy street or a tree branch will trigger constantly. Mount it at about 6 to 8 feet from the ground for the best coverage, and check the product page for the detection range and mode settings.

Up and Down Lights for Architectural Drama

Up-down sconces throw light both above and below the fixture, which washes the wall with a soft, patterned glow. They work well on modern facades, on either side of a garage door or along a patio wall. See our up and down wall lights for slim blade styles and cube forms that create sharp, clean light patterns.

Because the light goes in two directions, spacing matters. Place them about 6 to 10 feet apart along a wall to create overlapping pools of light without hot spots. Keep them a little above the height of a person so the beam does not shine in anyone's eyes.

Outdoor Chandeliers, Pendants and Ceiling Lights

Covered porches, pergolas and patios are the right places for hanging and ceiling fixtures. An outdoor chandelier can transform a porch dining area, and a pendant or an outdoor ceiling light brings warmth to a covered entry. These fixtures must be chosen with care, since a light under a roof is exposed to different conditions from a wall light on an open facade.

Look through our ceiling lights, pendant lights and chandeliers and read each product page carefully to see whether the fixture is suited to a covered outdoor space. If it does not say so, use it indoors. When you hang a fixture on a porch, keep at least 7 feet of clearance below it.

Choosing Fixtures for Outdoor Conditions

Outdoor fixtures face rain, humidity, sun and temperature swings, and standards differ by spot. In general, look for a damp location rating for covered areas such as porches and under eaves, and a wet location rating for fixtures that rain can hit directly. Metal finishes and glass handle weather better than untreated wood or fabric, and aluminum resists rust.

Check each product page for details about the intended location and installation. If you are unsure which is right for your spot, ask a licensed electrician or your local building authority. Never use an indoor-only fixture on an exposed outdoor wall, even if it looks right.

Brightness and Color Temperature Outside

Outdoor lights do not need to be as bright as indoor lights. Entry lights of 300 to 800 lumens each are usually enough, while security and garage lights can go to 800 to 1,500 lumens. Too much light creates glare, deep shadows and annoyance for neighbors, so choose shielded fixtures that aim light down or sideways rather than outward.

For color temperature, 2700 K to 3000 K looks warm and welcoming on a front porch, while 3000 K to 4000 K suits garages and utility areas. Keep all your lights at a similar temperature so the house looks consistent. Our guide on soft white vs warm white explains the labels.

Solar, Battery and Hardwired Options

Most of our outdoor fixtures are hardwired, so they connect to your home's wiring and provide steady, reliable light. A few are solar or battery powered, which can be helpful where there is no wiring, such as a fence, a shed or a rental, though solar light is usually dimmer and depends on daily sunshine. Our battery operated wall sconces guide explains what to consider.

Check the product page for the bulb type too: our outdoor range includes integrated LED fixtures and designs for standard E26 bulbs, and our comparison of E26 vs E12 bulbs explains the different bases.

Installation Basics

Turn off the breaker for the circuit, not just the switch, before touching any exterior fixture. Test the wires, use the correct mounting plate and seal the gap between the fixture and the wall with exterior caulk as the instructions recommend. Hire a licensed electrician if you are adding a new circuit, moving a box or if the fixture is on a second story. Our guide to how to replace a light fixture explains the basic steps.

Outdoor Lighting Mistakes

• Using an indoor fixture in a spot that gets rain or heavy humidity.
• Choosing a light that is too bright, causing glare and dark shadows.
• Mounting entry lights too high so they leave the door area dim.
• Pointing sensor lights at a street or tree so they trigger all night.
• Mixing very cool and very warm bulbs on the same facade.

FAQ: Outdoor Lighting

What is the best outdoor lighting for a front door?

A pair of wall lights on either side of the door, or one on the latch side, gives the best coverage. Choose warm white bulbs, size the fixture to about one third of the door height and mount at eye level.

How high should I hang outdoor wall lights?

Mount them 60 to 66 inches from the ground near entries. For tall doors or two-story entrances, you can go a little higher, but keep the fixture centered near the door's upper third.

Can I use an outdoor chandelier on a porch?

Yes, if the fixture is suited to a covered outdoor space. Check the product details, make sure there is at least 7 feet of clearance underneath and use a ceiling box rated for the weight.

Do I need a special light for outdoor use?

Yes. Use fixtures intended for the location: a damp location rating for covered areas and a wet location rating for spots directly exposed to rain. Always check the product page for details.

Are motion sensor lights a good idea?

They are great for garages, side gates and backyards because they save energy and draw attention to movement. Place the sensor so it does not trigger from passing traffic or branches.

What color should outdoor lights be?

Warm white between 2700 K and 3000 K is the usual choice for entries and patios. Slightly cooler light up to 4000 K can suit garages and work areas.

How do I install an outdoor light fixture?

Turn off the breaker, remove the old fixture or mount a new box, connect the wires matching colors, attach the fixture and seal the edges. For new wiring or high locations, hire a licensed electrician.

Explore More Lighting for Inside and Out

Outdoor lights set the stage before anyone steps inside, so continue the look through the entry with hallway and entryway lighting. For gatherings that spill from the patio into the house, see dining room lighting and living room lighting, and if you are looking for compatible wall fixtures indoors, browse wall sconces.

Come Home to a Better Entrance

Plan zone by zone, choose fixtures suited to the spot and keep the color warm and consistent. Free shipping on every order and 30-day returns make it easy to find the right light for your front door.

Keep exploring: outdoor wall lights · motion sensor wall lights · up and down wall lights