Outdoor Wall Lights

Outdoor Wall Lights: Porch, Patio and Entry Lighting That Looks as Good as It Works

The first thing a guest sees at dusk is not your front door, it is the light beside it. Outdoor wall lights do three jobs at once: they show people where the steps and the handle are, they make a house feel looked after, and they give the facade a bit of character after sundown. A well-chosen pair can change the mood of an entire exterior for the price of a single weekend of work.

An outdoor wall sconce is simply a fixture that mounts flat against an exterior wall, usually beside a door or a garage, or along a patio wall. Our collection leans on durable metals, with aluminum in more than half of the 39 fixtures, plus glass, iron and a couple of travertine pieces. Most are hardwired, and a few run on batteries for spots where no cable reaches.

How to Choose the Right Size and Height

Proportion is where most porch lighting goes wrong. A fixture that is too small looks lost on a big wall, and one that is too large crowds the door. As a rule of thumb, the fixture should be about one third of the door height, so a 6 ft 8 in door pairs well with a lantern roughly 20 to 24 inches tall.

• Mount entry lights about 66 inches above the floor or step, so the center of the fixture sits near eye level.
• Place them 6 to 12 inches outside the door frame, one on each side for a symmetrical look.
• On a garage, use one light per single door and hang them roughly 8 to 10 inches above the top of the door, or at about 66 inches to either side.

If you are curious how these heights compare with indoor placement, our guide on how high to mount wall sconces walks through the logic room by room.

Weather, Ratings and Materials

Exterior fixtures live in rain, sun, frost and salt air, so the label matters more than the look. Always check that the fixture is rated for damp or wet locations: a covered porch usually needs at least a damp rating, while a spot that gets direct rain needs a wet rating. We list the details on each product page, so read them before you order.

Aluminum does not rust, which is why it is so common outside, and a powder-coated black or bronze finish hides scratches well. Iron gives a heavier, traditional look but wants occasional touch-ups. Glass diffusers soften the light and keep bugs out of the bulb, and travertine adds a sandy, sun-warmed texture that suits stucco and stone walls. Wipe any of them with a soft cloth and mild soap, never a pressure washer.

Light Source, Brightness and Color

Of the 39 fixtures here, 24 have an integrated LED and 12 take a standard E26 bulb. Integrated LEDs last for years and never need a ladder, while an E26 base lets you pick your own bulb. If you are not sure which base you have, see E26 vs E12 bulbs.

For a porch, 400 to 800 lumens per fixture is plenty. Choose warm white at 2700 to 3000 K so skin tones and brick look natural, and keep 4000 K or higher for work areas like a garage. Our note on soft white vs warm white explains the difference. Look for fixtures with hoods, shades or frosted glass so the bulb never shines straight into a neighbor's window.

Hardwired, Battery and Motion Sensor Options

Hardwired fixtures are the standard for permanent entry lighting: 37 of our 39 pieces connect to your home's wiring through an exterior junction box. Switch the power off at the breaker first, and hire a licensed electrician for any new location, or if you are adding a new location or are not comfortable with wiring. Outdoor circuits should be protected by a GFCI, and the box must be sealed against the weather.

For a shed, a fence or a rental where you cannot add wires, our battery operated wall sconces need no electrician at all. For security and convenience, motion sensor wall lights switch on when someone walks up, which saves energy and surprises anyone who should not be there.

Styles That Work Outdoors

Modern and minimalist pieces dominate the collection, with slim aluminum blades, black cubes and clean hooded shapes. They pair well with contemporary facades, painted siding and concrete. Vintage lanterns and industrial cages, on the other hand, bring a barn or brick-house feel, while a few rustic and Scandinavian pieces warm up wood cladding.

A good habit is to match the finish to the other metal at the door: house numbers, hinges, the handle set. If you like a layered facade, combine a slim up and down wall light beside a garage with lanterns at the front door, so each spot gets the right kind of glow.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a fixture without checking its damp or wet location rating.
• Hanging lights too high, which leaves the doorstep in shadow.
• Using a cool, bluish bulb that makes a warm home look like a parking lot.
• Mixing three different finishes on the same facade.
• Forgetting the new fixture's weight and the wall type before drilling into stucco or siding.

FAQ: Outdoor Wall Lights and Sconces

What is a wall sconce?

A wall sconce is a light fixture fixed directly to a wall instead of hanging from the ceiling or standing on a table. Outdoors, it usually sits beside an entry door, a garage or a patio wall. Our guide on what a wall sconce is covers the main types.

What are wall sconces used for?

They provide ambient or accent light without using floor space. Outside, they light the way to a door, highlight a facade and make the entrance safer after dark.

What is a sconce light fixture made of?

Exterior sconces are mostly built from metal such as aluminum or iron, often combined with glass or stone. Indoor ones can also use wood, rattan or ceramic.

Can I put an indoor sconce outside?

Only if it is rated for the location. A fixture made for dry rooms can corrode or short out in rain, so check the rating on the product page first.

How many outdoor wall lights do I need?

One on each side of a front door is standard, one per garage door, and one every 6 to 8 feet along a long patio wall.

Do outdoor sconces need an electrician?

Replacing an existing fixture is a common DIY task with the breaker off. New wiring, new locations or any doubt are jobs for a licensed electrician.

Explore More Wall Lighting by Style and Room

Outdoor lights are part of a bigger family of wall sconces. If you love the clean metal shapes here, see our modern wall sconces and industrial wall sconces for the same attitude indoors, so your entry and your hallway feel like one home.

Planning the whole exterior? Browse the full outdoor lighting collection, then carry the glow inside with hallway wall sconces and staircase wall sconces, which use many of the same materials.

Our Outdoor Selection at Aftensol

Aftensol is all about evening light for the home, and the evening starts at the front step. Each fixture here is chosen for clean lines and warm, usable light, and with free shipping on every order and 30-day returns you can compare finishes without worry.

Keep exploring: motion sensor wall lights · LED wall sconces · all wall sconces