The UK's bestOutdoor Security Lights2022 Review

For bright security lights that are both cheap to run and inexpensive to buy, these HEPT Solar Motion Sensor Security Lights are a great option to consider.

They have an IP65 waterproof rating, making them suitable for outdoor, don’t use any mains power and detect movement up 6 metres away.

There are also two lights included which makes these some of the best outdoor security lights in terms of value for money. Both lights can be rigged up in the same spot, or used across your property to deter intruders from different areas.

With large solar panels located on top, these lights charge up automatically during the day. The one drawback of this is that they can’t be used in a covered area, like a porch, but in spaces where they receive enough sunlight, they are very effective.

Each light has a choice of three settings, so that can be adjusted individually depending on your preference. On setting one, the light automatically turns on, to full brightness, when it gets dark. On setting two, the light is always dimly illuminated, and comes on to full brightness when movement is sensed. On setting three, the lights turn on to full brightness after sensing movement, and then turn off again. On full brightness, the lights produce 1400 lumens.

Four screws are provided, to help with fixing the lights in place, and the installation is a fairly straight-forward process.

Although instructions are included, there is a small amount of trial and error involved with understanding the different modes (the written manual is not overly clear). Nevertheless, the set-up is sill relatively intuitive and it doesn’t take long to get the lights up and running.

Unlike many models, this CLY LED Floodlight Security Light will let you choose exactly how long you want the light to come on for when it detects movement.

If you have it positioned near a door, you may benefit from more light in order to find your keys and get them in the lock, in which case the 600 second or 120 second light will be useful. Alternatively, if you want a shorter time, to spook potential intruders without using too much energy, you can choose between the 45 second and 10 second option.

The light uses 20 W of mains power and comes with one metre of cable included. There’s no plug fitted, so the light can either be wired in, or connected to a three-pin plug – it comes with revealed wires as shown in the photo so a qualified electrician is needed for installation.

Suitable for outdoor use, the light has a waterproof rating of IP66. It can sense movement up to approximately 12 metres away, and produces a bright, white light that covers a distance of several metres.

There are two light settings to choose between; either the light senses motion during both day and night, or it only comes on when motion is sensed at night. Naturally, the second option will be more useful and save energy.

Overall, this is one of the best outdoor security lights in terms of versatility. With a range of lighting periods available, the light can be used for different functions depending on where it is placed. Running on mains power, it also doesn’t matter if the light is positioned in the shade.

Buying security lights on a budget can result in poor performance, but this MEIKEE LED Floodlight is bright, effective and reliable, even though it has an inexpensive price tag.

The 15 W light is sufficient to light up a driveway, and the motion sensor works over roughly the same distance too. Given that the unit itself is relatively small, measuring approximately 15 x 12 x 6 cm, it’s a compact and discreet size – suitable for positioning on sheds, garages and walls.

It has a waterproof rating of IP66, making it suitable for outdoor use, and seems to fare relatively well even in more extreme weather like snow. There have been some customer reports of condensation getting under the glass after heavy rain.

There are two power settings, useful depending on where the light will be used. On one of the settings, the light will only illuminate if it senses movement at night time, whilst the other setting will work both during the day and night – useful if positioned in a dim outdoor area or warehouse.

These settings can be changed by using a switch on the base of the unit. There is a second switch for adjusting the time that the light stays on for. It can be adjusted to 10, 45, 120 or 600 seconds.

As is quite common with security lights, no three-pin plug is provided and therefore a professional will be required to connect the light to mains electricity. This will likely be the most time-consuming part of installing the light, as fitting it to the wall is quite straight forward.

The mains cable measures 1.5 m, which is quite generous compared to other models, and it another reason why this is one of the best outdoor security lights to buy on a budget.

These four-sided HETP Solar Lights are well designed for illuminating more corners of the garden. Instead of only lighting the area under or in front of the light, they shine at four slightly different angles, giving 270° of illumination.

Two lights come included, and they run on solar power so can be placed in areas that don’t have access to a power source. Of course, being solar powered, they do need to positioned somewhere that gets enough sunlight and can’t be fixed anywhere too shaded.

Each unit has 180 LEDs and gives off a very bright light. The spread of light is more extensive than standard security lights, and the motion sensor detects at a distance of approximately 3 – 5 metres.

With an IP65 waterproof rating, these lights are suitable for use outdoors, and they are easy to install.

There are three settings to change between – the same as the other HETP solar light featured on this page. The light can either: be set to come on permanently once it gets dark – lasting for up to eight hours if fully charged; be on dimly all the time, and get bright when motion is detected; or, be off until motion is detected, at which point the bright light will illuminate.

Due to its design, this is one of the best outdoor security lights to light up more angles of the garden. Also, as a solar-powered option, it can be placed in areas that don’t have access to mains power.