The 8 Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights of 2023

Best Overall

LEONLITE LED Outdoor Motion Sensor Flood Light

4.7

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The LEONLITE LED Motion Sensor Flood Light comes with an affordable price tag, and it’s packed with features you’d expect to find in a much more expensive light. It’s also easy to install and use, which is why it’s our best overall outdoor motion-sensing light. 

The motion sensor has a wide 180-degree detection angle, with a range of around 69 feet. The sensor itself is also adjustable, which means you can aim it any way you need to get an optimum view of your space and the direction that any intruders are most likely to approach from. This light is tremendously customizable. Our tester raved about the straightforward setup and noted the solid, well-made construction (apart from the flimsy gasket) and intuitive controls. She was able to install it on the side of her house and illuminate the most important zones thanks to the adjustable lights. 

You'll find independent controls for the brightness of the light, the light timer, and the sensor range. If the light turns on a lot from events like your neighbors moving around in their yard, that’s easy enough to take care of by adjusting the range. You can also set the light to motion-activation mode, stay on all the time, or remain on every night from dusk until dawn.

Price at time of publish: $60

_{Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.5 x 5.9 inches | Range: 59 to 69 feet (adjustable, varies based on installation height) | Detection Angle: 180 degrees | Wattage: 20 watts | Power Source: AC}

Best LED

LEPOWER 35W LED Security Light Motion Sensor

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The LEPOWER 35W LED Security Light Motion Sensor is exceptionally bright, has a great sensor range and detection angle, and is ready to stand up to the elements with a solid IP65 weatherproof rating. It also pumps out 3,500 lumens from three huge LED panels, two of which are adjustable, so we recommend it as the best LED motion sensor light.

This light has a massive 72-foot sensor range directly in front of the sensor. That falls off to the sides, but you can aim the sensor to create an optimal detection area. If you don't need that wide a range, the sensitivity is adjustable. The LEPOWER also has three huge LED panels that can remain on for up to 10 minutes after activation. The only catch is that it doesn't have a dusk-to-dawn or always-on mode, so it works better as a security light than a floodlight.

Price at time of publish: $60

_{Dimensions: 14 x 8.3 x 5.2 inches | Range: 72 feet | Detection Angle: 180 degrees | Wattage: 35 watts | Power Source: AC}

Best Budget

HMCITY Outdoor 120 LED Solar Lights

4.4

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If you’re trying to set up motion sensor lights around your home on a tight budget, the HMCITY Outdoor 120 LED Solar Light is the best option. These lights are battery- and solar-powered, so you don’t need to pay for an electrician, and they’re also really easy to install. They aren’t the brightest lights on the market, but they’re affordable enough that you can put them exactly where you need light outside your home. These solar lights work best in areas where the solar panel will see a lot of sunlight throughout the day. 

These HMCITY lights can sense motion within 26 feet, and they have a wide sensor range of 120 degrees. You can’t aim the sensor or lights after installation, but you can choose from three different lighting modes. You can set the light to come on for 15 seconds when it detects motion, stay on all night, or remain dimly lit all night and grow brighter when the sensor detects activity.

Price at time of publish: $22

_{Dimensions: Not listed | Range: 26 feet | Detection Angle: 120 degrees | Wattage: 4.5 watts | Power Source: Battery, solar}

Best Wireless

LEPOWER Solar Security Light 1000LM

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The LEPOWER Solar Security Light 1000LM is exceptionally bright for a solar-powered security light, and it’s battery-powered, so it’s a perfect fit wherever electricity isn’t available. The remote solar panel makes it a lot easier to keep the battery charged, and it has all the functionality and features of a more expensive hard-wired security light.

The problem with most solar security lights is that it’s challenging to keep them charged, but LEPOWER solved that problem. Instead of a built-in solar panel, this security light includes a separate panel with a 15-foot cord. While the cord isn’t very long, it allows you to mount the light where it needs to be, like under the eaves of your roof, and place the solar panel up on the roof where it will get the most sun. In automatic mode, the light stays on only for a maximum of 2 minutes, but you have the option of always-on mode, which can keep the lights on for 90 minutes when fully charged.

Price at time of publish: $45

_{Dimensions: ‎10 x 8.5 x 4.8 inches | Range: 72 feet | Detection Angle: 180 degrees | Wattage: 4.4 watts | Power Source: Battery, solar}

Best Design

Euri Lighting EFL-130W-MD Flickering Flame Lantern

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The Euri Lighting EFL-130W-MD is in a completely different class from other security lights in terms of design. This security light takes the form of a flickering flame lantern, complete with an oil-rubbed bronze finish and your choice of frosted or water glass panels. It doesn’t look anything like other security lights, but it does get the job done. The drawback to the attractive design is that the bottom isn’t enclosed, though this lantern is wet-rated and safe for outdoor use. It also comes with an estimated 50,000-hour lifespan.

When the sun goes down, the lantern glows with a warm, flickering firelight effect reminiscent of a gas lamp. This dusk-to-dawn light activates when the sun goes down and stays on all night. When the sensor detects motion, it activates the main 1,200-lumen LED light and bathes the area in bright, white light. 

Price at time of publish: $69

_{Dimensions: ‎8.07 x 9.44 x 14.56 inches | Range: Not provided | Detection Angle: Not listed | Wattage: 12.5 watts | Power Source: AC}

Best Floodlights

SANSI 45W Motion Sensor Outdoor Floodlight

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The two most important things to look for in a floodlight are brightness and the ability to direct the light exactly where you need it. The SANSI 6000LM Super Bright Security Light puts out an impressive 6,000 lumens, enough to flood your entire yard and driveway with light. It includes two arrays with three super-bright LEDs, and you can position each ray independently. You can rotate the lights up, down, in, or out to cover your property without bothering the neighbors.

This motion-sensing floodlight has a massive detection distance of up to 72 feet, and it’s able to sense motion in a 180-degree range. It features many adjustment options, including leaving the lights on for between 10 seconds and 10 minutes after each activation. If you need some extra security, the dusk-to-dawn mode keeps the lights on all night. The light also has an IP65 rating, which means it’s certified to stand up to the heaviest of rains.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.1 x 4.8 inches | Range: 72 feet | Detection Angle: 180 degrees | Wattage: 45 watts | Power Source: AC}

Best Smart

Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor

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The Philips Hue Dusk-to-Dawn motion sensor is a smart motion detector that can turn your existing outdoor light fixtures into motion-controlled lighting. It works by replacing the bulbs in your exterior light fixtures with Hue smart bulbs and then setting up the Philips Hue Dusk-to-Dawn sensor. The smart bulbs will then turn on whenever the Hue sensor detects motion. This system allows you to connect multiple sensors to cover various parts of the exterior of your home, and you can also set the sensors to activate smart outlets and other smart devices.

The downside is that this is just a sensor, not an all-in-one motion-sensing light. This model isn’t what you’re looking for if you just want to attach a motion-sensing light to your wall and call it a day. However, it’s an excellent option if you’re into smart home gear. It comes with many mounting options, so you can install it flush on a wall, a corner, or even on a freestanding pole, and it allows you to activate any compatible smart lights. With Hue, you can have more than a motion-sensing light for security. You can turn on all outdoor and indoor lights or even activate a smart speaker with a warning message.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Dimensions: 2.2 x 3 x 3 inches | Range: 39 feet | Detection Angle: 160 degrees horizontal / 80 degrees vertical | Wattage: No built-in lighting | Power Source: Battery}