The 10 Best Dusk To Dawn Lights
Special Honors
Vaxcel Everett Dualux This stylish lantern features stylish seeded glass and an elegant metallic bronze finish. It’s weather resistant and safe to use in locations where there’s direct exposure to water. It’s compatible with a 60-watt medium-base bulb or an LED equivalent. While it turns on at dusk and off at dawn, it can also be set to brighten when it detects motion within a range of up to 40 feet. wayfair.com
Editor's Notes
September 01, 2020:
The Feit Electric Half Moon joins the list in today’s update, as an option that’s equally attractive and durable. It’s made of a rustproof aluminum housing and a shatter-resistant white polycarbonate lens. The integrated LED is rated to last for up to 50,000 hours and produces bright illumination that resembles natural daylight. While it’s not the brightest option on our list, its output of 850 lumens is nothing to sneeze at. It’s Energy Star approved and backed by an impressive five-year warranty, so you can make your purchase with confidence. We also added in the Vaxcel Abigail Dualux 9” today, which boasts an elegant metallic bronze finish and clear water glass. While it features dusk-to-dawn operation, like all the options on our list, it offers the added bonus of a motion sensor. The way that works is the light can be set to turn on at sundown at an energy-efficient, money-saving low level of illumination (also great when you don’t want to disturb your neighbors). During that time, when it senses motion within a range of up to 40 feet, it can be set to brighten significantly. This comes in handy in the event you’re expecting late-night guests, and it can help deter unwanted visitors just the same. All of these options it offers can be controlled with the user-friendly panel on the back. Like the Feit model, this one is also backed by a generous five-year warranty. The third and final model we added today is the Sansi C2440K, which is a versatile backyard light (equally suited for the front of your house) that comes with dual adjustable heads that allow you to direct their light however you need to. They provide a total output of 3,600 lumens and feature a waterproof gasket, although note that the light-emitting diodes themselves remain uncovered.
To make room for these new additions, we removed the Hyperikon Shoebox and the Onforu Security, amidst some reports they don’t last very long, the LeonLite LED, which some users find tends to flicker and flash like a strobe light. No matter which of these you deem is right for you, remember that any electrical installations involving live wires are best left to a licensed electrician, for safety’s sake. Be sure to shut off power while installing fixtures, and comply with your local electrical codes regarding wiring and grounding requirements.
March 01, 2019:
The Brightech LightPro is exceptional at illuminating a large amount of space, but it's fairly utilitarian, as not much thought was given to its aesthetics. We didn't penalize it for that — most of these units will be purchased for utilitarian purposes, after all — but if you want something that dresses up your home as much as it brightens it, the Cinoton LED or the Westinghouse Lighting lamp are as attractive as they are functional. Users should also decide whether they want to cast a gentle glow over their entire property or shine a bright spotlight on a particular area, as this will affect which option is likely to be best for them.