Secure Your Home or Property With Our Favorite Tested Motion Sensor Lights (2024)

Our Top Picks

After testing the Leonlite Watchman LED Motion Sensor Security Light, we are convinced it's an excellent all-around outdoor flood light that provides a bit more adjustability than other comparable security lights we've seen. The motion detector has a wide 180-degree sensing angle, which means if you mount it on a wall, it can detect everything in front of that wall.

In our case, it easily covered a 10-foot-square garage area that animals were trying to camp in, activating when any cars or deer entered the space. When nearby construction began triggering the light too often, we utilized the options for manual operation or dusk-to-dawn mode, complete with a knob for choosing its sensitivity to light.

We think the pair of lamp heads offer even more flexibility, with 360-degree rotation for pointing the 100-degree-wide beams anywhere you need. With 100 degrees of coverage from each light, you can illuminate the entire area in front of a wall, or focus the light toward a specific area of interest, like a pathway or gate.

The combined 1,800 lumen brightness isn't the brightest we tested (the Ring Floodlight Cam provides 2,000 lumens), but it was more than enough to provide functional lighting at a distance of 30 feet in the space we tested. You can get the light in a more stark, daylight-like color temperature of 5,000K, or opt for a warmer, yellower 3,000K model.

If you'd like the option to switch color temperatures, the Leonlite 3CCt LED Security Light has three lights and lets you select between 3,000K, 4,000K, and 5,000K to suit different situations.It's a little more expensive, and it's bulkier, but it's also brighter (with 3,700 total lumens) so it's a good option if you need to light up a larger space.

Using just 20 watts of electricity, the LEDs included in this light save significant energy versus older incandescent or halogen flood lights. It's a hard-wired light though, not battery-operated, so installation does involve connecting to an existing electrical junction box on your wall (or wiring one if if you don't already have one).

Since we already had a junction box in place, we were able to install the light in about 15 minutes with two people. We think that's pretty fast and easy since the average installation time for an outdoor security light is about 30 minutes. The light came with all the necessary hardware, everything fit together well, and the baseplate cover didn't give us any trouble, and the extra set of hands sped the process up a lot as well.

This weather-resistant device feels durable and has survived strong rain without issues. We consider the light an impressive value, with brighter illumination (1800 vs 1500 lumens) and a lower MSRP compared to the slightly newer Leonlite Watchman Premium. We also think that the listed 50,000-hour listed lifespan of the non-replaceable bulbs adds to the value of the light, if they actually last that long. The Watchman Premium has an extra operating mode and a cleaner design, but the bulbs are rated to last the same amount of time.

_{Dimensions: 6.26 x 9.92 x 7.4 inches | Detection Range: 59 to 69 feet | Power Source: Hardwired}

If you have paths or a yard that needs more nighttime visibility, we think it's hard to beat the value and simplicity of a four-pack of solar-powered motion sensor lights from Urpower. It took us just a minute or two to install each light, using the included screws and anchors to hang them at front and back entryways and a wood shed.

For the last spot, the unit was lightweight enough to mount with double-sided adhesive strips to avoid drilling into vinyl siding. There are no wires or cords to connect, just a built-in solar panel that fully charges the battery with 8 hours of direct sunlight. A full charge is touted as lasting for 300 motion events (30 seconds each).

The 40 LEDs that make up each light produce decently bright output at a 120-degree angle. Without the ability to reposition the beam, this meant about an 8-foot radius of light in each of our locations before quickly dropping off.

The motion detector picks up about the same limited range, so if you need broader light and movement coverage, you'll want to seek out more powerful alternatives, or install multiple Urpower lights, which are ideal for bringing quick, hassle-free lighting to multiple areas . The basic construction means fewer moving pieces get damaged or act up in the elements, and the waterproof plastic casing held up fine against days of rain.

_{Dimensions: 4.9 x 4 inches | Detection Range: 16 to 26 feet | Power Source: Solar-powered battery}

Unlike many motion sensor flood lights and security lamps that stand out and look industrial, we think the Better Homes & Gardens solar-powered wall sconce wraps nice motion-sensing and sunlight-based technologies into an elegant package. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by The Spruce's parent company, Dotdash Meredith.)

Inside the glass housing is a retro Edison-style LED bulb that you can replace, adding to the product's longevity. The fixture charges in the daylight, automatically kicks into a low-light mode when it gets dark, then increases to full brightness for 20 seconds when it detects motion. Even at maximum level, the light is a relatively dim 200 lumens, so it serves more for decorative lighting and added visibility rather than a startling security deterrent.

With its easy-to-install wire-free two-screw bracket, we mounted the light on a tall backyard fence within 10 minutes—much shorter than the 30+ minutes it often takes to install a hard-wired light. The sensor was effective at activating max brightness any time there was motion in the 20-foot driveway, though the light extended to only about half the space.

There are no options to adjust settings like motion sensitivity, brightness levels, or activation modes. The device has a simple, hands-off operation. However, you can adjust the tilt of the solar panel on top of the fixture to catch more sunlight during the day.

_{Dimensions: 13.5 x 6.1 x 7.7 inches | Detection Range: 25 feet | Power Source: Solar-powered battery}

You'll find LEDs (light-emitting diodes) used on all of the best outdoor light bulbs because of their superior energy efficiency and longevity. That's the case with the model MB360XT motion-sensing spotlight from Beams, which leverages that energy efficiency to provide long-lasting battery-powered light.

This light isn't particularly powerful at 200 lumens (our best overall recommendation, the Leonlite Watchman LED Motion Sensor Security Light, provides 900 lumens from each of its lights), but the reflective-face spotlight design focuses light over a wide area—enough to reach 30 to 35 feet away. In the garden where we aimed it during testing, the light was bright enough to provide visibility, while not blinding guests or the two dogs that play in the yard.

The MB360XT offers little customizability (it doesn't even have an always-on mode), but it does provide a good value, with an MSRP that's about half that of the Better Homes & Gardens Solar Dusk to Dawn Decorative Light, which is our only other battery-powered pick.

It does have an effective light sensor though, which is the most important feature for a battery-powered security light, since it keeps the light from triggering during the daylight hours. We confirmed that the light sensor works well, as does the motion detector. Beams lists a modest range of 30 feet for the motion detector, but we found it to pick up on large movements in direct line of sight up to 40 feet away.

Installation took us about 10 minutes, which included drilling holes for the mounting screws. Since it's battery-powered, there was no additional time required to wire it to a junction box, which saved a lot of time. We were a bit concerned that the included screws may not be long or strong enough to secure the light on certain walls, but it remained in place for us.

One concern we noted is that to rotate the base after installation, you need to completely remove and reinstall the light (so make sure it's in the orientation you want). You'll also need to replace the batteries regularly—we didn't have to during our initial tests, but they only last about one year depending on usage.

_{Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.5 x 4.42 inches | Detection Range: 30 feet | Power Source: 3 replaceable D batteries}

We think that the Euri Lighting EFL-130W-MD features the most unique (and functional) design of any motion sensing security light we've tested, because it provides both accent lighting and bright security lighting from one decorative fixture that also looks great during the day. The ornate white or dark bronze lantern with water glass panels activates after sunset to mimic a classic gas lamp, thanks to a 300-diode "flame" bulb with a warm, yellow glow and a gentle flickering animation.

When this light senses motion, a whiter, more security-oriented LED light built into the top of the fixture shines 1,200 lumens on the area for 3 minutes. We gauged the sensor range to be about 15 feet and not overly sensitive, with the security light reaching out to 30 feet.

There are no options to adjust the intensity or positioning of the lights or the sensor, but we found the settings to be perfect as they were. We installed the Euri Lantern in place of an existing back porch light, and removing the old fixture took more time than mounting the new one. If you need more light, or to cover a larger area, the decorative fixture is attractive enough to install in various locations around the outer perimeter of your home.

The wiring and setup instructions are straightforward, and there are no battery recharging needs. The integrated LED has an estimated 50,000-hour lifespan before you'll need to replace the fixture, but the flame bulb is easily replaceable through the lamp's open bottom.

_{Dimensions: 14.56 x 8.07 x 9.44 inches | Detection Range: 15 feet | Power Source: Hardwired}

The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is a motion-sensing outdoor floodlight with much more modern technology, starting with a camera that can deliver a 1080p-resolution HD live video right to your connected mobile device (that's the same resolution as full HD TV!). During testing, we observed that an alert is sent when something triggers the detector. You can then use the Ring app to view the feed and talk with whoever's there, whether it be a neighbor returning a stray basketball, a delivery person, or any other visitor.

We found the app to be very functional and easy to use, with a wealth of settings you can fine-tune, including drawing custom motion zones with adjustable sensitivity, choosing what notifications you want to receive, adjusting the brightness and activation timing of the two powerful 2,000-lumen lamps, and more. Ring doesn't provide an official range, but in practice it seems to detect out to about 30 feet away.

If you have other smart gadgets (particularly within the Ring and Amazon Alexa platforms), they can work in tandem to turn on multiple lights or relay information throughout your house. The Ring HD Camera comes with a one-month free trial of the Ring Protect plan, after which you'll need to pay monthly fees for its cloud-based video storage, advanced detection alerts, and various additional security features.

The mounting and wiring process was straightforward since we used existing electrical connections above a garage to replace a less effective motion detector light. (You can also opt for a separate plug-in mount with a power cord, if you have an outlet nearby and don't want to fuss with wiring the device directly to your electrical system.)

Our home already had a Ring doorbell, so adding the floodlight to the ecosystem was quick and painless. If you don't already have a Ring account, leave time to set one up and connect the light to your Wi-Fi network.

_{Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.67 x 7.03 inches | Detection Range: Not listed | Power Source: Hardwired}

Final Verdict

The Leonlite Watchman LED Motion Sensor Security Light, our best outdoor motion sensor light, is a well-made wired flood light that can suit many outdoor situations, thanks to its ability to toggle between different activation modes and adjust its position, motion sensitivity, and other parameters. If home aesthetics and visibility are more important to you (over pure security), the Better Homes & Gardens Solar Outdoor Wall Sconce is an elegant solar-powered fixture with dusk-to-dawn low-light operation, plus a brighter setting that casts more light when something triggers the motion detector.