When looking to improve your home’s safety and security on a budget, investing in a handful of outdoor security lights comes to mind for most households, but are they worth it? Today I’ll take an unbiased look into whether or not you should get outdoor security lights based on my own personal experiences.
So what are outdoor security lights actually useful for? They actually come with more than one benefit, which in all honesty are going to make your life a lot better, especially if your property is like mine, which we’ll get onto in a bit. Security lights have a few fantastic benefits, and one minor drawback.
- 1. Security Lights Can Deter Would-Be Thieves
- 2. Security Lights Improve Your Camera’s Recording Quality
- 3. They Light Your Property When You Need It To.
- 4. They Can Be a Bit Ugly, Unless You Are Willing To Spend a Few Quid.
- Conclusion – Outdoor Security Lights Are Definitely Worth It.
- How Many Security Lights Do I Need?
- What Is The Best Outdoor Security Light?
1. Security Lights Can Deter Would-Be Thieves
Whether you live in a rural area or a densely-populated suburb, the sad reality is that there are always going to be a handful of people who try to gain a free lunch by stealing from others. Whether it’s Range Rovers, Bikes, or even just your Ring Doorbell, desperate individuals are willing to take risks to make easy money.
This is where security lights are brilliant – if a person is doing something they shouldn’t be doing, in a place which they shouldn’t be, being illuminated by a huge, bright spotlight is very off-putting. Criminals tend not to enjoy taking things when they are easily seen. Bright lights scare even the most curious, risky thieves away, because they automatically assume they are being recorded and the homeowners are aware.
In the dead of night, a bright outdoor security light can give them a real fright. Where this tool becomes increasingly powerful is when you set up your home security to also make noises, and catch them in the act. This is where a good security camera can really complement your security too. Most good wireless security cameras have the ability to play warning sirens and monitor activity. If that sounds useful too, then check out our comparison article of the best wireless security cameras here.
2. Security Lights Improve Your Camera’s Recording Quality
Although many slightly more premium security cameras do come in with night vision and a smaller LED to catch trespassers at night, these inbuilt lights tend not to be hugely powerful, so the range at which they are able to record at night time can be limited. Fitting a good outdoor security light which covers the same area is hugely beneficial if you already own security cameras, because it can massively improve the clarity and recording quality of your cameras. The combination of cameras and lights makes your home security worth more than the sum of its parts when you do this. They go together like wine and cheese, or butter and toast if you’re not a drinker.
3. They Light Your Property When You Need It To.
Outdoor motion sensing security lights incredibly useful for warding off just about everything from foxes to nosy neighbours, but they are also useful for illuminating spaces when you need want them to be lit. How many times have you taken out the bins, both hands full, and been frustrated by not being able to see what you’re doing? How about going to the end of your garden to lock up the shed, but you stand on a snail because you can’t see. All kinds of everyday scenarios like this can be massively improved by inexpensive yet effective outdoor lighting.
4. They Can Be a Bit Ugly, Unless You Are Willing To Spend a Few Quid.
Outdoor security lighting isn’t really known for improving the look of your property – they tend to have a bit of a reputation for being downright eyesores in some cases. I would like to emphasise that this only needs to be the case if you’re on a restricted budget and just need the job done. For a majority of homeowners, it’s not really a concern of theirs and they are okay with the look of these cheaper security lights, but if you want to opt for a more discreet, snazzy looking set of lights than this is also very much possible. Slightly more premium lights are now readily available, such as the Feahrzeug 100W, which are much nicer looking in my opinion. Just be prepared to pay a little more for the improved build quality and design over some of the more basic options.
Conclusion – Outdoor Security Lights Are Definitely Worth It.
Ever since I have had outdoor motion sensing security lights, I’ve taken them for granted. When I come back from the office in winter, I can actually see where I’m walking. Foxes, cats and (very occasionally) people are scared off, which makes living in my home considerably more convenient. Now. if you’re on board with the idea and want to improve your home’s security and convenience with motion sensing outdoor lighting, here’s a rough idea of how many lights you will likely need to fully cover and secure your home.
How Many Security Lights Do I Need?
| Property Type | Size | No. Of Security Lights Needed | Rough Budget |
| Apartment | Small (Ground Floor, Small Garden + A Front Door) | 2 | £120 |
| Terraced House | Medium (Small Back Garden) | 2 | £120 |
| Terraced House | Medium (Long Back Garden) | 3 | £180 |
| Semi Detatched | Medium (Drive + Back Garden) | 3 | £180 |
| Semi Detatched | Large (Long Front and Long Back Garden) | 3-4 | £180-£240 |
| Detatched | Medium (Smaller Drive, Medium Garden) | 4-5 | £240-£300 |
| Detatched | Large (Drive, Large Garden) | 5-7 | £300-£450 |
| Detatched | Very Large ( > 1 Acre) | 6-10 | £360-£600 |
What Is The Best Outdoor Security Light?
Now you know how many lights you are likely to need to fully cover your property with security lights, let’s take a look at a few recommendations. To cover most needs, I’ll show my top pick for the best overall outdoor security light. It manages to perfectly strike that balance between price and quality, and is the perfect option for a majority of homeowner’s needs. In the near future I will do a side by side comparison of the best alternatives, so stay tuned for that article too.
Firstly, my pick for the best overall outdoor security light would have to be the FEAHRZEUG 100W Security Light. It delivers impressive lighting and performance in a relatively compact package. It’s easy to fit, and both renters and homeowners will have little trouble with fitting and finding an ideal place to put it.
The Feahrzug 100W is a motion detecting light, so rather than wasting energy with a constant spotlight, it instead turns on for a brief time when motion is detected. This is more energy efficient but also less annoying for most homes, as it’s relatively rare that someone is looking for a spotlight which is on all through the night.
I hope this has been useful if you have been contemplating whether or not to invest in fitting outdoor security lights around your property. The remainder of this article is intended to cover commonly asked questions I get around security lights, so if you still have reservations, hopefully this will help.
What Is The Difference Between a Floodlight and a Security Light?
The main difference between a floodlight and security light is that a floodlight is typically on for a long period of time, whereas most security lights tend to be motion sensing and only turn on for a short time after motion is detected. This can be confusing because there are also motion sensing floodlights.
Do Security Lights Use a Lot of Energy?
These days, most security lights have LED bulbs which are very energy efficient. Pair this with the fact most are motion sensing and only on for brief periods of time, and you will find that they are generally very energy efficient.
What is the Best Wattage For Outdoor Security Lights?
Generally, 100 Watts or less is more than enough unless you have a particularly large area which you want to be fully lit up. For smaller spaces, around 50 Watts or less is enough.
What is the Best Height For A Floodlight?
The best height for a floodlight is above eye level – aim to place the lights at least 8 feet above ground level, and 10 feet is ideal in most cases.
Should The Security Light Be Above or Below The Camera?
Generally, it’s best to make sure the light isn’t in view of the camera, to ensure that the camera’s quality remains good. Try to install lights above your security camera, to prevent the light from shining straight into the camera.
Should You Leave Flood Lights on at Night?
No – if you leave outdoor lights on, intruders may believe that you aren’t home. It’s best to use motion sensing security lights instead, not to mention the energy saving benefits too.