Solar hanging lights offer you the chance to add a level of illumination to your outdoor space, increasing both their aesthetic appeal and safety without needing to run up your bills or run any electrical cable.

Powered by sunlight, the best Hanging Solar Lights are attractive, durable, and made to last – so they provide an excellent and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional garden lighting. 

Top 8 hanging solar lights for outdoor use

Since Solar Lights are relatively simple items, we’ve dispensed with the usual ‘standout factor’ grading we use for our other reviews. 

Instead, we’ve just gathered together eight of the best hanging solar lights on the market to review. 

1. Addlon 48ft Solar Outdoor String Lights

Designed to hang over an outdoor space like a patio or dining area, these solar bulbs are made from plastic to make them as weatherproof as possible.

The combination of plastic bulbs and insulated cabling makes this set resistant to extreme weather conditions and temperatures. 

The stand connecting the bulbs is 48 feet long, with 43 feet of that being the lit section. The LED bulbs are charged by a single solar panel that can be either staked into the ground or screwed to a wall.

The system takes around  8-10 hours to be fully charged and then provides approximately 8-10 hours of illumination. A one year guarantee covers the whole set, making these some of the best hanging solar lights out there for people who want to buy with peace of mind.

What we like:

• Durable – With an insulated cable and plastic bulbs, this set is durable and weather resistant. 
• Several mounting options – That panel that charges the lights can be mounted at ground level or attached to a wall.

What we don’t like:

• Manual on/off – The system has no dawn/dusk function, so you have to switch the lights on and off yourself.

If you need to string a set of lights over an outdoor setting, these durable and weatherproof LED bulbs are the ideal solution. 

2. Bosceos 12 Pack Hanging Outdoor Solar Lights

These lights are designed to be hung individually with the attached clips, and have a solar panel mounted on the top that feeds an LED bulb inside a distinctive decorative cracked glass ball.

Made of sturdy glass and stainless steel, both the bulb and upgraded monocrystalline silicon solar panel are sealed away from the weather. 

Installation is simple, all you need to do is remove the plastic protector, unscrew the cap, and slide the switch to ‘on’. Then hang the lights where you like and let the inbuilt dusk/dawn setting turn the lights on and off for you.

What we like:

• High quality – Constructed of stainless steel and with a monocrystalline silicon solar panel, these lights are well made. 
• Distinctive – The cracked glass ball is distinctive and aesthetically pleasing.

What we don’ like: 

• Fragile glass – While the glass might be pleasantly decorative, it is rather fragile for outdoor lighting and could easily have been plastic.

If you want lighting with a distinct look and want those lights to be made from high-quality materials, this set is a good option.

3. Walensee Solar Outdoor Lights – 2 Pack

Able to be hung or placed on a table or the ground, the Walensee Solar Outdoor Light comes with a decorative iron housing that contains a soft white seven-lumen bulb. 

These lamps aren’t designed to throw off huge amounts of light but rather to provide a pleasant glow, with the patterns cut into the casing throwing off scattered shadows to increase the ambiance. We think that these are some of the best hanging solar lights out there in terms of purely aesthetic appeal – although they are not suited to illuminating large areas.

Despite their size, measuring only 6 x 6 x 6.5 inches, each lamp contains a 600mAh NI-MH battery, enough power for 8 hours of light on a full charge, and a dusk/dawn function. 

If you are not completely satisfied with these lantern lights, Walensee will refund you, no questions asked.

What we liked:

• Easy to place – With two mounting methods, it’s easy to find a place for these lights. 
• Pretty – The patterned iron casing and soft glow LEDs make these lights aesthetically pleasing.

What we don’t like:

• Not very bright – Seven lumens isn’t a lot of light, and these lamps are more for mood than illumination.

If you want something to add a little mood lighting to an outdoor space, these lamps are ideal. Just don’t expect them to light your driveway. 

4. DERAYSION Security Solar Hanging Outdoor Lanterns – 2 Pack

Made from a robust stainless steel and glass housing that encloses a long lasting LED Filament bulb, these lamps are made to last. 

They are IP65 waterproof, and the toughened glass is frostproof, so you don’t have to worry about the weather. 

After charging for 6-8 hours, these lamps are good to go for 8-10 hours and include an automatic dusk/dawn system that turns them on and off. 

The 15-lumen lights are brighter than most of the solar lamps on this list, and best of all, they can be unhooked from their supplied wall mountings, allowing you to carry them with you.

What we like:

• IP65 waterproof – Proper waterproofing means these lights are entirely weatherproof. 
• Detachable – These lights can be unhooked and carried with you.

What we don’t like: 

• Bad packaging – Several reviews have commented that these lights are sent out loose, which means they sometimes arrive damaged. 

Bright, well made, and portable, these lights are an ideal choice for your outdoor illumination needs. 

5. Mlambert 3-Color in 1 Dimmable Solar String Lights

Everyone likes a garden party, and these are some of the best hanging solar lights you can buy for no-frills lighting. They provide a great and low cost way to inject a little color into your next outdoor get together. 

Able to be controlled remotely, this set of lights is dimmable, comes in three colors, and can be set to 2700K, 4000K, or 5000K brightness. 

The system comes with a 4400mAh super large-capacity solar panel, which gives you 8-hours of illumination on an 8-hour change. 

However, since you can’t always guarantee bright sunlight, it also has a USB charging port, which will give you 8-hours of illumination on a 6-hour charge.

All the bulbs are made of shatterproof plastic, and the system is IP65 waterproof.

What we like:

• IP65 waterproof – Ideally, you want all your outdoor electronics to be waterproof.
• USB charging – For when you want party lights, but the sun won’t play ball.

What we don’t like:

• Confusing – The system is turned on by a single button with no indication when the system is set to ‘on’. Since it comes uncharged, it can be tricky to figure out if your lights are working right out of the box.

Great for parties, these three-in-one lights have a lot of functionality. 

6. Maggift 34 Inch Hanging Dual Use Shepherd Hook Solar Lights

Ideal for placing along a path, the Maggift 34 Inch Hanging Solar Lights serve double duty.

They can be hung with the included shepherd’s hook, but also come with a simple clip mechanism for attaching in other places. 

The lights are made of good quality plastic, and the housings are IP44 waterproof. The charging time is around  6-8 hours in direct sunlight for 8-10 hours of illumination. 

What we like:

• Multiple mounts – These lights come with both a clip mount and shepherd’s hook
• IP44 waterproof – Not as good as IP65 waterproofing, but certainly better than nothing.

What we don’t like:

• Can’t be put on a flat surface – The design of these lamps means that, although they are portable, they can’t be put down on a flat surface. 

Great for a driveway and easy to move somewhere else when you need it, these are some of the best hanging solar lights you can buy for a solution to pathway illumination. 

7. Litogo Solar String Outdoor Lights – 4 Pack

Each string of this four pack has 20 super bright led bulbs on a 45 foot strand, making them super convenient to string around an outdoor space and making them ideal for outdoor gatherings.

The set comes with multiple light modes, including blink, wave, sequential, slow glow, flashing, slow fade, twinkle, and steady on. 

The entire system is IP65 waterproof, and the monocrystalline silicon solar panel with an inbuilt 800mAh rechargeable battery, meaning they’ll give you 8-hours of illumination on a 6-hour charge. 

What we like:

• Multiple light modes – Great for the holidays, weddings, outdoor bat mitzvahs, etc.
• IP64 waterproof – Always the gold standard for the waterproofing of outdoor electronics.

What we don’t like:

• The Christmas light issue – As with any long string of flashing LED lights, these outdoor solar ones are very easy to tangle and a nightmare to untangle.

If you are looking for a solar lighting solution and don’t want obvious lamps, these strings of LEDs make a great alternative.

8. Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Lights with Flickering LED Bulbs

Designed to recreate the feel of flickering fire, this set of LED bulbs are durable enough to resist winds up to 50MPH, torrential rain, and their heat resistance is 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Each strand is 27 feet long, with bulbs spaced 20 inches apart. 

The supplied solar panel can be set up with the included ground stake or clip, so it’s easy to put it in direct sunlight. A 6-hour charge will give you a minimum of 5-6 hours light. 

The panel is rated to a 1,000 charge lifespan, or around 2.5 years, and the bulbs have a 20,000-hour life expectancy.

Brightech’s 2 Year Solar Warranty covers the entire system.

What we like:

• Durable – The set is resistant to heat, wind, rain, and the plastic bulb covers are shatterproof. 
• Good warranty – Brightech’s Solar Warranty covers your bulbs for two years. 

What we don’t like:

• Short working time – Because of the flickering effect, these lights only have a 5-6 hour working time, instead of 6-8 hours.

Decorative while still being good quality, this set comes with a full warranty to back up the manufacturer’s claims of quality. 

The best hanging solar lights for your garden: a buyer’s guide

Now that you’ve read the reviews of some of the best hanging solar lights on the market, let’s look at what you might need to consider when choosing the right solar lights for your garden.

Why buy hanging solar lights?

The primary reason to buy solar hanging lights is to provide illumination without needing to run a cable all over your garden or outdoor space. 

Solar lights are easy to install because nothing needs to be connected to the mains, relatively low maintenance, and the LED bulbs and solar panels are highly durable. The best hanging solar lights will tick all of these boxes!

Therefor, solar hanging lights are the ideal solution if you’re looking to light a patio, have some extra security lights, or want to light up a cabin or outbuilding that doesn’t have a mains connection.

What to look for when buying hanging solar lights? 

When buying solar hanging lights, there are several functions you want to prioritize, including:

• Lumens – If you want your solar hanging lights to be decorative, anything from five lumens up is fine. If you want them to provide real illumination or as a security light, you’ll want to find something between 10 and 15 lumens. 

• Waterproofing – The gold standard for outdoor waterproofing is IP65 standard, which means your lights are “protected against water jets from any angle.” So you’ll want to look for lights that are IP65 rated. 

• Durability – Generally, the construction of the lights will determine their durability. With outdoor lighting, heavy duty plastic is generally preferable, as it is less prone to breakage, weather resistant, and won’t corrode. 

• Charging time – Depending on what you want your lights for, charging and working times are important. If they’re decorative, shorter working times are fine unless you’re partying all night. If you want them for security, you’ll want them to run for at least 8-hours.

• Dawn/dusk – The last thing you want to be doing is going around turning off all your outdoor lights, so prioritize systems that have an automatic on/off system based on the ambient lighting. This feature is often called a dusk/dawn system.

FAQ

So you’ve got all the information you need to make a purchase that suits your needs, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about solar lights.

Should solar lights be on or off?

Assuming your system has a dusk/dawn cut off, you’ll want to set your system to ‘on’. The lights will then charge, come on at dusk and go off again at dawn.

Where do you hang solar lights?

The location depends on whether the solar panel is on the light or not. If it’s separate, you can hang them anywhere, as long as the solar panel is in direct sunlight. 

If the solar panel is part of the light, you’ll want to make sure the lights are hung, so the panel is in direct sunlight during the day.

The best hanging solar lights for your garden

Hanging solar lights are an excellent, environmentally-friendly way to illuminate a garden or outdoor space without running any cabling, connecting anything to the mains, or spending extra money on your energy bills.