Mount the front-door light at about eye level, with its centre roughly 150–180 cm (60–72 in) above the doorstep and at least 15 cm (6 in) clear of the door frame. On alfresco, patio and garage walls, go a little higher, around 1.8–2.1 m (about 6–7 ft), so the light clears heads and falls across the ground. Choose IP65 for any wall the rain can reach, and at least IP44 under a solid roof. Then decide how each light turns on: a dusk-to-dawn sensor for lights you want on all evening, a motion sensor for paths you only pass through, and solar where a wall gets sun but has no power.
Heights at a glance
| Where | Height to the light's centre | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Beside the front door | About 150–180 cm (60–72 in) above the doorstep | One light on the handle side, or one each side, at least 15 cm (6 in) from the frame |
| Alfresco, patio or deck wall | 1.8–2.1 m (about 6–7 ft) | Light that points down, so it doesn't glare at the table |
| Garage, driveway or side passage | 1.8–2.1 m (about 6–7 ft) | A motion sensor, so it lights up as you arrive |
| Garden wall or fence | Wherever it lights the path or planting below | Solar, aimed down at the ground |
Front door and porch
A front-door light has three jobs: show the step, light the lock and let you see who is at the door. Guides from lighting makers and retailers put its centre at about eye level, and 168 cm (66 in) above the doorstep is a common target.
For size, the usual rule of thumb in those guides is a third of the door's height for a single light and a quarter for each of a pair. Worked through for a door 204 cm (80 in) tall, that comes to about 68 cm (27 in) for one light or 51 cm (20 in) for each of two. The cylindrical outdoor wall light comes 38, 58 or 78 cm (15, 23 or 31 in) tall, so its 58 cm size sits close to the pair figure for that door.
Under a deep porch roof, IP44 is the usual minimum; if wind-driven rain reaches the wall, choose IP65. Keep the light warm white, as our entryway lighting guide does for the hall inside. A hardwired light here, as anywhere outside, should be connected by a licensed electrician, who will also confirm the fitting and its rating suit the spot.
Alfresco, patio and deck walls
An alfresco area, or a patio or deck depending on where you live, is lit for sitting, so aim for soft, even light that doesn't shine into anyone's eyes at the table. Lights that point down light the paving without glare, and DarkSky International asks that of all outdoor lighting: aim it down, and only where it is needed. Under a solid roof IP44 is the usual minimum, and an open wall needs IP65. Put these lights on a switch indoors, and on a dimmer if the fittings are dimmable; a licensed electrician fits both.
Garden walls, fences and solar
Along a garden or backyard fence there is often no power, which is where solar earns its place. A solar wall light charges from its own panel, so it needs a wall in direct sun: one of our listings quotes 6–8 hours of charging in direct sunlight, and our solar wall lights state run times of 6 to 16 hours on a full charge. On a fence or garden wall choose IP65, and aim the light down at the path or planting, not out over the fence. The Solar Up and Down outdoor wall light charges by day and has a light sensor that turns it on at dusk and off at dawn, so it needs no switch; it also shines upward, so mount it well below the top of the fence or wall.
Solar or wired?
Solar needs no cable and no electrician, which suits fences, garden walls and sheds, but it depends on the sun reaching the panel. A wired light gives the same output every night and can sit on a shaded wall or deep under a roof, but the mains connection needs a licensed electrician. Seventeen of our outdoor wall lights run on solar or come in a solar version, and four of them let you choose solar or wired when you order, the cylindrical light above among them. For a compact option that is electric rather than solar, the Solara Aluminum LED Waterproof Outdoor Wall Light measures 15 x 10 x 8 cm and comes in 3000K, 4000K or 5000K. If you would rather not wire anything, some of our battery-powered table lamps list outdoor use; check each listing for its water rating before leaving one outside.
IP65 and IP44: what the numbers mean
The IP code comes from the international standard IEC 60529. The first digit rates protection against solid objects and dust, the second against water. IP44 keeps out objects larger than 1 mm (0.04 in) and resists splashing water from any direction. IP65 is dust-tight and resists jets of water from any direction, which is why it is the usual pick for an exposed wall. Of the 112 outdoor wall lights in our outdoor lighting range, 87 list IP65 with their installation details; check the rating of any other before you choose it for an open wall. In the US and Canada, damp-rated means made for covered spots and wet-rated for spots the rain can reach.
Dusk-to-dawn or motion sensor?
A dusk-to-dawn sensor, also called a photocell or light sensor, turns the light on as it gets dark and off at first light. That suits the front door and the house number. A motion sensor turns the light on when someone moves nearby and off soon after, which suits a side passage, a driveway or the bins. DarkSky recommends controls such as timers and motion sensors so outdoor light is on only when it is needed. Some of our lights have a sensor built in and others offer one as an option: the solar version of the cylindrical light above comes with or without a motion sensor.
Warm or cool light outside?
Warm white suits most homes outside, as it does indoors, and dark-sky guidance favours warmer colours. Of the 56 outdoor wall lights whose installation details give a colour temperature, 45 say warm and 7 let you choose: the Modern LED IP65 outdoor light, for one, comes in 3000K, 4000K or 5000K, and its 3000K version matches a warm white porch light. Our colour temperature guide explains the numbers.
FAQ
How high should a porch light be?
Put the centre of the light at about eye level, roughly 150–180 cm (60–72 in) above the doorstep, and at least 15 cm (6 in) from the door frame.
What IP rating do outdoor lights need?
At least IP44 for a wall under a solid roof, and IP65 for any wall rain can reach. IP65 means the light is dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction.
Should outdoor lights be warm white or cool white?
Warm white, around 2700–3000K, for most homes. It is softer at night and in line with dark-sky advice to keep outdoor light warm. Save cool white for working areas.
Is a motion sensor or a dusk-to-dawn sensor better?
They do different jobs. A dusk-to-dawn sensor keeps a light on through the evening, which suits a front door. A motion sensor lights up only when someone passes, which suits paths, driveways and side passages.
Should I put one light or two by the front door?
Two, one each side at the same height, light the door evenly. With a single light, mount it on the handle side so the lock and a visitor's face are lit.