The 10 Best Lights for Home Security and Where to Place Them for Maximum Effectiveness (2024 Guide)

Our Top Pick: Arlo Lights Smart Home Security Light

The Arlo smart home security light can be added to any existing Arlo security camera system and other smart home devices. This two-pack of lights is weather-resistant and works in the rain, sun, and cold weather conditions. When the lights pick up any motion, they will light up and send an instant notification sent to your smartphone or email address.

The Arlo light is fully customizable. You can make it flash on and off, change the light's color, adjust the width of the mean, and more right from your phone. For example, you can get people's attention by making the light flash red when it picks up motion around your property.

Pros:

• Includes two lights
• Compatible with Amazon Echo
• Wire-Free
• Long battery life

Cons:

• Does not have a security camera

Luxury Pick: Ring Floodlight Camera Motion Activation HD Security Camera

The Ring Floodlight camera can be connected with your Echo to enable you to hear a notification from Alexa when motion is detected. The Echo will also allow you to speak to visitors through the device by saying, "Alexa, talk to the front door."

Optimize the Ring motion sensor by mounting the camera nine feet off the ground, with the motion detector parallel to the ground. This will allow the sensor to pick up any human-sized objects, up to thirty feet away.

Pros:

• Remotely activated siren
• Two-way talk
• Alerts can be sent to your phone, tablet, or PC
• 1080HD live view

Cons:

• Requires hardwired installation
• Requires subscription to review what you missed

Budget Pick: iThird Solar Lights Outdoor Motion Sensor

The iThird Solar Lights are entirely weatherproof and rustproof, making it an excellent choice for the garage, fence, garden, or driveway. The 3.7 V lithium battery is recharged using a solar panel that comes included with the light. 4.5 hours of charging time will result in eight to twelve hours of working time.

This outdoor motion sensor light has three different modes that can be activated.

The lights will be on dim, changing to bright when motion is detected.

The lights will be off when there is no motion, turning bright when motion is detected.

The lights will stay on dim all night, regardless if motion is detected.

Pros:

• 120-degree sensor angle
• Wire-free
• Easily installed anywhere

Cons:

• The mode can only be changed in the dark
• Cannot be moved once installed

Cool Pick: A-Zone Solar Motion Sensor Light Outdoor

This two-pack of A-Zone solar motion lights are an excellent choice for anywhere outside in your yard. The solar panels can charge the lights in as little as five to six hours. In rainy weather, the lights can provide lighting for up to two days. These lights will turn off during the daytime and switch to dim mode automatically at dusk to save energy. When motion is detected, the lights will change to the bright mode for thirty seconds.

Pros:

• Easily installed
• Available technical support
• 100% replacement warranty
• Weatherproof

Cons:

• Can not be connected to a camera
• Can not be set to have any light overnight

Guardian Torch - Home Security Spotlight (4 Pack)

This security spotlight comes in a pack of four. Each of the lights contains five bright LEDs that are entirely solar-powered, with no batteries, no wires, and no professional installation. The lamp head is fully adjustable and held in a weatherproof housing.

Pros:

• 120-degree motion detection
• Solar-powered
• Includes four lights
• Easily installed

Cons:

• No option for camera connection
• Some reviewers complain that the light wasn't as bright as they would have liked

LITOM 120 LED Solar Light

The LITOM solar light is an easily installed option with a dual solar panel, allowing it to work longer during overcast weather than other models. This model can also detect motion up to twenty-six feet away at a 120-degree angle greater than most other models on the market.

Pros:

• Diamond-like illumination is more uniform and gentler on eyes
• 120 LED beads allow for wider illumination with no dark spots
• Can be fixed in location, or portable

Cons:

• No camera options
• No warranty

Best Indoor Option: Amir Motion Sensor Lights

This six-pack of motion sensor lights automatically turns on when you are within ten feet of the product and turn off after no motion is detected for fifteen seconds. Powered by three AAA batteries, these lights are easy to install and don't require any wiring.

Pros:

• Small lights are unobtrusive
• Batteries are easy to change
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Not suitable for use in extreme weather conditions
• Light will only turn on in a dark environment

Most Subtle and Dynamic Option: HIJUNMI Wireless 360-degree Panoramic Bulb Camera

This camera can be placed in any light socket in and around your home. It can be used as a security camera, a baby monitor, or a pet monitor. The HIJUNMI camera can be connected through 2.4G Wi-Fi and can be used as an intercom. You can also use this bulb camera to see what is happening in your home in real-time.

Pros:

• Motion detector alarm
• 360-degree vision field
• Night vision
• Supported on IOS, Android, and Windows

Cons:

• Doesn't work on 5G Wi-Fi
• Will require regular replacing if used as an everyday light

Home Zone Security Motion Sensor Light

The Home Zone security motion sensor light is a stylish light that is easily installed and customized to suit your needs. Choose to change the ambient settings, the length of time the motion sensor light is on, and how dark it needs to set off the motion detector light.

Pros:

• Ultra-bright LED
• 30 feet and 180-degree detection radius
• Five-year product support
• Weather-resistant

Cons:

• Does not connect to smartphones
• Does not have solar panels
• Does not include a camera feature

Easiest Setup/Maintenance: Home Zone Security Solar Down Light

This Home Zone security light is powered with a solar panel and doesn't require being wired into your home. The auto dusk to dawn sensor will keep the light off during the day and set it immediately to dim at dusk. The sensor will trigger high brightness when the motion sensor is activated.

Pros:

• Comes with a one year no hassle warranty
• The modern look matches any home
• Can be easily mounted anywhere around your home

Cons:

• No camera capability
• No connection to a smartphone

Choosing the Right Spot to Mount Your Home Security Lights

Ensuring that your home security motion sensor light is installed in the right place will help avoid any false alarms while picking up the motion required to keep your home safe. When installing your motion sensor light, place the light about six feet off the ground. Here are some of the most common areas to mount your motion sensor lights.

The Garage - Home Security Light Placement

Thieves will often target the garage as there are typically valuables and vehicles in and around the garage. Installing motion sensor lights both inside and outside the garage will deter burglars from going into your garage or touching your property around your garage. These motion sensor lights will also provide light for you when you arrive home after dark.

Exterior Entryways - Home Security Light Placement

Installing motion sensor lights and cameras around your home will let you know if someone is trying to come into your home uninvited. Place a motion sensor at the front and back door of your home. Also, place a couple within range of any low windows or side entrances to your house.

Outdoor Walkways - Home Security Light Placement

Placing motion sensor lights along the walkways of your home will serve two purposes. First, they will allow for illumination of more of your yard, deterring unwanted guests. Second, it will light the walkway for you and your guests arriving to or leaving your home after the sun has set.

Natural Hiding Places for Home Security Lights

Intruders to your home aren't likely to walk right up to your door. Instead, they are going to try to stick to the shadows around your home and use the dark area of your yard to get as close to your house as possible without being seen. Motion sensors that are installed in gardens, trees, and other large open spaces take away these hiding places, deterring burglars from targeting your home.

Places to Avoid Setting Up Your Home Security Lights

While you are selecting the best place to place your motion sensors, there are a few places to avoid.

Avoid placing the motion sensor lights near windows. Reflections from the window can make the sensor go off. Also, the light from the window can trick the light into thinking that it isn't nighttime. This is especially true in cases where the motion sensor light is solar-powered.

Avoid placing the motion sensor light near a heat source, such as a heater vent or a dryer vent, as the heat from the duct can cause the motion sensor light not to work properly.

These are the best lights available on the market for home security and have been rated highly by the customers. Check out their features as well as the pros and cons to choose the one that best suits your requirements and budget. The section on choosing the right spot for mounting your light will help you find the best area in the house for the installation of the light.