Outdoor lighting plays an important role in your home's safety and overall look, but wiring from lighting can be unsightly and potentially unsafe. Illuminating pathways and dark areas of your outdoor space can decrease accidental trips and falls. Because of this, finding the right lights for your porch with all of the available options can seem daunting. To make it easier for you, we have searched multiple sources to bring you a list of top choices for porch lighting without electricity.
Alternative options to electric lighting include solar-powered, battery-powered, and enclosed flame. Using any of these forms of lighting gives you and your family the option of outdoor family time, even at night. The lighting options that we will discuss in more detail are:
- Motion sensor floodlights
- Porch step lights
- Path lighting
- LED string porch lights
- LED strip lights
- Wall lantern porch lights
- Wicker lantern floor lamp
- Torch lights
- Motion sensor porch lights
- String lights
- LED lantern lights
- Curtain lights
- Firepit table
Deciding on what outdoor lighting option is best for you and your family is only one of the many questions that will likely arise during your porch lighting project. Do LED lights work without electricity? How long do outdoor solar lights last? Are outdoor gas lanterns safe? Do motion sensor lights need electricity? For answers to all of these questions, plus discussion of other closely related topics, keep reading.
![Porch of the house is decorated in the traditional Scandinavian style with a lantern and Christmas lights , How Can I Light My Porch Without Electricity? [A Complete Guide]](https://homedecorbliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/How-Can-I-Light-My-Porch-Without-Electricity-A-Complete-Guide.png)
Solar-powered
1. Motion sensor floodlights
Motion sensor lighting can create the illusion that someone is home in an empty house. Sudden bursts of light can also deter any potential prowlers or animals. Because no batteries or digging for wiring is necessary, solar-powered motion lights can be an easy and cost-effective way to light your porch. Although floodlights aren't exactly known for their appearance, sleek modern-looking versions are available, such as the example pictured below.
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2. Porch step lights
Porch step lights are extremely convenient and greatly increase the safety of your porch steps. In addition to increasing safety, porch step lights can also highlight the natural detail surrounding your porch and steps. Color-changing lights are available to create different looks for your porch. Because they are solar-powered, these porch step lights require no wiring or battery changes.
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3. Path lighting
Lighting the path leading up to your porch is an important safety feature that can also accentuate your porch area. Solar-powered path lights can keep your path safe by providing ground-level lighting. They can also highlight the curves and contours in the area around your porch. These lights can be installed into pretty much any area with grass or dirt because they have no electrical wiring.
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4. LED string porch lights
For a unique look and fun ambiance, solar-powered LED string porch lights are a great option to light your porch area. Rustic but delicate, the solar-powered LED string porch lights such as the ones in the example below can be used for special occasions or just a regular night out on the porch.
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5. LED strip lights
Similar to string lights, LED strip lights are a unique and convenient option to light your porch without electricity. Unlike LED string lights, solar-powered LED strip lights can fit into smaller spaces and bend with unique contours. This creates a custom subtle glow within the space of your porch.
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6. Wall lantern porch lights
![Porch of the house is decorated in the traditional Scandinavian style with a lantern and Christmas lights , How Can I Light My Porch Without Electricity? [A Complete Guide]](https://homedecorbliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Porch-of-the-house-is-decorated-in-the-traditional-Scandinavian-style-with-a-lantern-and-Christmas-lights.jpg)
For a more traditional look, lantern porch lights are the typical style of front porch lighting. Solar power makes the installation of this style of porch lighting much easier without the need for wiring or batteries. As shown in the example below, combining two wall lantern porch lights can create a bolder and brighter look.
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7. Wicker lantern floor lamp
Lighting the lower area of your porch will give your space a completely different mood than upper lighting. Creating a subtle floor-level glow can give your space a cozy and inviting look. The wicker option pictured in the example below blends perfectly with other decorative accents for a modern style and appeal.
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8. Torch lights
With a nod to one of the oldest methods of lighting, torch lighting adds an unmatched mood to your space. A safer alternative to traditional flame torches, solar-powered torch lights can be placed around your porch. The examples pictured below resemble actual flame for the unmatched warm glow without the actual flame.
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Battery Operated
9. Motion sensor porch light
Battery-powered lights are another non-electrical option for lighting your porch. One disadvantage of battery-powered over solar-powered lighting is that the batteries will have to be changed periodically. Because motion sensor porch lights are only triggered by motion and stay on only about 30 seconds to a minute, battery life should be longer than battery-operated continuous light sources.
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10. String lights
Much like the solar-powered version, these battery-operated string lights can be a fun way to light your porch without electricity. In the example below, a more modern version of string lights can even change colors to fit the occasion.
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11. LED lantern light
Smaller, tabletop versions of the lantern light will give your porch an intimate glow. Because the examples pictured below are battery-operated, there are no messy wires, and these lights can be used to light your outdoor table, replacing the traditional candle. The bronze screen surrounding the light gives these LED lantern lights a rustic touch.
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12. Curtain light
For special occasions or just a night out on your porch or patio, curtain lights give your space a dramatic look. Surrounding your porch or patio with curtain lights can give the illusion of an enclosed space enveloped in streams of light. The curtain lights pictured below are dimmable, with different options available in lighting effects.
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Gas-powered
13. Fire pit table
There is nothing quite like the look and mood that actual flames can add to your outdoor space. While gas-powered lighting can be majestically beautiful, if gas lines are not already present, this can be a costly job. The gas-powered fire pit table pictured in the example below boasts a modern look with traditional flame lighting.
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Do LED lights work without electricity?
LED stands for light-emitting diode. Small, plastic-encased lights create a weather-proof light that is durable and long-lasting. Lasting 25 percent longer while using 75 percent less energy than traditional electrical lighting, LED lights may be the light source of the future. LED lights can be powered with or without electricity, as they are available in solar and battery-powered versions.
How long do outdoor solar lights last?
Most outdoor solar lights operate by changing sunlight into energy which is stored in batteries. The batteries in outdoor solar lights can be expected to last on average two to five years, depending on the quality of the battery. The LED lights in outdoor solar lights can be expected to last about 10 years.
Are outdoor gas lanterns safe?
Elegant and intriguing, gas lanterns of all sorts and sizes add a special ambiance to any outdoor space. While one might be hesitant to use a live flame, outdoor gas lanterns are made to be safe for home and outdoor use. Gas lanterns incorporate a quick shut-off valve for increased safety.
Do motion sensor lights need electricity?
No, motion sensor lights do not necessarily need electricity. As discussed above, solar and battery-powered motion sensor lights are available for easy installation and upkeep.
Final thoughts
Depending on the size of your porch, you will likely end up using a combination of the examples we have shown you to light your outdoor area without using electricity. We hope that the selection provided to you has helped to choose lighting options that are right for you and your home.
Before you leave, here are some other articles that may be of interest to you: