The 10 Best Outdoor Umbrella Lights
This wiki has been updated 30 times since it was first published in December of 2017. An outdoor umbrella makes for a great addition to your patio on sunny days, and you can keep the fun going after the sun goes down with these handy lights that can set the mood and illuminate your activities. They’re powered by batteries, solar energy or a nearby mains outlet, and come in various designs, including lanterns, globes, and disks that conveniently wrap around a pole. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Patio Watcher 9 Feet
2. Treasure Garden Luna
3. Patio Living Concepts Lights
Editor's Notes
May 27, 2020:
Whether they emit an ultra-bright light or a soft glow to set the mood, backyard lights are an important element in any outdoor space where you entertain or simply relax after a long day of work. These umbrella lights are a great way to illuminate your deck or patio when everyone is gathered around for refreshments and conversation. Today we added an all-in-one set that’s convenient for anyone who doesn’t want to purchase an umbrella separately from the lights and then spend a lot of time setting everything up. The Patio Watcher 9 Feet is an umbrella that comes with 40 LEDs already attached to its eight ribs, so all you have to do is unfold it and let the integrated solar panel charge, and then watch it illuminate after the sun sets. We also added the disk-shaped Treasure Garden Luna, which comes in your choice of black or bronze and can play music as well as light up your deck. Just pair it with a mobile device to make use of its built-in speaker system. It’s got 16 LEDs situated in four rounded panels situated around its periphery, and it attaches easily to your umbrella pole with its self-adjusting clamp design. It accommodates poles of up to two inches in diameter.
For a string of globes designed specifically for placement on an umbrella, look to the newly added Patio Living Concepts Lights, which incorporates eight stylish bulbs that are spaced 20 inches apart. They attach to your umbrella easily via included spring clips, and they can change colors to set the mood for any occasion. They come with a remote that makes them easy to program, and are rated to last for up to 20,000 hours. Their generous 25-foot power cord gives you some flexibility in placement. Today we also added in the Smart Solar Quatrefoil, a set of two solar-powered lanterns that are designed to either be hung from above or set upon a table, for a warm glow during your nighttime gatherings. They boast elegant frosted lenses and a stylish pattern that will look great in any backyard environment.
For some enchanting fairy lights, check out the LightsEtc Copper Wire, which can be molded easily around an umbrella pole and come with two strands of 100 bulbs each. Depending on your mood, you can choose from among eight modes including twinkling, flashing, and fading. These are also good for use as indoor lights to illuminate holiday decorations or fill up a mason jar. In today’s update, we removed the Wsiiroon Outdoor, another disk-shaped model, but one which isn’t very durable and doesn’t always hold up well to the elements. We also replaced the Solvao Solar with a more readily available model.
Special Honors
Island Umbrella 6-Light Rechargeable Featuring a sturdy clamp that can be adjusted to fit on poles up to two inches in diameter, this fixture includes three AA rechargeable batteries for uninterrupted light during your backyard parties. The six LEDs have an impressive lifespan of up to 30,000 hours, for potentially many years of use. Included are an AC adaptor and a removable battery pack. hayneedle.com
Meuron LED Solar Candle Lantern Featuring a detailed bird’s nest design in a bronze finish, this lantern is stylish in any backyard space. Its solar design means you won’t have to bother with wires, and it looks great whether displayed on a table or hung by the integrated handle. It operates for up to eight hours on a full charge and provides a warm glow from LEDs in the included faux candle. homedepot.com
4. Smart Solar Quatrefoil
5. Creative Design Wireless
6. LightsEtc Copper Wire
7. Qpau Cordless
8. MineTom String
9. Sulin Flickering Flame
10. LVjing Solar Lanterns
Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.