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Jul 19, 2025

If you’ve ever fumbled for your keys in the dark or worried about what’s lurking just beyond the porch, then you’re not alone. Whether you’re a homeowner, a tenant, or a small business owner, one thing is clear: outdoor lighting matters not just for curb appeal, but for your safety and peace of mind, too.

Motion-sensing lights are one of the smartest ways to protect your property without breaking the bank. They’re like a quiet-but-powerful security guard: watchful, energy-efficient, and always on duty (even when you’re not). But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is right for you?

In this brief article brought to you by the outdoor lighting professionals at Abulous Lighting, we share our two cents on choosing the right motion-sensing lights for your outdoor oasis. If you'd like to consult with a lighting expert, then call or message Abulous Lighting to get in touch.

Why Motion-Sensing Lights?

Motion-sensing outdoor lights turn on automatically when movement is detected. This makes them ideal for everything from deterring intruders and lighting your path when you come home to saving electricity (since they don't stay on all night). They’re perfect for entrances, garages, pathways, yards, and even back patios

What to Look For in a Motion-Sensing Outdoor Light

Before you buy the first one you see online or at the hardware store, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Brightness: Measured in lumens, the brightness of your lights provide the right amount of illumination for your space. For general outdoor use, aim for 700 to 1,300 lumens. Higher lumens are better for wide open areas or driveways; lower lumens are fine for small patios or doors.
  • Detection Range: Most motion sensors detect movement between 20 to 70 feet away. If you’re covering a wide driveway or back alley, then go for a long-range sensor. Want to light up the porch when someone walks up? A shorter range will do.
  • Detection Angle: Wider detection angles (up to 240 degrees) are great for covering large areas like yards and parking lots. Narrower angles (around 100–150 degrees) work better for walkways or side entrances.
  • Power Source: Do you want lights hardwired to your electrical system, connected to a battery, or running on solar power?
  • Weather Resistance: Your motion lights will live outdoors, so make sure they’re rated for all-weather use.

Best Motion-Sensing Lights in 2025

With all that said, you're probably wondering which products stand out nowadays. Here are a few suggestions - in no particular order - to get the ball rolling:

  • Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus: With 2,000 lumens, 140 degree field of view, and smart app integration, this one combines powerful LED lights with a smart camera and app alerts. It’s perfect for driveways and side yards where security is top priority.
  • LeonLite Dual Head Motion Security Light: How about a 180 degree detection angle with over 50,000 hours of service life? This budget-friendly hardwired choice comes with adjustable heads and strong illumination.
  • Mr. Beams Wireless Spotlight: Battery-operated and easy to install. The Mr. Beams is great for renters or folks who want simple protection without hiring an electrician.
  • Aootek Solar Outdoor Lights: These are highly rated solar-powered lights that provide bright coverage for walkways or gardens. They even come with a built-in dawn-to-dusk sensor to keep that solar power saved.

Don’t Forget the Big Picture

Motion-sensing lights are a solid first step, but they’re even more effective when used with other landscape lighting features. Think about how your property looks and feels after dark. Are there dark corners, shadowy paths, or entry points that someone could hide near? Adding landscape lighting to those areas can work magic.

The pros at Abulous Lighting are not just technicians installing lighting; We help design lighting systems that transform entire landscapes. Have questions or concerns? Feel free to contact Abulous Lighting.

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Kimberly Buckland

Absolute Lighting installed my outdoor flood lights 2 years ago and they are beautiful! They did such a great job that I used them to setup and take down the Christmas lights for the past 2 years. I would highly recommend them. Frank always responds to questions and automatically puts me on the schedule for set up and take down of the Christmas Lights.

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Graham Antin

We love Abulous lighting and have been using them for years  They are very responsive and professional and  will come back no questions asked for any follow up work  Good pricing and highly trustworthy  Frank, the owner, is a true  stand up guy.  I recommend without reservation

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Allan Conlan

Frank and the team at Abulous were great to work with. They came out and retro-upgraded some previous lighting that we had done a few years back and made it look as seamless and continuous as possible. They also worked with us on the best (& most economical) way to light up a hard to reach area of our yard. They also followed up with us after we had another group of workers "disturb" some of the lighting wires and came back out and fixed everything back up again. Very friendly, dependable local resource who do great work. Highly recommend.

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Mike Thomas

After reviewing multiple companies we contracted with Abilous Lighting to create outside accent lighting for our home, backyard patio, walkways, & fire pit.  Their ideas and design were the best!   It was a pleasure working with Frank Hasty, who did  the design, and his crew of Brandon & Rusty who performed the work.  All were excellent to work with.   We are very happy with Abulous Lighting.