There are plenty of opinions regarding solar lights for typical wooden fences out there on the internet but solar lights for chain link fences are a lot harder (and take a little more creativity) to find. Based on the average reviews of major internet retailers, their reliability long term, and practicality of them on a chain-link fence, I have come up with the ten best options to light up your yard.
1. URPOWER SL-002 Best Solar Lights
Type: Attachable Lights
Pros:
- The light fixtures are very wide, big, and will bring in a lot of light.
- There is an effective adhesive that you can use on the back of the light.
- The light is bright enough to keep unwanted creatures away.
- The lights are motion censored!
- The lights are very reliable, very few have had problems with consistent light.
Cons:
- These lights need some assembly to fit with a chain-link fence.
- Not the most practical in terms of putting on a chain-link fence, but still doable.
See the current pricing for the URPOWER Solar Lights on Amazon here.
2. ROSHWEY Solar Gutter Lights
Type: Attachable Lights
Pros:
- These lights are very lightweight.
- The lights are packaged very nicely and have hardly had any issues with breakage (unlike some other brands of solar lights).
- These lights shine bright for most reviewers (see below*).
- The lights are very wide. Reviewers have also noted that when you put multiple-up, it spreads across the entire yard nicely and evenly.
- The lights are very cheap compared to their alternatives.
Cons:
- Some reviewers felt like the lights did not work as well in dark, rural environments.*
- Not very durable in varying weather conditions.
- These lights are more specialized for gutters than they are for fences, but can easily be made into fence posts with some handy work.
See the current pricing for the ROSHWEY Solar Gutter Lights on Amazon here.
3. Luminar Solar Outdoor Fence Lights
Type: Attachable light
Pros:
- The fence lights come on automatically at dusk.
- The lights recharge with 6-8 hours of daylight.
- They provide a bright glow for any environment.
- They can store up to 9 hours of light.
- They consist of long-lasting white LED lamps, which isn’t typical for most solar lights.
- The hardware to mount the solar lights are included.
- The lights are easy to install, no wires or heavy work needed.
- The lights are weather and environmentally resistant.
- The lights have a monocrystalline silicon solar panel.
Cons:
- The lights aren’t as attachable on chain link fences.
- The light isn’t as reliable and may flicker occasionally.
See the Luminar Solar Fence Lights at Harbor Freight here.
4. Brightech Ambience Pro Outdoor String Lights – Soft White Light
Type: String Lights
Pros:
- The lights are easy to install.
- Multiple reviewers stated that it “looked just as good as it was advertised!”
- A warranty is included with the lights, and Brighttech is very flexible if problems occur (many prided them for their customer service).
- The lights last a while and are super durable! One online reviewer said that the lights still worked after going through a hurricane!
Cons:
- Some individuals have had problems with the lights not working very quickly after they were installed and put up.
- The lights are not as bright further away.
- The bulbs are only two inches wide and don’t stretch too long. You may need to pay a few extra orders to get what you need.
- You will need to “charge” the lights using a big solar panel you can clip-on, which isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing.
- Most reviewers report that the lights don’t really hold a charge too well.
See the current pricing for these Brightech Ambience Pro Outdoor String Lights on Amazon here.
5.Brightech Ambience Pro Outdoor String Lights – Warm White Light
Type: String lights
Pros:
- The lights are big, fat Edison bulbs that provide a great aesthetic.
- These string lights are optimized for weather all year round.
- Reviewers have found that these lights are very energy efficient.
- The lights are very easy to install and use.
Cons:
- The lights aren’t as bright as other options out there.
- The lights are harder to string around a chain-link fence.
See the current pricing for these Brightech Ambience Pro Lights on Amazon here.
6. Solar String Lights Outdoor Waterproof Shatterproof – 48 Ft Commercial Grade Weatherproof, Smart Dusk to Dawn Sensor, 15 Pcs LED Plastic Vintage Edison Bulb, Decor for Patio, Pergola, Bistro (48ft)
Type: String Lights
Pros:
- Dual charge option in darker weather
- Easily extendable
- Weatherproof
- 48 feet long
Cons:
- The bulbs have to be constantly tightened or they will not turn on
- They don’t charge as quickly as other options.
See the current pricing for these lights on Amazon here.
7. Black Motion Activated Outdoor Integrated LED Area Light With 24 White Solar Light
Type: Attached lights
Pros:
- The lights are motion-activated.
- The lights have strong, LED outdoor bulbs that have proven to be effective.
- Easy adhesive installation on virtually any surface in seconds.
- The lights are durable, weatherproof, solar-charged, and there are no wiring/tools needed.
Cons:
- Some lights don’t last as long as others.
- Reviewers have found that as time goes on, the lights significantly grow dimmer and dimmer.
- Sometimes the lights can flicker depending on the amount of sunlight.
See these lights at Home Depot here.
8. Solar Powered Color-Changing Indoor/Outdoor LED String Lights | Pottery Barn
Type: String lights
Pros:
- The bulbs are LED lights with an acrylic lens and a weather-resistant cord.
- The lights are paired with the included Enbrighted USB Solar Panel for a reliable and eco-friendly power source or with any standard USB-A port or adapter.
- The lights have 14 color-changing modes which can be selected and timed with the attached controller.
- The bulbs are impact-resistant and designed to withstand year-round exposure to the elements.
- These lights can be used for indoor or outdoor use.
Cons:
- Only come within 12-24 ft.
- The lights don’t have too much of a bright glow, especially as you change colors.
See these lights at Pottery Barn here.
9. Collections Etc. White Clip-on Gutter Solar Security Light |
Type: Attachable light
Pros:
- The lights are four by two feet long.
- The lights are easy to assemble.
Cons:
- The lights take a while to charge.
- Some poor packaging has broken or damaged these lights.
See the Collections Etc. White Clip-on Gutter lights at CollectionSetc.com here.
10. Silver Chainlink Summit Solar Post Cap LED Post Cap (2-Pack)
Type: Attachable
Pros:
- All you need to do is put the cap on the top of your chain link fence!
- It is battery run so you can get some light before the sun comes in.
- It is very easy and practical to use and very mass-produced for convenience.
- These caps are more suited for rural areas.
Cons:
- The lights burn out quickly compared to most other solar lights
- The lights tend to not work as well in city-like climates.
See these Silver Chainlink Summit Post Cap lights at Home Depot here.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Solar Fence Lights
There are some points to take note of when deciding on solar fence lights which include the following:
- Local Climate – If your area gets less sun and more rain, make sure to get a very durable family and a very weather-resistant light
- Design of the Area – Some of these lights may be blocked off by other things in your yard. Be sure that you choose lights that reflect off the surfaces in your area well. Experts recommend keeping this in mind and getting a warranty, just in case.
- Lighting Quality – Some lights are built for city climates, and other lights are built for more rural climates (as it is naturally darker there anyway).
- Battery Life – This is important. Strong battery=more light.
- Durability – Make sure to get durable LED lights. These lights last a lot longer and look the best universally.
- Design and Decoration – How do you want these lights to look? Many different lights are dependent on the style of your yard, so be sure to get one that compliments your yard. Source
- Speed of Re-Charge – On average, solar lights need about twelve hours to charge in ideal circumstances. If your light is placed in position without a lot of direct sunlight, you may need to get some solar lights that take a little less time to charge.
- IP Rating – An IP (Ingress Protection) rating is used to specify the extent of protection an electrical enclosure has against environmental conditions. The IP rating system by an international committee to judge how effective lights are. Check to see if your solar lights have a rating of IP69, as that is the highest!
- Price (of course) – Solar lights are on average around $50-100. If it’s less or higher than that, you may not be getting a good deal
Make sure the lights have efficient photovoltaic cells. These are found typically in newer sets of lights. Experts recommend avoiding the older lights because they don’t last too well in the long term.
A Note:
For reference, three types of solar lights will work best on chain link fences: string fence lights and attachable fence lights.
String fence lights are usually put together with smaller, but more aesthetically pleasing bulbs that shine wider.
Attachable fence lights are big, heavier sets of lights that shine more directly and brighter.
These lights are in no particular order of importance, when it comes to getting lights it all depends on where you live and where you are going to put them. Go into your light hunt with an open mind.