Best Motion Detector Lights of 2023

The LeonLite is the brightest star in our lineup of motion detector lights. It has powerful dual LED outdoor security lights and a durable design that withstands tough weather and temperatures.

LeonLite's motion sensor can detect activity from 70 feet away with a 180-degrees sensing angle. When something triggers the LED motion light, its powerful dual heads produce up to 1,800 lumens (about the same brightness as your car’s headlights). The LeonLite is among the brightest of the bunch, making it one of the best flood lights if you live in a dark or rural area.

On top of shaving a little off your power bill, this is one of the brightest LED motion lights in our lineup. And the motion sensors detect action from up to 70 feet away. Its powerful dual flood lights produce up to 1,800 lumens, about the same as a car’s headlights. So whether you’re trying to light up your dark backyard or show intruders you are home, this light is hard to ignore.

It comes with four bright 0.3 watt LED lights that give off 220 lumens. This is bright enough to light your way temporarily when you get home but not strong enough for nighttime projects in the yard.

It's easy to install because it uses a solar panel for power, so there's no need to call an electrician to install this security light on your siding, doors, or garage. While the solar panel is a nice way to recharge the batteries, it makes this light more expensive than the competition.

This motion-activated light has the weakest weatherproofing in our review. While the light's casing can deflect occasional water splashes, it doesn't hold up well to constant precipitation like rain and snow. We recommend installing the light under an overhanging roof if possible.

This durable motion detecting spotlight is so affordable you may want to buy multiple units for all your outdoor lighting needs.  You can pick up one Mr Beams Spotlight for around $20.

The Mr Beams Spotlight claims to be waterproof, but customers have found corrosion inside the sensors due to moisture, so it's something to consider if you live in a moist climate.

While you can't reposition the lights like on our top two picks, the top-mounted solar panels make for reliable nighttime lighting without fussy wiring. The integrated passive infrared (PIR) sensor spots heat sources like a warm body, so these lights won't trigger when falling leaves drift past them.

We like that these lights are so affordable, about $13 apiece (sometimes as low as $10 each), though you need to buy four at a time since they don't come in smaller packs. They also have some of the best weatherproof ratings of any light on our list. These lights are water resistant and can withstand both extreme cold and extreme heat. Best of all, they come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

At 1,200 lumens apiece, these are some of the brightest motion sensor lights on our list, allowing them to outshine all but our top pick—though it's easily brighter than the LeonLite if you put both bulbs in the same fixture.

While these bulbs are affordable, they're only effective when you put them in the right type of light fixture—since the motion detector is on the tip of the light bulbs. If you don't have a downward-facing light fixture or an adjustable flood light, they won't spot motion as people approach.

We're currently evaluating some motion sensor lighting products from the following brands:

Amazon-owned Ring is most famous for its video doorbells, but it also makes smart lighting products, including several types of Ring motion detector lights (starting around $40). While most of these products don't necessarily require a smartphone app to work as motion sensor lights, the app is the best feature overall.

While we like that you can use the app to set schedules and customize settings, you need to buy a hub (around $50) to unlock app functionality, making Ring Smart Lights more expensive than typical motion sensor lights.

Ring purchased Mr Beams in 2017 and uses the same technology in its own smart lighting products. Unfortunately, Mr Beams lights and Ring lights aren't compatible with each other.

Philips Hue is a juggernaut of smart lighting and it's steadily growing a massive selection of attractive outdoor lights. While it sells some of the best outdoor security lights (about $130), smart floodlight bulbs (about $30), and even a color-changing floodlight (about $175), it's also supremely expensive compared to our top picks.

This is especially true since Hue lights require a hub (about $60 if you don't buy it in a starter kit) and don't have built-in motion detectors. Instead, you need to buy the Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor (about $50) for any of the outdoor lights to turn on when there's motion. Philips Hue is generally not affordable enough for most folks, but is definitely a high-end splurge.

If you want to improve nighttime security in your yard, motion sensor lights are both effective and affordable. Out top pick, the LeonLite, has two bright LED flood lights that you can position for the best lighting for your needs.

The bright lights get power directly from your home, so you don't need to rely on sunny days and solar panels for it to work. It's a little harder to install than a battery-powered light, but we think it's worth the effort.

Motion detector lights are a great addition to any home security strategy, but there are always ways to improve. After you check out our FAQ section, head over to our guide to home security for more ideas on how to protect your home.

We delved into industry research and reviews from real users to evaluate product performance, features, and specs. We also explored the FCC rules for LED lighting and consulted expert reviews to help us determine the best motion sensor lights.

We picked our top five after looking at more than 20 products. We then compared them to learn about their effectiveness, reliability, customer satisfaction, and affordability.

• 16 hours researched
• 25 products considered
• 2,700+ customer reviews
• 8 coffees consumed

• How Does a Motion Detector Work?
• What Are Pet-Immune Motion Detectors and How Do They Work?
• Best Floodlight Cameras for Home Security
• Best Solar-Powered Security Lights
• Top Door and Window Sensors
• The Beginner’s Guide to Motion Sensors

1. DSM&T Co. Inc., "IP Rating Chart," July 2012. Accessed August 22, 2022.