Top 10 Best Outdoor Lanterns Reviews and Guide
Table of Contents
Outdoor lanterns are widely popular for their utilitarian and decorative aspects. Usually, outdoor lanterns sport warm lighting, but now there are many more light options like LED for customers. Outdoor lanterns are available in various options like hanging lanterns, floor lanterns, candle lanterns, and many more.
Outdoor lanterns are great as solid outdoor light sources and decorative pieces for gardens, balconies, and courtyards. As they are available in multiple building materials like wood, glass, copper, etc., it is easy to incorporate them into houses and gardens of any aesthetics.
1. Grand Patio Solar-Powered Outdoor Lantern
This outdoor lantern runs on solar power. It is a floor lamp and reasonably bigger in size. The base of the lamp is ergonomically built and is, thus, extremely stable. This lantern runs for a continuous six to eight hours. The design is highly contemporary and suits any garden, home, or yard.
It does not need any installation and is up for usage right away. You can keep it outside even in harsh weather as it exhibits excellent water and frost resistance. It switches on and off on its own. The solar sensor is highly efficient and starts recharging as soon as sunlight is available in the morning.
Pros
- 25 lumens of warm white light
- Hand-woven resin wicker
- Rust-resistant PP base
- Long-lasting poly silicon solar panel
- Sturdy steel material
Cons
- Only emits soft light
2. TAKE ME Solar-Powered Outdoor Hanging Lantern
This solar-powered outdoor lantern comes in a plastic material. It emits a soft, warm white light for around eight hours continuously. Although it lasts eight hours, the light starts to dim by the seventh or eighth hour. The design lets you use it as a hanging or floor lantern.
As there are no wires, you can handle it conveniently. The design includes a flameless candle that illuminates using a battery. The time taken for a complete charge is a downside for this product. It takes more than eight hours to charge the lantern completely. Also, you have to manually switch on the charging system to start recharging, as there is no solar sensor.
Pros
- LED light
- Two products are available for the price of one
- Highly saves energy
- It withstands even the harshest weather
- Heavy-duty material
Cons
- No automatic on or off
- It takes over eight hours to charge the lantern completely
3. SHYMERY Solar-Powered Outdoor Hanging Lantern
This solar-powered outdoor lantern features one of the top battery life among products that our team reviewed. It retains the battery life for up to 16 hours continuously. It only takes less than six hours to charge the lantern completely. The emitting light is also fairly bright, white-toned, and exhibits a reasonably good range.
You need not switch the product on or off as it has an automatic on/off feature that works perfectly. The design has a sealing that efficiently prevents any amount of water from entering the product and damaging it.
Pros
- SMD light technology
- Multi-protection system
- Overcharge protection
- Monocrystalline silicon solar panel
- Two lanterns for the price of one
Cons
- Longevity is questionable, as customers repeatedly report broken lanterns within months of purchasing.
4. Lights4fun, Inc. Battery-Operated Outdoor Lantern
This is a battery-operated outdoor lantern with LED light bulbs. The design includes a modern glass chamber and flameless candlelight. It runs continuously for six hours. The built-in timer is extremely handy, as you can automatically adjust the timer to turn off the lantern after the required time period.
These lanterns also have an excellent water-resistance feature, and it does not suffer any damage even after remaining outdoors for a long time.
Pros
- Weighs less than six pounds
- Warm white light
- Available in a set of two
- Compatible for both indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- Batteries are not included
5. Bright Zeal Battery-Powered Outdoor Lantern
This outdoor lantern comes in a pack of two. These are battery-powered and use LED bulbs for light. It has a vintage design with flameless LED candles inside. The warm white light makes it ideal for both indoors and outdoors.
The lantern has a closed structure, and thus, it exhibits excellent water resistance capacities. It is compatible with use as a floor lantern and a hanging lantern.
Pros
- 14 inches height
- Simplistic style
- IP44 waterproof rating
- Removable ring for hanging
Cons
- Although the frame looks like metal, it is actually plastic
6. Stonebriar Rustic Outdoor Candle Lantern
This outdoor lantern has a traditional interface that requires a real candle as a light source. It is a wooden structure with clear glass panels that can accommodate even candles of huge sizes.
The structure seals well to avoid any wind or rain from entering and putting out the flame. As it has a strong metal ring on it, you can use the lantern as a hanging or a tabletop lantern.
Pros
- 18.9 inches in height
- Fits candles up to 3″ x 6″
- Available in two different sizes
- Rustic design
Cons
- Even if a large candle is used, the light won’t last more than a few hours.
7. GUANFU Solar-Powered Outdoor Lantern
This solar-powered outdoor lantern has an interesting design that contains three candle-like LED lights that mimic real candle flashes. This dancing flame feature adds to the decorative quality of this lantern.
It exhibits great waterproof quality, and as it is versatile enough to be hanged or mounted on tables, you will find it extremely handy outdoors. It emits a warm white light, but the brightness of the light dims when it runs low on charge.
Pros
- Toughened plastic and PVC material
- Automatic switch ON and OFF feature
- Dustproof and Frostproof
- It comes with an S hook for hanging
Cons
- You need to manually enable the ON button before charging it.
8. Derynome Solar-Powered Hanging Outdoor Lantern
These outdoor lanterns are solar-powered and come in a pack of two. It is possible to use them as hanging lights and as floor lanterns.
This lantern emits a warm light and withstands even difficult weather. It can hold the charge for up to eight hours but tends to dim once the charge nears the end.
Pros
- US Patented design
- P65 waterproof rating
- Frostproof
- Easy installation
Cons
- Not defend storms very well
9. Serene Spaces Living Outdoor Hurricane Lantern
This is an outdoor hurricane lantern that requires a real candle to function. The product is a closed lantern structure with completely sealed glass walls to preserve the candle flame.
It is compatible with both hanging and mounting on flat surfaces. It is around twenty inches high and makes a great showpiece.
Pros
- Available in multiple sizes
- It weighs just six pounds
- Sturdy building materials
- Weather-resistant
Cons
- Not much practical as an overnight outdoor light source
10. Pearlstar Solar-Powered Outdoor Tabletop Lantern
This is a waterproof outdoor table lantern that sports an impressive design. This flameless lantern uses LED lights and has a solar panel for charging.
The solid metal structure ensures that the lantern remains intact despite rough handling. It is reasonably sized and, thus, suits indoors and outdoors alike.
Pros
- It creates a dancing flame effect
- ABS plastic and metal
- It can run for around eight hours continuously
- IP44 waterproof rating
Cons
- Weather conditions influence the performance
How to Choose the Best Outdoor Lanterns?
Some of the key factors to look for while purchasing outdoor lanterns are:
Power Source
Outdoor lanterns are available with various power sources. Some traditional candle lanterns still use candles to emit light, while the most popular ones are battery-powered and solar-powered. Battery-powered outdoor lanterns are more powerful and provide more hours of burn time. Solar-powered outdoor lanterns may lack burn time, but they operate for free, and you can place them anywhere in the garden or courtyard at your convenience.
Adjustable Brightness Settings
Adjustable brightness settings are pretty crucial for outdoor lanterns. Because operating the lanterns at the highest brightness can easily use up the battery power of the lantern. So, lanterns are ideal for running on medium to low lighting. But at times of emergency, high brightness is much needed too. This is why it is advisable to get outdoor lanterns that have the provision to adjust the brightness manually.
Type of Light Bulb
As far as you are not using a traditional candle-lit outdoor lantern, there is a wide variety of bulbs to choose from. Depending on your requirement, you can pick outdoor lanterns with incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs, etc. Incandescent bulbs provide a steady warm-toned light and reach their maximum brightness almost instantly. Fluorescents are relatively larger and more durable than the other bulb options. LED bulbs are the most popular in the section, and they use very minimal energy and protect the lantern from overheating.
IPX Rating
It is crucial for an outdoor lantern to have an effective water-resistance capability, as it will be subjected to the harsh outdoor climate always. You can find the water-resistance capability of an outdoor lantern by checking its IPX rating. An ideal water-resistant outdoor lantern should have at least an IPX7 rating.
Run Time or Battery Life
The time outdoor lanterns take to use the battery is crucial in their utility. If the battery life is just a few hours, you cannot use it for the entire night or during long hours of an emergency. Several battery-powered outdoor lantern options provide a relatively long battery life of up to 24 hours. Solar-powered outdoor lanterns usually offer around 4 to 6 hours of continuous light.
Conclusion
Outdoor lanterns are popular for decorative purposes, camping needs, illuminating the garden or yard, etc. The variety of options regarding the power source, bulb type, material, etc., makes them a section of high competition. We have reviewed numerous popular outdoor lanterns and have listed the top ten solely based on their performance. The top product on the list is the Grand Patio Solar-Powered Outdoor Lantern, thanks to its bright warm white light, hand-woven wicker, rust-resistant base, sturdy steel material, etc.
Rate This Article
