Most Popular Deck Lighting Options
Deck lights are a wonderful DIY deck option to add beauty, safety, and security to your home and outdoor living space. Adding a deck lighting system is a straightforward way to extend the hours of enjoyment family and friends can have together in one of your favorite outdoor spaces.
Whether you want to improve the ambience of your space, add usable hours to your deck, or create safe footpaths for guests of all ages, you've got a wealth of deck lighting ideas. In this article, we'll break down some of the most popular deck lighting options so you can figure out which fits your vision best.
The first choice to make is what type of lighting you want - wired low voltage lights or simple solar lights. After that, we'll break down all the places you can install lights of both types in your outdoor space.
What to Consider When Choosing Your Deck Lighting
Before discussing deck lighting ideas, it’s worth thinking about what will work best for your space. The right lighting is about more than looks - it should fit how you use your deck, hold up to the elements, and provide the right balance of function and style. Here’s what to consider when making a choice:
1. Purpose & Functionality
Are you lighting up steps for safety, setting a mood, or showcasing architectural details? Path lights and stair lights prevent trips, while post cap and rail lights add ambiance. Under-deck lighting can even extend your outdoor space by brightening up the area below.
2. Power Source
Your deck setup determines whether solar, low-voltage, or hardwired lighting makes sense. Solar lights are great for easy, wireless installation but depend on sunlight. Low-voltage LED lighting offers a balance of efficiency and brightness with minimal wiring. Hardwired fixtures are the most permanent and reliable but require professional installation.
3. Brightness & Color Temperature
Soft, warm lighting (2700K–3000K) creates a cozy atmosphere, while cooler temperatures (4000K+) provide crisp, bright visibility. Dimmable lights let you adjust brightness depending on the occasion. To maximize your use of both, try Effuse Lighting, an innovative brand that offers both solar and low voltage lighting with 5 different color temperatures and several brightness options you can cycle through using a remote control.
4. Weather Resistance & Durability
Outdoor lighting needs to handle rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. Look for weatherproof (IP-rated) fixtures and durable materials like powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel, or composite plastics to prevent rust and wear.
5. Looks & Style
Your lighting should complement your deck's design. Sleek recessed lights work well for modern decks, while solar post cap lights add charm to traditional spaces. The right lighting enhances your deck's character without overpowering it.
Whatever deck lighting ideas you choose, the best options blend function and style, keeping your space safe, inviting, and enjoyable long after the sun goes down.
Deck Lighting Types
Solar Lighting vs Low-Voltage Lighting
Low-voltage lighting and solar lighting are both excellent outdoor deck lighting ideas because they’re effective, easy to install and environmentally friendly. Here are the key advantages of both, and the differences between them:
Low-Voltage Deck Lighting
Key Benefits:
- Most consistent brightness
- Dimmable and customizable
- Compatible with timers
- Widest selection of options
- Versatile lights that work well in every climate and region
Low-voltage deck lighting is the most reliable and consistent exterior lighting type available today. All low-voltage fixtures require the use of a transformer that plugs directly into your standard wall outlet and converts your home’s standard 110 volt energy down to a more workable 12 volt current level.
Low-voltage lights can also be used with dimmers and placed on programmable timers, allowing you to customize your outdoor space as you wish.
Solar Deck Lighting
Key Benefits:
- No wiring necessary - easy installation
- Eco-friendly
- Cost-efficient
- Easier to install in hard-to-reach spaces
- Built-in photocell turns lights on at dusk and off at dawn
- Easiest to add to existing decks
With little to no wiring, and zero electricity or transformers, solar lighting installation can be done in minutes. Ideal for areas that regularly get an abundant amount of direct sunlight, these outdoor lights use a solar panel to convert sunlight into energy for the batteries to run the lights.
These solar light fixtures are run via a photocell which will turn the lights on when the ambient sunlight is low.
Deck Lighting Ideas
There are nearly as many outdoor deck lighting ideas as there are decks. Check out these deck lighting options for inspiration.
1. Stair Lighting
Protect your family and friends by brightening up high traffic areas with unobtrusive stair and step lighting. Easily mount stair lights in the risers of your stairs, along your deck perimeter, or directly into your deck boards to accent other features. Browse through styles ranging from subtle recessed lights to strikingly designed riser lights to find the best look for your home.
2. Rail Lighting
Illuminating cramped spaces, outdoor cooking areas, even midway through long railing spans, under rail lights allow you to brighten up certain sections of your deck easily. Low-profile in their design, under rail lights help you to highlight your deck at night without stealing the focus throughout the day. Add discreet rail lighting to your deck easily, with deck rail lights from brands you’ll love.
3. Post Mount Lights
Cast a gentle glow down your posts easily with side mount lighting fixtures. A great addition to any outdoor railing that has a continuous top rail or an efficient way to add subtle lighting and highlight certain areas of your deck. Help your deck make a statement by adding distinctive low-voltage or solar post mount lights to your area.
4. Post Cap Lighting
A gorgeous way to both complete and protect your deck railing is with eye-catching post cap lights. These post lights seal off deck posts from any damaging debris while adding detail throughout the day, and a lovely ambiance at night. Choose from our wide range of solar or low-voltage post cap lights to illuminate your deck perimeter.
5. In-Floor Lighting
Include in-floor deck lights in your outdoor lighting plan to illuminate your deck railing throughout long, straight spans and highlight the grandeur of your outdoor living space. A lovely choice for accentuating features of your deck or patio such as water fountains, outdoor seating, BBQ grilling areas, and more, in-floor lighting installs flush with the composite deck boards for a smooth feel and a wonderful appearance.
6. Under Deck Lighting
Give your lower-level patio a touch of brightness with under deck lighting installed within your deck drainage system. Whether mounting patio ceiling lights in the Trex RainEscape, ZipUP UnderDeck, or UpSide Deck Ceiling deck drainage system, give your backyard patio the warmth of light to enjoy nighttime rainstorms without issue.
7. Landscape Lighting
Let your yard leave an impression with a dynamic landscape lighting arrangement! Positioning landscape lights around the base of the deck, walkways, gardens can both accentuate your space while helping people find their way. A wide range of light spreads such as path, wall wash, accent and more are available to help light up your nights.
Deck Lighting Ideas That Deliver Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact
Smart deck lighting ideas look good, save energy and last longer, too. LED lights are a solid choice for most setups, using at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs while lasting years longer. That means fewer replacements, less waste, and lower energy bills. Plus, they stay cool to the touch, so they're a safer option around wood.
For an even greener solution, solar-powered deck lights run on sunlight alone. They soak up energy during the day and switch on automatically at night, requiring zero electricity. While their brightness depends on how much sun they get, newer models are more reliable - even in spots that don’t get full sun.
Professional vs DIY Installation: What's Right for Your Deck Lighting?
Installing deck lighting can be a do-it-yourself project or a job for a professional, depending on the type of lighting and your comfort level with electrical work. Here's what to consider before deciding which route to take.
DIY Deck Lighting: Pros & Cons
For low-voltage or solar-powered lights, a DIY install is totally doable. These options often come with plug-and-play systems that require minimal wiring and no electrical expertise. Solar lights, for example, need nothing more than proper placement for sun exposure. Even low-voltage LED setups with transformers can be manageable for handy homeowners.
Pros:
- Cost-effective - no labor fees
- Flexibility to install at your own pace
- In general, no permits required for low-voltage or solar setups
Cons:
- Wiring mistakes can lead to shorts or malfunctions
- May lack a polished, professional finish
- More time-consuming, especially for large projects
Hiring a Professional: Pros & Cons
If you're installing hardwired 120V deck lighting or integrating your lights with a smart home system, hiring a licensed electrician is the safest bet. A professional ensures code compliance, proper wiring, and a seamless look, especially for built-in fixtures like post cap lights or recessed step lights.
Pros:
- Guarantees safe, up-to-code installation
- Saves time and effort
- Professional-grade finish with hidden wiring
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost for labor
- Requires scheduling and permits for some electrical work
Which One Should You Choose?
If your deck lighting is plug-and-play, solar-powered, or low-voltage, DIY is a great way to save money while keeping things simple. But if you're dealing with hardwired fixtures or complex layouts, calling in a pro ensures a safe and polished result. We generally recommend low voltage or solar lights for decks and patios for the savings in cost and time, plus the easier installation.
Deck Lighting Resources
Now that you know the best deck lighting ideas, learn more about the basics of deck lighting and get info on how to install LED deck lighting on your outdoor space in the Deck Lighting Guide. From stair lighting, rail lighting, post cap lights, and solar deck lights, we're here to help you every step of the way with your DIY deck build or remodel. Get started on your home's LED deck light project today and illuminate your outdoor space.
Browse more deck design and railing style notes to upgrade your backyard space and deck in the DecksDirect Railing Style Guide. It's the quickest way to learn if your home is more suited for a classic aluminum deck railing or a strong, composite railing line.
Troubleshooting Low-Voltage Deck Lighting
Even low-voltage deck lighting systems can have issues. Here are some common problems and easy fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deck Lighting Ideas
Have questions about the best deck lighting ideas? Don't worry; you're not alone. Here are some common questions DecksDirect receives.
How do I prevent deck lighting from attracting bugs?
Bugs are naturally drawn to bright, cool-toned lights, but you can minimize this by choosing warm-colored LEDs instead of harsh white or blue-tinted bulbs. Keeping lights lower to the ground - like recessed stair or under-rail lighting - limits how much they draw insects from above.
Can I install deck lighting if my deck is already built?
Yes! Many lighting options, like solar lights, require little to no wiring, making them easy to add after the fact. If you want hardwired lights, you may need to drill through decking or run wiring along existing structures.
Can I mix different types of deck lighting?
Absolutely! The best deck lighting designs often combine multiple types of lighting - like post cap lights for ambiance, stair lights for safety, and under-rail lights for a subtle glow. Just keep color temperatures consistent to maintain a cohesive look.
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