Deciding how to light your garden shouldn't feel like rocket science, but with so many options out there, it's easy to get a bit lost in the dark. Literally. The big question most gardeners face is this: solar or mains? Both have their merits, and both can have their drawbacks, depending on your requirements. So, let's shed some light on the subject (sorry, not sorry) and help you work out which is best for your outdoor space.

The short answer? It depends on what you're lighting, how often you'll use it, and how much installation effort you're willing to put in. The long answer is below.

The Pros and Cons of Mains Outdoor Lighting

Mains garden lighting is the reliable friend who always shows up, rain or shine, day or night. Because it's wired directly into your home's electricity supply, mains outdoor lighting delivers a steady, dependable brightness that doesn't dip once the sun goes down or the clouds roll in.

The Pros

  • Consistent brightness. Mains garden and outdoor lighting doesn't rely on how much sun it soaked up earlier, so you get the same strong performance every single night, whatever the weather's been doing

 

  • Ideal for practical or security lighting. If you need proper illumination for a driveway, pathway, or back door, mains outdoor lighting is generally the stronger, more consistent choice

 

  • No batteries to replace. Once it's installed, you can largely forget about it (aside from the occasional bulb change)

 

  • Often more design flexibility. Mains lighting solutions tend to come in a wider range of styles, from statement lanterns to sleek wall lights, since they're not limited by the size of a solar panel
Bulkhead-style mains wall light illuminating a front door and driveway at night.
Electrician installing a black lantern-style mains wall light on a brick house exterior.

The Cons

  • Installation. Mains garden lighting usually needs proper wiring, which may mean calling in a qualified electrician, particularly for anything more involved than a plug-in set

 

  • Higher upfront cost. Between the fittings and any installation work, mains lighting tends to cost more to set up than solar

 

  • Less flexible positioning. You're limited to where the cabling can reasonably reach, so spontaneous rearranging isn't quite as easy

The Pros and Cons of Solar Lighting for Outdoors

Solar lighting outdoor options have come a long way, and they're a brilliantly low-maintenance way to add a bit of sparkle to your garden without touching a single wire. From twinkling fairy lights to sturdy pathway stakes, there's a solar option to suit pretty much any corner of your outdoor space. Pop them in a sunny spot, sit back, and let nature do the rest.

The Pros

  • No wiring, no fuss. Solar lighting solutions simply need a spot that catches daylight, making them perfect for anyone who'd rather avoid trailing cables or professional installation

 

  • Cost-effective to run. Once you've bought them, solar lights cost nothing to power. They quietly do their thing using nothing but sunshine

 

  • Easy to move. Fancy shifting your solar lanterns from the patio to the flower beds? Simply pick them up and pop them wherever they'll catch the best light

 

  • Better for the planet. Garden lighting solar options reduce your electricity usage, which is a small but meaningful win for your carbon footprint
Hands placing a solar-powered garden stake light into a flower bed.
Winter garden with black solar stake lights lining a flower bed border, emitting a faint warm glow at dusk under an overcast sky with frosty plants and damp soil.

The Cons

  • Weather-dependent brightness. This is where solar lighting outdoor sets can fall short. Performance relies on how much sunlight they've been able to store, so overcast days mean a dimmer glow

 

  • Do solar lights work in winter in the UK? Truthfully, they can struggle. Shorter days and weaker sunlight mean solar lights often charge less and run for fewer hours through the colder months, so they're best treated as a mood-lighting bonus rather than your only source of illumination in winter

 

  • Generally softer light output. For pure practicality, solar tends to lose out to mains, especially if you're after strong, functional lighting

So, are solar or LED lights better?

It's a bit of an apples and oranges comparison, since most solar garden lights actually use LED bulbs anyway. The real choice isn't solar versus LED, it's solar versus mains power, which is exactly what we've been getting into here.

What is the best outdoor lighting for a garden?

There isn't a single right answer. For everyday ambience, decorative touches, and easy-to-move lighting, solar is fantastic. For anything that needs to perform reliably every night, like security lighting or a well-lit path to your front door, mains outdoor lighting is the safer bet. Many gardens end up with a happy mix of both, using mains for the practical spots and solar for the pretty ones.

Fancy seeing how it all comes together? Take a look at our best outdoor lighting ideas for some inspiration on styling your outdoor space, whichever power source you land on.