Best Solar Lanterns

Solar lights are the best choice for lighting your hallway or for a camping trip with friends.

These solar lights provide an eco-friendly solution to battery-driven electric lights and thus make the ideal option for nature-friendly lighting.

Not all solar-powered lanterns are made equal and if you want to have the most out of your bucks then you need to have the best solar lanterns for the patio.

The best solar lanterns’ for outdoor use provide solar lighting for powering your yard, hallway, or other outdoor settings.

In this review guide, we have tested multiple solar lanterns including some Modern Lanterns, Vintage Lanterns, and Traditional Lanterns to come up with the best solar lantern for campers.

This review also includes the decorative lantern running on solar energy as well as the solar lantern stand for lighting your patio.  So, read our review guidelines and find some top-notch Solar Hanging Lanterns.

In a hurry! Hold on!  To help you get the best of your bucks we recommend TomCare Solar Lights as our top pick.

Top Pick

10/10 Our Score

• Pack of 4
• Black
• 12 hours Battery Runtime

TomCare Solar Lights are the best lights running on solar power that can be used for decorating your patio space or for internal get to gathers.

The Tom Care solar lights are coming as a pack of four black colored glass lamps with a flickering flame design and automatic on/off support that makes it the best option for outdoor and landscape decorations.

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Below given is the table for comparing the top 10 solar lanterns that we have included in our selection of the best solar lanterns.

Comparison Table Of The 10 Best Solar Lanterns

Image	Product	Features	Price
Top Pick	TomCare Solar Lights Pack of 4 Black 12 hours Battery Runtime	10	Check Price
Best Collapsible	LuminAID Solar Inflatable Lanterns Single Piece White  24 hours Battery Runtime	10	Check Price
Best Rustic	TomCare Outdoor Hanging Lanterns Pack of 2 Bronze  Flickering Flame Design	10	Check Price
Best Inflatable	MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0 Single Piece White  24 hours Battery Runtime	10	Check Price
Best Portable	KIZEN Solar Lantern Single Piece Blue  4 hours Battery Recharge Time	9.5	Check Price
Best Candle-Like	SHYMERY Solar Lantern Pack of 2 Bronze 8 to10 hours Battery Runtime	9.5	Check Price
Best Path Fixture	GIGALUMI Solar Hanging Lantern Pack of 8 Warm White 8 hours Battery Runtime	9.5	Check Price
Best Fluorescent	Goal Zero Crush Light Single Piece White  35 hours Battery Runtime	9	Check Price
Best Goblet	ROSHWEY Solar Lantern Pack of 2 Bronze 6 to 10 hours Battery Runtime	9	Check Price
Best Whimsical	OxyLED Solar Lanterns Outdoor Pack of 2 Bronze 8 hours Battery Runtime	9	Check Price

We have tested solar lanterns available in the market and have come up with the best solar lanterns for gardens and the best solar light for yards.

Before investing in solar lanterns, we highly suggest you read the review of the best solar lanterns mentioned in the below article and find yourself a quality outdoor Solar Lantern.

Top Pick

10/10 Our Score

• Pack of 4
• Black
• 12 hours Battery Runtime

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If you are looking forward to lighting the lantern without using the AC or DC power supply you’re your house utility line then you would have to rely on solar power for powering your solar lanterns.

Tom Care is a well-established brand that is famous for its USB Solar Lantern and the lights with solar lantern maintenance close to zero.

Features:

Solar power is the most practical source of light that is being used immensely these days as the running cost of electric and battery power is way more than their upfront cost and this calls for a power source with zero cost of running.

Solar lanterns are the most practical in this regard as they are widely used for outdoor decorations or for powering your patios and yard.

These Tom Care solar lanterns are coming in a pack of 4 black lamps that have a flickering flame design inside the glass.

All of these 4 lanterns Charges via solar energy and thus provide an eco-friendly solution to your power needs. If you don’t have sunlight support as in indoor settings, the lantern can charge via a solar USB adapter.

The turbo mode of these lanterns is a great choice for outdoor settings as you need more light in outdoors when it is dark at night.

The best thing about TomCare Solar Lights is that it doesn’t have any wires and you can place it in direct sunshine to capture the solar power.

The solar panels will transfer energy into electricity used to power the lantern.

Pros

• Adjustable Strap
• Lightweight &Waterproof
• No Need For Batteries
• Flickering Flames Design
• Lasts For 24h On Low Mode

Cons

• Not Suitable For Hanging

Verdict:

Best Collapsible

10/10 Our Score

• Single Piece
• White
• 24 hours Battery Runtime

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If you are not in hanging or in-ground lights but want to have something that is more travel friendly and can be packed together with your travel gear then we suggest you give this LuminAID solar lantern a must-try.

This is an inflatable solar light that can be folded to have a space-saving body. The foldable strap allows you to connect it with either a post or tree or hung it on any available tall object.

Features:

LuminAID solar lantern in coming with an Attractive design that is inflatable and you can collapse it to pack it in your backpack or luggage.

This collapsible design makes it perfect for traveling and camping. Although this is a collapsible lantern, it is made of iron on its borders and looks very decorative.

The LuminAID lantern has multiple light modes and in each mode, light is subtle enough to give you a pleasing feel.

This solar lantern is offering a warm white fluorescent glow that gives a soft light making it an excellent choice for nighttime.

This LuminAID Solar Inflatable Lanterns durable lantern has a glass effect that makes it look more expensive and it can last for 8 hours at 50 lumens while at 25 lumens you can use it for about 14 hours is a good lifespan for any outdoor light placed on trees.

Pros

• Perfect Party Decoration
• Made Of Metal
• Rustproof Finish
• Attractive Vintage Design
• IP65 Water-Resistant

Cons

• Low Light Intensity

Verdict:

Best Rustic

10/10 Our Score

• Pack of 2
• Bronze
• Flickering Flame Design

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If you are into flickering flames solar lanterns, then there is no better option than the Tom Care solar lanterns. This is our second pick from Tom Care’s flagship products in our selection of the best solar lanterns.

And this one is coming in a pack with 2 hanging solar lanterns that features a rustic style with the classic lantern look.

Features:

The Tom Care solar lantern is a metal lantern that is designed with high-quality metal and has a rustproof finish to make it stand the test of harsh weather in outdoor settings.

This lantern is not very fit for use camping and is more suitable for path fixtures that lighten up your yard or patio at night.

The path light fixture form is the most common decorative purpose solar lanterns are used for and this makes this Tom Care lanterns the best for your bucks.

This solar lantern looks so realistic and can be used indoors and outdoors due to its strong and heavy-duty metallic construction and handles.

These features make it a perfect decor addition for your yard or patio.

Although it is not made of plastic but made of glass, it is not a very heavy option as it has a detachable top ring.

Its battery can be replaced and has enough capacity to power a bright-intensity lantern that includes 30 LED lids.

TomCare Outdoor Hanging Lanterns solar cells easily collect solar energy and recharge very quickly so that the lantern lasts all night.

Pros

• Sturdy Handle
• Light Censored
• Attractive Pattern
• Bright Light
• Retro Design
• Flameless Horizontal Stripes

Cons

• Needs Manual Turning

Verdict:

Best Inflatable

10/10 Our Score

• Single Piece
• White
• 24 hours Battery Runtime

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If you prefer simple fluorescent lights over flickering flame lights then you need to get your hands on some warm white lights that give the soothing effect as well as the light needed in darkness.

Solar lantern is preferred over electric or battery-driven units because their maintenance costs are low and this can be a plus point for budget-restricted users.

Features:

If you have enough solar resources available and at hand and want a high-quality solar lantern to add some ambiance to your traveling vans, campers, RVs, and other outdoor places then stainless steel solar lanterns may not be the ideal option for you.

This is because stainless steel lanterns cannot be featuring a collapsible design like this MPOWERED LUCI outdoor solar light.

If you prefer a rustic style then this solar lantern is not for you as it is featuring a very modern inflatable appearance with a foldable strap to hang or clip it.

This solar lantern has an LED wavy edge column that is complimented by its lower panel as the bottom has 4 magnets for a strong attachment effect.

You can charge this solar lantern either with a USB port or use the same port to charge your android devices.

This USB Type C Port comes in handy to help you recharge your road essentials using the solar power collected by your outdoor lantern that can be kept in your backpack.

This MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0 light resembles tree branches due to its longitudinal shape and is an environmentally friendly option to power an electric device.

Pros

• Whimsical Pattern
• Shorter Charging
• Longer Working Time
• Installation Is Extremely Easy
• Flip On The Switch

Cons

• More Expensive

Verdict:

Best Portable

9.5/10 Our Score

• Single Piece
• Blue
• 4 hours Battery Recharge Time

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For all those users, who are looking for an aesthetically appealing solar lantern that can be a travel companion and can also be used in indoor and outdoor settings equally then you ought to give this KIZEN solar lantern a try.

This is a collapsible lantern with a very enticing white and blue appearance that can be collapsed to have a circular box similar to your toolbox or first aid box at home.

Let’s dig its description to see if is it worth the manufacturer’s claim or not.

Features:

This is an amazing solar lantern that is the most common camping buddy as its collapsible yet enticing outlook makes it suitable for both decorative purposes and travel-friendly functionality.

This KIZEN solar lantern is one such lantern that is inflatable yet decorative as a majority of inflatable and collapsible lanterns are not a fit for decorations.

You can use this warm white light to power your camping tent or put it outside the camp to lighten up the mood in the surroundings of your tent.

The KIZEN Solar Lantern by KIZEN is made of a Controller board that gives its functioning panel to be placed at the bottom while the solar panel is mounted at its top that receives direct sunlight.

Pros

• Automatic Turn On/Off
• Highly Practical Option
• Rated Battery Life & Warranty
• Supports Various Lighting Effects

Cons

• Small Runtime On High Intensity

Verdict:

Best Candle-Like

9.5/10 Our Score

• Pack of 2
• Bronze
• 8 to10 hours Battery Runtime

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The lanterns are supposed to give the rustic candle-like classic appearance that gives the most nostalgic feel that serves the purpose of having lanterns instead of the modern fluorescent lights and globes.

Many solar lanterns are available in classic candle designs like this SHYMERY LED glass lantern that has a plastic casing to cover a bronze glow.

Features:

This solar lantern is a pretty simple-to-use device that is fit for use in an Emergency and is also very suitable for decorating your patio or yard as the path light fixtures hang on light posts.

You can hang these lanterns anywhere you want if not posted and can also put them on solid surfaces like on your patio floors or ground.

This rechargeable solar lantern has a lithium-ion battery that is enough for 8 to 10 hours at its full capacity.

The recharging time of this solar lantern is approx. 6 hours which is based on the sunlight intensity.

Under soft sunlight, it may take longer than 6 hours to be fully charged. This solar lantern gives a candle-like appearance but is using LED light for producing a glow instead of the assumed candles put in its position.

Its design is flickering flames that give a dancing glow.

Thanks to its built-in light sensor, the solar lantern can automatically turn on at night if it has enough battery capacity.

This SHYMERY Solar Lantern automatically charges during the day and power itself at night or in dark.

Pros

• Comes With A Grab Handle
• Get A Luminous Flux
• Offers Candle Flickering Light
• Cheapest Option
• Decent Battery Life

Cons

• Fragile Carrying Handle

Verdict:

Best Path Fixture

9.5/10 Our Score

• Pack of 8
• Warm White
• 8 hours Battery Runtime

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If you are looking forward to a large number of solar lanterns coming in a pack then this GIGALUMI hanging lantern pack may be the one you are looking for.

This is a pack of 8 hanging solar lanterns that are coming in the classic lantern style with a warm white glow coming through the candle-shaped LED lights.

Features:

The GIGALUMI solar lanterns are best for decorative functions and the pack of 8 candles ensures that you have sufficient supply to make do with them.

You can place these solar lanterns in your backyard or patio spaces. But the best function of these lanterns is to fix the light fixture path in your yard or hallway.

The light fixture pathway decorated with these classic white lanterns seems very appealing and enticing to the eyes.

GIGALUMI Solar Hanging Lantern also adds a soothing glow to the eyes and relaxes the mind as the warm white fluorescent glow doesn’t harm the eyes as much as the incandescent lights or the bronze glow of flickering flame lights.

Coming towards its construction, we ensure you about the durability of these solar lanterns because these lantern lights are made up of metal and give a sturdy construction that is sure to stand the test of time.

These solar lanterns create a soft candle effect and decorate your external lawn or deck. You can also use these lanterns on your balcony or hang them on the campsites or while fishing.

Pros

• IP44 Rated
• Heatproof Feature
• ABS Plastic Cap
• Money Back Guarantee
• Large-Sized Battery

Cons

• Low Intensity

Verdict:

Best Fluorescent

9/10 Our Score

• Single Piece
• White
• 35 hours Battery Runtime

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Goal Zero Crush Light is another single-piece inflatable solar lantern in our selection of the best solar lanterns that is coming with a warm white glow.

This is a large-sized painted solar lantern that is available in different colored lights and can be collapsed to have a thin layered square that is slim and sleek enough to be kept in the pockets of your backpack.

The Goal Zero Crush Chroma solar lantern has a tiny solar panel mounted on the top of an inflatable box and this solar panel is sufficient enough to keep the LED lights inside the lantern powered for 10 to 12 hours on average lumen intensity.

To have the increased runtime you can set the lumens to the lowest intensity and enjoy the 35 hours of lighting while the highest lumens intensity if 60 lumens which is a decent value for a solar lantern.

The Goal Zero Crush Light is made of Light fixture photoresistor cells that prevent the leakage of any captured solar rays and ensure that maximum solar power is converted into electricity.

The controller board accepts energy transferred from the solar panel and uses it to power the tiny bulbs connected to the bottom panel that gives the warm white glow.

Pros

• Running Cost Low
• Provide Illumination
• Bulbs Are Safer
• Solid Lighting

Cons

• Expensive

Verdict:

Best Goblet

9/10 Our Score

• Pack of 2
• Bronze
• 6 to 10 hours Battery Runtime

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ROSHWEY solar lanterns are 2 piece decoration lanterns that are coming in an enticing appearance that looks similar to a goblet of fire.

This goblet of fire is the most widely used decorative light design that is in use for decades and is still in trend despite its classic appeal.

Features:

The solar lantern by ROSHWEY is coming as a pack of 2 ABS glass lanterns that are meant to decorate your patio with external lights. These are hanging solar lights that have a fabric handle at the top to hang them on trees or post towers.

Unlike the inflatable or foldable straps, these solar lanterns are using rustic yarns braided together in a rope that combines modern goblet lights with classic rope hangers.

The solar lanterns are waterproof and can withstand all weather which makes them just fit for outdoor use and camping.

The harsh external environment particularly the rainy days can cause harm to most solar lanterns but these ROSHWEY solar lanterns will not be affected as they are coming with IP54 waterproof protection that makes them submersible in water and thus suitable for use on rainy days.

These solar lanterns are made up of ABS glass but the lids of the goblets that can be opened are made up of stainless steel and this makes the lanterns durable and long-lasting right for outdoor use.

The ROSHWEY Solar Lantern manufacturers give you a 45-day money-back guarantee and a one-year general warranty covering technical faults and parts damage.

Pros

• Definite Life-Saver
• Has Brightness Settings
• Candle Alternative
• Comes With Hanging Clamp

Cons

• The hanging Rope Is Of Poor Quality

Verdict:

Best Whimsical

9/10 Our Score

• Pack of 2
• Bronze
• 8 hours Battery Runtime

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Oxy LED solar lanterns are the last one in our selection of the 10 best solar lights and this is another outdoor decorative lantern that is coming as a pack of 2 retro-style lanterns.

These solar lanterns are not the hanging style nor the in-ground ones but are placed directly on the ground surfaces to produce a glowing shadow on the whole ground.

Features:

This solar lantern is a unique one in our selection as we have only reviewed hanging and in-ground solar lanterns till now but this one is a path fixture light that is meant for the decoration of paths in your yard or backyard.

These highly practical and efficient solar lanterns cast a pattern of luminous clouds that gives the sense of auspicious illuminations in a whimsical pattern.

The OxyLED Solar Lanterns Outdoor are combining practicality with beauty and gives you the best bang for your buck.

The construction material used in its making is plastic and metal as the metallic portion is the handle and border of the globe while the surface is made up of plastic.

The bronze glow casting on the floor will give you a very retro feel and makes a perfect patio décor option.

Pros

• Use A Micro USB Input
• Light And Compact
• Perfect Traveling Companion
• Clip Or Hang It

Cons

• No Wireless Charging Pad

Verdict:

Best Solar Lanterns: A Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide

If you’re looking for the best solar lanterns available in the market then you are certainly at the right spot as here we are going to compile a comprehensive buyer’s guide where you can find the necessary things and features to look at when buying solar lanterns.

If you need something within your restricted budget, we strongly advised you to read our buyer’s guide as knowing what to pursue can definitely save you bucks by excluding the useless fancy options from your desired products.

Buying Guide Of Best Solar Lanterns – Infographics

After being left with only practical options, choosing the right one becomes a little simpler.

Even though it gives you a tiring solution, researching for your desired products is never a bad deal.

In this way, you can choose the right product by spending little bucks, and don’t get fooled by buying lanterns having batteries with a low capacity.

For getting the best of your bucks and having a longer runtime you should ensure the solar cell isn’t shaded and for that purpose, you should choose ones that have hooks so that they can be hung on trees or posts.

Solar lanterns don’t require any maintenance and you don’t have to consider regularly cleaning these solar lights as they are meant for decoration purposes and are seldom used so clean them when the need arises.

What Are Solar Lanterns?

Solar lanterns are lights or lamps having a portable lighting body that includes a solar panel, an inverter, and an LED lamp.

The solar panel captures the solar power and produces the DC power while the inverter converts it into AC power and power the LED lamp that glows to give light out of the lantern.

Are you hosting a party on your patio or external lawn?

If that is the case then you would have to decorate the place perfectly for the party and that’s where the solar lanterns come in handy.

Bear in mind that solar lanterns can be used as the lights and lamps in streets as well as the decorative lights fixing your path in the yard or decorating your patio spaces.

1. Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Solar Lanterns:

Have a look at the essential features given below to look before buying the solar lanterns available on the market.

I. Lumens:

Are you out there in the market looking for the best solar lanterns but don’t know which one to buy and which one to discard?

If that is so then going with a bright solar lantern will be the best bet for you. This is because solar lanterns are mostly needed for outdoor needs like on campsites or hiking trails and outdoor environments require brighter lights for optimum performance.

Therefore, your need to have a solar lantern that gives you the best brightness.

But how are you going to know which brightness is higher if there are only slight differences in their appearance?

Well, the technical solution is to go by the lumen count. Lumens represent the intensity of light and thus show the brightness level of the solar lantern.

As we have stated earlier that having a bright solar lantern will not go wrong but increasing the brightness level will obviously increase the weight on the price tag and therefore you need to have one that lies within your budget needs.

For instance, if you are planning a small get-together on your outdoor patio and want to decorate it with some cozy solar lanterns, an average solar lantern with 40-60 lumens may be a good option for you.

But if you are planning a camping trip out in the wild then 40-50 lumens will not be sufficient for enough brightness needed in darkness and you should go with a solar lantern having 80 to 120 lumens as the average light intensity.

Similarly, if you are heading for trekking or hiking where you need to have a view of far and wide to see the path laying ahead of you, the brightest solar lantern, will be the best option for you, and for that purpose, you should have 200 to 250-lumen lanterns to fulfill your need and save your bucks from being wasted.

II. Battery Capacity:

After deciding on the lumen count, it is time for you to shift your focus on the battery life and runtime as this is of utmost importance. How long will your solar lantern be? Can it last you all night?

These are some of the typical queries you would have come across and this shows how much significant the runtime is for a lantern.

Most average solar lanterns can withstand 6 to 8 hours but if you are desiring something best then there are a few solar lanterns that give 10-14 hours of runtime at the high lumen count.

You can increase the runtime by decreasing the light intensity.

For example, many solar lanterns can run on 25 lumens for 24 to 35 hours depending upon the battery capacity.

While the same lantern will be powered on for 3-4 hours on the highest lumen count.

III. Weatherproofing:

Solar lanterns are meant for outdoor applications be it for decorating your patio or powering your campsite.

To withstand the harsh outdoor weather conditions it is significant for the solar lanterns to come with weatherproofing.

Many solar lanterns are waterproof and offer the required protection from the damages of harsh weather.

There are a few solar lanterns that come without weatherproofing and scam naive consumers with their cheap price tags.

So, beware of getting fooled, and don’t go for something available at a cheap price that is of no practical use.

IV. LED Bulbs:

One of the significant features that you should pay attention to while buying solar lanterns is the type of bulb installed in them. The most common bulb types are conventional incandescent bulbs and LED lights.

Incandescent bulbs are higher-wattage lights and are harmful to the eyes compared to LED lights.

Therefore, make sure that you go with solar lanterns that have LED lights installed in place of conventional bulbs.

LED lights are cheaper and have low-wattage devices that will be easier to power and will remain functional even on low battery capacity.

On rainy or cloudy days when a low battery is available and no sunlight is there for solar recharge, LED bulbs can be used as they will require the minimum wattage, unlike conventional bulbs.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Who Makes The Best Outdoor Solar Lanterns?

Lumina ID and Tom Care are known to make the best outdoor solar lanterns. There are many other good brands that are famous for high-quality solar lights with long runtime and affordable price tags.

2. How Long Do Solar Lights Last?

Solar lights can keep power for an average of 12 to 24 hours on a high-capacity battery which is rather rare in most decorative lanterns.

The decorative outdoor lanterns have an average runtime of 6 to 8 hours after the full recharge of 4 to 6 hours of high-intensity sunlight.

3. Do Solar Lights Stay Lit All Night?

The straightforward answer to this depends upon the battery capacity and the runtime. Most typical solar lanterns have a runtime of 10 to 12 hours that can keep them on all through the night if fully charged.

But many solar lanterns have an average of 6 hours runtime that can’t keep them lit all night.

4. Will Solar Lights Work In Winter?

Yes, the solar lights will work in winter as they need sunlight to be powered.

The only difference in their function would be that the sunlight will be available for shorter hours and this can affect their battery capacity and thus reduce the runtime due to limited battery stored in their cells.

5. What Are The Brightest Solar Lights On The Market?

LuminAID PackLite Solar Lantern is the brightest solar lantern on the market.

This solar light is coming at 150 lumens giving it the brightest intensity for any outdoor solar light and can last for a good enough 3 to 5 hours on a full charge.

Final Words:

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