Collection: Path Lights

Solar-Powered

No trenching, no wiring, no electrician. These fixtures charge during the day and switch on at dusk, so they go anywhere you can set one down.

• Tradition Outdoor Solar LED Lantern by Les Jardins: A classic lantern frame with clear glass panels, 9" wide by 16" tall, in Teak, Anthracite, or Corten. Choose a 300-lumen solar bulb or a 500-lumen version with a motion sensor, in 2700K or a candle-warm 2200K. It turns on at dusk, dims itself as the battery runs low, and can be topped up by USB when the sun doesn't cooperate. Rated IP66. Mood: A lantern you can carry to wherever the evening ends up.
• Metro Outdoor Solar LED Path Light by Les Jardins: An exaggerated aluminum lantern on a post, in Graphite at 35" or 78" tall, plus an 86" version in Graphite or Corten. It uses the same solar bulb options as the Tradition, with automatic dusk-to-dawn operation, a hi-lo dimmer, and USB backup charging. Rated IP66. The 35" works as a path marker; the taller versions read as a full lamp post. Mood: A streetlamp scaled for the garden.
• Reed Outdoor LED Solar Path Light by IP44.DE: Sebastian David Büscher's 2023 design for IP44.DE, a slender stem of powder-coated die-cast aluminum and glass at 59" or 68.9" tall, made in Germany. The solar panel is separate and sold separately, connected by a 4.6-foot cable, so the panel can sit in the sun while the light stands in shade. It turns on at dusk and runs for five hours at 2700K and 90 CRI. Rated IP65. Mood: A lit reed in the shade garden.

Low-Voltage Wired (12V)

Twelve-volt landscape lighting is the most common choice for walkways. A plug-in transformer steps household power down, and lightweight direct-burial cable runs between fixtures, so lights can be added or moved later without rewiring the house.

• Atlantis LED Path Light by Hinkley: An aluminum and glass hat-and-stem design, 6.5" wide, in a 15.63" small or 22" large. It comes in Bronze, Matte Bronze, Satin Black, or Titanium, plus Hematite in the small and Cedar in the large. The included 1.5W mini wedge LED gives 150 lumens at 2700K and can be swapped out later. It dims through a magnetic low-voltage (MLV) dimmer on the transformer's input side and is wet rated. Mood: The classic path light, done properly.
• Fundamentals LED Path Light by Kichler: A smooth brass cone in Centennial Brass, 6" across and 21.25" tall, aiming 250 lumens straight down onto the walk. It comes in 2700K or 3000K and is wet rated. Solid brass weathers outdoors rather than flaking, so expect it to darken gradually over the seasons. Mood: Brass that ages on purpose.
• Marsh Outdoor LED Single Path Light by ET2 Lighting: A 2024 design with a single leaf-shaped oval shade on a thin aluminum arm, 13" wide by 30" tall. The integrated LED gives 300 lumens at 3000K and 90 CRI. It is dimmable, wet rated, and has a five-year warranty. Mood: One leaf, lit from within.

Line-Voltage Wired (120V)

These fixtures run on standard household current. They are the most permanent installation and the brightest, and they suit new construction, hardscape projects, and anywhere a transformer would be awkward.

• Outdoor Path Light by Generation Lighting: Stacked die-cast aluminum tiers separated by glass diffusers, a pagoda-inspired design from 2000, made in the USA. It is compact at 5.88" across and 7" tall, in Black or Emerald Green. It takes one standard medium-base (E26) bulb, not included, and is wet rated. Mood: A pagoda in miniature.
• Turbo Outdoor LED Path Light by Visual Comfort Architectural: Sean Lavin's cylinder ringed with evenly spaced fins, 6" across and 10.9" tall, in powder-coated Black, Charcoal, or Bronze. At 1009 lumens in 2700K or 3000K, it is the brightest fixture on this page. It has stainless steel hardware and an impact-resistant, UV-stabilized acrylic lens, and comes with either a concrete mount or a stake mounting kit. It is wet rated, IP65, and Title 24 compliant, with a five-year warranty. Mood: Fins that cast their own pattern on the path.
• Estadio Outdoor LED Path Light by Santa & Cole: Miguel Milá's 2023 design for Santa & Cole, a slim 3.7" metal column with a ribbed glass opening that directs light across the ground. It comes in 17.7" or 31.5" heights, in Texturized Black or White, and is made of recycled materials. The light gives 204 lumens at 2700K and 90 CRI, dims via 0-10V or DALI, and is wet rated and IP65. Mood: Barcelona restraint at ankle height.

Choosing a Power Source

Spacing: Place path lights 6 to 10 feet apart so their pools of light just meet. On walks wider than about 4 feet, stagger them along both sides rather than lining up one side.

Setback: Keep fixtures 6 to 12 inches back from the edge of the path. They stay clear of feet and mowers, and the light still reaches the walking surface.

Height: Fixtures between 14 and 30 inches tall cover most walkways. Taller pieces like Reed and the Metro posts work better as markers at corners, gates, and garden entrances than as a repeating row.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will solar path lights work in foggy or shady yards?

Yes, with realistic expectations. Less sun means shorter run times. The Les Jardins fixtures can be topped up by USB on gray stretches. Reed solves the problem differently: its separate panel can go in the sunniest spot while the light itself stands in shade.

What do I need for a 12V system?

You need a low-voltage landscape transformer, direct-burial cable, and the fixtures. Add up the wattage of every fixture and choose a transformer rated comfortably above that total so you can add lights later. Dimming depends on the transformer. Atlantis, for example, dims through a magnetic low-voltage dimmer on the transformer's input side.

Do 120V path lights need an electrician?

In most cases, yes. Line-voltage fixtures connect to a household circuit, and outdoor wiring usually has to meet code requirements for burial depth and ground-fault protection. If you are paving or adding hardscape anyway, that is the cheapest time to run the circuit.

Which color temperature is best for a pathway?

2700K is the warmest and most flattering against plants and stone, and most fixtures on this page offer it. 3000K reads slightly crisper and suits modern architecture. The Tradition and Metro solar bulbs also come in 2200K, which is close to candlelight.