Collection

Security Lighting

Light does two jobs at once. Outside, it removes the cover a burglar counts on. Inside, it means nobody has to cross a dark hallway at 2am wondering what made the noise. Neither of these needs wiring, an app or a monthly fee.

No app, no Wi-Fi, no fees Renter-friendly options Free tracked shipping
3 products

Pick in 10 seconds

Two jobs for light: the yard and the hallway

Lighting earns its keep every night, whether or not anyone ever tries the door. The job is different outside and inside, so treat them separately.

Outside: take away the cover

A burglar picks the side of the house the street can't see. A solar motion light there means anyone standing in that spot is suddenly standing in light, visible to a neighbor or a passing car. Its sensor reaches about 15 to 20 feet across a wide arc, and each of its three heads pivots, so one mount can cover a corner, a walkway and a doorway. It charges in daylight, mounts with two screws, and has no bulb to change on a ladder in November. Winter days mean less run time, so give the panel the most direct sun you can. The evidence on motion lights is in do motion sensor lights deter burglars.

Inside: light the route, not the room

The night most homes face is not a break-in. It is a noise at 2am and a walk down a dark hallway. The motion night light lights the floor ahead of you without a switch, and without waking the house the way a ceiling light does. It picks up movement out to about 10 to 16 feet, stays on for roughly 15 to 60 seconds, and stays off in daylight. Each light takes 3 AAA batteries (not included, so nine for the pack) and sticks on with tape, so a rental wall stays a rental wall. With no app to set up, it is an easy gift for a parent who lives alone.

Light is a warning, not a barrier

Neither light stops anybody. Light removes the cover and buys the attention of whoever is nearby. Noise at the point of entry is the other half, and that is the job of a TremShield vibration alarm on the glass: a thin disc that sounds at 125 dB the moment a window is struck or pried, while the person is still outside. Light outside, noise at the glass: either one alone leaves a gap.

Where to put them first

Outside, the darkest approach, usually the side gate or the back of the garage. Inside, the top of the stairs and the hallway between the bedrooms. Our guide to feeling safe at home at night walks the whole route. Then put alarms on the panes someone could reach from that dark side: six are $99, $16.50 each, with 2 free no-drill window locks.

Frequently asked questions

Do motion sensor lights deter burglars?
They remove the cover a burglar relies on and they draw the attention of neighbors and passers-by, which matters most on the side of a house the street cannot see. What light does not do is stop anyone who has decided to continue, so treat it as one layer beside a lock and an alarm rather than a barrier.

Do these need wiring or an electrician?
No. The outdoor light is solar and charges itself. The indoor night lights run on AAA batteries and stick on with adhesive tape. There is no wiring, no plug, no app and no subscription with either of them.

Where should an indoor motion light go?
The route people walk in the dark: the top of the stairs, the hallway between bedrooms, and the landing. Mount it low enough to light the floor rather than the ceiling, because the point is to see where your feet are going.

Will an indoor motion light trigger on a pet?
Yes, a passive infrared sensor sees a moving warm body, and a cat crossing a hallway qualifies. Mounting it slightly higher and angling it along the wall reduces this. It is a light rather than an alarm, so a stray trigger costs nothing but a few seconds of light.

Get our security tips

Practical home-security tips and the occasional offer, straight to your inbox.