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Outside Lighting: Types, Benefits, and What It Costs

A guide to outdoor lighting for UK homes - from security floodlights to decorative garden schemes. Covers PIR sensors, smart switching, costs, and how lighting can deter crime.

12 February 20269 min read

Outside Lighting: Types, Benefits, and What It Costs

Good outdoor lighting makes your home safer, more secure, and more enjoyable to use after dark. Whether you want a simple security light above the back door or a full garden lighting scheme, the options available today are better and more affordable than ever - particularly with the rise of wireless controls and smart switching.

Here is a practical guide to the different types of outside lighting, what they cost, and how to get the best results.

Security Lighting vs Decorative Lighting

Outdoor lighting broadly falls into two categories, and most homes benefit from a combination of both.

Security Lighting is designed to deter intruders and illuminate access points. It is typically bright, functional, and often activated by motion sensors (PIR). Common locations include driveways, front doors, side passages, and rear gardens.

Decorative Lighting is designed to create atmosphere and highlight garden features. It includes path lights, uplighters, deck lights, festoon lights, and wall washers. The goal is visual appeal rather than raw brightness.

The best outdoor lighting schemes combine both - security where you need it and atmosphere where you want it.

Does Outside Lighting Reduce Crime?

The short answer is yes. Research consistently shows that improved street and residential lighting reduces crime.

A comprehensive review by the College of Policing found that improved lighting led to a 21% reduction in crime in the areas studied. The effect was particularly strong for property crime - burglary, theft, and vehicle crime. The review noted that lighting works as a deterrent not just at night but also during the day, because well-lit areas signal that residents are attentive and that the area is cared for.

A separate analysis published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology found that lighting improvements reduced crime by an average of 21-23% across multiple studies in the UK and the US.

The key takeaway: visible, well-maintained lighting around your property makes it a less attractive target. Burglars prefer dark, unobserved approaches. A well-lit front and side passage removes that cover.

Types of Outside Lighting

PIR Floodlights

The most common security light. A PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor detects movement and triggers the light. Modern LED floodlights are bright, energy-efficient, and typically cost £2-5 per year to run. Available in a range of outputs from 10W to 50W+.

Dusk-to-Dawn Lights

These use a photocell sensor to switch on automatically at dusk and off at dawn. Useful for porch lights, house number illumination, and always-on security lighting where you want consistent coverage without manual switching.

Wall Lights

Decorative or functional fittings mounted on exterior walls. Available in modern, traditional, and industrial styles. Up-and-down wall lights create attractive light patterns on brickwork and are popular either side of front doors.

Bollard Lights

Low-level posts that illuminate paths and driveways. They provide subtle guidance lighting rather than bright illumination. Available in stainless steel, black, and anthracite finishes.

Spike / Ground Lights

Push-in or buried fittings that uplight trees, hedges, and architectural features. These are the foundation of most decorative garden lighting schemes. Low-voltage (12V or 24V) versions are popular for their safety and flexibility.

Deck and Step Lights

Small recessed fittings built into decking boards, steps, or retaining walls. They provide low-level ambient light and improve safety on changes of level.

Festoon Lights

Strings of decorative bulbs popular for patios, pergolas, and outdoor dining areas. Available in warm white or filament-style bulbs. Permanent outdoor-rated festoon cables are available for year-round use.

Recessed Ground Lights (Drive-Over)

Flush-mounted lights rated to withstand vehicle weight. Used to illuminate driveways, paths, and entrances. Typically IP67 rated for ground burial.

Smart Switching and Wireless Control

One of the biggest changes in outdoor lighting over the past few years is the move towards smart and wireless control. You no longer need to run switch cables from every light back to an indoor switch.

Wireless Switches

Products like Hue outdoor switches and Zigbee-based controllers let you add wall switches or remotes that communicate wirelessly with smart bulbs or controllers. No cable chasing into walls.

Smart Lighting Systems

Systems from Philips Hue, LIFX, and others offer outdoor-rated smart bulbs and fittings that connect to your home Wi-Fi or a dedicated hub. You can control them from your phone, set schedules, create lighting scenes, and integrate with voice assistants.

App-Controlled Transformers

For low-voltage garden lighting, modern transformers can be controlled via smartphone apps. You can set timers, adjust brightness, and create zones - all without rewiring.

Astronomical Timers

For hardwired lighting, an astronomical timer switch replaces a standard switch and automatically adjusts on/off times based on sunrise and sunset throughout the year. No manual adjustment needed.

These options are particularly useful for garden lighting schemes where running switch cables to every fitting would be impractical or expensive.

How Much Does Outside Lighting Cost?

Typical installed costs for common outdoor lighting:

Single PIR floodlight (supply and install): £80 - £150
Porch or wall light (supply and install): £100 - £200
Pair of front door wall lights: £200 - £350
Path lighting (set of 4-6 bollard or spike lights): £400 - £800
Deck lighting (set of 6-10 recessed lights): £300 - £600
Full garden lighting scheme (design, supply, install): £1,000 - £3,000+
Smart switching retrofit (per zone): £50 - £150

Costs vary depending on the fittings chosen, cable routing, and whether new circuits are needed. All prices include installation by a qualified electrician.

Planning Your Outside Lighting

A few practical tips:

Start with function

Identify where you need light for safety and security first - doorways, paths, steps, driveways. Then add decorative lighting to enhance the garden.

Less is more

A few well-placed lights create a far better effect than flooding everything with brightness. Subtle uplighting and path lighting is more inviting than a car park floodlight.

Consider your neighbours

Badly aimed security lights that flood neighbouring windows are a common source of complaints and can constitute a statutory nuisance. Always aim floodlights downward and use the PIR sensitivity adjustment to avoid triggering on passing traffic or wildlife.

Use warm white

For decorative and ambient lighting, warm white (2700K-3000K) creates a welcoming atmosphere. Cool white (4000K+) is more appropriate for security floodlights.

IP ratings matter

All outdoor fittings must be rated for external use. As a minimum, look for IP44 for sheltered locations and IP65 for exposed positions. Read our guide to IP ratings for more detail.

Get a Free Quote

Whether you need a simple security light or a complete garden lighting scheme, get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote. We can advise on the best approach for your property and provide a fixed price for supply and installation. See our sockets, switches and lighting services for more detail.