LED Outdoor Patio Lighting

LED patio lighting turns the space behind the house into an outdoor living room. A good plan layers several sources: wall lights by the patio door, string lights over the table, pot lights in the soffit or pergola, soft strips under a bar or a bench, and garden lights that frame the view. This page is for homeowners furnishing a patio, a covered terrace or a rooftop space, and for restaurants, condo buildings and property managers lighting a commercial terrace.

It covers the patio and its surroundings. For lights built into a wood deck, such as in-floor deck lights, post caps and stair risers, see LED deck lighting.

The layers of a well-lit patio

Wall sconces and doorway lights

The house wall is the starting point. Outdoor wall sconces light the door, the barbecue and the path at once. The TUROLIGHT SSL-ESC up/down wall cylinder washes the façade above and below for an architectural look, with selectable 40 W or 20 W output (up/down, up only or down only), selectable 3000 K, 4000 K or 5000 K and 120-347 V input. Above a patio door, the TUROLIGHT SSL-DW3 doorway light offers selectable 30, 25 or 20 W and 3000 K, 4000 K or 5000 K, with a photocell that switches it on at dusk.

String lights over the dining area

String lights create the café-terrace mood that keeps people outside longer. The NEXLEDS warm white outdoor string lights can zigzag above a dining table, follow a pergola or a fence, or hang between posts. Support long runs with a guide wire so wind and snow do not pull on the sockets, and plug them into a covered GFCI outlet.

Soffit and pergola pot lights

Under a roof overhang, a covered patio or a pergola, recessed pot lights give clean downlight with no visible fixture. Choose models rated for damp locations under a solid roof, and for wet locations where rain can reach them. Browse recessed lighting for downlights in several sizes, and read pot lights vs recessed lights to compare the formats.

Strips for bars, benches and pergola beams

Outdoor LED strips add a soft line of light under an outdoor kitchen counter, a bench, a planter edge or a pergola beam. Outdoor COB tape at 24 V DC (480 LEDs/m, 10 W/m, CRI 90) shows no dots and comes in 2700 K, 3000 K or 4000 K. For long runs, the CANOLIGHT 8 mm COB strip (8 W/m, 640 lm, IP67) comes on a 10 m roll, and the 24 V outdoor RGB tape (7.2 W/m) adds colour for parties.

Garden, paths and the view beyond

Lighting the yard makes the patio feel larger. LED floodlights such as the CSC LED FLM02 (20 W, 30 W or 50 W, 3000 K to 5000 K) pick out a tree or a hedge, LED bollards guide guests along the path, and LED solar lights such as the Light Efficient Design 2 W solar bollards (2700 K or 4000 K) work where there is no wiring.

Specs to compare

• Location rating: under a solid roof, damp location fixtures are enough; anything exposed to rain or snow must be wet location rated, and strips should be IP65 or IP67.
• Colour temperature: 3000 K is the most common choice for patios, warm and welcoming. Selectable 3000 K, 4000 K and 5000 K fixtures let you match the house lights or brighten a commercial terrace.
• Voltage: 12 V and 24 V strips run from a power supply; wall lights and pot lights connect to 120 V, and commercial fixtures to 120-277 V or 120-347 V.
• Control: dimmable fixtures set the mood for dinner, and a photocell takes care of dusk and dawn.
• Certifications: cUL or CSA for any line-voltage product, DLC or DLC Premium on commercial wall packs and floodlights, Energy Star on LED lamps for bollards.

Design and installation tips

Light the edges, not just the centre. A patio feels inviting when the walls, the plants and the far side of the yard glow softly, rather than when one bright light floods the table.

Keep glare out of eyes. Mount wall lights above eye level, aim floodlights away from seating and neighbours, and use warm, dimmable sources near the table.

Plan the power. Put outdoor outlets and switches where you need them, on GFCI-protected circuits. Keep strip power supplies dry and accessible, and seal every outdoor connection.

Think about winter. Snow, ice and freeze-thaw cycles test every outdoor fixture. Wet location ratings, sealed connections and sturdy mounts keep everything working from one season to the next.

Residential and commercial terraces

At home, a patio usually needs wall lights at the door, string lights or pot lights over the dining area and a few garden lights. On a rooftop terrace or a condo balcony, where wiring is limited, low-voltage strips, solar fixtures and wall lights do most of the work; see also LED balcony lighting.

Restaurant terraces and commercial buildings need brighter, controlled light. LED wall packs such as the TUROLIGHT SSL-WP3T full cut-off model (150 W, 120 W or 90 W, up to 18400 lm) or the CSC LED CWPS slim wall pack (DLC Premium) cover large areas, and Type IV optics throw light forward along a wall while limiting glare on neighbouring properties.

FAQ

What is the best lighting for a patio?

A mix: wall sconces at the door, string lights or soffit pot lights over the table, outdoor strips under counters or benches, and a few garden lights. Warm 3000 K on every layer keeps the look consistent.

How do I light a rooftop terrace?

Use low-voltage strips under railings and planters, wall lights on the building wall and solar fixtures where there is no wiring. Choose wet location ratings, secure everything against wind and keep light pointed down to spare the neighbours.

Can string lights stay outside all year?

Outdoor-rated string lights can, if the cable hangs from a guide wire and the plug sits in a covered GFCI outlet. Check the sockets after an ice storm.

Which lights go in a patio soffit?

Recessed pot lights rated for damp locations under a closed soffit, or wet locations where rain reaches them. Keep the spacing even and use warm 3000 K to avoid a harsh look on the wall below.

What is architectural outdoor lighting?

It shows off the building itself: up/down wall cylinders graze the façade, strips trace beams and edges, and floodlights pick out trees or stonework. Selectable colour temperature helps every fixture match.

Should patio lights have a photocell?

It helps. A photocell, like the one on the SSL-DW3 doorway light, turns the light on at dusk and off at dawn, so the entrance is never left dark.

Start with outdoor wall sconces by the door, add string lights and strips around the table, and finish the yard with LED landscape lighting.