How to add garden security lights to deter intruders and illuminate your space effectively

Garden security lights can prevent intruders moving around your property undetected. What’s more, these outdoor lights can also make the exterior of your home a safer space for you after dusk falls.

But while garden lights are a vital element of good home security systems, they also run the risk of creating a number of problems. Too bright and they can cause glare that actually makes it harder to see, and they can also compromise your privacy, as well as causing a nuisance to neighbours and disrupting the natural environment.

To help you keep your home, garden, and outbuildings safer we’ve put together the knowhow you need when choosing, positioning and using garden security lights here. And we’re also sharing the ways to avoid problematic over-illumination.

Motion activated vs manual lights

Garden security lighting can be motion and heat-activated or manual, and these lights can fulfil different security roles.

“Motion and heat-activated lights offer a discreet, energy-efficient option for areas of the garden people don’t visit all too often, like rear gardens or side passages, where unexpected movement is a cause for concern,” explains Anthony Neary, security expert at Safe.co.uk. “They act as an effective deterrent by lighting up only when needed, so are a visual alarm when intruders are lurking.”

As for manually operated lights? “These are better suited to high use areas such as porches, patios or terraces, where consistent lighting is needed for practical use and ambience,” he says. For a patio, take a look at the GoodHome Fixed Matt Black Weathered Zinc Mains-powered Outdoor Wall Light from B&Q to create a welcoming feel.

Anthony Neary

Anthony Neary is the founder and security expert at home and business security retailers Safe.co.uk. With over 15 years of industry experience, he specialises in security solutions and how to keep properties safe.

Shop for motion-activated garden security lights

Types of garden security lights

For maximum security and your own safety, it’s important to think about the types of light you need as well as how they are activated. Options include floodlights, wall lights and path lights.

“Floodlights can be a good choice for large open areas,” says Jon Saeed, co-founder and managing director at Lighting Legends. “Their brightness makes them great to use in places where you have CCTV cameras.”

“Motion sensor wall lights are the most valuable when it comes to security lighting,” he says. “You’ll be able to tell when there is movement and it can deter potential break-ins.”

Path lights, on the other hand, enable you to use the garden when the light is dwindling. “Path lights look great and are perfect for lighting up pathways for walking safety,” says Jon. “But they’re not the best choice of lights for security reasons unless you have a long pathway to your house that needs lighting up,” he points out. Have a long path? Check out the Zink IVY IP44 Black Adjustable Outdoor Post Light from Argos to make moving about after dark easy.

Jon Saeed

Jon Saeed is the co-founder and managing director of outdoor lighting company Lighting Legends. A lifelong gardener and outdoor enthusiast, Jon is passionate about creating beautiful, functional environments. 

Where to put garden security lights

Garden security lights should be positioned to optimise their usefulness.

“It’s important to position lights strategically at vulnerable entry points, including doors, pathways, side access routes, and garages,” says Anthony Neary. “These areas are not only potential security risks but are also areas where people will walk often, so good to light up.”

Windows that could be accessed by an intruder are also worth illuminating with motion activated lights.

Lights by your front door – such as the Stainless Steel IP44 Front Door Side Light ZLC032 from B&Q – are essential for your own convenience but they will also enable you to see callers clearly. Position them to one side or both at eye level for a good view.

Garden security light essentials

Choosing the wrong garden security lights and positioning them badly can detract from your home’s security. They can also cause a problem for neighbours, leave you on show, affecting your privacy, and contribute to light pollution.

• Opt for movement and heat-activated lights at the front of the house and in overlooked areas.
• Make sure these lights are adjusted so they only pick up movement in the area they should and not beyond.
• Think about their sensitivity, too. “On some motion sensor lights you can set their sensitivity to avoid them being triggered by animals and pets,” says Jon Saeed.
• Consider how long illumination should last. “You can choose the duration the lights stay on for; usually 30 seconds to two minutes is enough time,” says Jon.
• For the rear and side garden, it can be useful to have lights you can turn on from inside.
• Don’t have lights on continuously in areas that aren’t overlooked as this can make an intruder’s task easier.
• Bear in mind that it is possible to over-illuminate a garden. This causes glare and it’s therefore harder to see. “Stick to warmed toned lighting over cool toned to reduce glare, anything between 2700K to 4000K is fine,” says Jon Saeed. And floodlights should not be more powerful than 150W.
• Think about the angle of lights. “Ensure fittings are angled to reduce glare while providing a wide spread of light to eliminate shadows and dark spots,” says Anthony Neary.
• Make sure garden security lights don’t cause a nuisance for neighbours. They should not illuminate the neighbouring property.
• Keep sensors clean. “We recommend wiping the PIR motion sensor periodically to ensure dirt or debris does not interfere with the motion detection,” says Jon.
• Use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme to install garden security lighting.

“Lighting that supports both movement and surveillance can play a crucial role in enhancing the overall safety and design of your external spaces,” says Anthony Neary. Be sure to select lights carefully and pay attention to positioning and adjustment so they fulfil their role and don’t cause a nuisance to neighbours nor contribute to light pollution.