A solar shed light is a small panel on the roof, a cable through the wall and an LED light inside with a pull cord or remote. It costs £17 to £35, needs no electrician and takes half an hour to fit. For finding the lawnmower on a winter evening it is exactly right. For working in the shed for hours after dark it is not, and that is where a proper panel and battery kit comes in.
Types of solar shed light
| Type | Price | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pendant or ceiling light with pull cord | ~£24-£35 | General shed lighting | Short run time in winter |
| Multi-head light with remote | ~£33 | Brighter light, several angles | Small remote easily lost |
| Bulb on a cable | ~£17 | Cheapest option, also USB rechargeable | Least light |
| Outdoor motion-sensor light | ~£17-£20 | Door and path lighting, security | Not for inside |
What to expect in winter
These lights have small panels, typically a few watts, charging a small built-in battery. In summer they easily provide a couple of hours of light a night. In December, a grey day may only put enough charge in for 15 to 30 minutes of bright light. That is fine for fetching tools, but not for an evening at the workbench.
You can stretch winter run time by mounting the panel facing south and away from trees, keeping it clean, and using the lower brightness setting. Motion-sensor lights last longest, because they are only on when needed.
What to look for
- A separate panel on a cable, so the panel can go on the roof in the sun while the light is inside
- Cable length long enough to reach from the sunniest part of the roof to where you want the light
- A pull cord or wall switch if you do not want to hunt for a remote in the dark
- A weatherproof panel rated IP65 or better
- Replaceable batteries if you can find them, because the battery is usually the first thing to wear out
A light or a full solar kit?
If all you want is light for a few minutes at a time, a solar shed light is the cheapest answer. If you want lights for an hour or more every evening, sockets for a radio or charging, or power tools, you need a separate panel, charge controller and battery. A basic lighting kit costs from about £120 and runs through the winter. Our shed and garage solar guide sizes those kits properly.
Recommended lights
Everything below was in stock on Amazon UK when this guide was written.
Solar shed light with pull cord, 6500K
A bright daylight-white light with a pull cord, so there is no remote to lose. It had the highest rating of the shed lights we looked at, 4.8 stars, although from only 37 reviews so far.
amazon Check Price on Amazon →Auzev 176 LED solar shed light, 4 heads
Four heads you can point at the bench, the shelves and the door. Rated 4.4 stars from 154 reviews. The remote is small, so keep it somewhere obvious.
amazon Check Price on Amazon →Linke solar pendant light with motion sensor
Comes on when you walk in, which makes the most of a small battery in winter. Rated 4.3 stars from 274 reviews.
amazon Check Price on Amazon →SCNNC 3W solar LED shed bulb with cable
A simple bulb on a cable with a small panel, which can also be charged from USB if the weather has been poor. It gives the least light here, but at this price it suits a small tool shed. Rated 4.2 stars from over 1,000 reviews.
amazon Check Price on Amazon →Solar security light with motion sensor, 238 LED
For the path and the shed door rather than inside. Rated 4.3 stars from over 13,000 reviews, the most of any solar light we looked at.
amazon Check Price on Amazon →Summary
- A solar shed light costs £17-£35 and fits in half an hour with no electrician
- Expect 15-30 minutes of bright light on a grey December day, and a couple of hours in summer
- Choose one with a separate panel on a long cable and a pull cord
- Motion sensors make the most of a small battery
- For longer evenings or sockets, you need a panel, controller and battery kit
For lighting at a stable or tack room, see our stable solar guide, and for a greenhouse, see solar power for greenhouses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar shed lights work in winter?
Yes, but for less time. On a grey December day the small panel may only charge enough for 15 to 30 minutes of bright light. Mount the panel facing south, keep it clean and use a lower setting to stretch it.
Can I get a solar shed light with a switch?
Yes. Many have a pull cord or a wall switch as well as a remote, which is easier in the dark. Look for pull cord in the listing.
How long do solar shed lights last?
The LEDs last for years. The built-in battery usually wears out first, often after two or three years, so a light with a replaceable battery is worth looking for.
Is a solar shed light bright enough to work by?
For short tasks, yes. For hours at a workbench, a panel and battery kit with proper LED strip lights is much better.
Do I need an electrician to fit a solar shed light?
No. It is a low-voltage, self-contained light. You fix the panel to the roof, run the cable through a small hole and screw the light up inside.