If you want to light up your backyard while saving money, the best solar lights are a great investment and are more sustainable in the process. These lights recharge themselves in the sun during the day and come to life at night. Whether you want to light a pathway, a deck, or a pond, the possibilities for solar lights are endless. But with so many options and features, which one to choose? Here are the different types of solar lights.

As the name implies, solar path lights are ideal for illuminating paths. They are usually in the form of a stake that is fixed to the ground, with a solar panel directly on top. If you choose this design, you need to make sure that it will receive sunlight during the day. If not, choose a path light that comes with a separate solar panel. Properly placed path lights can enhance the aesthetics of your yard, but be sure to use only enough to effectively illuminate the path. You may want to conceal them, but be careful not to cause tripping hazards.

Recommended Pathlight Signature Garden 6-Pack Solar Garden Lights, starting at $36.99 on Amazon.

Solar string lights are often purchased for aesthetic appeal rather than practicality. This type of solar light consists of multiple bulbs, ranging from dainty fairy lights to full-size lights, connected by a long cable. These are hung or draped over patios, trees, flower beds, or anywhere else desired. While they cannot emit large amounts of light, they can make an area appear more decorative and add a starlight-like effect.

When buying string lights, choose weather-resistant ones. Don't hang them in areas with too much exposure, as they can be dislodged or damaged by strong winds. The biggest drawback to string lights is the length of the cable. In most cases, they are not long enough or do not have enough bulbs to cover the area, so always check with the specifications first before purchasing. Also, if there is no place to hang the lights, you may need to provide mounting points.

Top pick for string lights: Brightech Ambience Pro Waterproof, Solar Outdoor String Light, available on Amazon starting at $34.99.

Solar floodlights are designed with practicality in mind, emitting a bright, intense light in a chosen location. They are usually mounted high and illuminate patios, garages, and entire yards. They are ideal for visibility and safety. When choosing, pay attention to the strength, or lumen output. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. If you are buying for security purposes, look for those with motion sensor functions. Finally, when installing floodlights, you want to light them in the optimal position, but within easy reach, considering that you will need to get up there again to make adjustments or replace bulbs.

Top Flood Light Pick: Aootek 182 led solar outdoor motion sensor light available from $29.95 on Amazon.

Solar spotlights are very similar to flood lights in terms of brightness, except that the beam produced is much narrower and can be angled to illuminate a specific point. If you don't want to fill your backyard with lights, you can highlight certain parts of the backyard instead of illuminating the entire backyard. Like path lights, this design has stakes to secure it to the ground, but it is more prominent. While not the most attractive solar light to look at during the day, it offers a good balance of security and aesthetics at night. If the solar panel is part of a spotlight, it should be placed in a location with adequate sunlight.

Top pick for a spotlight: URPOWER 2-in-1 Waterproof 4 LED Solar Spotlight, available at Amazon starting at $29.99.

Solar wall lights can be placed on the exterior walls or fences of your home to illuminate your surroundings. They brightly illuminate the property and help people get out and about at night. Like all solar lights, they require sunlight during the day, so they should not be installed in shady areas. It is also a good idea to make sure that the installation location does not pose any problems in terms of light intensity before installation. To do this, charge and test the batteries in advance. If you are buying one for security purposes, choose one with a motion detection function.

Top Wall Light Pick: SEZAC Solar Security Lights Solar motion sensor light, available on Amazon starting at $34.49.

Solar step lights are a great investment if you have steps around your property that are invisible at night. Installed at a step, it illuminates each step as it is climbed. They are relatively unobtrusive and more effective than large single light sources. Since they are for safety, it is best to check for light intensity problems before installing them. To do this, pre-charge the light, turn it on, and then find the optimum height. When ordering, make sure you have enough for each step and keep a spare just in case.

A good example of a step light: Ring Solar Step Light, available on Amazon starting at $79.99.

If you want to take advantage of solar power, albeit traditionally, a solar lamp post may be of interest: a single post can provide enough light to make your driveway or patio look picturesque. Each lamp post should be secured with either planters or anchors. Both are effective, but the anchor system is safer because it is embedded in the ground. Also note the lumen output. Other useful features include height adjustment and dimming options.

Top pick for a lamp post: the Gama Sonic GS-105S-G Baytown Ez Anchor Lamp, available on Amazon starting at $133.36.

Solar pond lights can make your backyard safer and improve its aesthetics at the same time. These lights are designed to be submerged underwater, providing an underwater glow and highlighting fish and running water. Be sure to check that the lights can actually be submerged underwater, as some lights are advertised as illuminating underwater but only illuminate the surface of the water. If you are installing the light in a deep pond, look for one with a higher wattage. Also, if you have fish, remember to turn off the light when you leave so that predators will not notice it.

Top picks for pond lights: solar pond spotlight, underwater pond light, available from $42.99 on Amazon