Outdoor Post Lights

Where outdoor post lights belong

The classic position is a pair on the two pillars of a gate or a driveway entrance. A second common use is along a fence or a deck rail, one unit per post or every other post, which turns the boundary itself into the light source. A single unit on a mailbox post or a newel at the foot of a garden step works the same way.

Measure the top of the post before anything else. Most fixtures are made for a standard cap size and come with an adapter plate for a narrower or a wider post, but the range is limited. A body that overhangs the pillar by an inch on each side looks wrong from the street and collects water at the joint.

Think about the view from inside as well. A post light at the end of a drive is seen from the road at night and from the kitchen window every evening, so the glass matters as much as the frame.

Height above ground is the other figure worth checking. On a gate pillar the fixture usually lands somewhere between 4 and 6 feet up, which is close to eye level for anyone walking in. At that height, clear glass puts the source directly in the eye line, so a frosted or ribbed body is the easier choice. On a fence post at 3 feet, clear glass is no trouble at all.

Choosing between wired and solar outdoor post lights

A wired body runs from the house circuit and gives the same output every night of the year. It needs a cable to the post, which is straightforward on a new build and awkward on an existing masonry pillar.

A solar body has the panel built into the cap, so it needs nothing run to the post. That makes it the practical answer on a pillar already standing. The trade is output and consistency: the fixture collects what the sky gives it that day.

Some models in this range are offered both ways, with the power source chosen at order. On those, the body, the glass and the size are identical, so the decision is only about how the light is fed.

One point applies to both. A post cap is the most exposed position on a property, with no wall and no roof above it, so the seal between the body and the glass does more work here than on a sheltered porch fixture. Check the rating line on each product page against how open the position is.

Which post light for which post

Fixture type	Best in	What it does	Price here
Cube caps	A square post, a brick pillar	A squared cap sized to the post beneath it	$199 to $519
Flat boxes and slots	A deck rail, a low fence line	A lit gap rather than a visible lamp	$169 to $609
Pillar caps	A gate pier, a driveway entrance	A shaped cap that finishes the pillar as well	$149 to $649
Lamp post lanterns	A front path, a driveway	Height at the roadside with a classic outline	$289 to $699
Domes and columns	A border, a path edge	A standing form rather than a cap on a post	$249 to $339
Decorative shapes	A garden corner, a planted border	A shape to look at first and a marker second	$199 to $349

What to measure first

Post top mounting: Most fixtures here fix to the flat top of a post, a pillar or a pier. Measure that top face before ordering, because the base has to sit on it fully: an overhanging cap sheds water badly and a small one looks lost.
IP65: A body sealed against dust and against water jets. Every fixture on this page carries it, which is the baseline for anything sitting on an exposed post through a full season of weather.
Solar powered: A panel on the cap charges a cell by day and the light runs at night. Most of this page works this way, and several models offer a wired version of the same body for a post that sits in shade.
Wired alternative: A number of models here are offered as wired or solar. Wired gives constant output and needs a cable run inside or alongside the post, which is far easier to plan before the fence or gate is built.
Integrated LED, not replaceable: The diodes sit inside a sealed body with no socket. Nearly every fixture here is built that way, since sealing is easier without a removable lamp. The color temperature on the page is fixed for its life.

Questions about post mounted lighting

What size looks right on a gate pillar?

As a rule the body should read as a cap, not as a hat. On a 12 inch square pillar a fixture around 8 to 10 inches across sits well. On a slim fence post, drop to 5 or 6 inches.

Do they come with a mounting adapter?

Many do. The product page lists what is in the box for each model. Check the stated post size against your pillar before ordering, because an adapter widens the range but does not cover every dimension.

Which finish holds up outdoors?

Powder coated aluminum and stainless steel are the two most common bodies here. Both are made for open exposure. Near salt air, stainless is the more usual choice.

Can one go on a flat wall instead?

No. These are made to sit on a horizontal surface and light downward and outward from it. For a vertical surface, look at wall mounted fixtures instead.

Warm or cool light on a driveway?

Warm white suits brick, stone and timber and keeps an entrance looking residential. Cool white reads as commercial and is usually chosen only where the drive doubles as a work area.

You may also want Solar Post Cap Lights, Outdoor Bollard Lights and Outdoor Lantern Lights. For wall mounted fixtures, see Outdoor Wall Lights. The whole exterior range sits under Outdoor Lighting.