Best Buy Guidebook is a culmination of online publishing lessons learned. From SEO to paid ads, our team has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Our goal now is simple: Arm readers with the most information possible.
Whether you’re on a camping trip or adding to your backyard’s aesthetics, you can never go wrong with more lights. And if you’re looking for a cool and innovative way to illuminate your surroundings and impress your friends, a solar lantern might just be what the doctor ordered.
Solar lanterns are dustproof and waterproof, allowing you to use them outdoors without worrying if they’ll die out. Plus, with a solar battery pack attached to each lantern, they won’t raise your electric bill but are also great for taking on trips where you don’t have the convenience of readily available power outlets or charging your electronics.
With various solar lanterns to consider and specifications to consider, finding the right one for your use case can be challenging. Our favorite was the Solar Puff Solar Lantern, but we have a bunch of other great options for you to look at as well.
Starting off our list is the Solight Design Solar Puff solar lantern, which is the perfect camping lantern. It is incredibly lightweight at under 2.65 ounces and folds down to only ¼ inches, making it easily portable for backpacking. The patented pull-open and collapsible design makes using this solar lantern a breeze, as it never needs to be inflated or deflated. The memory material also keeps its shape even when punctured, allowing it to be used in extreme conditions.
In addition to portability, the Solar Puff provides a long battery life of up to 12 hours on a single eight-hour solar charge, giving more than enough light for daytime adventures. The LED solar lantern outputs 60 lumens on low and 90 lumens on high and also features a blinking mode. A handy light sensor is included to enable dusk-to-dawn mode, saving battery life and energy while you sleep. We chose this as the best overall solar lantern on our list because, above all else, it’s a reliable product with a lot of handy features at a decent price.
| Battery life | 12 hours |
| Brightness | 60-90 lumens |
| Charging time | 8 hours |
| Weight/dimensions | ~2.5oz/4.3″ cube (expanded), 8.25″ x 4.5″ x 0.5″ (collapsed) |
| Water-resistant | Yes |
The LuminAID Solar Lantern squeezes multiple useful features into one single package. Thanks to its sizeable 2000 mAh battery, this product can light up your backyard or camping spot for many hours. It’s also capable of charging up your smartphone in case you run out of power during your adventure.
With its waterproof, dustproof, and lightweight build, this solar lantern is another fantastic option to light up any environment.
| Battery life | 50 hours |
| Brightness | 150 lumens |
| Charging time | 16-20 hours via solar, or 1-2 hours via USB |
| Weight/dimensions | 8.4oz/6″ cube (expanded), collapses to 1″ thick |
| Water-resistant | Yes |
If you’re looking for a lighting option that’s easy to carry on hiking trips, the Kizen Solar Lantern can collapse down to the size of a hockey puck, which means that it can fit conveniently into your backpack or even your pocket. Thanks to its weatherproof design, it will light up your trip even during the most intense rains.
This solar lantern can additionally work as a power bank and can easily keep your phone topped up with solar energy. It takes only four hours to recharge and can provide a running time of up to 10 hours, meaning you won’t run the risk of having no lighting when you make camp for the night.
| Battery life | High: 5 hours, Low: 10 hours, SOS: 6 hours |
| Brightness | Unspecified |
| Charging time | Variable via solar, 4 hours via USB |
| Weight/dimensions | 6.4oz/3.35″L x 3.35″W x 4.72″H when expanded |
| Water-resistant | Yes |
These solar lanterns have been designed with aesthetics in mind. They can look right at home with any modern-styled porch, backyard, or garden, giving it a fresh and sophisticated look. The lanterns are made from aluminum and tampered glass, which gives them strength and adds to their classy design.
These eco-friendly lights feature an automatic on/off sensor that keeps the light off during the day while charging and turns it on at night. They’re also as easy to put up as hanging a picture frame. Just pop them on the wall, and just like that: instant outdoor lighting. No more scrambling for flashlights in the pouring rain – with an IP44 waterproof rating, these lanterns will keep your nights bright, no matter the weather.
| Battery life | 8-12 hours depending on weather |
| Brightness | Unspecified |
| Charging time | 6-8 hours |
| Weight/dimensions | 0.66 pounds/5.5″L x 5.5″W x 9″H |
| Water-resistant | Yes |
These solar lanterns by TomCare have a flickering flame effect, which adds to the exquisite look of the light. Each one has a vintage design and comes with a hook, allowing you to place it on tabletops or hang it wherever it feels right. Since they’re made from high-quality, rust-proof metal, you can be sure they’ll last longer than most solar lights.
You also get a useful auto on/off feature that turns off the light when there’s daylight and automatically turns it on when it starts getting dark out.
| Battery life | -10 hours |
| Brightness | 35 lumens |
| Charging time | ~8 hours |
| Weight/dimensions | 0.9 pound/3.74″L x 3.74″W x 6.7″H |
| Water-resistant | Yes, IP65 |
Although solar lanterns have tons of benefits, choosing one is no easy task since there are a plethora of options available on the market. Besides that, there are also many factors and specifications you must take into account. To help you make a successful purchase, we prepared a comprehensive buying guide to explain everything you need to know about solar lanterns.
Here are some essential factors you should consider before purchasing a solar lantern:
Although every solar lantern has one primary purpose, to illuminate its surroundings, they are also designed to serve other purposes. For instance, if you’re planning to go camping, you want a portable light that is easy to carry around and has a long battery life. If you want to decorate your patio or porch, you want a light that offers a good balance of illumination and aesthetics.
Naturally, the lantern’s build quality will determine its lifespan. Generally, it is recommended that you opt for a solar lantern made of high-quality plastic that can withstand direct sunlight. If you want a lantern made of metal, then make sure to choose stainless steel, as it won’t rust.
This is especially important if you want to set up your solar lantern in an outdoor environment, such as a porch. Also, if the lantern you choose has glass panels, ensure the glass won’t fade or frost, as this will affect its lighting capability.
Battery capacity is also a super important consideration, as this will determine how long the lantern will illuminate your surroundings. Ideally, you should look for a lantern with a battery capacity of 2000 mAh, as it can easily last for up to 10 hours, which is enough for you to get through the night.
Solar lanterns are designed to primarily fuel up with solar energy. That said, if you are looking for a portable lantern, it is always a good choice to look for one that can be charged with a USB cable as well. This will ensure that you can charge your lantern even when solar energy is not available.
Getting a weatherproof solar lantern is non-negotiable; otherwise, you risk it malfunctioning when weather conditions are less than ideal. Most solar lanterns have a specified resistance to dust or water.
If you don’t want to hassle with turning your solar light on and off daily, we recommend getting one with an automatic on/off sensor. Although these cost more than those without this feature, they save more energy and electricity as they turn on only when you need light and turn off when you don’t.
Most solar lanterns are water and dust-proof and are designed to work in an enduring environment. Check the IP rating of your light (if it has one) to determine how weatherproof it is.
Not always! While sunlight helps them charge faster, many solar lanterns work with indirect light or can store some charge for later use.
Yes, solar lanterns are generally safe. They use low voltage and don't require flames or hazardous fuels. However, some might have small parts, so supervise children and pets around them.
While most solar lanterns are weatherproof, they can still be damaged by heat. We recommend not storing or placing them in spaces where temperatures can go up to 120°F.
They can work in a pinch, but not ideally. Indoors, sunlight is limited, so charging might be slow. For main indoor lighting, traditional options are better.
Best Buy Guidebook is a culmination of online publishing lessons learned. From SEO to paid ads, our team has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Our goal now is simple: Arm readers with the most information possible.