Step Lights & Stair Lights

Deck stairs need to be lit in some way to meet safety codes, though local building codes vary from place to place. Whether you want to install lights into your stairs, or simply illuminate your stairs with light somewhere on your top landing, DecksDirect’s team is happy to help you create a plan that fits. Give us a call at 1-888-824-5316 for a free lighting consultation!

Low voltage lighting plugs in to your home’s electricity, while solar lighting operates on batteries that automatically recharge during the day.

Both solar and low voltage lighting can be great options to brighten up your deck and outdoor space. Thinking about your specific deck needs can help you find the right system for you.

Low voltage lighting is an extremely reliable setup that provides consistent light to your space. Wiring up low voltage lighting is easy - it’ll typically require a transformer that plugs in to any standard wall outlet and converts your home’s 110-volt electrical current down to a 12-volt level that’s ideal for outdoor lighting. Low voltage stair lighting will connect to your transformer. Low voltage stair lights can also use dimmers or timers to customize your light to your space.

Solar lighting is incredibly easy to install - you likely won’t need to do any wiring at all. Many solar lights - solar post caps, for example - include a solar collection panel built in and already connected to your lights. Solar lights usually operate on a photocell that automatically senses ambient light and turns your deck lights on at night and off again during the day. Solar light batteries charge in the sunlight during the day for steady illumination overnight. Solar lights are a very cost-effective option, they’re easy to install, and they make your deck eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

When it comes to lighting up your deck, there’s no better place to shop than DecksDirect. Here’s why:

• Personalized guidance and planning: unless you’re an electrician by trade, wiring up lighting can feel intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be with the right help. DecksDirect has a team of seasoned deck project planners waiting by the phone to help you plan every detail of your deck plan, including lighting.
• Tons of options in-stock: no matter your budget, timeline, style, or experience with lighting installation, we’ve got lighting options to meet you where you are. Our team gets to know you and your vision, then connects you with options that fit your vision - and that you can install yourself in an afternoon.
• Completely fast service: we want to help you finish your deck project so you can start enjoying your upgraded outdoor space. We ship you everything you need at lightning speed, and help make sure your project doesn’t stall out.

Call us at 1-888-824-5316 to talk to a professional deck project planner and get a free deck lighting design consultation.

A deck lighting plan helps you get exactly the right amount of lights to brighten your space - no more and no less. If you call us at 1-888-824-5316, we’ll help you create a detailed lighting plan. Here are some pieces of information you can gather before you call to speed up the process:

• Measure out the dimensions of your deck.
• Draw the layout of your deck and circle the spots you’d like to light up. This should include your stairs, but also other high foot-traffic areas, like your walking paths leading to the stairs.
• Decide what type of lighting fits your vision. You can light up your stairs through recessed stair lights, with lights mounted underneath your stair railings, or by post cap lights, among others.

Our team will help make sure you get the perfect amount of lights for your outdoor space, and will help you plan for transformers and wiring to power every light fixture you need.

To learn more about creating a lighting plan, you can read our guide here or watch a helpful video demonstration here.

LED stair lights are easier than you’d think to install. Each of our stair lights comes with detailed installation instructions. If you’re recessing lights into stair risers, you’ll need to measure out the right spot on the riser, avoiding stair joists, then use a drill bit to drill a hole. Stair lights will install right into the holes you create.

To learn more about installing stair lighting, you can read our guide here or watch a helpful video demonstration here.

Absolutely! For those of us who aren’t electricians, wiring can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, outdoor lights are simple to install, and getting even easier as more and more quick-install options appear on the market.

If you’re worried about installing your own lighting, we’d recommend picking solar lighting options, as they’re generally easier to install. You can also shop for low voltage lights that run on a “plug and play” system. If you give our team a call at 1-888-824-5316, we’d be happy to help you create a lighting plan that will be completely doable for you!

Low voltage lights usually connect to a standard GFCI wall outlet. In the simplest setup, you plug a transformer into your wall outlet, then connect your lights to the transformer. Wiring up your lights doesn’t have to be difficult - our team of project planners is available by phone to help you make a plan and install your lighting. You can learn more about making a lighting plan with our handy guide here.

If you choose to add automated timers or dimmers, follow this order for connecting your low voltage stair lighting:

Wall Outlet --> Timer --> Transformer --> Dimmer --> Lights

Each lighting transformer can only power a certain number of lights. Transformers will list “wattage” or “output wattage.” This is the amount of power the transformer can distribute to all the lights attached to it.

When you browse our transformers, you’ll find varying wattage levels. Here’s how to figure out what size transformer you’ll need for your project:

1. Figure out how many lights you want to run off of this transformer
2. Add up the wattages of each of those lights
3. Take the total wattage of all lights times 1.1 to find the minimum transformer size you’ll need

If your wattage requirements are high, consider splitting up your lighting between multiple transformers. Our team, available by phone at 1-888-824-5316, loves to connect with customers and help design a lighting plan, so you can plug everything in with peace of mind that your setup will be safe and bright.

Yes - recessed LED lighting can easily fit into either your stair treads or risers. Most stair lighting is designed to install into vertical riser boards, throwing light outwards onto your stair treads. But you can also install recessed lighting into your flat deck surface or on horizontal stair treads.

If you’re interested in learning about the various places you can add lighting to your deck, give us a call at 1-888-824-5316. We’d be happy to connect with you and start designing a deck lighting plan that fits your needs and vision.