Decks 101: How to Choose Deck Lighting

What can deck lighting do for you? Bring your deck and backyard to life by adding lighting from DecksDirect! Deck lighting is a fantastic way to accent your backyards features while providing safety for your friends and family. Help your deck be the best spot in the house, day and night, by using deck and landscape lighting to create a unique outdoor space that’s entirely your own. With our wide collection of styles and designs in stock and our step by step Lighting Guide, the hardest part may be getting your guests to leave!


Different Light Designs & Styles

Close up of Classy Cap Solar Deck light
Trex Transcend rail in Vintage Lantern with Classic White railing with Trex Deck Lighting at night

Post Cap Lights

A gorgeous way to both complete and protect your railing is with eye-catching post cap lights. These cap lights seal off your posts from any damaging debris while adding detail throughout the day, and a lovely ambiance at night. Choose from our wide range of solar or low voltage post cap lights to illuminate your deck perimeter.

Close up of Moab LED Rail Light by Highpoint Deck Lighting
Highpoint Berkey Railing Light on a deck with a mountain view

Side Mount Lights

Cast a gentle glow down your posts easily with side mount lighting fixtures. A great addition to any railing that has a continuous top rail or an efficient way to add subtle lighting and highlight certain areas of your deck. Help your deck make a statement by adding distinctive low voltage or solar post mount lights to your area.

Close up of AZEK TimberTech Under Rail LED Light on a white railing
LMT Mercer Under Rail LED Strip Light on wooden deck around pool

Under Rail Lights

Illuminating cramped spaces, outdoor cooking areas, even midway through long railing spans; under rail lights allow you to brighten up certain sections of your deck easily. Low-profile in their design, under rail lights help you to highlight your deck at night without stealing the focus throughout the day. Add discreet lighting to your deck easily, with under rail lights from brands you’ll love.

Close up of AZEK TimberTech Riser light on stairs with flower pot at the bottom of the stairs
Trex Outdoor Lighting Deck Lighting riser lights on curved steps with Transcend deck in Spiced Rum decking

Stair & Step Lights

Protect your family and friends by brightening up high traffic areas with unobtrusive stair and step lighting. Easily mount lights in the risers of your stairs, along your deck perimeter, or directly into your deck boards to accent other features. Browse through styles ranging from subtle recessed lights to strikingly designed riser lights to find the best look for your home.

Close up of Kichler Dome Path Light
Trex Landscape Lighting around a Gazebo

Landscape Lights

Let your yard leave an impression with a dynamic landscape lighting arrangement! Positioning lights around the base of the deck, walkways, gardens can both accentuate your space while helping people find their way. A wide range of light spreads such as path, wall wash, accent and more are available to help light up your nights.


Lighting Types

Low-voltage Lighting

Low-voltage deck lighting is the most reliable and consistent lighting type available today. All low-voltage fixtures require the use of a transformer that plugs directly into your standard wall outlet (GFCI outlet) and converts your home’s standard 110 volt energy down to a more workable 12 volt current level. Since the electrical current is so low for these fixtures, no electricians are needed for installation. We recommend installing them with the power source on to ensure there aren’t any wiring issues.Low-voltage lights can also be used with dimmers and placed on hourly timers, allowing you to customize your outdoor space as you wish. Low-voltage lighting is typically run by LED bulbs, which combined with the reduced energy level, provides you a long-lasting and environmentally friendly way to brighten your yard.

Installing low-voltage lighting is recommended for new deck construction or when railing is being replaced due to the ability to tuck away and hide wires and connectors.

Low Voltage Lighting Highlights:

  •   Most consistent lighting power type
  •   Dimmable and customizable
  •   Timer compatible
  •   Most lighting options available
  •   Reliable for every yard and region

 

Solar Lighting

For an uncomplicated and cost-effective way to illuminate your deck, Solar lighting is a customer favorite. Only two solar fixtures, the side mount and under rail lights, need to be connected to a solar collecting post to run. With little to no wiring, and zero electricity or transformers, Solar lighting installation can be done in minutes. Ideal for areas that regularly get an abundant amount of direct sunlight; these lights use a solar panel to convert sunlight into energy for the batteries to run the lights. These Solar light fixtures are run via a photocell which will turn the lights on when the ambient sunlight is low.

Low-maintenance, these Solar lights only require an occasional cleaning of the solar panel and the replacement of batteries every one to three years depending on the run time and climate of the area. Solar lighting is not compatible with dimmers or timers.

Solar deck lighting is a superb, environmentally friendly choice for decks both new and old as hiding wires and connecting to a power source isn’t an issue.

Solar Lighting Highlights:

  •   No wiring necessary
  •   Eco-friendly
  •   Cost-efficient
  •   Lighting option for difficult to reach spaces
  •   Photocell
  •   Great lighting option for existing decks

Deck Lighting Inspiration Gallery

DeckLites LED Post Light Module by TimberTech DeckLites DeckLites LED Post Light Module by TimberTech DeckLites
DeckLites LED Riser Lights & DeckLites Post Light Module by TimberTech DeckLites DeckLites LED Riser Lights & DeckLites Post Light Module by TimberTech DeckLites
Trex LED Post Cap Lights, Trex Recessed Riser Lights, and Trex Rail Light Trex LED Post Cap Lights, Trex Recessed Riser Lights, and Trex Rail Light
Trex LED Pyramid Post Cap Lights and Trex Recessed LED Lights Trex LED Pyramid Post Cap Lights and Trex Recessed LED Lights
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