This is the zone that gets skipped, and it is the one that stops people tripping. Post lights mark the end of a driveway or the start of a path. Low path lights wash the walking surface. You do not need both.
The back deck or patio
The back of the house is where the family actually spends evenings, so treat it as a real zone instead of an afterthought. A wall fixture beside the back door, plus something over the seating area, covers most decks.
Step 2: Check the three specs that survive a Canadian winter
A fixture can look perfect and still fail here. These three checks take a minute each.
Damp rated or wet rated
Every outdoor fixture carries a location rating, and it is the single most important line on the spec sheet. UL's marking guide defines a damp location as one "normally or periodically subject to condensation of moisture", including partially protected spots, and a wet location as one "in which water or other liquids may drip, splash or flow on or against electrical equipment" (UL Luminaires Marking and Application Guide).
In plain terms: a deep covered porch is usually a damp location. An exposed wall, a garage face, a driveway post, and anything that catches blowing snow is a wet location. A damp-rated fixture in a wet spot will take on water. Match the label to the place, and when you are not sure, choose wet rated.
The IP code
Some listings quote an IP code instead of, or as well as, a location rating. The IP system comes from the International Electrotechnical Commission. The code has two numerals: the first rates protection against solid objects on a scale from 0 to 6, and the second rates protection against liquids on a scale from 0 to 9 (IEC).
So the second digit is the one that matters outdoors. A higher second digit means more protection against water. Treat an IP code as useful extra information, not as a replacement for the wet or damp rating, because the location rating is what an inspector and an insurer look for.
Finish, gaskets and cold weather
Cold itself is not the problem. LEDs have "good performance in cold temperatures", which is one reason they suit outdoor use (U.S. Department of Energy). Water and salt are the problem.
Look at the bottom of the fixture: it should let water drain rather than pool. Look for gaskets around the glass. Powder-coated aluminum and stainless hardware hold up better near a road that gets salted every winter than thin painted steel does. If a driveway fixture sits where the plow throws snow, expect a shorter life no matter what you buy, and pick something you can replace easily.
Step 3: Size the fixture before you shop
Undersized fixtures are the most common mistake, and they are obvious from the street. A widely used rule of thumb is that a single lantern should be about one-third the height of the door, a pair either side of the door should each be about one-quarter of that height, and the fixture should sit roughly 66 inches above the threshold (Lamps Plus).
Work it through on a standard entry door, which is 80 inches tall:
| Setup | Rule of thumb | Target fixture height |
|---|
| One lantern beside the door | About one-third of door height | Roughly 25 to 27 inches |
| A pair, one either side | About one-quarter each | Roughly 19 to 21 inches |
| Above a garage door | Read from the street, not up close | Usually larger than it looks in the box |
Two practical notes. Measure your own door before you shop, because a double or oversized entry changes every number above. And if you are between two sizes, take the larger one: fixtures look smaller once they are up on a wall.
Step 4: Set brightness and colour on purpose
Lumens, not watts
Watts measure energy used, not light produced, so shop by lumens. Natural Resources Canada gives a useful anchor: a 9-watt LED produces the same amount of light (800 lumens) as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. NRCan also notes that ENERGY STAR certified LEDs are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and that they last at least 15 times longer (Natural Resources Canada).
For most houses, an entry fixture in the range of a single 800-lumen bulb is plenty. Garage and driveway fixtures usually want more. A security floodlight is a different tool with a different job, and it does not belong above a front door.
Warm colour and less glare
Warm light flatters brick, stone and wood. Cold blue-white light makes a house look like a parking lot, and it spills into the neighbour's bedroom window.
DarkSky International and the Illuminating Engineering Society publish five principles for responsible outdoor lighting: light should be useful, targeted, low level, controlled, and warm-coloured. They recommend shielding and careful aiming "so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed" (DarkSky International).
That is good design advice as well as good neighbour behaviour. Choose fixtures that aim light down, and keep the bulb colour warm. Our colour temperature guide explains how to pick the number on the box.
Step 5: Choose hardwired, plug-in or solar
Hardwired fixtures are the right answer for the front of a house. They are brighter, they do not depend on weather, and they replace what is already on the wall.
Solar has a real place: a path light along a walkway, or a spot at the back of a yard with no wiring. Be honest about the limits, though. A Canadian winter gives short days, low sun and snow on the panel, so solar output drops exactly when the evenings are longest. If a light matters for safety, hardwire it.
Plug-in fixtures and string lights suit decks and patios. Take string lights down before heavy snow if the manufacturer tells you to.
Dusk-to-dawn sensors and motion sensors are worth having on garage and side-door fixtures. They also match the "controlled" principle above: light when you need it, off when you do not.
Who may do the wiring in Ontario
Swapping a fixture is electrical work, so know the rules before you start. The Electrical Safety Authority states that in Ontario, "if you hire someone to do electrical work in your home, by law, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor". Homeowners may do their own work but must file a notification of work with ESA, and the Ontario Electrical Safety Code requires almost all electrical work to be reported (Electrical Safety Authority).
Sparkle Light supplies the fixtures and helps you choose them. We do not do electrical installation, and we are happy to point you to a licensed electrician for the wiring.
In-stock outdoor fixtures you can see in Markham
Our in-stock outdoor lighting ships from stock, so it is the fastest option before the clocks change and the evenings get dark at dinner time. Two examples of how the sizing rules above play out:
- A linear LED outdoor wall light. The 24-inch version is a 20-watt LED rated at 1,400 lumens, in a slim 5.1-inch wide body. It suits a modern entry or a garage wall where a traditional lantern would look fussy.
- A classic post light. This post lantern stands 22.8 inches tall and 8.66 inches wide and takes a standard bulb, which makes it easy to keep the colour consistent with the rest of the house.
Product pages list the size and the bulb. Check the location rating on the spec sheet for the exact spot you have in mind, and ask us if it is not clear.
The full outdoor lighting range is larger than the in-stock group, and for a deeper look at entry fixtures, see our guide to outdoor wall sconces in Canada. If your main worry is weather and durability, read our companion guide to outdoor lighting for Canadian homes.
Scale is hard to judge from a photo. Bring the height of your front door and a picture of your facade, and Visit the Sparkle Light showroom in Markham to hold the fixtures beside each other before you decide: 162 Bullock Drive, Markham.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best exterior lights for a house?
The best set is a matched group by zone: wall lanterns at the entry, a fixture at the garage, a ceiling or hanging light on a covered porch, and a post or path light along the driveway. Choose the location rating first, then the size, then the style.
Which outdoor lights last the longest?
LED fixtures, if they are rated for the location and built to drain water. Useful life for an LED product is measured as the number of operating hours until it emits 70% of its original light output, and the U.S. Department of Energy expects quality white LED products to reach a useful life of 30,000 to 50,000 hours or longer. Finish quality decides the rest: salt and standing water kill fixtures long before the diodes fade.
What IP rating do I need outdoors in Canada?
Look at the location rating first and treat the IP code as a supporting detail. Where a manufacturer lists only an IP code, the second digit is the water figure, and a higher number means better protection against rain and blowing snow.
Do LED outdoor lights work in the cold?
Yes. Cold does not stop an LED, and LEDs perform well in cold temperatures. Solar-powered lights are the ones that struggle in winter, because they depend on daylight hours and a clear panel.
How bright should an outdoor light be?
Start with roughly the output of one 800-lumen bulb at an entry door, and go brighter for garages and driveways. Aim the light down, and use the lowest level that does the job.
Do I need an electrician to change an outdoor light?
If you hire someone in Ontario, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Homeowners who do their own work must file a notification with the Electrical Safety Authority. When in doubt, hire the electrician.
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