Outdoor Lighting Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Fitting

What to look for in outdoor lighting

Four things decide whether an outdoor light lasts and looks right:

• IP rating: match it to how exposed the position is. Undercover needs less; fully exposed or coastal needs more.
• Material and finish: this decides how well the fitting resists corrosion over years outdoors.
• Fitting type: wall lights, pendants, pillar and post lights, and flush mounts each suit different spots.
• Placement: entrance, path, wall, ceiling or exposed coastal wall, each has different demands.

Here's how to weigh each one up.

1. Match the IP rating to the position

The IP rating tells you how well a fitting resists dust and water. Outdoors, the more exposed the spot, the higher the rating it should carry.

• Undercover verandah or porch: around IP23 is usually enough.
• Exposed walls, paths and entrances: IP44 or higher to handle dust and driving rain.
• Fully exposed or coastal positions: IP55 or IP56 and up, paired with a corrosion-resistant material.

Most of our outdoor range is IP44, with higher-rated options for the most exposed spots. For the full breakdown of what each rating means, see our guide to IP ratings. Always confirm placement with a qualified electrician.

2. Choose a material and finish that lasts

A high IP rating keeps water out. The material keeps corrosion at bay, and outdoors that's just as important.

Solid brass is the standout for exposed and coastal positions: it doesn't rust and resists corrosion, so it holds up where other materials give way. Not all lighting that looks like brass is solid brass, so it's worth confirming for the specific fitting. Our guide to finishes explains how each finish is made and cared for.

3. Pick the right fitting type

Our outdoor range covers the main fitting types, so you can light a whole exterior in matching finishes:

• Outdoor wall lights: the workhorse for entrances, porches, garages and facades. Mount either side of a door for a symmetrical look.
• Outdoor pendants: for covered entries, verandahs and porch ceilings where you want a hanging feature.
• Pillar and post lights: for gate pillars, driveways, fences and garden paths, mounted on top of a pillar or post.
• Outdoor flush mounts: for eaves, undercover ceilings and low-clearance spots where a pendant won't fit.

Best outdoor lighting for coastal and exposed positions

Coastal is the hardest test for an outdoor fitting. Salt air corrodes materials far faster than inland conditions, so a coastal light needs both a high IP rating and a corrosion-resistant build.

Our bunker lights are built for exactly this. The Maritime, Admiral and Marina bunkers are solid brass and rated IP56, so they stand up to salt air and driving rain where lesser fittings corrode. Their compact, sealed form suits exposed walls, and the range is available in solid brass with aged brass finishes expanding across it.

Browse the full range on our outdoor bunker lights page.

How to plan your outdoor lighting

A simple way to work through a whole exterior:

• Start at the entrance. A pair of wall lights either side of the front door sets the tone and gives even, welcoming light.
• Light the approach. Pillar or post lights along a driveway, path or at the gate guide people in.
• Cover the transitions. Flush mounts under eaves and pendants over covered entries handle the in-between spaces.
• Keep the finish consistent. Choosing one finish family across the exterior ties the whole scheme together.
• Rate for the worst-exposed spot. If part of the home faces the coast or open weather, spec those fittings higher.

Browse the full outdoor lighting collection, or read our IP ratings guide and finishes guide to get the details right before you buy.