Best Floating Pool Lights in 2022 – Reviewed
Although anyone who needs to use their pool at night is going to want to have some type of pool light, there’s nothing quite like using the best floating pool lights for your pool. Why? Because these types of lights can turn even the most ordinary of pools into a magical cove where it seems mermaids and fairies might pop up at any time to swim with you and your guests.
And these types of lights can be used in just about any pool with good effect. It doesn’t matter if you have an above-ground pool or an in-ground, or a freshwater or saltwater pool. It doesn’t even matter if you already have spotlights, built-in pool lights, or decorative lights around the pool. These magical orbs of light will still create a special kind of atmosphere. Because not all of these lights are the same, we’re listing the best ones available.
Quick Summary of Best Floating Pool Lights
Reviews
Best Overall: Esuper Floating 4-Piece Floating Pool Light Balls
Anyone who’s been searching for the best pool light balls is probably going to want to check these from Esuper out. That’s because these 14-inch balls add a bit of color and whimsy to any pool area. And they do it without costing too much and without requiring a whole lot of maintenance. All the consumer has to do is set them up and place them in their pool.
These pool lights are charged by the light of the sun and they automatically come on when it’s dark outside. That means that the pool owner doesn’t have to worry about constantly removing them from the pool to charge. They can just leave them to charge during the day and to glow in fabulous colors at night. And best of all, these balls can stay illuminated for up to 8-hours at a time after they’re fully charged.
Another thing that we liked about these pool lights is that they change colors every 15-seconds automatically—cycling between white, red, blue, and green. These balls are also made of waterproof vinyl and have a rating of IP68, so the consumer can just toss them into the pool and forget about them. And because they’re so durable, they can be used as floating pool lights or can be hung up for uses as outdoor party lighting.
- They stay illuminated for 8-hours at a time.
- They’re solar-powered.
- none.
Best 20-Inch Pool Light: Loftek LED 20-inch RGB 16 Color Changing Glow Ball
Another pool light that we’d like to introduce to our readers is this one from Loftek. Although this model is a little more expensive than any of the other lights we’ve reviewed, we think that it has the size and features to make it an instant hit with some of our readers. The first thing that we think that people are going to like about this ball is its size. It’s a large 20-inch size that can add a burst of color to a pool, a walkway or anywhere else it’s setup. It’s powered by a powerful 4400MAh rechargeable battery that allows it to provide up to 12-hours of lighting, and do it with only 4-6 hours of charging.
Another thing that we think consumers are going to like about this light is that it has a remote control operation. This product’s remote control allows the user to choose from five different brightness levels, four different dynamic lighting modes, and it’s easy to use. All of these are good reasons for someone to buy and use one of these solar lights, but that’s not to say that these lights aren’t without their flaws.
The first flaw that we’d like to mention is this product’s price, which is considerably more than other lights on this list. The second thing we didn’t like was that this light was only waterproof up to IP65 and not up to the IP68 waterproof standard that other lights have. It should also be stated that this product isn’t solar powered either. This means that the consumer is going to have to take the lights out of the pool so that they can charge it.
- It’s a huge 20-inch pool light ball.
- It’s remote control operated.
- Has 16 different colors.
- It provides up to 12-hours of light.
- It costs more than other pool lights.
- This light is only IP65 waterproof.
Best Hot Tub & Spa Lights: Lay-Z-Spa Hot Tub & Pool LED Floating Light
Even though this light is technically a spa or hot tub light, we see no reason why it couldn’t also be used as a pool light. It’s a small plastic light that has four bright LED lights that can light up in one of four different colors, and can be set to one of seven different flashing light settings. These lights can light up in green, yellow, blue or red, so they’re perfect for a spa party, or a romantic evening in the hot tub. And because these lights are IP168, they won’t get ruined by being in the water. Another thing that we liked about this product was that it didn’t cost a whole lot.
Now that we’ve discussed some of the things that we like about this product, it’s time to talk about the one thing that we didn’t like about this product. What we didn’t like about it was that it wasn’t solar-powered and wasn’t even powered by a lithium battery. No, it was powered by three AAA batteries, and this means that if it’s heavily used, the consumer is going to have to spend a lot of time swapping out batteries. It would’ve been better if they had used a different method of powering this device. Although this prevents it from being a great pool light for constant use, we do feel that it works well enough for occasional use such as for date night.
- It has four colors and seven flashing light modes.
- It requires frequent battery changes to work.
Best 3-Inch Pool Light Balls: Flashing Blinky Lights 3-Inch Pool Balls
Pool owners who don’t need pool balls that are 14-inch or 20-inch in size might just want to take a look at this set of 12 pool mood lights. Each one of these lights is only 3-inches, so the pool owner can display more of them over a larger pool area. Each of these light can be set to one of seven different colors, or set to transition from one color to the next. They can be set to red, green, blue, orange, purple, pink, or yellow. And because they’re waterproof and CPSIA compliant, they can be safely used in any pool.
The one thing that we didn’t like about these pool lights was that they weren’t solar powered. That means that the consumer is going to have to manually turn them on or off. That also means that the consumer is going to have to periodically change the batteries in them every once in a while. How long do the batteries last? Well, while battery life is going to fluctuate from person to person depending on how they use these pool lights, for us, the lights lasted approximately a week before needing a battery change. Not bad, but still not as good as a solar light.
- Batteries have a decent life.
- They come in sets of 12.
- They aren’t solar powered.
- They are extremely light.
Floating Pool Lights
There is no better way of creating an ambiance around your pool area than using the best floating pool lights available. Whether you are throwing a party or entertaining a few friends, there are plenty of options to create a relaxing or fun environment. This is part of the problem though, with so many products out there, it can be hard to tell the good from the bad.
To make sure you know what a quality product is capable of, we have created the following buyer’s guide.
What To Look For In Floating Pool Lights
Design
This is part of the fun of choosing floating pool lights as they come in a variety of designs. Some look like a floating flower whereas others are large balls that come in different colors and sizes.
When it is floating on the calm water at night, the shape helps to add another level of decadence or fun to your pool area.
Solar
Not every solar product is going to be ideal but once you make the initial investment, the cost of running them is zero. However, they do work better after bright, sunny weather so they are not as well suited to the colder months.
Still, you usually get a lot of hours out of them before they need to recharge and most are pretty versatile so they can either float in your pool or be hung in the surrounding area.
Brightness
Some types of floating pool lights are better than others when it comes to illumination. Although it can be tempting to go for a novelty product that comes in different colors, make sure it has adequate brightness. This will ensure your pool area is safer whilst making sure you can get the most out of the light.
Bulb Type
There are benefits to different types of bulbs but when it comes to floating pool lights, LED tends to be the most popular for a reason. We’ll take a closer look at each of the three most popular options a little later but it is certainly a major consideration.
Durability
The pool lights you buy are only as good as the amount of use you get out of them. For most people, a few years is more than you might expect to get out of cheap products which is why it is a good idea to buy something made from durable materials.
How Many Floating Pool Lights Should I Use?
When you don’t have any swimmers in the pool then you can use as many as you like. However, if you are entertaining and people are wanting to swim, it can be a good idea to make sure they don’t get in the way.
A handful of floating lights are often a good place to start as long as they are bright enough and if you purchase the large orb ball variety then you might only need a couple to light the place up.
Different Types of Floating Pool Light Bulbs
LED
We’ll start with the most common and these also happen to be the most affordable. The major benefit that comes with LED lights is their longevity. Most brands will boast about their products tens of thousands of hours of lifespan.
A lot of people like them because they are available in a variety of colors as well.
Halogen
Another popular type of floating pool light, halogen products are generally more powerful, giving you a lot of brightness but at the cost of efficiency. They tend to take up a lot of energy and don’t come in as many colors.
Fiber Optic
These seem less practical because they don’t last as long as LED lights have a similar output and need a fan to cool them down which hikes up the cost of running them.
Why Buy Floating Pool Lights?
One of the min reasons buy floating pool lights is safety., Being able to see the parameter can help people to avoid the water so accidents are less common. Also, they light the pool well enough to see if someone has fallen in.
Another benefit is that they look great so you can impress your guests when entertaining. Some people buy floating pool lights because they are a much more affordable option compared to permanent products that have to be connected to mains and cost more to run.
Are Floating Pool Lights Easy To Use?
They are probably the easiest type of pool light to use. Most products arrive pretty much ready to go so it is just a matter of turning them on and placing them in the pool.
You might be able to buy a product that has a sensor, so when it comes into contact with the water it will automatically turn on. You can also buy floating pool lights that can be controlled via a remote. This means you can switch between the settings and choose different colors.
How Long Do Floating Pool Lights Last?
This depends on the quality of the product and also the type. the large, more durable designs tend to last a fair bit longer and can withstand the toils of adverse weather conditions.
The intricate flower designs might not last so long but in terms of the bulb, LED will give you greater longevity.
The best way to maximize the amount of time they last, it is best to take them out of the pool when you are not using them and store them somewhere dry.
Do Floating Pool Lights Attract Bugs?
This is an unfortunate downside to any type of pool light. It doesn’t matter if you purchase a submersible pool light or a permanent fixture that goes around the pool, light in the dark hours always attracts bugs.
To limit the number of bugs you get, turn them on just before you intend to use them and switch them off straight after you’re done. Leaving them on for an hour before you go out to the pool area will mean you are greeted by a fair amount of unwanted pests.
