Decking Lights

Recessed or surface mounted

Most decking lights are recessed: the body sits in a hole drilled through the board or cut into the paving, and only a slim bezel shows above the surface, so there is nothing to trip on. Round fittings are the commonest and the easiest to fit, since a round hole is one cut with a hole saw; square ones suit the straight lines of modern paving. Where drilling is not possible, a surface-mounted brick light fixes to the face of a step, a wall or a raised bed and lights the ground in front of it.

Lights you can walk on

A light set into a deck or a path will be stood on, so it has to take the weight. Recessed ground lights are built for foot traffic, and some are rated to be driven over, which is what a light set into a drive needs. The product page gives the rating for each fitting. Glass and stainless steel faces take wear best, and a flat face sheds water and grit rather than collecting it. A quick sweep of leaves and soil from the face now and then keeps the light bright.

IP ratings for the ground

A light in the ground sits where water gathers, so its rating matters more than a wall light's. IP65 keeps out dust and jets of water and suits a raised deck that drains freely. IP67 is sealed against temporary immersion, which is the safer choice for paving, a low deck or anywhere a puddle can form over the light. Most of this range is IP65 or IP67.

Integrated LED or GU10

Most of these lights have integrated LEDs, which are sealed into the fitting, run cool and need no bulb, so the fitting can stay closed for years. A GU10 fitting takes a replaceable spotlight bulb, which lets you change the brightness or the colour later, and suits a light that will be easy to reach. Either way, an LED gives off very little heat, which matters in a timber deck and under bare feet.

Spacing and layout

As a rule of thumb, one light every one to two metres along the edge of a deck or a path gives a clear line without turning the ground into a runway, and closer spacing gives a more continuous glow. On steps, a light in each riser or at the end of each tread shows where the edge is, which is the most useful thing a deck light can do. Plan the positions before the boards go down: running a cable under a finished deck is far harder than laying it first.

Warm white for a deck

A deck or a patio is an evening place, and warm white is the usual choice: it is soft on timber and stone and does not attract as many insects as a bluer light. Cool white suits paths, steps and drives where seeing clearly matters more than mood. Some fittings are dimmable, so the same lights can mark the edges for a dinner outside and brighten for tidying up.