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The best home security is proactive rather than reactive. Security lighting can be effective at disrupting the plans of would-be intruders before they have a chance to cause trouble. However, should they persist, or if you’d simply like to employ more robust security measures, adding a motion-activated security camera to your outdoor lighting provides even more protection. China LED Light and LED Tube
There are a large number of outdoor lighting with cameras on the market, all of which have their own benefits and shortcomings. It can be difficult to sort through the huge amount of information. We reviewed the best outdoor security lights with cameras currently available to help you decide which one is best for your home security system needs.
We developed our list of the best floodlight cameras by reviewing the 18 most widely available cameras from that list and scored them all based on 10 different attributes. We further pared our list down to the top five cameras. Our ratings take into account factors like price, customer rating, field of view, warranty, light brightness, video resolution and color options. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
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The Eufy Floodlight Cam is first on our list. It enjoys a 4.6-star average rating from Amazon customers. We like it for its long list of features and moderate price. The camera is paired with two spotlights that provide 2,500 lumens of brightness and is hardwired directly to your home’s 100V or 240V electricity.
Its list of features includes 40 feet and 270 degrees of motion detecting ability with a 130-degree field of view, crisp 1080p video resolution and light dimming capability and a 100db smart siren that can be activated remotely.
The Floodlight Cam is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and no subscription plan is required to safely store your video for up to 20 days. Or you can upgrade to encrypted storage for longer durations starting at $2.99 per month. Eufy provides a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty.
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
The next hardwired floodlight with a camera on our list is the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus. Over 30,000 Amazon customers give it an average rating of 4.7 stars. A pair of 2,000-lumen floodlights accompany the camera for great night vision.
The Cam Wired Plus features a 140-degree horizontal field of view with 270-degree motion detection for up to 30 feet, 1080p video resolution, 105db remote activated alarm siren and comes in your choice of black or white. Real-time viewing is available through the Ring app.
Use your Echo devices, phone, tablet or PC to operate the two-way audio feature. The Wired Plus is warranted for one year and includes theft protection. Ring Protect provides video storage and is included for 30 days after purchase. Plans starting at $3.00 per month for one device are available after that.
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro
Our second installment from Ring is next on our list. The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro includes the company’s best light and camera features, including two 2,000-lumen floodlights and its unique, Bird’s Eye View video capability with 3D motion detection.
Available in two colors, the Wired Pro’s features also include 270-degree, 30-foot customizable detection zones, bright 3,000K lighting, 100db siren, 1080p video resolution and two-way audio with effective noise reduction. 110-240V hardwiring is required to install.
A 30-day trial of Ring Protect accompanies your purchase and storage service subscriptions start at $2.99 per month after that. Ring backs it up with a one-year warranty and theft protection. It’s compatible with the Ring app and Alexa.
Arlo joins our list in the fourth spot. Its Pro 3 Floodlight Camera is the lone wireless contender. We appreciate the ease and versatility of battery-operated security lighting even though it means having to charge the battery every three to six months. Amazon customers rate it at a respectable 4.4 stars.
It offers a full list of features that includes two color options, 720p, 1080p or 2K video and 2,000 lumens of light under battery power (3,000 lumens if plugged into its charging cable). This unit also boasts 4,000K white light, 130-degree motion detection, a 160-degree field of view with image correction, and a built-in siren.
A subscription plan to Arlo Secure starts at $2.99 per month and offers video storage and access to the 2K video resolution functions. Arlo provides a one-year limited warranty.
The Ring Spotlight Cam Wired takes our final spot. Unique due to its plug-in design that makes this wired device easy to install near an exterior electrical outlet. Its compact design offers less robust lighting brightness than larger models which makes it a good fit for use in smaller outdoor spaces. Amazon rates it at 4.7 stars.
It shares many features of Ring’s floodlight models, including customizable motion zones, live view, remote-activated 110db alarm, 1080p video and a 140-degree field of view. Also included are 4,000K white lights, two-way audio and Alexa compatibility.
Ring Protect is available for extended video storage with plans starting at $2.99 per month. A 30-day trial comes with your purchase, as does a one-year limited warranty and theft protection.
The competition is fierce in the outdoor security light with camera business. It can be difficult to make a purchasing decision even after you have all the pertinent information. Consider the following items to make the decision-making process easier.
There are two main types of power sources for security lights with cameras, wired and wireless. Battery-operated lights and cameras are excellent for use in warm climates. Cold temperatures noticeably decrease battery charge life. If you live in a chilly climate, a hardwired outdoor unit is likely your best choice for convenience and dependability. You may find that charging batteries too often becomes a tedious chore. Running out of battery charge when you need it most is upsetting.
The five products that we’ve listed above all have different-sized fields of view, which determine how much of the yard can you see from a given location. If you have a large yard with a wide dimension, look for a light and camera with a high number of degrees for its field of view and detection. If you have a small or narrow yard, or simply want to focus on a driveway or sidewalk, a smaller field of view may be adequate.
Though all of the products that we reviewed can be used as standalone devices that don’t require a monitoring service, they all have monitoring services available. Look at what each company provides in its monitoring packages, including the differences in their basic and advanced plans. Narrow the competition by choosing the manufacturer’s program that best fits your needs.
Houses are becoming much more dependent on convenience technology than they’ve been in the past. Alexa, Echo, Fire TV, Google Voice even some Schlage locks can be paired for use with outdoor security lights with cameras. When doing research for the right camera and lights, you can be sure to find one that is compatible for use with your existing devices.
Floodlight camera manufacturers often offer subscription-based services that save security footage from the camera, which can be accessed via Microsoft Cloud from a smartphone or a computer. There is also storage on digital (SD) cards where video footage can be stored.
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When you are in the market for a floodlight security camera, you want to purchase the absolute best. A floodlight security camera can help keep your home safe and secure, even when you’re away. Here are some features to consider when shopping for a floodlight security camera:
How bright a floodlight security camera is can be seen in its power output, which is measured in lumens. Higher lumens provide a brighter floodlight (which refers to its throw or range). Usually, floodlight cameras have about 2,000 lumens and a throw of about 30 feet.
Video resolutions come in 720p, 1080p, 2K and 4K. The higher the number, the stronger the video resolution. Higher resolutions provide clear, crisp images at greater distances, especially images at night. This is important if you want to identify faces or plates from a car.
The field of view is the area that a camera’s lens covers, which can range from 115 degrees to 140 degrees. You will want your camera’s field of view to be wide enough so that it captures and monitors more area. A field of view of about 130 degrees can give a visual of left, right and straight ahead. Having pan and tilt capabilities can be useful too.
Whether it’s a curious squirrel or a wandering dog, motion detection can monitor any motion or activity outside of your home. Any type of motion will cause the camera to record. The camera can be set to whatever distance or field of view needed.
For your floodlight camera, you will want to pay special attention to the alarm or siren sound, which can be useful to scare away unwanted “guests.” Sirens can emit a very loud sound that is up to 110 decibels, which you can control manually or set to detect motion.
Floodlight security cameras can range between $100 and over $250, depending on the brand and features.
A security camera with lights can light up a dark night and keep intruders away. The brightness of a floodlight is measured in lumens. Most floodlight cameras can produce 2,000 lumens or more. The more lumens, the brighter the security light will be.
Whether you decide to choose from the best home security companies for the whole package or simply want to add one security light and camera for peace of mind, here are the major benefits of having an outdoor security light with a camera.
Improving the security of your home is the number one reason to install outdoor security lights with cameras. The combination of lighting working together with motion-activated video recording allows you to see what’s happening outside of your home at any time.
Installing a camera for preventing crime is good. Installing motion-activated lighting for preventing crime is good. The combination of adding them together in an integrated system ensures that they are working in sync to help prevent intruders from targeting your home.
All of the products that we’ve listed here, and many more on the market, include loud warning sirens. They are either automatically triggered by motion or manually turned on through an app.
Outside of security, sometimes it’s just nice to know that everything is OK at home. Having the ability to check at any moment that your family and pets are safe can create peace of mind. Advertisement THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary. Compare Quotes From Top-rated Home Security Installers Free, No-commitment Estimates Find A Home Security Installer
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To determine the best outdoor security lights with cameras ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed third-party data on dozens of top products, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
Price can vary with security lights and cameras based on features and brand. We compared prices as part of our ratings to measure the range of price and affordability.
Customer experiences can inform the most about a moving company. We placed an emphasis on customer review information when rating each company and checked Google ratings, Trustpilot, BBB accreditation, score, years in business and ratio of complaints to reviews to inform our determination.
Field of view is an important feature in a security camera and the greater the field of view, the better, which includes left, right and center.
Brightness is a major feature in a security camera that shows the extent of illumination in the field of view. Cameras that had higher lumination offer sharp, crisp images.
Video resolutions are in 720p, 1080p, 2K and 4K, with the greater the number, the stronger the video resolution. This is important, particularly at night, so that images appear clearer.
Most companies offer warranties on their products that can range in duration and is an important aspect when purchasing a security camera.
Color options can be an important factor for consumers seeking cameras that blend into their home and environment.
Our choice for the best outdoor security light with a camera is the Eufy Floodlight Cam. We chose it because it fits all of the basic criteria for what a security light with a camera should provide, and does it without breaking the bank. However, there are choices that go beyond basics if you’re willing to spend a little more money. Your decision will be dependent on your needs.
Security lights come in several styles. They can be as simple as a switched outdoor lamp, or as complex as a computer-controlled motion-activated lighting system. An outdoor security light with a camera is the name used when a motion-activated camera is integrated with a motion-activated light source.
A skilled DIYer can install floodlight cameras, but it’s still an electrical project. It is usually strongly recommended that you hire a licensed electrician to install a floodlight camera for safety reasons and for correct installation.
Yes, floodlight cameras can have alarms or sirens that can be controlled manually or set to go off from motion detection. The alarms can be extremely loud to scare away trespassers and can be up to 110 decibels.
The best locations to install security lights are places where the largest number of potential entry points to the home can be illuminated. Windows, doors and garage doors fall into this category. To successfully hide security cameras and lights, look for corner nooks to install them. Pay special attention to service doors that may be somewhat hidden from normal view at the back of the house.
Most security lights have programmable settings for how long the light stays on after motion is detected. The settings can range from one minute to 20 minutes, or longer, once activated. Many models can be set to stay illuminated continuously or whenever it’s dark outside. The activation time is simply a matter of preference.
Most security lights have a sensor that activates the light when motion is detected nearby. The light is programmable to stay illuminated for a predetermined amount of time. If your light is turning on and off more than you like, adjusting the duration setting should fix the problem.
Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and consultant for several publications. Throughout his career, he strived to assist his clients in finding the potential hidden within the walls of every home and empowering them to take control of their household repair and remodeling endeavors. Deane’s primary career goal involves sharing home-related knowledge and providing self-sufficiency tools to as large an audience as possible.
Emergency Ana Durrani is a journalist and "Jill of all trades" when it comes to the range of topics she has tackled over her 20+ year career. In addition to her contributions to ForbesAdvisor.com, she serves as a freelance education reporter for U.S. News & World Report, regular contributor to Realtor.com and several other online media. She is also an instructor at the University of Arizona Global Campus.