Collection: Outdoor Lights

Buying guide

Choosing outdoor lighting for a NZ home

Good exterior lighting does three jobs: it welcomes guests, helps everyone reach the door safely, and shows the house at its best after dark. Plan it in layers, starting at the front door and garage, then paths, decks and the garden.

Front doors and garages

For a single wall lantern beside the front door, choose one around a third of the door's height; for a pair either side, about a quarter. Mount lanterns so the light sits slightly above eye level, typically 1,700–1,800mm from the ground, or with the top of the lantern roughly level with the top of the door.

Porches, verandas and decks

Under a porch or veranda roof, a flush or hanging outdoor ceiling light gives broad, even light without glare. On decks, wall lanterns every 2.5–3m along the house give a soft, usable glow for evening dining.

Coastal homes and ratings

Salt air, wind and strong UV are hard on outdoor fittings. Our coastal-rated collection uses materials and finishes chosen for seaside homes, including Hinkley's Coastal Elements range. Check each product's rating: wet-rated fittings can be exposed to rain, while damp-rated fittings should sit under cover, such as a porch roof.

Bulbs, switching and installation

Most lanterns take a standard E27 bulb, so you can choose LED and your preferred colour; warm white (2700–3000K) flatters timber and brick. Some take the smaller US E12 candle bulb, which an E14 bulb won't fit, or a GU10, so check the product page for the bulb it takes. For automatic switching, ask your electrician about a photocell, sensor or smart switch. All fittings are hardwired and installed by a licensed electrician, and our American fittings are factory-converted to meet AU/NZ electrical standards.