Have you ever spent the entire day out of the house just to come home late in the night and your house is all dark? Or, do you have to leave lights on for days on end while you are out of town? Yes, there are timers that you can buy and use on indoor lights but what about your outdoor lights? Plus, what about your business, are you having to turn off lights in houses night you manage or are trying to sell?
Dusk-to-dawn light bulbs and lighting can solve all of these issues and so many more. They are energy-efficient, meaning that they will cut costs when it comes to electricity. They are dusk to dawn-lights, which means that they come on when it starts to get dark outside and go off when it starts to get light. You will no longer have to think about if you turned the lights on or off daily.
They can be used anywhere that the light bulbs can be screwed in. This means areas with existing built-in sockets like the outside of a house or building and built-in lighting inside of a house. You don’t have to get special lamps or anything to use these light bulbs, but you can use them with your existing lamps.
Best Dusk-to-Dawn LED Light Bulb Reviews
| Product | Lumens | Wattage | Color Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Philips E26-800lm | 800 | 8 watts |  Warm White (2700k) |
| 2. Vgogfly E26/E27-600lm | 600 | 7 watts | Warm White (2700K) |
| 3. GE LED+ Dusk to Dawn-800lm | 800 | 8 watts | Warm White (2700K) |
| 4. LOHAS E26-500lm | 500 | 6 watts |  Daylight (5000K) |
| 5. Sunco A19-800lm | 800 | 9 watts |  Warm White (3000K) |
| 6. AmeriTop-800lm | 800 | 10 watts | Daylight (5000K) |
| 7. Vgogfly E26-1200lm | 1200 | 12 watts |  Soft White (3200K) |
| 8. Boxlood E26-650lm | 650 | 9 watts |  Cool White (6000K) |
| 9. THlighting E26-450lm | 450 | 5 watts |  Amber Yellow |
| 10. Banord E26-900lm | 900 | 12 watts | Warm White (2700K) |
1. Philips E26-800lm LED Dusk-to-Dawn Frosted Light Bulb
This Philips light bulb is a dusk-to-dawn bulb that is long-lasting and can give 22,000 hours of light. They last 10x longer than incandescent lights and 4x longer than halogen. They have 800-Lumen, 2700-Kelvin, are 8-Watt (60-Watt Equivalent), have an E26 Medium Screw Base, and are a 3-Pack.
They have a 10-year warranty if registered and are energy-efficient, which uses 75% less energy than a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Philips LED light bulbs are Energy Star Certified and mercury-free. These light bulbs can be used indoors and outdoors and fit in E26 screw bases. These light bulbs are also flicker-free, meet eye comfort requirements, and have a soft white coloring.
2. Vgogfly E26/E27-600lm Sensor Lights Bulb Dusk to Dawn
Sensor Lights bulbs are dusk to dawn and energy-saving bulbs, they put off 20% less power than conventional bulbs. These bulbs are meant to be used outdoors and have a LED chip that cools them and allows for long life. These bulbs have 7W, they work with E26/E27 sockets, they are automatic On/Off, and they are indoor/outdoor bulbs that can be used in/on yards, porches, patios, garages, and gardens.
The bulbs have a 12-month money-back guarantee and a 24-month warranty. It has a warm white coloring to the bulbs and is a 2-pack. These bulbs’ built-in sensor turns it on automatically at dusk, anything less than 15LUX, and automatically turns off at dawn, anything more than 40LUX.
3. GE LED+ Dusk to Dawn Outdoor 800lm Light Bulb
These GE Light bulbs are long-lasting LED bulbs. They are a warm white color at 2700 Kelvin and are energy-saving bulbs with a 5-year long warranty. These LED light bulbs have an auto on/off feature that works max 8W. They are outdoor lighting lamps for porches, hallways, patios, and garages.
These bulbs don’t have any mercury. They have a 180-degree beam angle. They can be screwed into any standard E26/E27 light socket or fixture. They have a soft white color and there are 2 bulbs in the package.
4. LOHAS E26-500lm Sensor Light Dusk till Dawn LED Bulb
The LOHAS Sensor Light Dusk till Dawn bulbs are LED. They can replace a 40-watt incandescent light bulb and save up to 85% of your electric bill. They are light sensor porch light bulbs, that are A19 with 6W.
They have an E26 base and are LED security bulbs(auto on/off) with smart indoor or outdoor capabilities and lamp lighting for use in garages and hallways. Because of the built-in sensor once the bulbs are screwed in you don’t have to do anything else for it to turn on and off. These come in a 4 pack.
The coloring is daylight or crystal white, which gives off a cozy and fresh look. These bulbs can last up to 30,000 hours. They don’t contain any lead or mercury. And they have a one-year warranty.
5. Sunco A19-800lm Lighting LED Bulb
The Sunco Lighting light bulbs are energy-efficient bulbs that can save up to 85% on your electricity bill. These LED bulbs can last for up to 15,000 hours and can be used inside and out. It comes with a 3-year warranty and is super bright.
These come in a 4 pack, have A19 LED bulb type with dusk to dawn smart feature, and cost 9 Watt (lighting 60W equivalent). They are 3000K Kelvin, with a Warm White. They are 800 Lumens indoor/outdoor, have a sensor auto on/off Security, and are UL & ENERGY STAR LISTED.
They do not flicker. They don’t have any mercury and don’t emit UV or incandescent light.
6. AmeriTop A19 Sensor LED-800lm LED Dusk to Dawn Light Bulbs
The LED Dusk to Dawn Lights bulb has built-in sensors allowing it to turn on and off at dusk and dawn. These light bulbs save up to 80% of the energy of a traditional light bulb and can provide up to 30,000 hours of light. They do not flicker and they don’t give off a glare. It has a 3-year warranty.
They are lead and mercury-free, with no harmful materials inside. It has a wide beam angle of 270 degrees. They are easy to use and can be screwed into E26 or E27 sockets. They come in a pack of 2, have 10w, and are sensor light bulbs with photocells. They are automatic indoor/outdoor lighting lamps that can be used on porches, hallways, patios, and garages.
7. Vgogfly E26-1200lm Dusk Till Dawn Light Bulb
These Dusk Til Dawn Light bulbs have a light sensor inside that allows the light to come on and go off automatically. These LED lights are energy-efficient and use 80% less power than traditional incandescent lights. They are 100W equivalent 12W smart bulbs that are sensor dusk to dawn LED bulbs, with an E26 socket base.
They have a soft warm white coloring and are outdoor/indoor lighting lamp auto on/off. The cooling effect in the LED chip allows for a long life for the light bulbs. These bulbs have a 12-month money-back guarantee and a 2-year warranty, meaning your bulb will replace if there is any sort of problem. There are 2 bulbs per package.
8. Boxlood E26-650lm Dusk to Dawn Light Bulbs
The Dusk to Dawn Light Bulbs are energy-efficient, using 85% less energy than a 60w incandescent bulb. They have a 12-month warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
They screw into an E26 socket, are 60W equivalent, and have cool white coloring. They are auto on/off indoor/outdoor sensor LED bulbs.
The bulbs are LED with a sensor built-in inside. These bulbs have cool white coloring and are very bright. These kinds of lights help for needed security or just peace of mind when you come home after dark. They come in 4 in a package.
9. THlighting E26-450lm Amber Yellow LED Bug Light
Amber Yellow LED Bug Light bulbs are dusk to dawn lights. The coloring does not attract bugs or insects, so you’ll have fewer bugs in this area than in other light bulbs. The light color is comfortable for the human eye.
They are 5W LED light bulbs that are 40 watts equivalent to light sensor bulbs. They are sensor light security bulbs with photosensor detection, screw into E26 sockets and come in a 2-pack.
These lights are perfect for porches, patios, or hallways that need lighting right at dusk. Being a dusk to dawn light these lights will automatically turn on at lighting less than 15 lux and turn off when the lighting is higher than 40 lux. It has a beam angle of 180.
10. Banord E26-900lm Dusk to Dawn Light Sensor Bulb
These bulbs are LED and put out 12w of power. The color is a warm white and they are easy to install. These bulbs are energy-saving, claiming to save up to 85% of your electric bill. They have no lead, pollutants, or mercury.
They are 12W LED light sensor bulbs (auto on/off), and they are smart sensor bulbs.
You can use them to light up a porch, yard, or garage, or indoor lighting lamps for hallways.
The warranty is available for 2 years and you can get your money back within that time or get a replacement bulb. These light bulbs can be used indoors and outdoors to light up any E26-shaped screw base. It has a life capacity of 30,000 hours. They come in 3 packets of bulbs.
How does a dusk-to-dawn light bulb work?
Dusk-to-dawn light bulbs have built-in sensors that are part of the LED chips that are in them. These LED chips are telling the light bulbs to come on at anything less than 15 lux (measures of illuminance) and go off at anything greater than 40 lux. These light bulbs are plug and go, you don’t have to do any special wiring or setting of a timer.
Where to use?
It really depends on if the light bulb is meant for indoors or outdoors. The great thing is a lot of these dusk to dawn light bulbs can be used both inside and out. Dusk-to-dawn light bulbs can be used anywhere that you want to have a light come on automatically.
Front or back porches/patios and driveways are great places outside to light up without worries. Living rooms, hallways or any front rooms being lit up automatically can make people feel more at ease when coming home at night.
Benefits of dusk to dawn lights
Having dusk to dawn lights allow for lights to be on automatically every single night and for them to turn off automatically every single morning. You don’t have to worry if you turned on the lights and you don’t have to be annoyed that you accidentally left the lights on. These lights make things just that much easier when it comes to not having to worry about the lights being on.
These light bulbs are also using a different energy signature than regular light bulbs and end up saving you money on your electric bill.
Dusk to dawn light bulbs can give you peace of mind and a great sense of security. You don’t just have to benefit from using dusk to dawn lights at your home, they can be used for businesses to detract from people bothering anything after business hours. They can be used outside of schools for security purposes and just to be inviting, plus the dusk to dawn feature would save the school money. Dusk to dawn lighting can benefit people on so many different levels and you don’t have to worry about turning a light on and off.
Dusk to dawn LED light bulbs have a longer life span than usual light bulbs because they have a built-in cooling effect in their LED chips. Most, if not all of these light bulbs are free of mercury, lead, and other harmful pollutants so you aren’t putting chemicals into the air using them or when you get rid of them. These light bulbs are also incredibly low maintenance, you screw them in and don’t have to worry about doing anything to them until they go out.
These lights provide security, making an area of a business or home well-lit automatically day after day will deter any intruder from messing with the property. These lights give an added sense of safety, you won’t have to worry about fumbling in the dark if you forgot to turn on your lights before you left home, and lights being on will make you less likely to trip over something you can’t see. They are incredibly convenient, you don’t have to worry if you turned your lights on even if you are half a world away from home.
One last thought to think about. Do you have a dog or a cat that is left at home in the dark, especially if you have to go somewhere after work or school and can’t get home to them right away? These bulbs are beneficial for lighting rooms and hallways where it is important to automatically have some light when it becomes dark without the need to physically switch on or need an app to work with the lighting.
My outdoor garage light fixture does not have an automatic on and off. I have white on and off bulbs but would like blue bulbs that are automatic. Is that possible?
Hi,
As long as it’s marked as Dusk-to-Dawn capable then it will work automatically on any fixture.
Good information here, thank you! Are there bulbs that will only light for a designated amount of time starting at dusk (i.e. 4 hours), instead of dusk to dawn? Thank you!
Andrew
Hi,
From our research, it’s better if you would take a look at those programmable/customizable timer sockets. These sockets can be installed in place of regular one and connect to any bulb to achieve the same result you want.
I wish you would write about motion sensor bulbs that are NOT NOT NOT dusk to dawn. I have a basement that is usually somewhat dim but not super dark either because of other bulbs I have on. However, when I do want lighting I want it bright to see underneath something or peer inside a tool box or a corner of a room even if it is daylight and relatively light in the room. Are there any motion sensor bulbs that will come on at the same intensity irrespective of ambient lighting?
Hi Jeff,
I will consider that in future articles.
However, if you could search around, there are the motion sensor only bulbs (often used for closet and enclosed area) which may fit your need. Also, some -if not a lot of motion sensor bulbs with Dusk-to-dawn feature allow for this feature to be turn off, hence, became motion sensing only.
I want to put two lamps on a table in the foyer where there is no electrical outlet. Can I use dusk to dawn bulbs that turn on at dusk and off in the morning? If so, I don’t want really bright lights. Something on the order of a 40-60 watt incandescent bulb. Does something like this exist? Thank you.
Lulu,
I’m sorry but I couldn’t get the part of “no electrical outlet”.
Anyhow, for a 40-60 W incandescent bulb, you can look for LED within 600-800 Lumens in soft/warm white temperature. These dusk-to-dawn bulbs should work in indoor setting when there’s enough light source shine on them during the day (to keep them off). Otherwise you may see either a flickering or always turning-on light situation if your foyer always dark.
The dusk to dawn light bulb only seems to work for a 48 hour period. I have it installed in an outside fixture. I previously had one that lasted a really long time with no problem. Any suggestions?
Hi Roberta,
I’m sorry, a bit confused on your question.
Do you mean your bulb stopped working after 48 hrs of uses?
Normally dusk-to-dawn light bulb works on day/night cycles and last for a long time as long as it is LED light that is rated for external uses. Check your bulb and if it is, then time for warranty I think.
Does anyone make a GU 24 (bi-stubs) on at dusk off on dawn?
Mize,
Unfortunately, none that I know off.
You can buy an adapter that converts from g24 to a regular screw in socket
I tested my bulbs on an inside lamp. Actually 3 different ones and it did not turn on or off automatically.
Is it because they were table lamps.? The room was darkened and then bright, even shining a flashlight on one. If it is a dimmable fixture dose it matter?
Hi Rosemarie,
The dusk-to-dawn bulbs should have work right out of the box, and in case of indoor use, they should have turn on/off even more frequent due to ambience change. From your testing it could be either your dimmable fixture doesn’t supply correct amount of wattage, bad batch of bulb (?) or your setting test (light to dark and so on) weren’t different enough or your light source didn’t go through the photocell sensor inside the bulb.
It would be better if you could test in an outdoor setting so you’d have the proximate ambience and exposure.
I wish more was written about the color of the light. So many LED lights can be stark and cold white. I would like to find one that gives light similar to my 40w incandescent bulbs. I feel it makes my house look more welcoming without the harsh white light.
Elizabeth,
Thank you for showing your interest. We had an article specifically on light’s color which you can find it here https://simplyhometips.com/color-temperature-lighting/.
For a 40w Incandescent equivalent, you can look for LED lights that are around 600 lumens, then pick the temperature of warm/soft white.
Are there dusk to dawn bulbs that will work outdoors in a fixture that has frosted glass?
We haven’t test with this setting yet. But it should be working just fine. Since the bulb was controlled by the photocell that activate when there is/is not light source on them.
Please Let us know your result when you tried.
I have read that some LED lights can interfere with garage door openers. I want to put one of these dusk to dawn bulbs in an exterior light right outside the garage. Any idea if these bulbs will cause problems?
Kristen,
It’s strange cause I haven’t heard of that interference before. Truth is I have my dusk-to-dawn bulbs in the same setting (in the exterior light fixture right outside the garage door) and never experience any error or issue with garage door opener.
I have dawn to dusk light fixtures outside. Do I have to use dawn to dusk light bulbs? Or do I just use regular bulbs in them? If so what are the best kind of bulbs to use in these types of fixtures?
Hi Erin,
If your fixtures are already dusk-to-dawn capable then your bulbs don’t have to be. Using any regular bulb is fine, though I would recommend you to get outdoor LED bulbs. Not only do they conserve lots of energy, they’re actually brighter and last longer too.
I have two lanterns on my front porch with triple candelabra bulbs. Is there a way to use dawn to dusk on them or because there are three small bulbs in each lantern, it won’t work?
Hi Beth,
It’s depend on the bulbs’ Base size that your lantern accepted. Dusk-to-dawn bulbs are typically available in E26/E27 (regular size) and the candelabra size of E12. Take a look at your old bulb to see which size it is in to be sure.
I installed dusk to dawn light bulbs (GE) during the daytime in my two front outdoor fixtures but they remained on when I flipped the switch on- does that mean that because it was a cloudy day, there was not enough ambient light to auto-turn them off?
Hi Diana,
Yes, the dusk-to-dawn light bulbs have tendency to not work properly during cloudy days, which we encounter several times too. Just test them again on a sunny day to see if it’s working.
Good evening, folks!
I have an old fixture that uses the dust to dawn light bulb that is not the screw on kind.
It has two prongs that push into the unit.
I am having a hard time finding a replacement bulb. I replaced it about five years ago and bought the bulb from Home Depot, but they no longer sell it.
Is there a way to convert my unit to the screw on dusk to dawn bulbs?
Any help would be deeply appreciated.
Thank you, and have a delightful evening
Hi Jean,
From your description. I guess that your fixture’s base is a GU 24 (bi-stubs). If so, you could try a GU24 to E26 converter/adapter to put a dust to dawn light bulb onto it. This adapter could be found at your local or online stores. Please share your result with us.
Hi Andrew, I’m trying to replace a two prong dawn to dusk LED bulb. It is a Westpointe WP 13MSL24. Do GU 24 to E26 converter adapters work with all fixtures. If so, would I then be able to use a dawn to dusk bulb with a regular base? And where could I find the converter?
Hi Karen,
Yes, the adapter should work with no problem. You definitely can find the converter at local hardware stores or go online to Amazon as they’re having large supplies.
Thank you!
My two lanterns on the outside garage doors are 20 years old. Will outside dusk-to-dawn LED bulbs work in them?
Hi Deb,
It should work just fine, as it’s the bulb that doing the dusk-to-dawn sensitivity. However, make sure to pick the correct bulbs’ bases for your lanterns.
Hello, my porch uses the 4 pin light bulbs. Are there “dusk to dawn” versions of the 4 pin bulbs?
Hi Andrew,
Unfortunately I haven’t found any dusk-to-dawn bulb with 4-pin base. However, you can always try socket adapter from 4-pin to E26/E27, you can then use regular dusk-to-dawn light bulb with these on.
Hi. I love my dusk to dawn on either side of my garage. Those fixtures are single bulb fixtures.
I would love to install dusk to dawn on my porch light but it is a 4 bulb (candelabra) fixture. I have read that people have trouble getting them to work, sensors turn off detecting the light from the other bulbs. Do you know a remedy to this?
Hi Jennifer,
It sounds interesting, however I haven’t experience in that situation yet to give a comment. I might try it out later in the future to see.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi my dust to dawn led light fixture keeps blinking when I turn it on. The other one stays put but one keeps flickering, What do I do about this?
Hi,
Are both the bulbs new? If so, try switching the two to see if it’s the issue with fixtures’ socket. If they’re both within the same fixture and placing next to one another, then while one is turning on, the other might just wrongly sense the light from the other bulb and therefore keep flickering. This is a common issue if you use multi dusk-to-dawn bulbs in the same fixture.
On the other hand, if the flickering one is old, then it might just be the problem itself, i.e. time to replace with new bulb.
I tested 2 GE dusk to dawn lights because the first one failed. The first lit when I installed it in a shop light, in a closed and dark garage. Then I opened the garage and walked to direct sunlight. The bulb stayed lit. No situation I put it in would turn it off. Returned it and brought home the second bulb. Next day I went through the same process, same result. It was cloudy so I thought maybe…. But shining a bright flashlight directly at the sensor made no difference. I read somewhere that infrared sensors are better than simple photosensors. Any truth to the rumor? Can you say which brands? No stores in my area carry other brands on the shelf.
Steve,
I haven’t seen this situation yet but I will surely test this out in the future. Typically, infrared sensors are implied on motion detector bulbs while photo sensors are for dusk-to-dawn activation, they can be combined but I haven’t seen them replacing otherwise.
Did you leave enough time for the bulb’s sensor to catch onto the light? Cause it takes some time for dusk to dawn bulb to activate its light switch.
However, from your description, it sounds more like the position where you mount the bulb that its photocell might not get enough light shine upon when the garage door is open.
For other brands of bulbs, you might find them on Amazon.
Si en lowes venden un que. Tu escoges despues de que prenda al anochecer si prende 2 , 4, o 6 horas.
I have a recessed light fixture on my front porch. Can I use a laden yo dusk bulb in a recessed fixture. Will this effect the performance of the sensor? Is there a bulb with the sensor on the front of the bulb and not the side?
Hi Karl,
You could look into those dusk-to-dawn bulbs designed specifically for recessed mounting (ex: flood light, security light, etc.) Those usually have photocells that can function similarly to your case.
Hey Andrew I went to the Dollar General in my neighborhood to get some more light bulbs and I saw that they had Mightybulb dusk to dawn LED bulb, I have not ever seen this before so I bought 2 of them. One for my front porch and 1 for my back porch and they actually work. Best $2 I have ever spent so far so good. I’m sold on these cause I always forget to turn the porch lights off.
Can you use dusk to dawn light bulbs on a spotlight that has no light fixture it will be the light bulb exposed to rain snow …
Sure you can, but do make sure that the bulb is marked for outdoor uses w/ IP67/68.
I have the dusk to dawn bulbs in 60 watts are there any that come in less than 60 watts?????
The 60 is to bright for the area that it covers now for me.
Hello,
You can try searching for LED bulbs between 6-8w, which are equivalent to 40W in terms of brightness
I would like to install dawn to dusk bulbs on my front and back porches. As such, do I need to leave the indoor light switches on continuously.
Before investing in 6 bulbs for 2 outdoor 3 bulb candelabra post lamps, I’m concerned that the light from one of the lit bulbs will cause one or more other bulbs to not turn on. Is that a probable scenario with dusk to dawn bulbs?
Hi Andrew
This article was very helpful. I have just ordered metal barn style light fixtures for outside and would like to use them with dusk to dawn bulbs. Any tips on which bulbs may be sensitive enough to work under a metal shade?
Does any company make a two prong dawn to dusk bulb?