Porch & Entry
(187)The porch is the first thing guests see after dark and the last place you fumble for keys, so it deserves light that is both welcoming and practical.
Porch & Entry
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About Porch & Entry
Light the Way Home From Street to Door
The porch is the first thing guests see after dark and the last place you fumble for keys, so it deserves light that is both welcoming and practical. This edit gathers outdoor wall lights for either side of the door, up and down sconces and wall washers that graze a facade, classic metal wall lanterns, slim linear fixtures and solar hanging lanterns with a flickering flame look. Many pieces offer a motion sensor, a remote or a solar panel, and a single light can appear here and in other outdoor areas.
Getting Placement and Height Right
- Size to the door: A wall light roughly one quarter to one third the height of the door looks balanced from the street. When in doubt, go slightly larger, because fixtures read smaller outdoors than they do in a photo.
- Mount near eye level: Center the fixture about 66 inches above the threshold, or a little higher on a tall door. That keeps the bulb out of direct view and lights faces rather than feet.
- Use a pair when there is room: One light on each side of the door gives even coverage for the lock and the house number. A single fixture works best on the handle side.
- Choose the power first: Hardwired sconces connect to an existing junction box and run on a switch or timer. Solar wall lights skip the wiring but need several hours of direct sun on the panel, which a deep covered porch may not get.
Warm, Welcoming and Considerate
Warm white light around 2700K to 3000K flatters brick, wood and stucco and feels friendlier than cool white. Fixtures that aim light down, or up and down, keep glare off the street and out of a neighbor's window. A motion sensor is ideal for a side door or garage entry that only needs light when someone arrives. If the wall has no overhang, check that the listing suits fully exposed, wet locations before you order.
Compare the full range of outdoor wall lights, browse outdoor lanterns, or read our front porch lighting guide for more layouts.
Common Questions About Porch & Entry
A common starting point is to center the fixture about 66 inches above the door threshold, which puts the light near eye level. For a tall door or a fixture that shines up and down, go a few inches higher, and keep the same height on both sides when you install a pair.
They can be, provided the panel gets several hours of direct sun each day. On a deep covered porch or a north facing wall the charge drops, especially in winter. In those spots a hardwired fixture is the more reliable choice.
A sensor light is usually less intrusive than one left on all night, because it only switches on when someone approaches. Aim the sensor at your own walkway rather than the street, and choose a fixture that directs light downward so passing cars and nearby windows stay dark.
A rough guide is a fixture about a quarter to a third the height of the door. For a standard 80 inch door that is roughly 20 to 26 inches tall for a single light, or a little smaller for each of a matching pair.
