9 Best LED Pool Light: Buying Guide and Reviews for 2018

Why stop the party when the sun goes to sleep? That’s especially disappointing during the hot summer season when the nights are warm. And for most people, the luxury of swimming in the evening is one of the reasons they own a pool.

Fortunately, your swimming session doesn’t need to end by evening. By fitting your swimming pool with the best LED pool light, you can swim any time of the night you want. This light also makes your facility to be safer and provide it with the ‘wow’ factor.

In this article, we will be looking at these lights by looking at a buying guide and then reviewing some of the top models on the market today.

Why Buy LED Pool Light?

There are a lot of reasons why you should buy these accessories, and you might have already known some of them.

• Enchanting effects – These lights create a mesmerizing effect during the night, inside and around your swimming pool.
• Extend pool use – They allow swimmers to swim even during the night when the sun has gone down.
• Increased safety and visibility – Lighting your facility makes it’s more visible and hence safer for both users and people or pets walking near it.

Why LED Light?

Light Emitting Diodes (LED), is still the best technology for lighting swimming pools despite other advanced technologies having emerged. The popularity of these products can be attributed to the trend of eco-friendly or going green. LEDs are energy saving, so while they are costly to purchase, they save you a lot of money in the long-run in term of power bills and reduced carbon footprint.

LED lights last for about 15 years. They also provide superb illumination. Actually, these products can illuminate a 16 x 28 feet pool with ease. The best thing, they are safe to use since they use low voltage. These bulbs have even replaced incandescent models.

Things to Consider When Buying the Best LED Pool Light

There are a few things that you should consider when buying your LED pool light. They are:

Ease of Installation

LED pool lights are easy to install. For most models, there is an installation manual, which is self-explanatory, but poorly made models can be hard to install. Fortunately, you can always go for the easy to install models.

You also need to note that not all LED lights are suitable for all fittings.  This is an issue that you should watch out for when making your purchase to ensure that your light will fit your swimming pool. Some units come with a magnet that sticks to the wall while others simply float around your pool.

Bright Units

LED lights have one job: to illuminate your swimming pool so that users can see clearly. No matter how strong the unit it, you shouldn’t buy it unless it is bright enough to light up your entire pool. In fact, LED pool lights should be able to light your backyard. They should also work well for your pathways.

On the flip side, you shouldn’t go for excessively bright units. They have their own disadvantages too.

Many Features

Many buyers don’t think about the features of LED lights, but these products can come with hundreds of features. One of the most common features is the ability to produce different colors. It might not be a must for everyone, but a swimming pool that is often used by kids should have different color abilities. It makes evening swim more fun, which children really love.

Another great feature that people love is dimming ability. This is not possible with most lights, but having this ability can make the difference between owning a classic pool and an ordinary one.

Very Efficient

These accessories cost money and you should ensure that you get what you pay for when it comes to efficiency. An efficient unit will be affordable and will save you a hundred dollars when it starts to operate, in terms of the power bill. Of course, it should provide some environmental benefits as bonuses.

Just like other gadgets that use energy, LED lights will convert some of the energy into heat. However, this doesn’t mean that you get a bulb that heats up easily since it will end up losing some of its brightness.

Product Life

I bet you don’t want to buy a bulb that will die after a week of use. You want to ensure that the model you buy lasts for years if not decades.

Top 9 LED Pool Light Reviews

Here are the top LED pool light models on the market today.

Intex LED Pool Wall Light – 110-120V

Buy from Amazon

With no unnecessary additions, the Intex LED Pool Wall Light is a simple accessory for your above ground swimming pool and it comes at a reasonable price. It has a magnet that attaches to the side of your pool and needs to be plugged into a power source.

The tool delivers more light than a 50W halogen bulb, illuminating your pool from all directions, effortlessly lighting a 24 by 52 feet swimming pool for night swimming and swimming pool parties.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 5.9 x 11.6 x 7.9 inches.
• Weight: 3.9 pounds.

Pros

• Low energy use.
• Bright LED light that covers the entire pool.
• Easy to install.

Con

• Restricted to areas with electricity.

ZOTO Underwater Light

Buy from Amazon

Zoto comes with an O-ring seal design that prevents water from entering it, making it a waterproof accessory. When screwed properly, this RGB color charging bulb will decorate your swimming pool and is powered by 3 triple A batteries that ensure you can take it whichever corner you want. The unit features 3 dynamic hue changing modes and 16 different hue static modes.

The product comes with a convenient remote control which you can use to control it from 30 ft. away. This remote control has 4 pieces that you can put together to control your bulb conveniently. The best thing, you can use this light as vase base, aquarium light, ick bucket, fish tank, and pond light.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 6.6 x 6.6 x 1.7 inches.
• Weight: 14.1 ounces.

Pros

• Multi-purpose light bulb.
• Comes with a remote for controlling.
• Flexible product.

Con

• Shouldn’t remain in water for over 10 hours.

SmartPool NL35 NiteLighter Underwater Light for Above Ground Pools

Buy from Amazon

This product is designed to remain underwater for long. It uses halogen tech to light up your swimming pool, meaning that you don’t need to buy many pieces to light up your swimming pool.

Everything you require comes with this accessory. The kit comes with a 12V transformer, an instruction manual, and an extra-long cord, so you can install your light properly. The best part, it doesn’t interfere with your pool’s filtration system.

The bulb meets all ETL and UL standards, so you can rest assured of having a safe product.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 15.8 x 5 x 6.2 inches.
• Weight: 4.55 pounds.

Pros

• Meets all the ETL and UL standards.
• Halogen technology.
• Comes with installation manual.

Con

• No on/off switch.

Game New 2017 Solar Underwater Light Show

Buy from Amazon

Game New 2017 Solar Underwater Light Show turns a swimming pool into a festive site. This is a floating unit that is easy to switch on/off with a simple touch of a button. It features 10 multicolored LED lights that create colorful patterns inside your pool surface.

You will love the fact that you can take this accessory out of your swimming pool and use it for other outdoors and indoors activities. The unit comes with a built-in solar powered charger, meaning that you don’t need external chargers or batteries to light the bulb. When fully charged, this unit can run for 6 hours.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 2.5 inches.
• Weight: 12 ounces.

Pros

• Easy to switch on/off.
• Built-in solar charged.
• Perfect for other uses.

Con

• Operates for only 6 hours.

Pentair 78458100 Amerilte Underwater Incandescent Pool Light

Buy from Amazon

This reliable product is made of a stainless steel shell that ensures it doesn’t rust even when left underwater for hours. The unit also boasts of 8-3/8 inches prismatic hardened glass lens and 10-1/8 inches stainless steel body ring with a uni-tension clamp.

Amerilte also has a thermal cutoff that shuts it off when the water is low. The best part, this product creates unique moods with its green, red, and blue colors, which you can buy separately. The product meets UL standards and is perfect for freshwater use.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 7.8 x 10.1 x 10.1 inches.
• Weight: 7.5 pounds.

Pros

• Stainless steel material.
• UL listed.
• Heat-sensing cutoff.

Con

• Perfect for freshwater only.

P&LED Color Changing Replacement Swimming Pool Lights Bulb LED

Buy from Amazon

This is a top product that was made to provide your swimming pool with some mesmerizing light effects without having to cough out much money. It provides a wide range of colors including white, light blue, dark blue, red, green, and purple and it’s very easy to transition from one color to the other. You only need to toggle its switch and every one of its colors is 35% brighter than other LED lights on the market today.

It is very easy to use this unit and it doesn’t require much energy and doesn’t produce heat. It can light clearly 25,000 gallons of water, meaning you can easily see through your pool. Its performance is of the highest quality possible and comes with an easy on/off switch.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 7.1 inches.
• Weight: 14.1 ounces.

Pros

• Comes with a remote control.
• Super bright, perfect for large pools.
• Very easy to install.

Con

• Might break down after a while.

Pentair 600054 IntelliBrite Waterproof Outdoor LED Color Pool and Spa Light Controller

Buy from Amazon

This product works effectively with IntelliBrite color spa LED and pool lights and IntelliBrite outdoor lights. It can synchronize and control these sets of lights to produce an eye-catching show. The product comes with a waterproof outdoor LED hue light controller and offers easy access to all shows and colors and convenient recall and hold function.

This unit fits in 22½ inches single large or gang box and has an easy to illuminate power button. It is very easy to use this product.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.4 x 5.6 inches.
• Weight: 1 pound.

Pros

• Very easy to use.
• Comes in a large box.
• Very affordable.

Con

• Hard to assemble.

GAME Waterproof Magnetic LED Color Changing Pool Wall Light

Buy from Amazon

This waterproof submersible, hue changing light is one of the best lights on the market today. The product comes with a remote control that provides 16 hue modes and 4 hue changing options. The best feature, you can easily attach this product to your pool’s wall using its magnetic power, no wiring or tools needed.

The GAME waterproof unit uses 3 double A batteries and you can easily use it for other purposes such as patio umbrellas, camping sites, and other outdoor and indoor activities.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 3 x 1 x 3 inches.
• Weight: 8 ounces.

Pros

• Comes with a remote control.
• 4 color changing option and 16 color modes.
• Inexpensive product.

Con

• Batteries need to be replaced regularly.

Pentair 78428100 Amerlite Underwater Incandescent Pool Light

Buy from Amazon

This is a top accessory for your swimming pool. The product provides you with the required confidence and reliability that there will be no accidents when using it, giving you a peace of mind when swimming. The unit is made of stainless steel bode ring with a uni-tension clamp that doesn’t corrode easily.

Its high tech and great diffusion ensures that it outputs are evenly distributed across your pool. Its lens is prismatic hardened and it consumes less power compared some of the products on the market today.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 7.8 x 10.1 x 10.1 inches.
• Weight: 7.5 pounds.

Pros

• Eco-friendly product.
• Doesn’t emit heat.
• Very easy to install.

Con

• Doesn’t have a switch.

” Read more: Robotic Pool Cleaner

Our Top Pick

With minimal additions required to enjoy the Intex LED Pool Wall Light – 110-120V, we can easily argue that this is the simplest product on the market today. Don’t be fooled, the product has a lot of features that every bulb light should have including halogen bulbs, low energy usage, easy to install, and light that covers the entire pool.

LED Pool Light vs. Fiber Optic Pool Light

It can be hard to determine whether to go for LED pool lights or the Fiber optic Pool Lights. They both provide a wide variety of colors and illuminate your swimming pool. But like most products, there is one type that edges the other.

LED Pool Lighting – They produce light by channeling voltages via a semiconductor which produces light. They are simple.

Fiber Optic Pool Lighting – The bulb is located inside a lightbox or illuminator, which is fixed somewhere above the pool. The light then travels via a cable into your swimming pool.

Which Is Better?

We will answer this question by looking at their maintenance needs, safety, visual effects, brightness, cost, and longevity.

Ease of Maintenance

LED: It can be difficult and take more time to change the LED bulbs. If you use them in an inground swimming pool, you will need to remove the whole unit just to change the bulb. Some of these products don’t have changeable bulbs which mean that you will need to replace the whole system.

Fiber Optic: They are easy to maintain. They are located above your pool, where you can easily access and replace them.

The Winner: Fiber Optic

Longevity

LED: They are made from durable semiconductors which last longer. These bulbs can last for about 15 years before they stop working.

Fiber Optic: They are made from subtle strands which require regular maintenance to remain in the best conditions. These bulbs last for about 7 years.

The Winner: LED

Cost

LED: Initial cost might range from $400-$900. From there, you need to change the bulb when it stops working, this might cost you about $200-$400.

Fiber Optic: Initial cost ranges from $900-$1500. These bulbs also use a motor that cools the system, hence using more energy which translates to additional expenses. Fiber optic’s components also fail after a while and are costly to replace.

The Winner: LED

Visual Effects and Brightness

LED: According to the size of your pool, you might only need to purchase one huge LED light to illuminate your entire swimming pool. These lights also come with different color options that can set the mood: from a relaxing evening swim to dance party mode.

Fiber Optic: It adds ambiance to specific features of your swimming pool (perimeters or waterfalls), not illuminating your whole pool.

The Winner: LED

Safety

Both lights are safe.

The Overall Winner

LED pool lights.

FAQs About LED Pool Light

Q: How efficient are LED lights compared to other light bulbs such as incandescent bulbs?

A: Energy Star states that LED lights are 90% more efficient than other bulbs. They also last longer than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.

Q: What color options do LED lights offer?

A: Decorative LED and LED tape lights come in different colors including yellow, red, orange, violet, purple, pink, green, and blue. Most of these lights are classified as different variations of white with the most common one being bright white and warm white.

Conclusion

If you follow all the things we have looked above, you will surely know the answer to the question of what is the best LED pool light. Ensure that you get an LED light bulb that you can afford and is perfect for your swimming pool.