Why choose an outdoor lamp post light
An exterior lamp post does more than light the way: it frames the façade, keeps nighttime paths safe and carries your home's style out to the sidewalk. Placed along a walkway or near the entry, it guides both eyes and footsteps, while a run of driveway lamp posts helps steer a vehicle into the garage without hesitation. It's an exterior light post that works for looks and function alike.
The post light types in this collection
Outdoor post lamps
The most common format: a fixture mounted atop a pole, usually 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m) once installed. Ideal along a driveway or in the front yard, this outdoor post light casts a wide glow that marks the route to the door.
Post heads
If you already own a standard pole, a post head threads onto the top and replaces an older fixture. It's the simplest way to modernize an existing post lantern without redoing the whole install.
Bollards
Lower — often 18 to 36 in (46 to 91 cm) — a bollard light aims downward to define a footpath, garden or patio without glare. It's a great companion to taller posts for layered lighting.
Pedestal fixtures
Mounted on a ground-level base, a pedestal fixture marks an entry or the corner of a patio. Its miniature street-lamp look brings classic character to garden post lights and landscaping.
Heights and placement
For an outdoor post light, aim for a total height of 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m) to spread light without glare. Space poles 8 to 12 ft (2.4 to 3.7 m) apart along a driveway for even coverage. A lower bollard sits closer together, roughly every 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m), to avoid dark spots. This spacing works whether you're lining driveway lights on posts or edging a backyard path.
Color temperature and bulbs
For residential exteriors, a warm white of 2700 to 3000 K creates a welcoming glow and flatters façade materials. A high CRI (90+) renders colors more accurately. Many decorative light posts outdoor accept a standard outdoor bulb, while LED versions build the source right in for long life and low draw.
Standing up to the weather
Outdoors, water, frost and road salt are unavoidable. Confirm the fixture is rated for damp or wet locations depending on exposure. Cast-aluminum or baked-finish steel bodies hold up well to our winters. A backyard light post placed under an overhang can use a damp rating, while fully exposed exterior post lights need a wet rating.
Our brands
Z-Lite anchors the collection with a broad range of styles, from transitional to contemporary. Visual Comfort Studio brings clean lines and refined finishes, while Kuzco Lighting focuses on sleek, modern LED designs. Canarm, DVI Lighting, Artcraft and Artemide round out the range, covering everything from a classic lantern to a minimalist exterior fixture.
Coordinating your outdoor lighting
A lamp post works best as part of a full scheme: an outdoor wall light flanking the door, recessed fixtures in the porch ceiling and low-level landscape lighting at grade. Matching finishes and color temperatures gives you a unified mood from sidewalk to patio.