Night lights with motion detectors: test winner & comparison

These are the best night lights with motion detectors. Comprehensive guide with many tips and experiences from everyday life.

Night lights with motion detectors are an absolute insider tip that I recommend to my friends at every opportunity.

No matter whether you go to the toilet at night or want to get to the bathroom early in the morning …

  • A night light with a motion detector saves you the hassle of searching for the switch.
  • In addition, it stays off most of the time and does not disturb while sleeping.

The latter in particular makes such a light the ideal choice for families with children.

If you want to benefit from these great sleeping aids, please read this guide with lots of tips and my tried and tested night light recommendations.

I would like to briefly tell you the advantages of a night light with a motion detector compared to a night light without a motion detector.

Advantages of a night light with a motion detector

A big advantage is of course that you don’t have to press every light switch in the house.

You do not wake up your partner or other people in the household with the brightly generated light.

There are also fewer bruises when you rumble around the apartment at night.

  • Because you can see well enough thanks to the softly lit room, you do not come into such painful contact with your furniture.
  • Often enough I myself tripped or trampled on at night because I couldn’t see things clearly.

The power consumption is also limited compared to other continuously operated lamps. Electricity is not temporarily stored anywhere and is only used when the night light is actually lit.

Maybe it doesn’t make a big difference like day and night. But seen over the long run, one or two euros can be saved.

When buying a night light, you have to make a fundamental decision between battery operation and use via a socket. Therefore, I would like to briefly introduce you to a model of each type as a test winner.

There is one product that I found particularly exciting. For me it is the test winner in the category ‘Battery-operated night light with motion detector’:

Night light with motion sensor and twilight sensor from BOVON

The second test winner belongs to the category ‘night light with motion detector for the socket’:

I myself was very surprised at the interesting additional functions that some night lights with motion sensors have nowadays.

I would like to work with you to analyze where, how and when a night light with motion detector makes particular sense in your household to be installed.

Perhaps you have already thought about using a night light with a motion sensor as emergency lighting?

I want to answer this question in the next chapter and present an interesting alternative.

What is the difference between night light and emergency lighting?

Let’s assume a different scenario. You want to install emergency lighting at home.

For example, the following areas of application would come to mind:

  • For stairs, especially in the stairwell
  • You want to illuminate dark corners indoors or outdoors
  • Maybe as some kind of additional protection against burglary
  • Irradiate escape and rescue routes

First of all, it should be said that night lights can only be used temporarily in private areas.

You do not have the technical requirements and the charisma of emergency lighting. With the night lights from the trade, you do not meet the official building regulations for an emergency light.

An important feature of emergency lighting is that it is not connected to the electrical circuit and can be used independently of it. Thus, lighting should also be made possible in the event of a power failure.

You can still use a night light to fulfill one of the aforementioned areas of application for your purposes and at the same time remain independent of the power supply.

There are also battery operated night lights. I see the greatest advantage in the fact that you can set up the lamp flexibly where you want. You are no longer dependent on sockets.

The following example caught my eye because of its quality and performance.

Perhaps this product is a little overachieving your home needs. With all the high quality of the product, you can use this night light for both indoor and outdoor use.

After all, the lamp shines after the motion detector has been triggered within a range of 10 meters. That is quite a long way and many normal living rooms do not even have a diagonal of 10 meters.

  • I found the additional function with the duty cycle interesting. You can individually program a delay of up to 30 seconds, when the night light switches itself off again. The motion sensor can also be turned off again at the push of a button.
  • 3x LR14 / C / Baby batteries are also included in the scope of delivery. The manufacturer estimates the battery life at 800 days with a daily use of 60 hours. I find that completely sufficient for your purposes.

Check beforehand, however, that the motion detector is not accidentally triggered at your desired installation location. Curious pets or elements in your house that are moved by the wind can create unwanted light even at night.

A less powerful and bright night light can be found in the next chapter. In the following specimens, it is particularly the color of the night light and the mood that is triggered on our organism.

The most beautiful light and the most pleasant color

The brighter and whiter the light, the cooler the room.

I therefore recommend that you think about the color of your night and orientation light. Or consider the color as a sensible purchase criterion.

Throwing a little paint on the white wall doesn’t hurt. On the contrary: it can even be useful. And not just for reasons of design and style in your home

  • By using red light or reddish tones, you can protect your eyesight at night and still see everything well enough.
  • The red light of the light alarm clock also simulates the day and night change that you know from sunrises and sunsets.

Red shades therefore have a calming and gentle effect on the eye. It is better for seeing in the dark and does not stress your eyesight as much as other artificial light colors.

White or blue light (e.g. on cell phones in the bedroom ) has a negative effect on the mental state. So-called light pollution can also lead to sleep disorders.

Reading tip: Here is a comprehensive test on blue light filter glasses for better sleep.

Of course only in continuous operation, which is not possible with a motion detector anyway. But only marginally.

The following night light with motion sensor shines in exactly these pleasant colors.

A lithium polymer battery is already built into the device. You charge this night light via a USB connection and can attach it flexibly anywhere you want.

According to the manufacturer, two hours of charging time should be sufficient for up to 180 days.

The range is a maximum of 6 meters, so it should be sufficient for your purposes. You can choose between on, off and automatic for the lighting. After 20 seconds of inactivity, the device switches off automatically.

There are also many other night lights with even more reddish tones. However, the specimens found by have no motion detector and light up until they are manually switched off.

But if you are interested in these red night lights without motion sensor, you can find these products listed below:

Amazon advertising links / images from the Amazon Product Advertising API

But there is also a very special function in the ultra-modern night lights with motion detectors that I would like to introduce to you.

What is a twilight sensor – and is it necessary?

The night lights with motion detectors and twilight sensors are very interesting models.

But what exactly is behind the term? And how do night lights with motion detectors and twilight sensors actually work?

 

The night light should shine at night. We were that far. We also already knew that the motion detector switches on the night light when movements are registered. So what does the additional function with the twilight sensor bring me?

A twilight sensor in a night light should only let the lamp shine if the surrounding area falls below a certain brightness value.

Conversely, the night light should switch itself off again when a certain brightness value is exceeded in the room. So much for the theory of a twilight sensor.

Twilight sensors are nothing more than brightness sensors. A lamp cannot know whether it is sunrise or sunset, the sensors are always based on the ambient light.

If the sky is gray and darkly cloudy all day long and there are no natural light sources, a sensor will not be able to detect twilight.

Therefore, the term night light with brightness sensor is more suitable. But the term twilight sensor has become commonplace and solidified.

Conversely, this means: If there is still enough light in the room at night (e.g. from the room lighting, candles or the television), the night lights will not work despite motion detectors and twilight sensors.

The brightness sensor of the night light will not turn on any light. After all, the room is still too lit and the night light sensors are always programmed to a certain brightness before they work.

This brightness specification varies greatly between the models. While some sensors have high limits and thus light up relatively quickly, others have very low values ​​and thus shine less frequently or quickly. When buying, therefore, pay attention to the guide value in lux.

So if you set night lights with motion detectors and twilight sensors in your apartment to automatic mode, then the lights will actually only shine after dark.

If used correctly, this can have a very pleasant effect on your living space. Because if only these pleasantly dimmed lights shine at home after sunset, then this may have a positive effect on your well-being.

After all, it’s something completely different when you turn on bright ceiling lights with cool light bulbs. These night lights with brightness sensors have a very pleasant effect on your living area.

If you install several of these night lights with motion detectors and twilight sensors in one room, a cozy environment is created.

And you might even be able to save electricity costs if you don’t want to irradiate your apartment with permanent lighting at night.

For all your individual purposes at home, I would like to introduce you to a true universal talent. A more than flexible solution for a night light with motion detector and twilight sensor is the following model:

The range of the sensor is up to 5 meters and the light switches itself off again after 20 seconds without any registered movement.

  • But if you want to use this night light for reading in bed in the evening, you can also use the permanent light function.
  • The brightness is very dimmed and the warm and light colors of the LED light are easy on your eyes.

You can freely turn and swivel this night light with motion detector and twilight sensor up to 360 degrees. I think this is a very good solution if you want to direct the motion sensor and the light in your desired direction.

In addition, you can attach it with an adhesive strip where it fits best for you. You can also attach it below tables, furniture or your bed.

Despite all the flexibility, I missed the usual use with the socket. It’s good when I can charge a night light like this via USB. But charging it completely without a socket and only via USB then limits its use.

But there is another night light with a motion sensor and a twilight sensor that I would like to introduce to you:

  • In contrast to the previous model, this night light does not need adhesive strips to be attached.
  • You can fix this night light with a ring either standing or hanging.

Good for floors and corners, as this night light with a motion sensor and twilight sensor can shine into the room while standing. Or hanging to shine down from a wall to maybe illuminate pictures and mirrors.

This night light has the energy efficiency class A + and is battery operated. The 3xAA batteries are already included in the scope of delivery.

Are there night lights with motion detectors for children?

The answer is a resounding yes and no. In my online research, at least I did not find a special night light with a motion detector for children.

 

No funny animal design, no smiling moon, no colorful color schemes, etc.

But then I thought to myself: Why should there also be a night light with a motion detector for children? After all, one of the core functions of the night light was that it should only light up when there was movement.

Tip: Here you will find the best night lights for babies in comparison .

In theory, you can also use any night light with a motion detector in the children’s room. Of course, nothing speaks against that. But what would speak for it?

If your child is about to fall asleep and triggers the sensor through their movements in bed, then they may be woken up again. This may re-awaken the child’s play instinct.

Not that it ends up being even fun when your child turns on the light by waving or jumping on the mattress.

  • That reminds me of those lamps that are equipped with acoustic sensors and react to a certain sound.
  • How much fun it was for me back then to turn on and off the light on the Christmas tree in the living room!

In that case, a night light with a motion detector is rather counterproductive for your child’s sleep.

At the beginning I wrote that the static and permanently glowing night lights are much more suitable for the children’s room.

The best fear solver against the child’s fear of the dark is a permanently shining light.

If this light only reacts to your child’s movements, then it does not serve the purpose you wanted. If you install a night light with a motion detector in the child’s room, it will not solve your problem and may even create a new one.

There are countless table lamps, night lights , starry sky projectors , etc. that have been specially developed for the children’s room. All of these products are much more suitable as a night light with a motion sensor for the children’s room.

So if you come across a night light with a motion detector for children anywhere on the internet, rest assured that it is more of an ordinary night light with a motion detector.

Night lights with motion detectors can ALSO be installed in children’s rooms, but are NOT EXCLUSIVELY made for this.

Nevertheless, I would like to introduce you to two night lights that have been specially developed for children. Although they don’t have a motion detector, they are really worthwhile alternatives because of their great design and colors.

A night light for the little animal lovers

With this night light you are not tied to any socket and can flexibly position the night light in the children’s room where it is most comfortable for your child.

According to the manufacturer, three hours of charging via micro USB should be enough for 12-15 hours of use, depending on the color setting.

The lamp installed inside is specified with a service life of 50,000 hours. I consider that to be more than sufficient and it is almost enough for my entire childhood.

Of course, no motion sensor also means that you have to switch this night light off again manually. A remote control with a range of five meters solves this challenge with ease.

  • So you no longer have to go into the children’s room to switch off the night light and you no longer wake up your child.
  • The silicone outer shell is BPA-free, so it does not contain any plasticizers. It is also marked by the manufacturer as ‘washable’.

Of course, that doesn’t mean this night light is machine washable. But if it does get soiled by your offspring in whatever way, you can wash it off with water and clean it.

3D night lights with dinosaurs and unicorns

The second clever solution goes beyond the normal function of a night light.

Instead of just glowing, there are also modern night lights with 3D projections.

Amazon advertising links / images from the Amazon Product Advertising API

The two night lights I have listed should of course be suitable for your son or daughter.

The boys are more into dinosaurs, while the girls prefer to be brought to sleep by flying unicorns.

  • Both models have three different projections. This gives a little variety and it won’t be boring in the evening.
  • In addition, this 3D night light can also play 16 different static colors and has four different color changes.

And if your child falls asleep and it becomes ‘too colorful’ for you, you can switch off the night light remotely. As with the cat night light before, you can operate the dinosaur / unicorn night light by remote control within a range of six meters.

You can also use this night light with batteries. The 3-AA batteries are not included. This night light can also be used at the socket with a USB cable and adapter.

A horizontal LED strip for furniture and mirrors

Another idea would be to attach a whole LED strip instead of a classic night light with a motion sensor.

Because of the cool rays, this would perhaps be less suitable for your own bedroom, but perhaps everywhere in the living room, bathroom, kitchen or hallway where you want to illuminate a piece of furniture or a mirror.

The range of the motion sensor is 3 meters and the light switches off automatically after 15 seconds of inactivity.

The self-adhesive strip with magnetic fields can easily be attached to the lamp and removed again. No tools, screws or nails are required.

So you can attach this bar flexibly wherever you want. This LED night light with motion detector works with 4x AAA batteries. The manufacturer specifies the service life of the LED as 50,000 hours.

But if you were only looking for a simple solution with a low price, then one of the following two models would be more suitable for you:

When it comes to price and performance

Now let’s assume that you are quite frugal when buying a night light with a motion sensor. Ultimately, you don’t care about all the technical bells and whistles.

You don’t want to throw 3D projections with unicorns, a modern twilight sensor or bright colors on the walls. All you need is a cheap product that does the job.

The cheapest night light

So if you just want a cheap LED night light with motion detector, then I can recommend the following model:

The price of this night light with motion sensor is really very low compared to the many other models.

In return, you won’t get a great visual design without a warm, yellowish shade.

It shines in bright white light and would be a real mood killer in your bedroom at night. With a small movement it suddenly becomes bright again in your room.

But: You really shouldn’t complain about the price. In this case, cheap doesn’t mean good. It is more likely that the basic use of a night light with a motion sensor has been fulfilled.

You can attach this night light with motion sensor anywhere you like. This model is also battery-operated. The 3xAAA batteries are not included in the scope of delivery.

This night light is light as a feather at just under 7cm and only 40 grams. The sensor switches itself off again after 15 seconds of inactivity.

A night light for the socket

What has been neglected in this product test so far is a night light with a motion sensor for the socket. For this reason I would like to introduce you to a night light for the socket.

If you opt for a socket night light with a motion detector, however, you are bound to it.

These night lights cannot be battery operated and always require a permanent power connection to function. So they are designed to be rather simple.

The following night light with motion detector for the socket convinced me with both its price and its performance:

You set the brightness levels continuously using the touch sensor on the underside of the night light. Touch the area long enough until you reach your desired level.

  • The range of the sensor is approx. 3 meters and remains switched on for 20 seconds after a registered movement.
  • In addition, with 8 LEDs it is a very eye-friendly night light and enables soft and glare-free lighting in the dark.

The lamp life is estimated at around 60,000 hours, which is more than sufficient.

In addition, this night light consumes very little electricity to shine. It consumes approx. 0.12W in standby and just under 1.0W in operation at full brightness.

According to the manufacturer’s information, the pure usage costs of this night light for the socket are less than EUR 1.00. PER YEAR. At the beginning I wrote that night lights with motion sensors can save one or two euros compared to night lights in continuous operation.

As long as these measured and communicated guide values ​​for the manufacturer’s power consumption are actually correct, a small sum of money can be saved annually with clever use of these night lights.

Conclusion – which night light with motion sensor should I choose?

You yourself know best where in your house or apartment a night light with a motion sensor could best be installed and where it makes sense.

 

Another tip: a night light with a motion detector is usually sufficient if you really only want to use it in the bedroom.

But it could just as well be that you want to install a night light with a motion detector in several rooms at home.

For example, three night lights with motion detectors could be installed from the bedroom through the hallway to the bathroom. So I think it makes sense to buy the same night light with motion detector several times.

You would not only rely on the same harmonious design and color tone in your home. It’s also about the uniform sensors and the same light or the same brightness level.

If you were to buy several different night lights at the same time, the motion sensors react differently to your movements.

They also shine in different brightnesses or colors. Some go out after 10 seconds without movement, others after 20 seconds and others after 30 seconds,

Personally, I just don’t think that’s nice and too stressful and chaotic for my own apartment. Better to buy three of the same models and create a harmonious atmosphere with the shining light.

Small advantage of this thing: There are often inexpensive savings packages for night lights with motion sensors. When combined, 5 of the same night lights often cost less each than individually.

Incidentally, I noticed something else during my research. The price range between a night light with a motion sensor for the socket and all other night lights with the additional functions described above is relatively small.

Ultimately, you decide which model is best suited for your personal purposes at home. If you really only want to attach a night light with a motion sensor to sockets, you should opt for these models.

I can understand that if you don’t want to buy battery-operated models.

It can be annoying and annoying if you have to change the batteries every x months and instead prefer to rely on models with power from the socket.

  • However, if you only want to invest a few euros more, you will receive more modern night lights with many additional functions – e.g. Philips HF3520 light alarm clock .
  • And, by the way, are still independent of sockets and can flexibly attach your night light with motion sensor in many places.

Most of the time, the night lights are not screwed or nailed down either and can be attached to the walls with adhesive strips. Quite gentle on the surface of the wall and there is no trouble with the landlord.

At the same time, of course, this gives you a lot more options and you can flexibly install night lights with motion detectors in the far corners of your apartment. This gives you much more creative freedom to illuminate your living space in an atmospheric way.

 

If you only want to connect night lights with motion sensors to sockets, these will usually be at knee height. That limits the use a bit.

It would make much more sense, for example, if a night light with a motion sensor from a corner of the room registers the movements of an apartment or house door.

So if you enter your own living room late in the evening, the light is switched on immediately.

That can be quite useful and helpful. Especially when you are fully packed and don’t have your hand free to operate the light switch yourself.

For this reason I would rather recommend a night light with a motion sensor that can be operated with a socket AND batteries.

So you stay flexible and can choose between the two options and a fixed or flexible location.

I have introduced you to many different uses. Hopefully you have found a lot of useful information in this buying guide about night lights with motion detectors.

Your purchase decision may now have become a little easier and you now know better which night light you can install, how and where and when in your home.

I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.

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