Outdoor lighting should be welcoming and highlight the beauty of your home, but first and foremost, it should increase visibility around your house at night. From your front porch to your patio, make sure the spaces around your home are well lit with lighting made to withstand the elements. We offer a range of durable outdoor lights specifically rated for outdoor use, both for safety and long-term durability—from eco-friendly LED options to vintage-inspired designs. In this guide, we’ll breakdown the different rating types and important features to consider when deciding on outdoor lighting for your home.

UL Location Rating

Every light fixture has a designated UL Location Rating, which means it's been tested by the independent Underwriter's Laboratory and approved for use in one of three locations: dry locations, damp locations, and wet locations.


  • Dry locations are defined as those with no exposure to moisture of any type, which would typically include most rooms inside your home—the dining room, living spaces, and bedrooms.

  • Damp locations are exposed to moisture, but not direct water. For example, these locations include near a shower in a small bathroom, above your kitchen stove, or underneath a covered outdoor porch. Damp-rated fixtures make ideal porch lights, as long as they are not exposed directly to the elements. However, if you live in a particularly stormy area or near the coast, a wet-rated fixture (like our marine-grade outdoor bulkhead sconces) might be the best solution, even for covered porches.

  • Wet locations are exposed to snow, rain, sleet, and other outdoor elements. If you want to place your fixture where it will be in contact with the elements, you will need a wet-rated fixture. They're specially designed with features like holes and gaskets to make sure that water stays away from the electrical elements of the fixture.


If you're uncertain about what sort of fixture you need, ask your electrician or reach out to our Design Crew for options. Picking the right type of outdoor light for your porch means that as the years go by, come rain or shine, your light will function perfectly and stay looking great.

Take a look at our wet-rated fixtures and shop our entire outdoor lighting selection.