Join me!

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights for Your Garden

These Mason jar solar lights are a super easy, budget-friendly, and cute way to add some light and whimsy to your backyard nights. Using the power of the sun, they automatically light up at night while you’re outdoors enjoying the warm evening air.

Mason Jar Solar Lights and Full Moon

I love entertaining outdoors at this time of year because it’s warm enough at night that a garden party does not need to end when the sun goes down. All you need is a way to keep bugs at bay and a little something that glows!

I originally made these Mason jar solar lights years ago, and they’ve remained a staple in my backyard garden. They’re one of the most budget-savvy ways to add some outdoor lighting and to set the ambience.

You only need three materials to make these lights, including old Mason jars, which you probably already have lying around and ready to be reused. Let’s get crafty!

hanging outdoor mason jar lights
Hang the jars in a tree or set them on a table, stairs, or shelf.

How to Make Mason Jar Solar Lights

Using just three materials and a wee bit of time, you will quickly have stylish Mason jar solar lights to illuminate the garden or patio on these late summer nights.

Materials

Make It

The most challenging part of this project is finding the solar lights that have removable tops and the pretty Mason jars to fit them. This took me all of 10 minutes.

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights

I bought the lights at a grocery store for $2 each and have a large collection of jars that I sorted through until I found the right ones. I found my lights at the Real Canadian Superstore, but I have also seen them at Target, Walmart, and dollar stores as well.

Now, you can easily find just the tops of the lights on Amazon. These are great because you’re not wasting the stake bottom, since it won’t be needed for this project. You can find them here and here.

There is also a company that makes solar lids specifically for Mason jars – who knew!?

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights
DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights

As the solar light was a bit smaller than the Mason jar ring, I used a piece of double-sided foam tape to make it just a smidge wider, and it fit inside perfectly.

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights

Don’t remove the paper from the other side of the tape so that the light can be removed from the jar. There is often an on/off switch on the light that you will still want to access. Alternatively, glue the light to the top inside of the ring to make a solid cap that can be removed.

Mason jar solar lights

Set out in the sun for 4-8 hours, and your new Mason jar solar lights will be charged and ready to light up the night.

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights

I particularly love the reflection of the label on the wood below. They also look beautiful nestled on the ground in the garden or yard, or lining a pathway.

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights

As a side note, check out how cool the moon is. While it was difficult to get a clear photo, the huge full moon was kind enough to pose in the perfect spot for these pictures. Doesn’t it look like the moon and these shining lights were just made for each other?

DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights

They remind me of jars filled with fireflies, but are much easier to come by, plus no fireflies were harmed or imprisoned in the making of these Mason jar solar lights.

I frosted the glass and added a handle to these to turn them into solar lanterns as well. You can find the instructions for how to do this in my book, Garden Made

Frosted glass solar lanterns

I can just imagine placing these next to my Fairy Light Chandelier and watching the light reflect off the dangling crystals even more than it already does at night.

More Ways to Illuminate the Night

Comments

  1. Pingback: The Coolest DIY Projects Ever
  2. Homemade lights and you can buy special lids! I didn’t know you could find solar lights at Walmart either.

    Reply
  3. Hi there!
    This is such a lovely DIY that would light up our garden at night :) I would be looking for those stake solar lights (I have colored Mason Jars; hope that works) and start this project soon. Thanks for sharing.
    Cheers,
    Jess

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Kickstart

your garden!

This FREE 5-day mini course will help you set up a thriving garden for wellness and joy quickly and easily.

I want the free course!

Join one of my free email courses!

Natural skincare

made easy!

This FREE 5-day mini course will teach you the small changes you can make to your skincare practices that will make a HUGE difference in how you feel.

I want the free course!

Kickstart

your garden!

This FREE 5-day mini course will help you set up a thriving garden for wellness and joy, quickly and easily.

I want the free course!

Learn and Live
with Nature

SHOP BOOKS

Garden Therapy Online Courses

SHOP COURSES