The best recessed ground lights, compared.
Top pick: CNBRIGHTER 1 W honeycomb well Best value: EBION four-pack GU10 holders – Highest value part that is not the top pick: about £37.99 for four mains holders and a cut-out of about 7 cm. Bulbs are not included. Updated 22.10.2026.
A recessed ground light is a fitting set into a patio, deck, path or driveway so the face sits near flush and the beam goes up or out. UK shoppers use one when the cable is planned before the surface is finished. The search returns two families: mains holders for a replaceable lamp, and small extra-low-voltage wells that need a transformer the box may not include. Read whether the supply is mains or extra-low voltage, and whether that extra-low voltage is AC or DC. The two are not interchangeable. An IP67 marking means dust-tight plus temporary immersion, not a pond light and not a sleeve that can stay full of water. Prefer a lamp you can still reach, and a hole or body size you can measure before you cut. A kilogram figure on a bullet is a seller claim, not a drive-over test. A deck and a tyre are different jobs. In England and Wales, fixed garden lighting sits inside Approved Document P. The [12 V or mains guide](/hub/garden-decor/recessed-ground-light/sub/recessed-ground-light-12v-vs-mains) sets out that supply split.
A recessed ground light is a fitting set into a patio, deck, path or driveway so the face sits near flush and the beam goes up or out. UK shoppers use one when the cable is planned before the surface is finished.
32 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 9
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What will you connect it to?
The CNBRIGHTER TMDM-FW-1W is a single honeycomb well at £21.99, about 35 mm across and 54 mm high, with a sealed 1 W LED listed at 95 lumen and 3000 K. The bullet sets the supply at 12–24 V DC and also says it is compatible with 12 V AC, which is a wider claim than the mini marker that rejects AC. The transformer is not in the box, and the concrete sleeve is a separate listing. The star line is 5.0 from only three ratings, and there is no review text, so that perfect score is a thin sample. There is no load claim. The honeycomb cover is described as a way to soften and even the beam, not as a flood for a path. A 5.0 from three silent ratings is not a reason to treat this as the strongest light in the table.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small anti-glare well on a supply that matches the 12–24 V DC wording, or a 12 V AC line the bullet explicitly allows.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs UK review text, a mains GU10, or a tyre to pass over the lens.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need a transformer?
The box does not include one. The bullet sets the working voltage at 12–24 V DC and says it is compatible with 12 V AC.
Is a concrete sleeve included?
No. Embedded part S-Φ118 is a separate ASIN, B07CMYYN1P.
What is the beam like?
The bullet describes a honeycomb cover meant to soften and even the light.
HIBOITEC’s buried set is listed at £89.99 for a low-voltage supply of 12–24 V AC/DC, with the transformer and the wire left out of the kit and six screw-lock connectors named in the bullet. The title and the included-components line say 12 lights, another row says 6, and one US review says 9 arrived. The star line is 4.6 from 19 ratings, and the texts are headed United States, plus two short Germany notes, not the United Kingdom. An attribute prints 12 W and 1,200 lumen while the pack count disagrees, so you cannot treat that lumen line as a clean per-light figure. There is no load claim, even where driveway use is named. A 4.6 is not a UK verdict when the comments are not from UK buyers and the carton count is in conflict.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An existing 12–24 V AC/DC transformer where you can count the lights on arrival and you do not need UK review text.
Less suitable: A mains GU10 run, a purchase that depends on a fixed pack of 12, or a tyre passing over the lens.
Specifications
Common questions
How many lights are in the box?
The title, size, set name, and included-components line say 12. Number of Lights and the first bullet say 6. One US review says 9 arrived.
Does it include a transformer?
No. The bullet says the transformer and the wire are not in the kit, and that the lights are meant for most low-voltage outdoor transformers at 12–24 V AC/DC.
Are the reviews from UK buyers?
No. The texts in the file are headed United States, with two short Germany notes. The 4.6 from 19 is the amazon.co.uk listing line.
The ledscom.de six-pack is £95.25 for square 230 V GU10 wells, with no transformer and no bulbs, each socket rated to a maximum of 15 W. The published cut-out is 98 mm across and 106 mm deep, and the face is about 110 × 110 mm, which is the only full hole-and-depth pair in this set. The bullet says up to 500 kg for foot and vehicle traffic; that is a seller claim, not a test report, and there is no speed. Across 17 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.4, and the texts are headed Italy and France, not the United Kingdom. An attribute prints 1,200 lumen with no lamp in the box, so that number is not the output of a supplied bulb. Ingress is described as IP67, meaning temporary immersion and dust-tight. The published recess is the useful part of this row; the vehicle line is not evidence you can drive over it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A walk-over path or patio where you can cut 98 mm by 106 mm and you will supply the GU10 lamps.
Less suitable: A driveway tyre, a 12 V circuit, or a decision that needs UK buyer comments.
Specifications
Common questions
What hole do you cut?
The listing states a cut-out of 98 mm across and 106 mm deep. The face is about 110 × 110 mm.
Are the bulbs included?
No. Each fitting is a GU10 socket rated max 15 W.
Is 500 kg a certified drive-over figure?
No. It is a seller bullet for foot and vehicle traffic. The file has no test report.
Auraglow’s four-pack is £59.99 on 240 V, with no transformer, a 1 m three-core rubber flex on each fitting, and a GU10 holder for lamps 30–75 mm long up to 35 W. Bulbs are not in the box. Across 52 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.3, and most texts are headed United Kingdom, which is the deepest UK sample among the mains holders here. UK reviews say the four lid screws cannot be reached once the body is in the ground or decking, so a failed lamp means digging the unit out. Other UK texts report leaks and condensation, and one reads IP67 as about 30 minutes of immersion rather than a fitting that can sit in water. A seller bullet says up to 1,000 kg, and a UK driveway buyer returned the set. It is the top pick in this comparison when you want a 240 V GU10 holder with a UK review base and a stated flex, and you will fit the lamp before the body is buried. It is a weak choice if you need to relamp later or put a tyre on the lens.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A deck or path of 240 V GU10 holders where you fit the lamp before the body goes in and you will not drive over the lens.
Less suitable: A gravel driveway, a fitting you expect to open after burial, or a 12 V system.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the bulbs included?
No. The holder takes a GU10 LED or halogen lamp, 30–75 mm long, up to 35 W.
Can you change the bulb after it is buried?
UK reviews say the four lid screws cannot be reached once the body is in the ground or decking, so a failed lamp means digging the unit out.
Does IP67 mean it can sit in water?
One UK review reads IP67 as about 30 minutes of immersion, and says longer rain lets water in unless the lid is sealed further. Other UK texts report leaks and condensation.
The CNBRIGHTER Q3-3 Way is a single side-beam well at £27.99, about 5 × 5 × 4.8 cm, with a sealed 3 W LED listed at 195 lumen and 3000 K. The beam leaves through three slots in the cover, so this is not an uplight aimed at a wall or a tree. The bullet sets 12–24 V DC, while another power line says AC/DC, so the two rows do not say the same thing. A transformer, lead, and sleeve are named as optional extras, not as items in the box. The star line is 4.1 from 33 ratings, with one UK text plus Canada and US comments. That UK buyer liked the light and still found the output low for the size, and a Canada buyer said it did not last two seasons. The material field says wood while the bullet says 6063 aluminium, so do not use the wood line for the body.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low path or step where you want light thrown sideways from a small well on a matching 12–24 V DC supply.
Less suitable: An uplight, a mains circuit, or any spot where a tyre will pass.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the beam point upwards?
No. The bullet describes a side-view beam through three slots in the cover.
Is the transformer in the box?
No. The included-components line names a 12 V DC transformer, an extension cord, and a sleeve as optional accessories, and the bullet says they are sold separately.
What do the four reviews say?
A UK buyer liked the light but found the output low for the size. A Canada buyer said it did not last two seasons. Two US buyers called the quality good.
The CNBRIGHTER TMDM-1W-Mini is a finger-size marker at £15.99, about 20 mm across and 38 mm high, with a sealed 1 W LED listed at 87 lumen and a 120° beam in the title. The bullet is explicit that it wants 12 V DC and is not 12 V AC, and the box does not include a transformer. Across 92 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.0, mixing UK, US, and Canada texts. UK comments include units that failed after a day, a week, or two months, and one that was still working after a couple of months. Several buyers also call the output low or the body too hot to touch. A UK review calls the lead short, and the extension is a separate listing. It is the lowest shelf price in this comparison, though early failures mean that saving only holds if the unit stays lit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short run of tiny path markers where you already have a 12 V DC supply and can accept about 87 lumen.
Less suitable: A 12 V AC garden transformer, a driveway tyre, or a fitting you expect to open and relamp.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this run on 12 V AC?
No. The bullet says 12 V DC and states it is not 12 V AC. A transformer is not in the box.
Is the cover stainless steel?
The bullet says a 304 stainless steel cover plus a 6063 aluminium radiator. The material field says aluminium.
What do the reviews say about lifespan?
UK texts include early failures (a day, a week, two months) and one unit still working after a couple of months. Several also call the output low or the body too hot to touch.
EBION’s four empty GU10 holders are £37.99, about £9.50 a fitting, on 110–240 V with no transformer in the box. The bullet caps the lamp at 7 W and says LED, halogen, and energy-saving bulbs are not included. The body is 11 × 11 × 13 cm and the cut-out is about 7 cm, which is one of the few hole sizes actually published in this set. Across 49 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 3.9, and many texts are headed United Kingdom. An attribute block prints 40 W and 11,200 lumen; that figure is not the output of a lamp in the box, so leave it out of the decision. There is no load claim. It is the best value here when you want several mains holders and a published cut-out, though you still have to buy the bulbs and you should not treat it as a tested driveway fitting.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A deck or path of empty mains GU10 holders where you will buy the lamps and you can cut a hole of about 7 cm.
Less suitable: A fitting that must include the bulb, a 12 V transformer circuit, or a driveway you will drive on.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the bulbs included?
No. The bullet says GU10 LED, halogen, or energy-saving lamps are not included, and sets a 7 W maximum.
What size hole does the bullet give?
About 7 cm across. The body is 11 × 11 × 13 cm. There is no separate depth line.
Why ignore the 11,200-lumen line?
The attribute block says 40 W and 11,200 lumen. The bullet says max 7 W and bulbs not included, so that lumen figure is not a measured output of a supplied lamp.
YOVGQOLV’s four-pack of the ST6115 is £49.99, about £12.50 a light, on 220–240 V with a 5 W 3000 K GU10 stated in each fitting. The bullet says you can fit another GU10 later. Overall size is 14 × 10 × 10 cm and the pack weighs 1.43 kg. There is still no customer-review line, and questions about recess depth are not answered in the bullets. The 1,000 kg line is the same seller claim as on the single, without a test report or a speed. Ingress is listed as IP67. You pay more per fitting than the empty EBION four-pack and you get a named warm-white lamp, but you still do not get a cut-out or a review sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short mains run where you want the warm-white lamp named in the box and you can confirm the hole on the live page before you cut.
Less suitable: A purchase that needs UK reviews, a published cut-out, or evidence a car can pass.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the bulbs included?
The bullet says each light comes with a 5 W 3000 K GU10 and that you can fit another GU10.
How deep is the recess?
The file does not say. Product questions ask how deep the recess must be, and the bullets do not answer. Overall size is 14 × 10 × 10 cm.
Is 1,000 kg a test result?
No. It is a seller bullet. The file does not include a test report.
YOVGQOLV’s single ST6115 is a 220–240 V GU10 well at £19.99, with a 5 W 3000 K bulb stated as included and a body of 14 × 10 × 10 cm. The bullet says you can change the lamp, which is a different job from the sealed 1 W wells in this set. There is no customer-review line on the listing we captured, so you are reading specification text only. The load line says up to 1,000 kg, and that is a seller claim without a test report or a speed. Cut-out and recess depth are not given, only the overall size. Ingress is listed as IP67, which describes temporary immersion, not a sleeve that can sit in a puddle. You are buying a mains holder with a stated warm-white lamp and no review sample to check it against.
Pros
Cons
Best for: One mains uplight where you want a warm-white GU10 already named in the box and you can measure the hole on the live page before you cut.
Less suitable: A driveway you will drive over, or a purchase that depends on UK review text.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the bulb come in the box?
The bullet says each light comes with a 5 W 3000 K GU10 and that the bulb can be changed.
Is there a cut-out size?
No. The file gives overall size 14 × 10 × 10 cm and no separate cut-out or depth line.
Can it take a driveway tyre?
The bullet says up to 1,000 kg. That is a seller claim, not a test report. A driveway question in the file is not given a separate answer.
Nine amazon.co.uk listings were scored from 0 to 100. Stars are up to 35, from the amazon rating divided by five. Sample size is up to 25, and a thin or non-UK review set scores less. Listing clarity is up to 25, for a supply line you can match, a hole or a cable length, and an honest lamp line. Points come off inside that part when the same file contradicts itself. Value in this set is up to 15, higher when the shelf price buys more than one usable fitting, or a stated bulb, without pretending a missing transformer is included. Repeated faults can deduct up to 15. There is no laboratory test and no drive-over test. The highest total is the top pick, once. The highest value part that is not the top pick is best value, once.
Stars
35%The amazon.co.uk star line, as (rating / 5) × 35, rounded to the nearest whole number. No review line scores 0 on this part.
Sample
25%Review count and where the texts are headed. Fifty or more ratings with mostly United Kingdom texts score 22. A handful of ratings, or no United Kingdom text, scores much less.
Listing clarity
25%A supply you can match, a hole or a cable length, and an honest lamp line. A file that contradicts itself, or omits the cut-out, scores lower on this part.
Value
15%What the shelf price buys in this set: more than one usable fitting, or a stated bulb, without treating a missing transformer as included.
Separate a mains GU10 holder from an extra-low-voltage well before you compare a shelf price. Supply, a lamp you can still reach, a hole you can measure, and a load line you treat as a seller claim matter more than a star rating on a thin sample. IP67 is temporary immersion, not a flooded sleeve.
A recessed ground light is set into a patio, deck, path or driveway so the face is near flush and the beam goes up or out. On amazon.co.uk the useful rows split into two families. One is a mains GU10 holder, usually 220–240 V, with no transformer in the box. You supply the lamp up to the wattage on the bullet. The other is a small 12 V or 12–24 V LED well. Several of those boxes leave the transformer out, and a sleeve can be a separate listing. A ceiling downlight is a different product.
IP67 on these listings is dust-tight plus temporary immersion. It is not a pond light, and it is not permission to leave the sleeve full of water.
A bullet that says 12 V DC and not 12 V AC will not run on a 12 V AC garden transformer. Read that line on the listing you are buying, and do not assume the transformer is included.
An attribute can print 11,200 lumens and 40 W while the bullet says max 7 W and bulbs not included. That figure is not the output of a lamp in the box. A kilogram load line is a seller claim, not a drive-over test.
Supply comes first. A recessed ground light in this set is a mains GU10 holder or an extra-low-voltage well. Mains rows are 220–240 V or 110–240 V, with no transformer in the box. The circuit still has to be safe. In England and Wales that means Approved Document P and BS 7671, and the IET states that Regulation 411.3.4 requires 30 mA RCD protection on domestic luminaire circuits that are new or significantly altered. Extra-low-voltage wells need a transformer the box may omit.
IP67, the hole and the load claim decide the surface. Every kept listing states IP67, which is dust-tight plus temporary immersion under IEC 60529. It is not a flooded sleeve. Electrical Safety First says not to submerge a light unless it is designed for that, and gives about 0.5 m as a reasonable burial depth for ordinary gardening, with warning tape and a route drawing. NICEIC’s householder rule of thumb for ordinary outdoor fittings is IP44 or higher. Measure a hole before you cut.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a flush GU10 on a proper circuit, and you will fit the lamp before the body goes in. Auraglow is four 240 V holders at about £59.99, with 1 m flex each and 4.3 from 52 ratings, mostly United Kingdom texts. Bulbs are not included. UK reviews say the lid screws cannot be reached once the body is buried.
You need a published hole and a load figure, and you will treat that figure as a seller claim. The ledscom.de six-pack is about £95.25, 230 V, with a cut-out of 98 mm and a depth of 106 mm, and a 500 kg bullet for foot and vehicle traffic. There is no test report. The 4.4 from 17 ratings is headed Italy and France, not the United Kingdom. Bulbs are not included.
You already have a 12 V DC supply and you want small markers, not a flood. The CNBRIGHTER mini is about £15.99, a sealed 1 W LED listed at 87 lumen, about 20 mm across. The bullet says 12 V DC and not 12 V AC. The line is 4.0 from 92 ratings, with United Kingdom texts that include early failures.
The top pick is the Auraglow four-pack of 240 V GU10 holders at about £59.99. It scores 70: 4.3 from 52 ratings, mostly United Kingdom texts, and a stated 1 m flex. Lid-access and leak comments are a deduction, not a reason to ignore that sample. Bulbs are not included, and a UK driveway buyer returned the set. The best value is the EBION four-pack of empty holders at about £37.99. Its value part is 14, the highest value part that is not the top pick. The cut-out is about 7 cm, the bullet maximum is 7 W, and an 11,200-lumen attribute is not a lamp in the box. A 5.0 from 3 ratings does not win, because that sample part is 2.
EBION four-pack GU10 holders
Highest value part that is not the top pick: about £37.99 for four mains holders and a cut-out of about 7 cm. Bulbs are not included.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources for garden electrics, IP ratings and buried cable. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts are the captured listings in this comparison, not a live re-scrape. Sources last checked on 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
