Motion detection and motion-activated alerts
Mobile control
Two-way audio and noise cancellation 
Motion sensors with wide coverage
Adjustable light timers
3 scanning LEDs for continuous protection 
Motion-activated alerts
Long-range night vision
HD video and several storage options 
Two-way audio
Motion and sound activated alerts
Integration with other nest home automation devices 
We strongly suggest investing in a monitored home security system, but if you’re on a tight budget, or not ready to commit to a whole system, motion sensor lights and cameras are a great initial investment.
Motion sensors can help deter intruders and would-be burglars, but they’re also practical for everyday situations.
With motion sensor lights, you can come home after dark without tripping over your four-year old’s expertly placed tricycle, slipping on an icy walkway that you thought was dry, or hunting through your purse in the pitch-black night to find your keys.
An outdoor motion sensor camera can deter intruders or capture footage if someone follows through with a burglary attempt. They can also help discourage package theft if you have things delivered to your front porch.
Indoor motion-sensing cameras can alert you when your kids get home from school or help you check in on your pets while you’re away from home. Plus, if something does go wrong and a burglar enters your home, you’ll have footage to hand over to police.
Keep reading to learn more about the best motion sensors for protecting your home both inside and out.
Ring kicked things off with a video doorbell but recently expanded its offerings to include lots of other home security equipment. One new addition is the motion-activated HD floodlight camera.
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Heads Up! The Sengled Snap Security Floodlight is no longer available. We’re working on updating the piece with a new pick.
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Outdoor motion sensor lights make it easier for family members to come home safely when it is dark, and they make it harder for would-be intruders to find hiding-places on your property.
You’ll find our top picks below, but if you want more in-depth coverage of motion sensor lights, check out our post about the best security lights.
The RAB Super Stealth is in first place because it is equipped with serious security features. The lights can stay on for up to 12 minutes when activated, the motion sensors cover more range than the competition, and it can support powerful, bright lightbulbs.
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The Super Stealth also has adjustable sensitivity controls and an adjustable timer so you can tailor it to your specific needs.
The MAXSA motion sensor floodlight isn’t as bright or as powerful as the RAB Super Stealth, which is why it earned second place.
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However, it is solar powered—which is a cool feature you can’t get with our first-place choice. The MAXSA also usually costs less on Amazon than the Super Stealth.
If you already have motion-sensing floodlights, you probably don’t need one of the floodlight/camera combos mentioned above. However, You should still invest in an outdoor security camera. There are tons of security cameras available—we’re just covering standalone outdoor ones here. If you want to dig into all your security camera options, check out our best security cameras post.
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We had a tough time deciding whether or not the Canary Flex should take first or second place. Ultimately, it is in second because while it has tons of great features, it costs about $50 more than our first place pick.
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The most impressive thing about the Canary is its versatility. It can be used inside or outside, works with wired power or with batteries, and comes with a 360-degree magnetic swivel base so you can place it however you want.
Ideally, an outdoor camera will help deter potential intruders, but an indoor camera with a motion sensor is still a great tool for keeping an eye on your kids, pets, and home while you’re away. And if someone does make it past the outdoor cameras and into your house, an indoor camera can alert you quickly and provide you with footage that could be handed over to authorities if necessary.
The main reason the Nest Cam took the top spot is that you can pair it with lots of other convenient home automation and security devices. It’s a solid option for almost anyone since you can use it if you already have lots of home automation devices, if you’re just getting into home automation, or if you just need a camera and don’t care about smart home devices at all.
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A few of our favorite things about this camera are the sound-triggered alerts, versatile setup options, and continuous video recording.
If you want more than just a motion sensor camera, consider Canary. It stands out by offering environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, and air quality). These sensors could be particularly useful if you have family members with asthma or allergies.
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In addition to the extra environmental sensors, the Canary comes with all the features you’d expect from an indoor motion sensor camera. Plus—it is less expensive than the Nest Cam and has a slightly wider lens.
Motion sensor lights and cameras can help you improve your home security, but in most cases, we suggest investing in a full security system that comes with not only motion sensor lights and cameras but also professional monitoring. That way, if someone sets off a motion sensor, professionals will be alerted even if you’re unavailable.
Be sure to learn about how motion detectors work, and get even more educated about the technology designed to protect you.
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Will a motion detector work inside an outdoor light fixture
Hi Carol – Great question. I believe that they can, however most people opt into motion sensor lights instead since that tends to be the easier route. A great outdoor motion light we recommend is the RAB Super Stealth. You can read about it and other recommended motion sensor lights here: https://revert-asl-redrock.pantheonsite.io/best-security-lights/#Motion Sensor Lights. We hope this helps! Best, – Amy
Both motion detectors offer some positive and some negative points. Which system to chose depends on the needs and requirements and to an extent cost also affect this decision. People with pets need to be more careful while selecting the motion detectors. There are motion detectors in the market that are especially for the homes that has pets. The dual technology detectors might be expensive but it removes the possibility of false alarm.
There are advantages and disadvantages for wired detectors as well as wireless detectors. As for the question that which one is less troublesome, the answers vary from person to person.
Hi Zenia,
Here is a comparison between wireless and hard-wired motion detectors:
Advantages of wireless motion detectors:
Advantages of hard-wired motion detectors:
In conclusion, a wireless motion detector has no advantage over a hard-wired model other than ease of installation. On the plus side: Both models (hard-wired or wireless) will do the job of detecting movement if properly selected and installed.