Common options include fully submersible or floating units, surface-mount fixtures, and attachments using magnets or suction cups. Marine lights often offer surface-mount or hole-wired installations for boats.
Many underwater lights offer RGB/multi-color capability with dynamic effects (for example, 16 colors and multiple color-changing modes). Common modes include Flash, Fade, Smooth, static white, and multi-step flashing or timer modes.
Listings commonly use terms like IP68 to indicate fully submersible products, and may also describe items as waterproof or water-resistant depending on model and intended use.
Run-time and life claims vary by product type. Battery-run times in listings include examples such as up to 50 hours for puck-style lights and up to 70 hours for a floating lantern. Some LED lanterns list very long rated bulb lifespans (e.g., up to 100,000 hours). Many floating or battery lights also include automatic shut-off timers (examples: 1 hour, 2 hours for static modes, or 5 hours for color-changing modes).
Common materials include ABS or other plastics and polymer bodies for pond and decorative lights, aluminum housings for more robust fixtures, weather-resistant PVC for some pond lights, and stainless-steel hardware for marine fixtures.
Common extras include remote controls (with their own battery), mounting aids such as built-in magnets and suction cups, outdoor transformers and long power cords for halogen kits, garden or mounting stakes, and colored lens filters for changing colors.