What Boat Lights Are Required at Night?
At night, boats need specific navigation lights, including red (port/left) and green (starboard/right) sidelights, a white stern light at the rear, and either a white masthead light at the front or an all-around white light. When anchored, your boat must display a white anchor light that is visible from 360 degrees. It is also important to ensure all lights are visible and not obstructed by other lights.
Boat lights are also needed for compliance with maritime laws. You could be ticketed and fined if you don't have the right ones in the right colors and when and where you're supposed to.
So, what boat stern lights does your boat need to keep you safe and comply with regulations—especially at night? We'll cover all of that in today's blog!
Updated October 1, 2026
Types of Boat Lights
There are several different boat lights, and how they're used matters. Using them properly helps keep the waterways safe and properly regulated.
Navigation Lights
Your boat's navigation lights include both red and green side lights. They're mandatory for most vessels and used to indicate the port (left) and starboard (right) sides of the boat.
You also need a white stern light as part of your navigational lighting. This helps vessels see you from behind.
A white masthead light is also required for power-driven vessels. It's positioned on the front mast and visible from the front and sides to make it easier for other boats to see where you're located in the water.
Some smaller boats use an all-around white light instead of masthead and stern lights, as this kind of light combines those functions.
Anchor Lights
When your boat is anchored, a white anchor light must be visible around the horizon. This shows that the vessel is stationary, reducing the chances of a collision.
Make sure it's not in use when you're underway, as this can cause confusion and potentially lead to an accident.
Special Lights
Sometimes boats need special lights for specific tasks, including the towing lights used by vessels towing other boats. Additionally, law enforcement uses flashing lights for their boats when patrolling the water.
Specific Requirements Based on Boat Size
The size of your boat correlates with the kinds of boat lights you're required to use.
Typically, boats fit into three categories:
- Vessels under 12 meters
- Vessels between 12 and 20 meters
- Vessels over 20 meters
Vessels Under 12 Meters (39.4 Feet)
If under power, these smaller vessels should have an all-around white light. You'll also need sidelights and stern lights in a tricolor light at the masthead.
Vessels Between 12 and 20 Meters (39.4 to 65.6 Feet)
Bigger boats need more lights. Vessels in this category need separate sidelights, a stern light, and a masthead light if they're under power.
Vessels Over 20 Meters (65.6 Feet)
These large vessels require the most lighting.
If they're under power, they should have two masthead lights: one at the front and one at the rear. They also need separate sidelines, a stern light, and additional white lights based on their specific size.
Boat Light Requirements | |||
| Boat Type | Length | Lights Required Underway | Lights Required at Anchor |
| Powerboat (or sailboat with the engine running) | Under 39.4 feet (12 meters) | Red and green sidelights plus one white all-round light, or the masthead, sidelights, and stern setup below | One white all-round light |
| Powerboat (or sailboat with the engine running) | 39.4 feet (12 meters) to under 164 feet (50 meters) | White masthead light, red and green sidelights, and white stern light | One white all-round light |
| Powerboat (or sailboat with the engine running) | 164 feet (50 meters) or longer | Two white masthead lights (the rear one higher), red and green sidelights, and white stern light | White all-round lights at the front and rear (the rear one lower) |
| Sailboat under sail alone 23 feet (7 meters) or longer | Red and green sidelights and white stern light (no masthead light). | Under 65.6 feet (20 meters), one tricolor light at the top of the mast can replace all three. | One white all-round light |
| Sailboat under sail alone | Under 23 feet (7 meters) | Sailboat lights if practical. Otherwise, a white all-round light or a white flashlight or lantern ready to show. | One white all-round light |
| Rowboat, canoe, or kayak | Any length | Sailboat lights, a white all-round light, or a white flashlight or lantern ready to show in time to prevent a collision | One white all-round light |
Usage Scenarios
How a vessel is being used can also affect what kinds of lights it has to display at night.
- If your boat is underway and driven by power, it must display red and green sidelights, a masthead light, and a stern light.
- If it's underway and sailing, it can use the same combination as a power-driven vessel or a tricolor light to replace individual sidelights and a stern light.
At anchor, vessels need an all-round white anchor light.
What Boat Lights Are Required at Night?
Between sunset and sunrise, boats must display navigation lights (those are the red and green lights on the bow of your boat).
Masthead and stern lights are also crucial for nighttime navigation. These bright white lights make your boat visible to other boaters in the dark.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Boat Stern Lights
You don't want to put yourself and others at risk by using boat stern lights or other vessel lights incorrectly. The wrong light colors and incorrect placement are common issues, as are lights that aren't bright enough.
To avoid these kinds of problems, all lights must be appropriately placed based on visibility requirements and regulations. Also, make sure you're using the correct colors to prevent confusion and choose bright lights for good visibility.
Maintenance Tips
Prioritizing good boat maintenance is very important, and your lights are no exception.
- Inspect lights frequently for proper functionality and ensure they're working as expected.
- During your inspection, clean the lenses and ensure they aren't obstructed in any way.
Additionally, always carry spare bulbs on your vessel and know how to replace dim or malfunctioning bulbs. You don't want to be caught out on the water with bad bulbs or without the tools to replace them.
How to Choose the Right Navigation Lights for Your Boat
Figuring out what boat lights are required at night starts with two things: your boat's length and how it moves through the water. Work through these steps to match your boat to the right lighting setup before you start boating at night.
- Find your boat's length. Check your owner's manual, or measure from the front of the bow to the back of the stern. Lighting rules change at set lengths, and the Coast Guard Navigation Rules list those cutoffs in meters.
- Decide if your boat counts as a powerboat or a sailboat. Any boat running on an engine counts as a powerboat, even with the sails up. A boat counts as a sailboat only when it moves by sail alone.
- Match a powerboat under 39.4 feet (12 meters). These boats can show red and green sidelights plus one white light that shines in a full circle (a 360-degree light). They can also use the setup in step 4. Many boats combine the two sidelights in one bow fixture, which the rules allow for boats under 65.6 feet (20 meters).
- Match a powerboat 39.4 feet (12 meters) or longer. Show a white masthead light at the front, red and green sidelights, and a white stern light. Boats 164 feet (50 meters) or longer add a second masthead light.
- Match a sailboat under sail alone. A sailboat moving by sail shows red and green sidelights and a white stern light, with no masthead light. Sailboats under 65.6 feet (20 meters) can combine all three into one tricolor light at the top of the mast. Switch to your powerboat lights from step 3 or 4 when you start the engine.
- Light small sailboats and human-powered boats. Sailboats under 23 feet (7 meters), rowboats, canoes, and kayaks can use the sailboat lights from step 5. If they don't have those, they must show a white light that shines in a full circle or keep a white flashlight or lantern ready. Show that light early enough to prevent a collision.
- Add an anchor light when you stop. Show one white light that shines in a full circle when you anchor between sunset and sunrise. A few exceptions apply, such as boats under 23 feet (7 meters) anchored away from channels and busy waterways, but showing a light is always the safer choice.
Once you know which lights your boat needs, test each one before sunset and keep spare bulbs on board. Some states add their own lighting rules, so confirm your state's requirements before you boat after dark.
Boat Safely and Legally In Your State with Boater Education
Understanding boat stern lights is important, but there's much more to being safe on the water! Along with taking good care of your boat lights, it's essential to be comfortable with basic boating safety. You can do that by taking a boating education course through Boat-Ed.
Through our online course, you'll learn a lot of great information to help you get out on the water confidently for a better boating experience. You'll also learn everything required by your state or province to pass the test for your boating education card to boat legally every season.
Content most recently reviewed and updated October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions the boat lights required at night!
Q: What lights do you have to have on a boat at night?
A: At night (or in low visibility), every boat must display navigation lights. Typically this includes red and green sidelights, a white stern light, and. Depending on the boat type, you might also need a white masthead or all-round white light.
Q: Do you have to have red and green lights on a boat?
A: Yes, most powered boats need red and green lights. Red (port/left) and green (starboard/right) sidelights are required so other boaters can tell your direction of travel. Very small or non-powered boats may use a single all-round white light instead.
Q: What are the rules for lights on a boat?
A: Rules for lights on boats vary based on the size of your boat. Boat lighting rules specify which lights to show, their color, position, brightness, and when they must be used (generally from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility) to prevent collisions and show your boat’s size, type, and direction.
Q: Do sailboats need a masthead light at night?
A: Not under sail alone, but yes sailboats need a masthead light at night when the engine is running. A sailboat moving by sail shows red and green sidelights and a white stern light. Once the engine starts, the boat counts as a powerboat and needs a masthead light too.
Q: What boat lights do you need when anchored at night?
A: Show one white light that shines in a full circle where other boaters can see it best. This applies between sunset and sunrise and in poor visibility. A few exceptions exist for small boats in low-traffic areas, but showing the light is always the safer choice.
Q: Do kayaks and canoes need lights at night?
A: Yes. Between sunset and sunrise, a kayak or canoe needs a white light that shines in a full circle, or a white flashlight or lantern ready to show in time to prevent a collision. A mounted white light is easier for other boaters to spot, and some states require one.
Q: What is a tricolor light on a boat?
A: A tricolor light combines the red and green sidelights and the white stern light in one fixture at the top of a sailboat's mast. Only sailboats under 65.6 feet (20 meters) can use it, and only while sailing without the engine. Switch to powerboat lights when you start the engine.
