Best Outdoor String Lights in 2022

Last update: November 25, 2022

Are LED string lights better?

LED string lights are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more efficient and longer-lasting ways to light their homes and gardens. LEDs use far less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they last much longer, making them a more cost-effective option in the long run. In addition, LED string lights are available in a variety of colors and styles, so you can find the perfect look for your home.

Are outdoor string lights OK in the rain?

It's perfectly fine to use outdoor string lights in the rain. In fact, many people use them to decorate for parties and other events that are held outdoors in the rain. Just be sure to unplug them when the event is over so that they don't get wet and damaged.

Are rope lights better than string lights?

There are a few key reasons why rope lights may be better than string lights. Rope lights are often more durable since they are made with a thicker wire. This means they can withstand being outdoors in harsher conditions and being stepped on more without breaking. They also typically give off more light since they have more bulbs per foot. And since they are one continuous light, there are no gaps in between bulbs like there are with string lights.

Can you leave outdoor string lights out in winter?

Yes, you can leave outdoor string lights out in winter. Just be sure to unplug them when there is snow or ice on the ground, as this can create a fire hazard.


addlon 48 FT Outdoor String Lights Commercial Great Weatherproof Strand Edison Vintage Bulbs 15 Hanging Sockets, UL Listed Heavy-Duty Decorative Café Patio Lights for Bistro Garden Review:


These lamps look fantastic. Every bulb base has a mounting hole, making installation quite simple. The 11w incandescent lights emit a pleasant, warm brightness. They become touchably warm but not hot. They unquestionably contribute to the cozy and inviting atmosphere on my deck. Since it rained the night I put these up, I was able to immediately see that they are waterproof. The wiring is adequately insulated and of a fairly thick gauge. A wonderful improvement to my home's lighting.



Lemontec Commercial Grade Outdoor String Lights with 15 Hanging Sockets - 48 Ft Black Weatherproof Cord Weatherproof Strand for Patio Garden Porch Backyard Party Deck Yard – S14 Black Review:


With this set of string lights, I'm quite happy. They were more affordable than any other comparable goods at the time I placed my order, which ordinarily would be cause for alarm. I also observed that each and every review was for five stars. That is another cause for suspicion because it seems too wonderful to be true. However, I verified them on fakespot.com, and the order also qualified for Amazon Prime, so I knew I could return them if necessary. I made the decision to gamble. The reality is that this product is genuinely top notch in every way. Everything arrived undamaged and in excellent condition thanks to the careful packaging. Every bulb functions. It is just as durable as two other light strips of a similar design that I previously bought for my girlfriend's business for about double the price. This product is excellent and reasonably priced. The only thing I regret is that after utilizing them for a party, a friend dropped them on the sidewalk as we were taking them down, and one of the bulbs shattered. But the light set didn't have a problem with it! Additionally, as it uses common light bulbs, a replacement is simple to get.



YIHONG Set of 2 String Lights Battery Operated 16.4ft 50Leds Fairy Twinkle Firefly Lights Remote Control String Lights for Christmas Bedroom Wedding Party Garden Patio Indoor Decor-Blue Review:


These lights are ideal for illuminating garden stool tables, and I purchased them based on the rave reviews. For each table, use a string of these lights: 1) Make huge circular loops using the light string. 2) Using the twist tie that was included in the packing, twist tie the loops together where you are holding them. 3) Using the subsequent part of the same twist tie, tie the light strings to the battery pack's tiny plastic loop. 4) Trim a wide attachment strip to meet the battery pack's length (I used Command brand), 5) fasten the strip to the battery pack's back. 6) Place the battery pack's loop as close to the middle as possible and fasten it to the underside of the garden stool table's top (without having it show through the hole in the top of the stool), 7) After turning on the light strings, adjust the placement of each individual light as necessary by tugging gently in any light strings that need to be repositioned to ensure that the lights are evenly spaced. Both light strings can be managed by one of the accompanying remote controls. fantastic lighting



String Lights, Lampat 25Ft G40 Globe String Lights with Bulbs-UL Listd for Indoor/Outdoor Commercial Decor Review:


Even though they are much smaller than what I had imagined, I couldn't decide between these and another pair that had much larger lights (therefore giving off an old-fashioned literal "light bulb" vibe). However, they are really pleasing. I chose these over their rival for two primary reasons: 1) I wanted to be able to purchase more strands that could "connect" to more strands if necessary (the larger glass ones did not offer this option), and 2) The other ones had many complaints about them being damaged when they arrived. Because of my clumsiness, I should have something more sturdy in my hands because, by chance, I'd break them while stringing them along, hehe. In any case, these are BRIGHT, which is GREAT (I no longer need to turn on the porch light, which usually attracted moths and other critters). For now, I'm going to enjoy them tonight while we have cocktails and talk about how to light up the patio even more with these amazing quirky lights for our outdoor Oasis in the Big City! I suppose I'll buy another string and tie them together, zig-zagging them for a canopy look.



Brightech Ambience Pro - Waterproof LED Outdoor String Lights - Hanging, Dimmable 2W Vintage Edison Bulbs - 48 Ft Commercial Grade Patio Lights Create Cafe Ambience in Your Backyard- Warm White Review:


My wife and I were seeking for outdoor lighting fixtures that would produce a pleasant ambient light in a variety of situations for our backyard. Even yet, we are very particular about buying an LED or other energy-efficient light bulb.This product was ideal for our needs. It was difficult for me to believe that the lights were LEDs when I initially opened the box. I didn't believe it until I touched the bulbs many times after using them for a few minutes. My wife loves the look, and I do too.You're going to get a lot of light, so I suggest installing a dimmer. Be aware that the LED lights will flicker at the lowest dimmer levels. Expect it to occur.Although the string is sturdy, I also suggest getting a steel wire support ready if you're going from pole to pole or pole to wall over a significant distance. I came across a review that mentioned how delicate the bulbs are. Well, it's true that they aren't holiday lights. You shouldn't have the bulbs attached while redistributing the lights or shifting them around. The bulbs are screwed on after your string is set up. The bulbs must be taken out if you need to move them once more.I'll update this review later and include photos. Time will tell how well they withstand the weather, but the quality appears to be extremely nice.



Twinkle Star 300 LED Window Curtain String Light for Christmas Wedding Party Home Garden Bedroom Outdoor Indoor Wall Decoration(Blue) Review:


A double window with drapes or large blinds looks stunning with these curtain lights.The light has eight effects in total—an eighth always-on effect, a seventh continuous combo of all six blinking effects, and six dynamic blinking effects—and is a soft, cold blue (not warm, as claimed). Although the effects are lovely, I wish there were more straightforward alternatives. For instance, the Slo-Glo effect starts out with a lovely slow twinkle effect before accelerating to a quicker effect that detracts from the sparkling option.A word of caution: curtain lights are frequently tangled. Twinkle Star makes an effort to counteract this by neatly bundling each strand before shipping. But even so, when I used it for the first time, it took me approximately twenty minutes to untangle. I had to spend an additional ten minutes untangling the open half after lowering the lights on my curtain rod. I hate having to repack them.The short chord is my main issue with these. These would have benefited with an 8' extension cord that was lighted and had a right-angle plug. The extensions include a circular connector with two tiny round prongs that need to be connected to a conventional US outlet using an adaptor, which is provided. This indicates that the lights will not turn on until you are roughly 1-3' from an outlet. This meant that I had to place a power strip with a 3' cord halfway up the wall and awkwardly angle the somewhat large converter to connect in. It works for the time being, but eventually the angle will most likely result in a cord short.Soon, pictures (hopefully...)



GDEALER 2 Pack 20 Feet 60 Led Fairy Lights Battery Operated Christmas Lights with Remote Timer Waterproof Copper Wire Twinkle String Lights for Thanksgiving Christmas Decorations Bedroom Wedding Review:


I bought these lights on a lightning deal before I was sure what I would use them for. I was aware that I would not use them for some one-night extravaganza because that is not how my household operates. I wanted Christmas lights but not a hefty electric bill or unsightly connections. I accomplished my goal in that regard. Although I would have chosen colored lights, the cost of these white lights persuaded me to choose clear ones instead.Even though I can no longer climb ladders due to arthritis, I still want exterior lights to be present. I undoubtedly do. Because I can (almost) reach the tops of my trellises from the wonderful flat ground, I made the decision to decorate them. With a roll of Christmas gift-wrapping ribbon in hand, I headed outdoors to attach the lights to the trellis. I was ecstatic to learn how adaptable copper wiring is. I had no cause to work with it previously and found I didn't need anything else save the three batteries I had already put for each string, of course. My scissors and ribbon were stuffed back into my pocket.After being filled with 3 AA batteries, the plastic battery box is too heavy to hang loosely from the lights like an electrical plug-in would. By sheer good fortune, however, there was a lateral fencepost by my trellises that served as a natural shelf, so I just stacked them on it and left them there. I take my small remote controls, which are kept indoors, out in the late afternoons as dusk begins to fall and turn on the lights. I do the same thing at night to turn them off.There are as many settings as were advertised. I choose the one with the slower, more yellow light-emitting blinks. When you switch the lights back on after setting them, they will immediately return to the setting you last selected. It's advantageous that I utilized two lights and put them to the same setting so that the same remote can switch both of them on and off. I bring this up in case you're planning on doing something elaborate and grandiose that entails waves of lights cascading on and off one after the other. Although I'm not sure if you can do that with these, for my basic needs, they are enough.These are the negatives: Those batteries come first. I kept my lights on for 12 to 14 hours each night for a week until the batteries died. I had to go get replacements. That basically means that I used 12 batteries for two strings in two weeks. Ouch! As there is no method to link the strings, the batteries for each strand must be changed on a weekly or roughly weekly basis if you are planning a more elaborate light show. Additionally, keep the battery boxes' exposure to the outdoors in mind. Here in Seattle, there were a few days that were quite windy. The battery boxes were out in the elements—rain, snow, and once, I even knocked a small layer of ice off the top battery box. As a result, they will endure a fair amount of weather. But since I live in an urban area and my fence is only a few feet away from my front window, the batteries are fairly protected there, between the house and the fence. I don't know what will happen if yours is in a more exposed area and is vulnerable to bad weather. They might break free from the wire, they might be fine, or a third possibility that I haven't considered might occur. However, this was fine for me.Think about the remote control once more and what it does in this situation. I was fortunate; even though I could not operate my lights from the covered protection of my porch, which is about 20 feet from the battery boxes and also at an angle, I discovered that I can hold the remote up to the window glass and operate them from inside the house because the lights are directly across from my front window. I find it to be very cool, however if your lights won't be within a direct line of 15 feet or less from an interior window or covered spot, you might grow weary of trudging through the snow or rain twice daily to turn these things on and off. Of course, you could just leave them on, but it could require more frequent battery replacement.I have second thoughts about using these lights next year as the season comes to an end. In my garage, I have a ton of perfectly functional electric lights, but we also have electrical cords and expensive electricity bills. And as most of us already know, the lights themselves are far from infallible.When it matters most, money will make the decision for me. Until my payment arrives, I cannot compare my December electric bills from this year and last year (which will be too soon in any case). I estimate that I used 12 batteries for my two weeks of copper light strands, and my box of 20 Amazon batteries cost $8.99. Even if I consumed the entire box, it would still be less expensive than using electric lighting because I anticipate that I will save more than $10 on my monthly bill as a result. However, I might turn out to be mistaken. But if these lights really do save me money—or if they actually cost less to operate than my lights did last year—I'll buy more batteries and use them once more.



JMEXSUSS 100LED 49.2ft Indoor String Christmas Lights 30V 8 Modes Fairy String for Homes, Christmas Tree, Wedding Party, Bedroom, Indoor Wall Decoration, UL588 Approved (100LED, Multicolor) Review:


After a month of everyday use, they started to make some money, which is really freaking impressive. The cord is SOOOOO long between the end of the lights and the plug, which is my only problem. You still get a respectable number of actual lights, but there is simply too much extra cord. I can see how it would be useful to better conceal the cord's end, but I just end up with a huge bundle of extra cord that is lying around. Nevertheless, considering the cost, length, and durability, you really can't go wrong. In fact, I've now purchased two more strands. Much superior than anything I've ever purchased from Walmart or Target.



25Ft G40 Globe String Lights with Clear Bulbs,UL listed Backyard Patio Lights,Hanging Indoor/Outdoor String Lights for Bistro Pergola Deckyard Tents Market Cafe Gazebo Porch Letters Party Decor, Black Review:


Overall, these lights are of high quality: well heavy cord, nicely packaged, etc. Installing the lights requires unscrewing each bulb, hanging the lights, and then screwing each one back in. Although it takes some time, it prevents light bulbs from shattering while you are hanging the lights. After placing the string of lights in roughly the right location, I was standing on a ladder when I dropped one of the bulbs, shattering it. That's my fault. Fortunately, the lights come with one spare bulb. I was relieved to think that the manufacturers had thought of this possibility. After replacing the bulb and cleaning the glass, I continue mounting the lights. I then proceed to connect them. One light has already died, and another appears to be going to fail. I tried screwing and unscrewing the bulbs and shifting them around to see if the problem was with the wiring rather than the bulbs, but the problem is with the bulbs.UPDATE: Two weeks after writing the original review, I'm forced to deduct one more star. In less than 10 hours of use overall, it appears that two more lights had burned out.2ND UPDATE The most recent update was roughly a week and a half ago. The seller sent me a heartfelt email expressing regret for my bad experience with this goods. They said that tiny fractures in the bulbs occasionally develop during manufacture or shipment, enabling air to enter and causing them to burn out quickly. It seems I simply gotten a very delicate set through bad luck. To fix the issue, they offered to send me replacement fuses and lights. My rating has been updated to reflect their excellent customer service. I'll check back soon when I have the bulbs and the issue is fully rectified.



Command Outdoor Light Clips, Clear, 20 clips, 24 strips (AW017-20NA) Review:


GOODS: The cost is quite inexpensive. They appear to be identical to 3M plastic. There were 24 adhesive strips in it.BAD: Nothing so far; the components I've used and the more expensive hardware store packaging both cling.COMMENTS: Judging by appearances and a quick pull test, these clips are 3M. Yes, I can remove them, however it takes the same amount of power as with my other 3M clips. Regarding Command adhesive: If left on for more than a year, they will rip paint off a dry wall or wood. Additionally, if they have been in place for more than a year, the adhesive pull tab frequently breaks off before releasing the item. It's a 3M problem, not a vendors' one.


Do outdoor string lights need to be plugged in?

Yes, outdoor string lights typically need to be plugged in. The lights are usually connected to an electrical outlet via an extension cord. Some string lights are battery-operated, but these are typically not as bright as the ones that plug into an outlet.

How do you hang outdoor string lights under a patio?

If you're looking for a festive way to spruce up your patio for summer gatherings, look no further than string lights. Hanging outdoor string lights is a simple and easy way to add a touch of ambiance to any outdoor space. Here's a step-by-step guide to hanging outdoor string lights under your patio: 1. First, determine where you want to hang your lights. If you're hanging them under a patio cover, make sure there's enough clearance for the lights. 2. Next, use zip ties or command hooks to secure the string lights

How do you protect outdoor string lights?

To protect your outdoor string lights, you'll want to make sure they're properly weatherproofed. This means using lights that are designed for outdoor use and that have a waterproof seal. You'll also want to keep them away from any water sources, such as sprinklers or hoses. If you're using battery-operated lights, be sure to keep the batteries dry and out of the elements. Finally, you'll want to store your lights properly when they're not in use. This means keeping them in a dry, cool place where they won't be exposed to sunlight or moisture.

How long can you leave string lights on?

If you're using traditional string lights with incandescent bulbs, we recommend not leaving them on for more than 4 hours at a time. This is because incandescent bulbs get very hot and can cause a fire if left on for too long. If you're using LED string lights, you can leave them on for much longer periods of time. LED bulbs don't get nearly as hot as incandescent bulbs, so they're much safer to leave on for extended periods of time.

How many lumens do I need for outdoor string lights?

Outdoor string lights are a great way to add light to your yard or patio. But how do you know how many lumens you need? Lumens measure the amount of light that is emitted from a light source. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. For outdoor string lights, you'll want to look for lights with a high lumen rating. This will ensure that your lights are bright enough to light up your outdoor space. So, how many lumens do you need for outdoor string lights? A good rule of thumb is to

How many lumens do I need to light up my backyard?

There is no definitive answer when it comes to how many lumens you need to light up your backyard. Depending on the size and layout of your backyard, as well as the desired level of brightness, you may need anywhere from 500 to 5,000 lumens. One thing to keep in mind is that LED bulbs are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, so you may be able to get by with fewer lumens if you switch to LEDs.