9 Tester-Approved String Light to Instantly Transform Your Outdoor Space (2024)

Our Top Picks

If you want to brighten your entire yard with beautiful lights, you can't go wrong with our favorite outdoor string lights from Addlon. We loved the bright, warm light they emitted, creating the perfect ambiance on our back porch. To turn them on, you simply have to plug them in. We ran an extension cord to our back door, so they're always ready to turn on and off.

When testing these lights, we were a bit intimidated at first by the multiple boxes that arrived on our doorstep. However, the entire installation process was simple and completed in 30 minutes. You have to screw each bulb into its spot, add an extension cord, and you're ready to hang them. The lights come with zip ties to easily attach to anywhere you want. This may seem like a tall ask, but there are only 30 bulbs on the 96-foot version we tested. The spread-out bulbs distribute evenly in your space and make them feel more evergreen than Christmas decor.

Unlike our best splurge pick, the Pottery Barn LED String Lights, which are made of acrylic, the Addlon ones are made of glass, so you must be extra careful. Because of this, we think these lights are best under covered patios in case of rain or snow. However, they remained beautiful and bright when exposed to the elements in our testing.

In the age of every product having a compatible app, we were delighted at the ease and simplicity of these lights. However, if you prefer a more customizable option, the brand makes the same lights in a smart version with a compatible app with more color and brightness options.

_{Bulb Type: LED | Number of Bulbs: 30 | Cord Length: 96 feet | Wattage: 11 | Power Source: Plug-in}

Get the most bang for your buck with the Home Accents Holiday 300-Light Clear Incandescent Light Set. We personally use these each year as outdoor Christmas lights, but these clear white lights can easily be used year-round to decorate your yard.We think the green wire makes these perfect for stringing along trees and bushes both outdoors and indoors for Christmas trees. We prefer using clips (like these) no matter where you choose to hang your lights.

These inexpensive string lights provide 68 feet of lighted length with 300 mini glass bulbs, all attached to a green wire. These are designed so that if one bulb burns out, the others stay lit (saving you from having a half-lit strand). However, in our experience, broken bulbs and strings are common issues. Due to the affordable price tag and abundance of bulbs in each pack, we think they are worth buying year after year.

You can connect up to three sets of these lights end to end, which is especially convenient for decorating outdoors. We love that they come neatly packaged with twist ties. We recommend being very careful when gathering the lights after taking them down to avoid more broken bulbs when you're ready to hang them again next patio or holiday season. While they're fragile, they're effective whether you're going for a festive look in the winter or creating a warm outdoor ambiance in the summer.

^{Bulb Type: Mini incandescent | Number of Bulbs: 300 | Cord Length: 68 feet | Wattage: 72 | Power Source: Plug-in}

If you're looking to add more ambiance to your outdoor space, check out Sunthin's LED Outdoor String Lights that we tested in our own backyard. With shatterproof plastic bulbs and weatherproof construction, these commercial-grade lights are just as practical as your standard set. What sets them apart is their appearance, which will transform your patio or backyard into a cozy space perfect for outdoor dinner parties and other gatherings.

One factor to note is these bulbs are a bit dimmer than the others on this list, but we found this appealing. Each 48-foot-long set gives you 15 bulbs (spaced out appropriately), and you can connect up to 12 strands to cover more space. Opting for multiple sets is a great way to offset the brightness issue, giving you the same warm look with a bit more illumination. You can also purchase a separate dimmer from the brand to customize the light output further.

During testing, these lights withstood storms and installation. The apparent durability went beyond looks; we had no blown bulbs in our two-week testing period despite occasional heavy winds. The bulbs were probably in the most danger during installation when we clinked several on concrete with no damage—an action that would’ve certainly shattered a regular glass bulb.

_{Bulb Type: Edison-style LED | Number of Bulbs: 15 | Cord Length: 48 feet | Wattage: 13.5 | Power Source: Plug-in}

LED lights come in many varieties, and they are popular for many reasons: their longer life span, efficient operation, and cool-to-the-touch exterior. These features make the Pottery Barn LED String Lights one of the top picks that we tested—and it doesn't hurt that they're beautiful, drape nicely, and even look stylish when they're not on. In short, they are the perfect outdoor lights if you want something you can install once and leave up all year long.

The strands are available in three lengths—12, 24, and 48 feet—and strung with LED bulbs, which use less electricity than standard bulbs and last a lifetime. They're also impact-resistant andUL-listedfor permanent outdoor installation, so there's no need to take them down in the winter. We (unintentionally) tested their durability and dropped a few bulbs on the pavement when hanging them, and they remained unharmed. You can link up to 750 feet of these lights to one outlet, giving you enough length to decorate a large outdoor space.

During testing, we left these lights up in one of the rainiest, windiest springs we’ve had in the Northeast. The lights weren’t under a cover, so they got the full effect of whatever Mother Nature chose to throw at them. On a particularly sunny evening after a nasty week of rain and wind, we turned them on again. Voila, gorgeous lights with no problems.

We found that the lights were heavier than expected, with the setup process requiring more than one person. This also limits where and how you hang them. We found that the clips we normally use for string lights were not strong enough to support their weight, so we went with screws to ensure they were secure.

Once hung, they had a lovely drape effect and exceptional light quality—bright enough to illuminate the space while providing just the right ambiance for watching a movie on an outdoor screen. They also have a bubble effect within the bulb to create a beautiful twinkling light as they shine. These string lights are one of the priciest picks on our list, but given that LED bulbs use less electricity, are impact-resistant, and can be left outside year-round, we think they are well worth the investment.

_{Bulb Type: LED | Number of Bulbs: 12 | Cord Length: 24 | Wattage: Not listed | Power Source: Plug-in}

After testing dozens of solar lights, we found that these are our favorite. The 17 vintage-style Edison bulbs are as practical as they are pretty and are made of shatterproof plastic. In fact, they held up well during our lab testing, even when we froze, poured water, or dropped a golf ball on the solar panel.

We love that these string lights don't require electricity, so you can place them just about anywhere. The solar panel has a versatile design and can either be clipped to a fence or balcony, or staked in the ground. We appreciate the "moody lighting" these lights emit, and although they weren't bright enough to read under, we think that they are great for decor or entertaining purposes.

Plus, they are backed by a full 2-year warranty and have a 1,000-charge lifespan (around 2.5 years, according to the manufacturer). Although you can't connect multiple strands, they are available in a longer, 48-foot strand.

_{Bulb Type: Edison-style LED | Number of Bulbs: 12 | Cord Length: 27 feet | Wattage: 1 per bulb | Power Source: Solar}

Fairy lights have small bulbs on a thin wire, and some of the best outdoor ones we've tested are the Zaecany LED String Lights. What gives these lights a fairy-like appearance is the thin wiring that makes them appear as if they're floating. Each strand includes 99 feet of lighting with 300 micro LED bulbs—perfect for decorating large outdoor areas.Plus, there are eight different light patterns to choose from, a timer function, and a dimmer, so you can set the perfect ambiance for any gathering.

To set up your lights, you have to connect the plug and the cord (if they're not fully connected, they won't turn on). The small lights and thin wire make these extremely easy to set up anywhere. The malleable copper wire bends easily around a porch railing, bushes, or on the exterior of your home. These lights are weatherproof, but because they’re mounted on copper wires, you should avoid hanging them with a metal hook. Since these aren't battery-operated, you're also limited to hanging these where you have access to an outlet.

You can get these lights in warm or cool white and cycle through the different settings with the remote, which comes with batteries. Make sure you don't lose the remote, otherwise you'll be stuck on the last light setting you chose. The only other way to operate the lights is the on-and-off switch (which lights up green when turned on). We also recommend being careful when putting these lights away because they can become tangled easily.

_{Bulb Type: Micro LED | Number of Bulbs: 300 | Cord Length: 99 feet | Wattage: Not listed | Power Source: Plug-in}

We loved the Hampton Bay 24-Light Indoor/Outdoor String Lights' pretty Edison-style LED bulbs that turned our outdoor space into our favorite nighttime lounge spot. The light set has 24 bulbs on a 48-foot string, and you can connect up to 11 strands end to end to decorate a larger area.After testing one strand, we liked them so much that we splurged on another to complete lighting our patio.

There’s so much to love about these outdoor string lights. First, they give off a warm white glow that’s comfortable and welcoming, and the LED bulbs are long-lasting. We loved the warm glow (it's almost orange), but cool white lovers should steer clear. We were surprised by the brightness; one strand lit our entire patio and some of the surrounding yards and trees.

The bulbs were extremely easy to hang as well. There's a loop above each bulb to loop around a nail. Hanging them this way also ensures they're nice and sturdy when impacted by inclement weather. Additionally, the plastic bulbs are impact-resistant, so they won’t shatter if they’re ever dropped. When inspecting close-up, we did notice small scratches on the bulbs, but they aren't noticeable when hung up. The whole string is also weather-resistant, so you can use it to decorate your deck, pergola, fence, and more. They are also covered by a 2-year warranty in case any bulbs are damaged or broken.

_{Bulb Type: Edison-style LED | Number of Bulbs: 24 | Cord Length: 48 feet | Wattage: 3 | Power Source: Plug-in}

No electrical outlet nearby? No problem! The Koopower LED Outdoor Battery Fairy Lights are powered by three AA batteries (not included), allowing you to display them anywhere—inside or out. This easy-installation process won us over during testing.

These battery-operated string lights are 36 feet long with 100 LED bulbs, and the control box allows you to select between eight modes for different lighting effects.There's only one button for all of the effects, but they are clearly labeled on the battery box so you know which setting is which. There's also a timer function, which involves flipping a switch inside the battery box—very simple.

The battery console for the Koopower lights is water- and dust-proof, allowing you to place it outdoors. We opted to place them on a covered awning on our outdoor patio, where they were still exposed to wind and sun, and they held up beautifully. Similar to our best fair lights, the Zaecany LED String Lights, we found that these string lights add a great ambiance to our patio but aren't super bright and shouldn't be relied on for safety or security purposes.

_{Bulb Type: LED | Number of Bulbs: 100 | Cord Length: 36 feet | Wattage: 4.5 | Power Source: 3 AA batteries}

When testing the Enbrighten LED Premium Smart Color Changing String Lights, we couldn't get enough of the endless customization options. The lights only come with one button to sync them to a compatible app on your smartphone. There, you can adjust the color and brightness, set schedules, cycle through light shows, and more.

Unlike other string lights, these have an attractive bulb design with a small circle above each bulb to place a screw or nail, depending on where you hang them. We hung them around our front porch and had zero issues connecting to the app or understanding the endless settings available.

At their brightest, these string lights were brighter than our porch light, eliminating the need for one altogether. But, if that's too bright for everyday use, you can adjust the brightness and color temperature any time on the app. The app also suggests certain schedules for different colors to come on at different hours of the day. With every color, you can also change the light effect for a colorful light show in your own yard.

While testing them, we experienced several intense rain storms, and they remained perfect, turning on when they were supposed to, as usual. As with most smart lights, there are no on-and-off switches or setting options for non-smartphone users, so this is definitely a better option for tech-savvy individuals.

_{Bulb Type: Edison-style LED | Number of Bulbs: 12 | Cord Length: 24 feet | Wattage: Not Listed | Power Source: Plug-in}

Final Verdict

The best outdoor string lights are the Addlon Outdoor String Lights. These indoor/outdoor lights give off a warm glow that’s comfortable and welcoming, and the glass bulbs are easy to hang. If you’re looking for a less expensive strand, go with the Home Accents 300-Light Clear Incandescent Set, which gives you almost 68 feet of length at an incredibly affordable price.

FAQ

• What’s the best way to hang and secure outdoor string lights?

  When putting up your string lights, there are several ways to anchor them. Many people like to use cup hooks to hold up string lights, as it’s easy to place the wire inside the loop yet it still holds the strand in place. However, you can also use a staple gun to anchor string lights into place—just be extra careful not to pierce the wire. No matter how you’re hanging your lights, it’s best to remove glass bulbs during installation, as there’s always a chance they’ll be bumped or even dropped.

• Is it safe to leave outdoor string lights on overnight?

  Unfortunately, it’s not a good idea to leave any lights on around the clock for the simple reason that all light bulbs, even LEDs, can heat up with extended use. This can become a fire hazard if they’re located near any flammable object. We recommend turning off your string lights when they’re not in use or at least overnight. If you don’t want to do it by hand, a light timer or smart plug can do it automatically.

  Freda continues that leaving your string lights on overnight will also shorten their life span. "We usually recommend around a 3-5 hour window from sunset until whatever time the person chooses.The string light timers help make this process very automatic," she says.
  

• Do outdoor string lights use a lot of electricity?

  According to Freda, "String lights are low-voltage and do not use much electricity, similar to a strand of Christmas lights." Therefore, they are meant to not use a lot of electricity, but you can double-check the voltage of your lights before purchasing if looking for an option that won't use up too much.

  Many modern string light options also use LED lights, according to Hirt. "Most bulbs compatible with string lights are 2-3 watts each," which is much less than incandescent bulbs that used to be much more popular.
  

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