The Best Outdoor Christmas Lights

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The best outdoor Christmas lights brighten the home and heart during the holiday season.

What would the holidays be without outdoor Christmas lights to illuminate the winter darkness? Whether they’re tiny twinkle lights or dangling meteor shower lights, these decorations help create a heartwarming holiday season. These lights come in different styles, bulb shapes, and string designs.

When choosing the right ones for your home, consider the lights’ string length, color, and control features, too. Start dreaming of the ideal lighting scheme to pair with your Christmas decorations by checking out this guide. We’ve included shopping tips and a list of the best outdoor Christmas lights around.

1. BEST OVERALL: Prextex Christmas Clear White Wire 100 Light Set
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: BHCLight Extra-Long LED Green Wire Christmas Lights
3. BEST WHITE: Quwin White Christmas String Lights
4. BEST COLORED: Twinkle Star 200 LED 66-Foot Fairy String Lights
5. BEST SMART: Twinkly 100 Multicolor LED String Lights
6. BEST ICICLE LIGHTS: Knonew Christmas Lights Curtain Fairy String
7. BEST OUTDOOR PROJECTOR: Y Yuegang Christmas Laser Lights
8. BEST METEOR LIGHTS: Aluan Meteor Shower Rain Christmas Lights
9. BEST SOLAR: Joomer Solar Christmas String Lights
10. BEST LARGE-BULB: Noma C9 LED Quick Clip Christmas Lights
11. BEST FOR LARGE AREAS: Twinkle Star 360 LEDs Christmas Net Lights

How We Chose the Best Outdoor Christmas Lights

The most important factors in Christmas lights are reliability and durability. These two factors guided the majority of our Christmas light choices. We wanted lights that lasted and looked great at the same time. Some categories, like solar-powered lights, have more reliability problems, but we chose the ones that stood out for their power consistency in that case.

Other deciding factors included bulb type, light strength, and length options to fit different homes and lighting needs. To curate this list of trustworthy lights, we spent extensive time researching the different Christmas light types and what features make them more useful and reliable, looking at more than 100 makes and models from many different brands.

Our Top Picks

The best outdoor Christmas lights include sets that consistently provide bright, clear light and last for a reasonable amount of time. There are a variety of styles on this list to fit different tastes, architecture, and themes. Remember—no matter the style, the best lights are the ones that make you feel like the holidays have finally arrived.

Best Overall

Prextex Christmas Clear White Wire 100 Light Set

The Prextex Christmas light set keeps lighting basic but beautiful with a traditional all-white design. These small twinkle lights come on a 20-foot-long string with a 13-inch lead wire and a 5-foot end connector. They’re designed for indoor or outdoor use and are sized so they don’t look out of place in either location.

The package includes some backup materials in case an accident happens or a bulb goes out, including two flasher bulbs, two extra bulbs, and two replacement fuses to keep them up and running. If one strand is too short, that’s not a problem, since up to five sets of these lights can be connected. While there’s a small number of these strings that show problems within the first few months, this company’s responsive customer service takes care of dissatisfied customers.

Product Specs

• Length: 20 feet
• Color: White
• Number of bulbs: 100

Pros

• Traditional twinkle light design is suitable for indoor/outdoor use and suits a range of decor
• Comes with 2 flasher bulbs (to create a twinkling effect), 2 extra bulbs, and 2 replacement fuses
• Up to 5 sets of these lights can be connected to create a longer strand

Cons

• A few reviewers report units failing after a few months

Get the Prextex outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon. 

Best Bang For the Buck

BHCLight Extra-Long LED Green Wire Christmas Lights

The BHCLight extra-long Christmas lights illuminate the holidays at a foot-by-foot price that’s hard to beat. Each 95-foot string contains 240 LED warm-white Christmas lights—more than sufficient to add a cozy, Christmassy glow. They’re approved for indoor or outdoor use (they’re waterproof), providing versatility along with holiday cheer.

These lights include eight different lighting modes: combination, waves, sequential, slow glow, chasing, slow fade, twinkle, and steady on. A mode control on the electrical plug allows you to switch modes as needed. This string’s shortcoming is that it cannot plug into another string to create a longer set of lights.

Product Specs

• Length: 95 feet
• Color: White
• Number of bulbs: 240

Pros

• Affordable price per foot; great for decorating large exteriors on a budget
• 95 feet of string, 79 feet of which is lights
• 8 lighting mode options that are easily controlled with a button on the plug

Cons

• Cannot plug into another strand, which can make very large installations difficult

Get the BHCLight outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon. 

Best White

Quwin White Christmas String Lights

For those who prefer the bluish hue of a cool-white light, the Quwin white Christmas string lights might be the perfect addition to a holiday display. These lights can run on eight different lighting modes, including combination, waves, sequential, slow glow, chasing, slow fade, twinkle, and steady on.

Decorators who opt for these lights also won’t have to splurge on several sets to sufficiently adorn their home—the 115-foot string contains 300 LED lights. However, the extra-long string can also connect with up to two additional strings to seriously extend the holiday illumination.

The string is IP55 rated, which means it can withstand water—but only a sprinkling, not a downpour. They might not work in climates where the holidays are a rainy affair.

Product Specs

• Length: 115 feet
• Color: White
• Number of bulbs: 300

Pros

• 8 lighting modes offer a variety of decoration options
• Can connect with up to 2 sets of the same lights to create an extra-long strand
• Longer 500-bulb and 1,000-bulb options are also available for those who need more lighting

Cons

• Not suitable for very wet areas; IP55 rating works for light rain sprinkles but not a downpour

Get the Quwin outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon.

Best Colored

Twinkle Star 200 LED 66-Foot Fairy String Lights

The Twinkle Star fairy string lights deliver a colorful holiday feel. The LED bulbs glow brightly and conserve energy at the same time. This light string actually measures 82 feet in total, with 66 feet of the strand lit. It features more lights per square foot than many strands, with 200 lights total and only 3.9 inches between each bulb.

The lights can run on one of eight modes, including combination, sequential, waves, slow, flash, slow fade, twinkle, and steady on. They also have a 16-foot lead wire, which makes them easier to place on the roofline without the use of an extension cord. Each string can connect with up to three more sets of the same lights. If there’s a con, it’s their IP44 rating, which means they’re only meant for sprinkles of water, not heavy snow or a downpour.

Product Specs

• Length: 82 feet
• Color: Multicolored
• Number of bulbs: 200

Pros

• Dense bulb distribution along strand is ideal for eye-catching displays
• 16-foot lead wire provides flexibility when it comes to installation locations
• Can connect with up to 5 additional strands of the same lights

Cons

• Cannot handle heavy moisture; not great in rainy climates

Get the Twinkle Star 200 outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon or Target.

Best Smart

Twinkly 100 Multicolor LED String Lights

Bring sophistication and hands-free operation into the holiday season with the Twinkly 100 multicolor LED string lights. The app that works with these lights does more than simply turn them on or off; it allows users to control the lights, group multiple devices, set playlists, adjust brightness, set timers, and more.

The app can also control multiple strings and other smart devices from the same company. There are synchronization options between different strings, preset effects, and remote on/off functions, too. The lights can connect to the app using either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and are compatible with Alexa as well. However, the app isn’t perfect, and some users, especially Android users, reported connectivity issues.

Product Specs

• Length: 26.2 feet
• Color: Multicolored
• Number of bulbs: 100

Pros

• Includes a wide array of lighting, color, and effect options
• Very easy to use with app controls and voice control compatibility with Alexa
• Can sync multiple strings to the app; ideal for large installations

Con

• Android phone users may have connectivity issues

Get the Twinkly outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon, Target (2-pack), or Best Buy.

Best Icicle Lights

Knonew Christmas Lights Curtain Fairy String

The best icicle lights turn any home into a winter chalet. The Knonew fairy string lights provide a maximum amount of LED lights (400) on a 33-foot string. The dangling strands alternate lengths to mimic the look of an icicle-covered chalet.

These lights are available in several colors and string lengths, so if cool white isn’t the perfect fit, there’s also blue, warm white, and several multicolor options as well. The string includes a built-in timer function, too. However, these lights cannot handle heavy rain or snow, so they’re only meant for outdoor use in mild climates.

Product Specs

• Length: 33 feet
• Color: White
• Number of bulbs: 400

Pros

• Dense bulb distribution and varied icicle lengths create an impressive display
• Several color options are available to satisfy many style choices
• Built-in timer function can help users save on energy costs

Cons

• Only meant for outdoor use in mild climates; not suitable for very wet conditions

Get the Knonew outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon.

Best Outdoor Projector

Y Yuegang Christmas Laser Lights

The Y Yuegang Christmas laser lights projector eliminates the need for a ladder and drastically cuts installation time. This projector can be staked into the ground or mounted to a sturdy structure. A head with 300 degrees of rotation provides adjustability to get the right angle. Plus, the projector provides five holiday lighting patterns from which to choose.

The included remote control works up to a 65-foot distance, and the optimal placement reaches up to 3,800 square feet when placed at a 33-foot distance. However, it only has a 16.4-foot electrical cord, so an extension cord may be required to cover the maximum square footage.

Product Specs

• Length: Covers 3,800 square feet at a distance of 33 feet
• Color: Multicolored
• Number of bulbs: N/A

Pros

• Very easy to install; no roof climbing or light clips required
• Can be staked or mounted so it’s suitable for multiple installation options
• Includes a remote; the 65-foot remote radius is great for most homes

Cons

• Short electrical cord; may require an exterior extension cable

Get the Y Yuegang outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon.

Best Meteor Lights

Aluan Meteor Shower Rain Christmas Lights

The Aluan meteor shower Christmas lights provide a fun waterproof lighting option. Available in cool-white, blue, multicolor, and warm-white options, each string contains 10 dangle tubes (available in 12- or 20-inch lengths) that resemble falling stars. The tubes are connected by an electrical cord, with 19.7 inches of space between each tube, so only one plug is required for the whole strand.

The string can connect with an additional three sets of lights, which function on a lighting pattern that falls in sequence to mimic a meteor rather than emanating steady light. However, some reviewers note that the strings have had issues when connecting multiple sets.

Product Specs

• Length: Not specified
• Color: White
• Number of bulbs: 240

Pros

• Comes in a few color choices and tube-length options
• The lighting effect mimics the look of a falling meteor for a more distinctive holiday display
• Users can connect up to 4 strands total to decorate larger areas

Cons

• Some reviewers note problems when connecting multiple strings

Get the Aluan outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon. 

Best Solar

Joomer Solar Christmas String Lights

When it comes to creating an eco-friendly Christmas display, solar lights are an excellent choice, and they’re flexible too since they won’t need to connect to an outlet. This multicolor string light set from Joomer includes two strands of solar string lights, each measuring 72 feet long with 200 LED bulbs and its angle-adjustable solar panel.

These lights are waterproof and can hold up to heavy rain and snow. The only real requirement of these string lights is that the solar panel is placed in a sunny spot to charge, preferably for up to 8 hours a day. Then, you can set it to automatically turn on when night falls. Eight lighting modes add a little more fun to your Christmas display.

Product Specs 

• Length: 72 feet
• Color: Multicolor
• Number of bulbs: 200

Pros

• Stake-installed solar panel eliminates the need for an outlet and makes installation location more flexible
• Includes 2 sets of solar Christmas lights, each with their own solar panel
• Good for most climates; suitable for areas with heavy rain and snow

Cons

• Needs up to 8 hours of direct sunlight for a full charge

Get the Joomer outdoor Christmas lights at Amazon or Joomer. 

Best Large-Bulb

Noma C9 LED Quick Clip Christmas Lights