10 Best Outdoor String Lights (Complete Guide) - Penglight (2024)

Outdoor string lights are a great way to make your patios, backyards or any outdoor areas look beautiful and magical at night. Moreover, they make nights spent outdoors that much more relaxing and festive.

We can install them to surround a patio or a backyard seating area and create a really nice and pleasant ambiance.

And, you can use it as a pendant light to add a little ambiance or illuminate your space for late-night barbecues and get-togethers.

For DIYers, these patio string lights can be used to transform a backyard or a patio or porch into something more like an outdoor living room, with their twinkling adding atmosphere and allure.

Therefore, besides the new patio umbrella lights you just acquired, well, you should probably consider adding these LED patio string lights, to add ambiance and character to your outdoor space. More importantly, hanging these string lights outside can really change the look of a house.

Besides, in addition to giving off that good old nostalgic glow, these outdoor patio string lights are also longer-lasting and durable enough to resist the inclement environment outside.

So how to select the best outdoor string lights from plenty of different styles? To help you find the best set, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most welcomed string light series, from plug-in type to solar-powered and smart control, you will find one that is suitable for your need.

Let’s dive right in.

10 Best Outdoor String Lights Round-up

1. Brightech Waterproof LED Outdoor String Lights	2. Amico 96ft Outdoor String Lights with Shatterproof Bulbs	3. Newpow Outdoor LED Globe String Light 25ft Weatherproof	4. MagicPro Solar Power Outdoor String Lights 44 Ft	5. Brightown Solar-Powered Globe String Lights with E12 Socket	6. Newhouse Remote Control String Lights 48ft Dimmable	7. Honeywell LED Color Changing String Lights Remote Control	8. ‎XMCOSY+ WIFI Control Smart LED String Lights	9. Novtech Twinkle Copper Wire Sring Lights	10. SUNTHIN Commercial Grade Incandescent Outdoor String Lights
√ Heavy-duty, waterproof, √ Dimmable & durable, √ 3 years warranty, √ Very bright glow.	√ Shatterproof bulbs, √ Ultra-long up to 98 feet, √ Dimmable & durable, √ ETL approved.	√ Shatterproof bulbs, √ 25 feet strand includes 25 bulbs, √ Dimmable & durable, √ IP66 waterproof.	√ Solar Powered, √ 4 lighting modes, √ Shatterproof bulbs, √ Waterproof & Durable.	√ Solar & USB Powered, √ 4 lighting modes, √ Shatterproof globe bulbs, √ Waterproof & Durable.	√ Remote control, √ 4 dimmable ranges, √ Shatterproof bulbs, √ Waterproof & Durable.	√ Remote control, √ 6 color-changing modes, √ 10 color options, √ Linkable, Dimmable, Durable.	√ Wifi control, √ Work with Alexa, Google, √ Various lighting thems, √ Multiple color options.	√ Copper wire string bulb, √ More charming ambiance, √ Waterproof.	√ Heavy-duty, waterproof, √ Dimmable, √ Vintage Edison ambiance, √ ETL Certificate.
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There are plenty of different types of outdoor string lights to choose from, all of which have something unique to offer, depending on your style and preferences. Overall, there are 5 most common types of outdoor string lights in the market.

3. LED Copper wire string lights – LED copper wire string light is with 0.38-0.5MM wire diameter, features welding-free, high flexibility, and bendable to any different shapes, yet not easy to break. They are lightweight, small size, and it is weatherproof that it can be immersed in water with vivid lights stays. What’s more, the copper wire of this string light is enamel coated, making it well-insulated and safe to use around children and pets. It’s widely used for any applications and you can also DIY it to create your own lighting ornament at home.

4. LED Rope lights –LED rope light is a long cylindrical tube that houses an internal light source placed every few inches. The tube can be plastic, epoxy, or other clear materials that allow the light to shine through. They behave much like a rope and is flexible enough to twist into almost any shape and around almost any object. The versatility of custom cut LED rope lighting is great for all your home projects, landscape projects, or for commercial applications. Additionally, rope lights can be ran upwards of 250 feet when used with an AC input and around 50 feet when using DC input before requiring an additional power input.

5. Christmas Fairy String lights – Christmas fairy string lights are very common during holidays and for special occasions such as Christmas or Halloween. They are available in a variety of colors, features a festive green wire for a traditional touch, and mini incandescent lights that brighten any space. Hang purple and orange icicle lights along the roof, across the porch, or along deck railings to create eye-catching displays or a truly festive Halloween atmosphere.

Before you pay the bill for the string lights you selected, check again for the following tips that might help you to pick a more suitable model.

#1. Wire length

Available in different lengths, these patio string lights can accommodate spaces large and small. If you have a large patio or you need to light up a wide space, consider the longer 100 feet string lights or the string lights that with connectable function. So it is enough to illuminate the whole patio, otherwise, you can also connect them together to light up more areas, such as the roof.

The connectable feature allows you to connect the different lengths of wires to get your desired length. Though it depends on the manufacturer, outdoor string lights typically come in wire lengths of 10, 25, 35, 50, and 100 feet, or longer lengths.

#2. Don’t Exceed the Maximum Run Wattage

Keep wattage in mind when selecting your patio light bulbs, especially for larger spaces and longer runs. Because each strand of lights has a maximum run wattage (which is listed in the specs for each light strand), it’s important to know that you stay within the maximum run wattage and how many wattages of the bulbs you want to use.

In addition, most household circuits are 15 or 20 amps which can support between 1,800-2,400 watts. It is recommended that you stay within 80% of the total wattage capacity of any circuit to avoid tripped breakers. With this in mind, try to choose low wattage bulbs for longer light runs, or consider switching to LED lights which only consume half wattage of the incandescent bulbs while it gives off much brighter lights.

#3. Electricity Availability

Lights installed in the indoor areas are easy, not only because of the better working condition but also it has easy access to the electricity, that with sockets everywhere for easy plug-in or hardwired with the reserved electric wires.

On the contrary, while installing the outdoor string lights, you need to consider whether it has the socket or electricity over there to support the operation. Otherwise, it will limit the installation to go with your ways and as a result of a difficult installation.

If the areas where you’re going to mount the light is difficult to access to the electricity, try to use the solar-powered string lights. It’s more energy-saving and requires no AC power. As long as you’ve done with hanging the strands, place the solar panel well under the sun, and then it can start to work. It’s so quick and easy!

#4. What’s the Bulb Material and Shape?

Since the string lights are used outdoor, bulbs’ durability is of the essence. Normally the string lights bulbs are made of two kinds of materials, either glass or plastic. Glass material bulbs have the risk of getting broken in bad weather conditions, hence, if you’re located in a place where typhoons or hails come regularly, you might want the plastic bulbs. The plastic light bulb is not only waterproof but also shatterproof, it’s able to resist the rugged weather outside and still in one piece.

Bulb type comes in globe shape and Edison bulb shape, with different socket bases available: E12, E26, etc. To have the bulb compatible with the base, be careful if you’re buying replacement bulbs or you might end up finding out the bulbs don’t fit the socket.

#5. How many Color Options Available?

When looking for string lights, you should also consider what color lights you want. There’s always the classic white or yellow glow, however, the soft yellow glow is more favorable because it creates the perfect ambient lighting for your patio, backyard, and pergola.

But, if you’re looking for something a little more fun, some string lights with RGB LEDs can achieve more vivid colors and can come in all colors of the rainbow. Some even have customizable light shows you can control via remote or app. There are several themes like Christmas, American Flag, etc, it’s also with different blinking patterns, fade, and follow, all these beautiful patterns can be realized from the app or remote.

The installation process can vary depending on where and how you decide to hang yourpatio lights, for example, it can beeither affixed to a structure (such as a pergola and gazebo) or hung with a guide wire. Using a guide wire can prolong the life of your light strings by removing the tension that is created on the string as your patio lights hang over time.

Here’s how to hang string lights over your deck, patio, balcony, garden, or anywhere else you’d like a little extra glow.

Materials You Might Need:

• Commercial Grade Outdoor String Lights
• Guide Wire Kit
• Turnbuckle or Carabiners
• Screw-in Hooks

• Zip Ties

• Outdoor extension cord

• Outdoor rated plugs

Before You Start:

• Choose where to hang your outdoor lights. Pick a spot outside where you’d like to hang your string lights and identify a power source. If you don’t have an exterior outlet where you need one, be sure to have an outdoor extension cord handy.
• Measure for length and roughly choose your light configuration. Before purchasing string lights, run a tape measure along with the distance you’d like to hang lights, including any zigzags or crisscrosses for the configuration. This can be a fairly rough estimate, such as three times across a 25-foot-wide patio; just get a sense of the length of lights you need.

Hanging Patio String Lights Basic Steps:

1. Draw a rough sketch with measurements, to have an overview of the layout of the lights.
2. For yards without trees or other tall supports, assemble your poles if applicable. Use 10-foot-long wooden posts or 10-foot-long metal poles (electrical metal tubing, aka EMT or thin-wall, is available at home improvement stores in 10-foot lengths, which you may need to cut)
3. If using guy wire, hang this first. In some situations, the light strings may need to be threaded through the guy wire prior to being hung.
4. Hang your first patio light string with the male plug closest to your outlet.
   Use zip ties or hooks between each bulb as needed on deck railings or other structures. If applicable, attach the strings to your guy wire as you go.
5. If working with multiple light strings, finish hanging your first run and then connect the male end of the second string to the female end of the first and continue going in this way until all strings are in place! If your light string doesn’t have end to end connectors, run an extension cord to your second light string and continue hanging your patio lights. If hanging incandescent patio lights, keep maximum wattage in mind and switch to a different outlet if necessary to avoid power disruptions!
6. Plug your patio lights in and enjoy the ambiance!

Planning is obviously an important step, however, figuring out the layout for the lights and determining the lengths, wattage, and socket spacing were harder than the actual installation of the lights.

To give you some ideas, following are the most popular outdoor string light patterns, take a look at these patterns, and pick the one that best suits your taste and space! For detailed patio light patterns, please refer to Patio Lights Planning Tips.

Dimmable function is practical and common in the patio string lights, if you decide you want to use a dimmer, just make sure the dimmer switch is rated to handle the maximum wattage of your lights. Since not all dimmer switches are the same, and if you get one that’s not rated for the total wattage of the lights you want it to control, you could have problems. So be sure to check the fine print before you buy it.

Common dimmer wattage ratings are 150 watts, 300 watts, 600 watts, and 1000 watts. 150 watt rated dimmers are usually for a single bulb. For patio string lights, you will at least need 600 watts or 1000 watts dimmers, depending on your strand rates. Wattage rating is usually on a sticker on the light fixture.

For example, if you have a 600-watt dimmer, and a strand light rated for 30 watts, theoretically, you can dim a total of 20 strand lights. But, since the wattage of light bulbs could be fluctuated by 10% or so (very common for the LEDs technology), thus the 20 strand lights could be more than 600w that will exceed the maximum load of the 600-watt dimmer. In this case, you may burn out the dimmer.

Therefore, not only you should ensure that the total wattage of the bulbs and fittings connected to a dimmer switch does not exceed this maximum load, but also should leave more room for the dimmer so it can keep working properly even though there is any wattage fluctuation.

1. In-Line Socket vs Suspended Socket Patio String Lights

You might not aware that the outdoor string lights are actually with 2 kinds of socket configuration, one is the in-line socket, another is the suspended socket. See the following typical commercial grade patio light socket type for better understanding:

Patio string lights with suspended sockets have a hole above each socket through which you can run a guy wire. This adds extra support and tension when spanning long distances so that the bulbs in the middle don’t droop. You can use wire with some elasticity, but the more solid the cable, the less the middle of the line will sag. However, because of the suspended configuration, the bulbs inside will also swing heavily when in gale weather.

In-line sockets keep the bulbs closer to the string and the bulbs don’t swing as much in the wind. It protects the bulbs well from getting broken. But these In-Line sockets are without a hole on top, if you’re using guide wires to install them, you need the zip ties to tie them tight, so the bulbs in the middle will not drooping.

2. Sockets & Spacing aka Bulbs distance between each other

Outdoor patio string lights with the same length might vary in the bulb (socket) quantity. For example, for both 25 feet of string lights, one has 25pcs light bulbs in which the bulb distance between each other is 1 foot, while the other only has 20pcs of light bulbs which the bulb distance between each one is 1.25 feet.

Obviously, if both string lights are equipped with the same quality Edison bulbs (1w), the first one has much brighter illumination (25w vs 20w), as well as prevent less dark zone and as a result of creating an even brightness, since the bulbs are closed to each one.

Be sure you understandthe differences when selecting a Bistro light style that works for your vision.

3. Solar Panel Installation Methods

If you choose solar-powered outdoor string lights, check what kind of installation methods you need. Normally, there are two kinds of solar panels, one is the spike type that directly mounts into the ground, another is the clip-on type that clamps on a subject. Now there is also a solar panel that uses either the clamp or stake to position it, which gives you more flexibility to mount the solar panel.