Outdoor string lights quick picks
Solar-powered outdoor string lights: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar-Powered Outdoor String Lights
Smart outdoor string lights: Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights
Battery-operated outdoor string lights: Koopower Store Outdoor Battery Fairy Lights
We all want our outdoor space — whether it’s an adorable city balcony or a sprawling suburban yard — to feel cozy, warm and inviting, like an extension of our home. Aside from adding some fresh outdoor patio furniture, if you really want to upgrade your alfresco space, you need to focus on lighting. In other words, plan for once the sun sets! Enter: outdoor string lights.
“String lights make the backyard look more joyous,” says Sheva Knopfler, co-founder of Lights.com. “They automatically create a whimsical warm vibe in any space. They also help bring the eyes up, which will make the yard feel bigger if it is a small area.”
Sierra Fallon, lead designer at Rumor Designs, says, “String lighting is a great idea because they are easy to install, anyone can do it and can cover a large expanse of space.”
The lights can also subtly define conversation areas within your outdoor space. “String lights are an easy way to dress up a backyard and really anchor that entertainment zone, like over a dining setup or fire pit,” says Sarah Hart, senior designer at Brayton Interiors.
When it comes to shopping for outdoor string lights, you need to first brush up on the category’s ins and outs, which brings us to LED lights. The longest-lasting, most energy-efficient lights to buy right now (versus old-school incandescent bulbs), LEDs are the only type of light we’ve included on this list because they’re just that good. And they come in multiple power-type formats such as plug-in, solar and battery operated — each of which has its own pluses and minuses. Plug-in LED lights are typically the brightest option, according to Hart. “And battery options are a great solution if you just want this temporarily for an outdoor dinner party,” she says.
As for solar, Fallon says they tend to be better for temporary or season-long use, as “they aren’t as reliable and may dim if it’s a cloudy day or a long event. Solar is great for camping, or if there’s no access to electricity.” When considering solar you’ll also want to keep in mind the amount of sunshine your desired location gets throughout the day — if it’s a shady spot, solar lights aren’t a good fit, but if it gets all-day sun, you’re good to go.
While Edison- and globe-shaped bulbs are certainly the most popular styles of string lights, myriad options from bohemian to industrial to Moroccan-inspired are available to match your furniture and decor.
How to hang outdoor string lights
If you want to channel a Parisian café in your outdoor space, hanging your string lights in a way that looks nonchalant — but was actually carefully planned — is key to achieving the desired look. For example, Fallon advises, “It will look best to leave a bit of slack on the line to create a more fun, casual vibe.”
Adds Knopfler, “We recommend connecting a few strands of the lights and letting them hang from different heights — from a point on your house, or a tree, to a fence post. Setting the lights up to hang from different heights will make your space feel larger. Also think about the length of the strand and how many lights you want in that configuration. Some strands could be 48 feet and only have 15 lights, while some strands will have a bulb every 2 feet or even less.”
There are lots of elements to consider when deciding which string lights are best for you and your outdoor space, but rest assured that once they’re hung and twinkling — turning your regular ol’ patio into a romantic piazza — the effort will have been worth it.
LED outdoor string lights
For most people, the best type of outdoor string lights are plug-in LED lights. “[They’re] typically brighter, but make sure you’re close to a usable power source so that you don’t have an ugly extension cord hanging out,” Hart says.
This 15-bulb, 48-foot strand from Brightech is one of Amazon’s most popular string light sets. (Though it also comes in a smaller 24-foot option.) Featuring an Edison-style bulb every 3 feet, the strand can connect with eight additional strands and is a great choice for those in tough climates — the heavy-duty lights are waterproof, can withstand 50 mph winds and are available in three shades of ultra-warm, warm and cooler white light.
Shedding a dense, warm white light, this 48-foot strand of waterproof and weather-resistant Edison-style bulbs is a bestseller at Home Depot. A quick way to turn your outdoor space into the most welcoming spot in your house, the plug-in strand has 24 shatterproof lights — one every 2 feet — and it can be connected to up to 11 additional strands.
These string lights from Tiki Brand do so much more than just add mood lighting to your outdoor space. Each 36-foot strand has 14 LED bulbs and three pods prefilled with the brand's mosquito-repellent fluid. It's designed to last up to 200 hours (and offers 330 square feet of coverage), but replacement pods are also available for purchase. Plus, you can use the string lights without the mosquito repellent if needed.
Govee, the brand behind our favorite LED light strips, also makes smart outdoor string lights. Control the lights from your smartphone via an app, where you can adjust the brightness, set a timer and have your music sync up to your lights. There are over 16 million colors to choose from, and you can even pick a different color for each bulb.
If you’re looking to permanently install an all-weather string light scenario in your outdoor space, this set from Pottery Barn is a great option as it’s UL-listed and designed to withstand year-round weather. Available in two lengths, the plug-in string lights feature shatterproof, café-style bulbs and end-to-end connections that can be linked up to 750 feet — meaning they’ll work for even the biggest of yards.
Solar-powered outdoor string lights
If you don’t have any outlets in your outdoor space, consider solar-powered string lights. “Solar is a great eco-friendly option, especially if you want to have them on every evening … or if they’re hanging further out in your yard, not close to a power source,” Hart says.
This pick from Brightech comes in two lengths — the 27-foot option has 12 Edison-style bulbs, while the 48-foot has 15 bulbs. It's just like the Brightech string lights at the top of our list, except this one is solar-powered. The included solar panel can be installed by clamping onto a structure or staking in the ground and it has a 20,000-hour lifespan (approximately two and a half years) and an on/off switch. A full charge takes six hours of direct sunlight and will automatically return five to six hours of light at sundown. Indirect light also works but will emit a weaker glow.
Pottery Barn has a slew of solar string light options that go well beyond the standard, and that includes this chic strand of Edison-style bulbs with exposed filaments and brass bases. Sure to inject some glam into your outdoor space, the 28-foot strand has 12 bulbs and a solar panel with an on/off switch and a six-hour charge.
This 20-foot strand has a whopping 30 globe-style LED bulbs and comes in three color options. We love that the solar panel — which needs six hours of sunlight to radiate seven to eight hours of light at sundown — has eight different kinds of lighting modes for whatever vibe you're looking to create.
Battery-operated outdoor string lights
There aren’t many options for battery-operated outdoor string lights on the market, but there are some cases where they’re your best choice. “Battery powered is a good option for those that don’t have electricity nearby and can’t find a good solar solution,” Knopfler says.
Twinkling lights are perfect for setting some serious seasonal ambience, and this battery-operated set is an Amazon favorite. The 36-foot strand includes 100 tiny, warm-light LED lights, and it’s both dust- and waterproof. A big selling point is that the lights come with a set-and-forget timer (on six hours, off 18 hours) and a remote that can toggle through eight different blink modes.
These 16.5-foot string lights are equipped with 50 globe-shaped bulbs that emit a warm white light. (But you can also get star-shaped bulbs with warm white and multicolor lights.) And just like the string lights above, this option has eight lighting modes and an automatic timer. We think these lights will look great on a city balcony and a backyard porch alike.
Outdoor string light poles
If you don’t have anywhere obvious to hang your string lights (such as a tree, fence or railing), then consider investing in some string light poles too.
Available in both white and black, this set of standing posts makes hanging your string lights in an open-air space a breeze. Whether you want to stake them into the ground, drill them into the patio or slide them into weighted umbrella stands, the steel posts are adjustable up to 10 feet tall, providing the much-needed height to achieve your outdoor bistro vibe. Pottery Barn also offers a set of tabletop posts that clamp onto your outdoor dining table, providing alfresco overhead lighting.
One of Amazon’s most highly reviewed string light pole options, this set from Holiday Styling Store can be staked into the ground, thanks to its 4-inch-wide and 10-inch-deep stakes. Standing 8 feet tall, the poles are made from powder-coated, galvanized steel that is weather-resistant.