The holidays are right around the corner, and the best outdoor Christmas lights are a must-have for turning your home into a winter wonderland. Safety is important, and it pays mind to strategize a setup that won’t trigger any safety hazards. There are dozens of great options to choose from, including lights in different shapes, sizes and colors, but our top pick for 2023 is the Brizled Christmas String Lights, which feature 800 dimmable LED bulbs and 11 different lighting effects. They are ideal for decorating the outside of your home and around your yard, and are sure to spread some colorful cheer to the whole community. What’s more, they’re pretty well priced, too.
The best outdoor Christmas lights will quickly turn your home into a winter wonderland without … [+] triggering any safety hazards.
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As you compare different outdoor Christmas lights, there are a few things to consider. LED lights are the more energy-efficient and longer-lasting option, and there are a variety of bulb shapes to choose from, including oversized C9 bulbs and even novelty shapes like seasonal snowflakes. You’ll also want to look at the strand length and whether it can be extended. Lastly, don’t forget to double-check that the lights (and their plugs) are rated for outdoor use. If you’re ready to kick off the holiday season, here are the best outdoor Christmas lights to consider for outside your home.
- Best Outdoor Christmas Lights Overall: Brizled Christmas String Lights
- Best Budget Outdoor Christmas Lights: Quwin Waterproof LED Outdoor Christmas String Lights
- Best Large Bulb Outdoor Christmas Lights: Minetom C9 Clear Christmas String Lights
- Best Colorful Outdoor Christmas Lights: Pabipabi LED Christmas Lights
- Best Pathway Outdoor Christmas Lights: Brightown Christmas Pathway Lights
- Best Novelty Outdoor Christmas Lights: LJLNION Christmas Snowflakes String Lights
- Best Fairy Outdoor Christmas Lights: Toodour Christmas Icicle Lights
- Best Easy-Installation Outdoor Christmas Lights: Brightown C9 LED Multicolor Christmas Lights
- Best Mini Outdoor Christmas Lights: Sylvania Mini Christmas Lights
- Best Outdoor LED Christmas Lights: MZD8391 Outdoor Christmas Lights
- Best Waterproof Outdoor Christmas Lights: Celebrations Platinum LED C7 Multicolored String Christmas Lights
- Best Permanent Outdoor Christmas Lights For Roofline: Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights
- Best Visual Effect Outdoor Christmas Lights: Twinkly Strings App Controlled Smart Christmas Lights
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Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Here at Forbes Vetted, our home experts have years of experience covering the best in holiday decor. From best Christmas ornaments to artificial Christmas trees, our team has all the bases covered. What’s more, we consider our own spaces and decorating goals when scouting for products. Like you, we want products that are dependable, worth the investment and get the job done. This story is regularly updated and was last edited in October 2023 to add more options and updated choices for our readers.
What To Look For In Outdoor Christmas Lights
Weather Resistance
The most important factor when purchasing outdoor Christmas lights is that they’re appropriately rated for use in the outdoors. This should be clearly designated on the product label, and it indicates that the lights can withstand exposure to rain, snow, and even extreme temperatures.
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In addition to the lights themselves being weatherproof, you’ll also want to check if the plug and/or connectors can be exposed to the elements. Some inexpensive Christmas lights do not have waterproof plugs, which means you’ll need to find a weather-protected outlet to keep them operating properly.
Bulb Type
Outdoor Christmas lights typically use either LED or incandescent light bulbs, and there are a few key differences between the two bulb types. LED lights, such as the Brizled Christmas String Lights, last for significantly longer—often 20,000 hours or more—and use less electricity. They also stay cool to the touch and sometimes may offer color-changing effects. However, most LED light strands don’t have replaceable bulbs, so you can’t replace the lights if they break.
On the other hand, incandescent bulbs, like the Minetom C9 Clear Christmas String Lights, tend to be more budget-friendly, but they have a shorter lifespan and often get warm to the touch during use.
Length
When setting up Christmas lights outdoors, you may need longer strands to work with, especially if you’re decorating your roofline, fence or dressing large trees in your yard. You’ll want to look for a strand of lights that is the right length for your particular project, and you may also want to consider whether it can be extended with additional strands. Some products, such as the Celebrations Platinum Christmas Lights, allow you to connect dozens of strands end-to-end, which means you can cover as much ground as needed on a single outlet.
Smart Home Compatibility
If you’re someone who likes to control all their gadgets from one source, you may want to look for outdoor Christmas lights that can be connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network. Smart lights, such as the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights, can be easily controlled from your smartphone, and they generally offer a wide range of color options, lighting effects and scheduling features.
Even if you don’t necessarily want smart lights, you may want to consider a set that comes with a remote control, such as the Brizled Christmas String Lights. This will allow you to control the lights from the ground, changing the lighting patterns or color more easily.
What Kind Of Christmas Lights Are Best For Outside?
If you’re not sure if lights are appropriate for outdoor use, hold off on investing in boxes and boxes of them until you suss out if they are appropriate for your home. In the product description, look for words like UL-certified, UL-listed or commercial grade, all of which means the bulbs are waterproof and will stand up to different types of weather without sparking or burning out. LED lights are the best option since they are safer and less flammable. They also last longer, but incandescent bulbs can also be used.
Are Outdoor Christmas Lights A Fire Hazard?
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Any type of Christmas light can be a fire hazard. Most Christmas light fires are due to an electrical fire, which occurs because of a short in the circuit due to faulty wiring that leads to excessive heat and sparks. In order to avoid an electrical fire, be sure you thoroughly check the wiring of your Christmas lights before plugging them in, especially if your lights are older. Look for breaks or melted spots in the wire casing, exposed wires and loose connections. If you see any of that, replace the strand of lights or the entire set.
You should also be thoroughly inspecting any extension cord you might use for your lights. Hot bulbs are another fire risk, which is one reason LED lights are the preferred option—they simply don’t generate as much heat as incandescent lights do, making them much safer.
What Christmas Lights Do Pros Use?
For large-scale lighting displays, designers typically use professional- or commercial-grade Christmas lights, such as the Celebrations Platinum LED C7 Multicolored String Christmas Lights. These lights have a few key differences from the inexpensive Christmas lights you’ll find in most retail stores.
With commercial-grade string lights, the bulbs have a one-piece construction that makes them fully waterproof, and they’re often tested for color consistency. The lights are often made from more durable materials, as well, including thicker-gauge wire. However, because they’re higher in quality, professional-grade Christmas lights also tend to be more expensive.
What Type Of Christmas Lights Last The Longest?
If you’re tired of throwing away strands of Christmas lights after just one or two seasons of use, your best option is to invest in LED lights. LEDs are considered the longest-lasting outdoor Christmas lights—they often have an expected lifespan of more than 20,000 hours, which equates to more than two whole years of all-day operation.
There are other benefits to LED Christmas lights, as well. These bulbs are more energy efficient, and they also stay cool to the touch, making them less flammable. Plus, multicolor LED lights also will not fade in the sun as quickly as incandescent lights.
What Is The Top Christmas Light Trend For 2023?
The 2023 holiday season is almost here, and if you want to be on-trend with your seasonal decor, it looks like white lights are going to be all the rage this year. You can decorate the outside of your home with the Brizled Christmas String Lights for a more delicate look, or the Minetom C9 Clear Christmas String Lights have larger bulbs for a more nostalgic appearance. Other light trends to keep an eye out for include pretty shades of pink (inspired by Barbie, of course) and metallic decorations.
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Categories: Outdoor