Best String Lights to Use Indoors and Outdoors

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 29, 2023
The way you decorate your home tells a lot about you. Add character to your space with stylish string lights! We've selected the best 5 accessories to simplify your choice! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Exterior
Lighting Modes
Control
Protection
Power Supply
Warranty
 
PROS
8 same strings can be connected in one chain to decorate a bigger area or create the needed atmosphere. Can be powered with a dimmer switch to adjust lighting modes.
CONS
The basic set operates in a single lighting mode.
OUR VERDICT
These are superb weatherproof string lights boasting a reliable design. This set is an ideal choice for decorating both house interior and exterior.
detailed parameters
Exterior

A 48-foot string with 16 incandescent bulbs

Lighting Modes
Steady glow mode
Control
No
Protection
Waterproof, Snowproof, Windproof, Sunproof
Power Supply
Mains, 6-foot cord
Warranty
3-year warranty
PROS
Due to a remote controller, you can create your own lighting schemes and save up to 6 of them.
CONS
The lights aren't weatherproof.
OUR VERDICT
LED Strip Lighting from Rxment is perfect for creating merry mood not only in your house / apartment but also at stores, cafes, restaurants or pubs!
detailed parameters
Exterior

A 32.8-foot strip with 300 LEDs with glue backing

Lighting Modes
16 multi-colored lighting modes, Flashing, Fading, Adjustable brightness and speed
Control
Remote controller
Protection
No
Power Supply
Mains, ~ 5-foot cord
Warranty
18-month warranty
PROS

It takes solar battery only 8 hours to charge, so you can be sure it will accumulate enough energy even during gray days. 

CONS

Lights might seem a bit dull. 

OUR VERDICT

Flower-shaped design of the lights makes it a perfect choice not only for Christmas but for any other holiday as well. 

detailed parameters
Exterior

A LED string with 50 flower-shaped lights, 21 feet

Lighting Modes

ON/OFF, Flashing, Steady glow

Control

Built-in battery

Protection

IP65 waterproof casing

Power Supply

Solar battery (6-8 hours charge time)/ 6.5-foot power cord

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS
This very model of string lights comes with a remote controller that allows adjusting the brightness of lighting.
CONS
The range of the remote controller is quite short.
OUR VERDICT
TaoTronics Dimmable Led String Lights set has a convenient controller and adorable exterior design. It works great for adding ambiance and visibility.
detailed parameters
Exterior

A 33-foot string with 100 LED lights

Lighting Modes
Steady, Flashing, Fading, Strobe modes, Adjustable brightness and speed
Control
Remote controller
Protection
Weatherproof, Mains adapter doesn't have protection
Power Supply
Mains, 5-foot cord
Warranty
1-year + 6-month extended warranty after registration
PROS

An unusual dragonfly design will make your environment stand out on any occasion. Despite the simplicity of control and operation, the string boasts 8 flashing modes.

CONS

A small string length somewhat limits the possibilities of use.

OUR VERDICT

A lovely string of fairy LED lights with simple and intuitive control will nicely complement your indoor or outdoor home interior and help create an ambient atmosphere for any occasion. 

detailed parameters
Exterior

A 16-foot string with 20 multicolored LED lights in the form of dragonflies

Lighting Modes

On/off, 8 flashing modes

Control

A switch in the battery block

Protection

Waterproof

Power Supply

Solar panel that can be fully charged in 6 hours;

The length from the solar panel to the first stake is 5 feet

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

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Brightech 11S14 Ambience Pro

You Only Need an Occasion!

Decorating the outdoor area can help create a holiday atmosphere for a holiday or any other special occasion. Whether you prefer having a cup of tea in the evenings or spending time with your family during cookouts, some additional lighting won't be out of space. Brightech Ambience Pro Outdoor Weatherproof String Lights are the great accessory for creating a good mood. The model consists of 11-watt incandescent retro-style bulbs, all suspended to the safe 48-foot cord. It's worth mentioning that the string is totally weatherproof and so, will surely last for many years regardless of the place of use. You can install the lights both, indoors and outdoors, provided that there's the access to the mains. You can actually get 8 strings and connect them all in one chain for more spectacular lighting effect. The only drawback of the string, in our opinion, is that it works in a "steady glow" mode only, no other lighting modes are available to adjust. But you can add a dimmer switch instead and enjoy the light flashing for a change. All things considered, we're more than convinced you'll be absolutely satisfied with these lights that fit perfectly classic and retro styled patios!

Review of Brightech 11S14 Ambience Pro Weatherproof Grade Lights

Incandescent Bulbs Advantages

Despite the increasing popularity of light diodes and the growing number of their admirers, incandescent bulbs still have some indisputable advantages. The obvious one is cost-efficiency. Compared to more expensive light diodes, these ones are much cheaper to replace. Since they require only very low voltage for operation, incandescent bulbs are a preferable option for street lighting too. Even in case of a voltage drop, incandescent bulbs don't burst out like many other lights. Besides, incandescent bulbs are very diverse in shapes and colors and can fit different lighting needs - all that at much more affordable price, intuitive maintenance and installation simplicity.

Brightech 11S14 Ambience Pro Weatherproof Grade Lights in the use

More Products to Consider

You may want to purchase a fire pit that besides aethetic appeal can also offer you an additional source of warmth during cold seasons. 

Detailed review of Brightech 11S14 Ambience Pro Weatherproof Grade Lights
Last updated price $39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00K0VTVTA

VIDEO
Brightech™ - AMBIENCE - Outdoor String Lights
 

Rxment RT-5050-10M-RGB-24V

Animate Your Home

Looking for something simple but visually appealing to liven up your house? Rxment Led Strip Lighting is just the thing! The strip contains 30 small light diodes all attached to the 32.8-foot cord which can be stuck on a wall or any other place where you'd like to have the lights. All you need to do before use is remove the protection from adhesive tape and off you go. You may wonder whether it's going to be same easy to re-attach the lights the next time after the first use. It should be ok, but for enhanced fixation, you may want to use some additional positioning equipment. Or just change the way of decorating things and instead of sticking the string to a wall, wrap it around the objects.  Rxment Led Strip Lighting isn't weatherproof, and so, is best suited for indoor decoration needs. The spectacular lighting you're going to get will help create romance in the evenings and lively atmosphere on holidays. 

Review of Rxment RT-5050-10M-RGB-24V Led Strip Lighting Kit

Shines Differently Everytime

This very model of string lights boasts IR remote controller that comes in handy for switching between 16 available lighting colors. Also, you can select brightness and choose "flashing" or "fading" modes. A noteworthy detail is that the remote controller ensures your own unique tuning and saving this new tone color with DIY button. To our mind, it's the best thing about these string lights as it's hard to find the accessory with such a variety of multicolor lighting modes! All-in-all, the color changing strip lights by Rxment is a perfect choice for all those who'd like to add a sophisticated touch to the interior! 

Rxment RT-5050-10M-RGB-24V Led Strip Lighting Kit in the use

More Products to Consider

A lot of consumers living in detached houses install motion sensor lights to enhance the comfort and add security to the place in the nighttime. If you haven't got one yet, make sure to take a look at our selection of the popular models available today.

Detailed review of Rxment RT-5050-10M-RGB-24V Led Strip Lighting Kit
Last updated price $39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00WRDG9CQ

VIDEO
Rxment Led Strip Lighting Review, Nice and bright
 

Qedertek Solar

Blossom All Year Round

If standard colorful bulbs don’t put you in a holiday mood, and you want something different, the Quedertek string lights might interest you. 50 flower-shaped lights on a 21-foot strand are located 0.3 feet from each other, ensuring quite an intense illumination of the area. The beauty of this model is that it is suitable not only for decorating a Christmas tree but for creating a festive mood at any get-together, be it a birthday party, a graduation party or just some meeting with friends. By the way, these lights can be used indoors as well as outdoors thanks to their waterproof properties compliant with the IP65 safety standard. So if you’re looking for unique string lights to use all year round, give these string lights a shot.

Review of Qedertek Solar Flower Garden Lights for Outdoor

As Easy as It Can Be

If you’ve never used solar string lights before and have concerns about the safety of their use, forget it and try the Quedertek lights. The lights work on rechargeable 600 mAh battery located inside the solar panel. Consequently, it should be placed outside to get enough sunlight to provide proper operation during late hours. Note that full charge takes 6 to 8 hours and provides up to 8-hour run time. Since the solar panel is set outside, the manufacturer has included a ground stroke in the package to make panel installation as simple as possible. Lights control won’t cause any difficulties too. To turn the device on/off or to switch between modes you only need to use one of the switches at the back.

Qedertek Solar Flower Garden Lights for Outdoor in the use

Useful Tip

If you have troubles installing a ground stroke because of hard dry soil, it’s recommended to water a place you’ve chosen for installation and wait a bit. As soon as the liquid is absorbed, you’ll be able to put the stroke effortlessly. One more thing you should keep in mind before using the lights for the first time is to charge the battery for as long as possible to provide proper operation in the future.

Detailed review of Qedertek Solar Flower Garden Lights for Outdoor
Last updated price $24.13
Stock In stock
ASIN B012VIRJ4I

VIDEO
50 LEDs Colorful Cherry Blossom Solar String Lights | Energy-saving & Eco-friendly
 

TaoTronics TT-SL036

All You Need for Coziness

It's hard to believe but a single string of the lights is enough to create the utmost coziness inside and outside your house! TaoTronics Dimmable Led String features 100 light diodes that are situated on the copper wire, providing you with the sufficient lighting. It withstands up to 14 hours of constant use that is very good per se. We believe that mounting and tuning these string lights will be simple for almost anyone. To get started, you have to decide where you want to put the accessory, hang it and plug into a socket. As for control, it's very simple and is performed by a mini remote controller, thus, you can choose one of the operating modes, switch from flashing to fading or strobe. The distinguishing feature about these lights is that its brightness can be adjusted separately in each of the modes and you can vary it to your liking. Due to IP65 protection, the lights can be used not only indoors but also outdoors regardless of weather conditions. Keeping adapter protected is the only thing you'd ever need to worry about.

Review of TaoTronics TT-SL036 Dimmable with Remote Control

Sweet Dreams!

One-third of our life we all spend sleeping. That's really long if you think about. Therefore, making these hours more comfortable isn't the last thing we should do. Here we'd like to share with you some other ideas on how to make your bedroom a cozy place to be in. Besides soft and quality pillow stuff, you can also decorate the interior, creating a lighting canopy to hover over you while you fall asleep. Or you can put the lights on the headrest, organizing small diodes in a picturesque row. 

TaoTronics TT-SL036 Dimmable with Remote Control in the use

More Products to Consider

To make your bedroom a cozier place to be, you can buy an oil diffuser that will not only add some special atmosphere but will also become a decor element of the interior. 

Detailed review of TaoTronics TT-SL036 Dimmable with Remote Control

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00NXEB0W2

VIDEO
TaoTronics Dimmable LED String Lights
 

Icicle J&LS-1AA-20L

Illumination To Delight The Eye

If you haven’t decided yet how to decorate your house for the upcoming holiday season, then you should definitely pay attention to this fabulous set of Dragonfly SolarString Lights from Icicle. It is a beautiful set of colored LED lights made in the form of dragonflies. This fairy decoration will be perfect for any holiday, such as Christmas, wedding, or a birthday party. Alternatively, we see no harm using it all year round as an enticing décor element of your house, garden, or patio. 

You do not have to worry about placing the string lights in the open air and decorating the exterior of your house with them. They are waterproof and will not be afraid of any inclement weather, be it the pouring rain or heavy snow. 

The total length of these outdoor lights is around 16 feet. The distance from the first bulb to the solar panel is approximately 5 feet and the distance between 2 LED bulbs is around half a foot. The solar panel comes with a ground stake for easy and convenient positioning. Taking these factors into consideration, we believe these string lights will provide you with a myriad of possibilities for decoration. 

The manufacturer also offers different sizes and color solutions to choose from, so you can buy one that suits your style and fits into your home interior best. You can select between 20 and 30 LED lights in a string, as well as choose between white, blue, and multicolor lights of dragonflies.

Review of Icicle J&LS-1AA-20L Dragonfly Solar String Lights

Select The Flashing Mode You Fancy

The string lights feature only two controls (located on the rear panel of the unit with a solar panel and built-in battery): one for power on/off and another one for selection of the lighting mode. Once you switched the lights on, you can select one of 8 available flashing, glowing, and lighting modes. You will be able to enjoy a steady glow of lights, starry flashing, fading of lights at various speeds, repeated waving from bright to dim lights and a lot more. See the product description for detailed information on each mode. 

We can guarantee that at the end of the day these flashing modes will allow you to customize the lighting to make it most comfortable and enjoyable for you and your guests.

Icicle J&LS-1AA-20L Dragonfly Solar String Lights in the use

Excellent Energy Conversion Efficiency

Using the solar panel to recharge the built-in battery in this model provides this item with a myriad of advantages. The most important one is certainly that you can save on electricity bills. At the same time, you will make a small but your own contribution to the preservation of the environment of our planet, because the solar technology is inherently harmless. 

The battery has a capacity of 600 mAh. Its charging time takes only 6 hours, as the unit is furnished with a 100 mAh solar panel. So, how does it work, you wonder? The solar panel is designed to convert the solar energy, or simply the sunlight that it receives in the daytime, into the electrical energy, that is efficiently stored in the rechargeable built-in battery. When the night comes, the battery uses the stored electrical energy to produce power and mesmerizing lights when you switch it on.

If you are interested in such eco-friendly devices, then be sure to have a look at our reviews of other items with integrated solar panels.

Detailed review of Icicle J&LS-1AA-20L Dragonfly Solar String Lights
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B013FHAOC8

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Infographics

Comparison of String Lights to Use Indoors and Outdoors

What are String Lights

String lights are one of the simplest and most beautiful options for setting a good mood both inside and outside your home. If you're going to decorate your house and patio for some special occasion or just to create a cozy atmosphere, string lights will perfectly cope with the task. Unlike many other adornment stuff, string lights are pretty easy-to-install. In our review, we've covered the most in-demand models of string lights for you to choose the best.

And if you're looking for some special accessories to decorate your home specifically for Christmas, we'd like to turn your attention to our review on Christmas lights.

Also, consider our review of the best motion sensor lights that will illuminate your way when you approach your house, garage, or shed.

What Features to Compare

Before we go any further, let's quickly cover the most important features you should consider when buying string lights.

Exterior and Type

First of all, you should decide on the exterior and type of the accessories you'd like to get. Among the lights, you can find incandescent bulbs, LED flashlights, rope lights, globe lights and more. This way, you can pick the most suitable string lights that will fit the interior or exterior of your house and perfectly blend with the landscape of your garden or patio. It's important to note that LED lights have an indisputable advantage since they consume less energy and have longer service life. However, such models of string lights are more expensive.

Lighting Peculiarities and Control

It's also important to take into account the lighting peculiarities as well as control of the string lights. The option to change colors provides different lighting backgrounds for creating a magical atmosphere. The most in-demand models have several lighting modes and are more spectacular. Needless to say, the control of the string lights is of no less importance since it provides the convenience of use. An optimal solution for easy control is a remote controller with which you can switch the modes and settings distantly.

Maintenance

The last but not the least thing you should consider is maintenance. The protection level of the string lights is very important for installation. For example, if string lights aren't weatherproof, they are suitable for indoor use only. And conversely, water / snow / windproof models are ideal for decorating a patio, garden, yard or house exterior. Also, pay attention to the way string lights are powered, they can be mains-powered, battery-powered, or solar-powered. If you choose the first option, make sure the length of the power cord is enough to reach all the objects you plan to cover. For solar-powered models, you'd need to think of the location in advance since they require quite a lot of sun during the day to get fully charged.

FAQ:

Q: Can I connect several lines of string lights together?

A: It depends on the model you choose. Some string lights allow connecting several lines into one, whereas others don’t. Measure the length you need and check the maximum length of the string lights you are looking at. Then, make your choice.

Q: What types of bulbs are used in string lights? Which of them are more effective?

A: Generally, there are three major types of string lights: those with old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, those using brand-new LED lights, and rope lights (with tiny LEDs inside). As for efficiency, LEDs are the best in terms of energy consumption. Therefore, if you wish to minimize your electricity bills, choose rope lights with LEDs.

Q: Are there solar-powered string lights?

A: Yes, there are many solar-powered lights today. They come with a solar panel that you connect the string to. The panel transforms the energy of the sun into electricity store in a battery. This way, you don’t pay any utility energy costs at all.

Q: How long can solar-powered lights work?

A: It depends on the battery capacity. Some models can work up to 8 hours in a row, while others glow for 4-6 hours. However, make sure to direct the solar panel at the sun; otherwise, it will store energy with a far smaller efficiency.

Q: Can I use string lights when it’s raining? What about winter?

A: Yes. Most lights are waterproof and remain functional under all weather conditions all year round.

Q: Will rope lights work if one bulb/LED dies out?

A: As usual, yes. The lights are designed in such a way that they remain functional even if one or several bulbs die out. In some models, the faulty bulbs can be replaced. Check whether you will be able to do a replacement if it matters to you.

Q: How do I attach the lights?

A: There are plenty of ways, actually. It depends on where exactly you are going to place them. Some people just wind them around certain objects (trees, poles, etc), others hang them on roofs, and so on. Some string lights have special hooks for threading a guidewire. For small and lightweight LED lights, a sellotape will be enough.

Q: Are the lights cool to the touch?

A: LEDs are totally cool to the touch and can’t cause burns. However, incandescent bulbs may get fairly hot, so avoid touching them.

Q: Can I choose the colors and light intensity?

A: As usual, no. Multi-color lights allow you to adjust brightness and lighting mode only.

Q: Do I need to switch the solar-powered lights on and off by myself?

A: It depends on the model you choose. However, most advanced solar-powered lights have a smart sensor that switches the lights on automatically when it gets dark and switches them off at the dawn.

Q: Can I use string lights during Christmas?

A: Of course! These lights are a great decoration for multiple occasions: Christmas, New Year, birthdays, weddings, and for creating a cozy atmosphere in general.

Sources:

1. 10 Tips for Outdoor Holiday Lighting, Better Homes and Gardens.

2. Decorate a Christmas Tree, Lowe's.

3. How to Choose Wedding Lighting, wikiHow.

4. Laura Gaskill Spring Patio Fix-Ups: 6 Ways to Light Your Outdoor Room, Houzz. May 2, 2013.

5. Tips for Picking Out String Lights, eBay. March 14, 2016.

6. Globe String Lights Terminology: What You Should Know, Lights For All Occasions.

7. Stephanie Huling 7 Creative Ways To Decorate With String Lights, Bustle.

8. Melissa DiRenzo Decorating with Light: 10 Pretty Ways Use String Lights, Apartment Therapy. March 6, 2014.

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