How to Choose the Best Outdoor String Lights for Your Space

Add an ambient glow to your patio.

Whether you're looking to add a soft glow to your patio or illuminate the entire backyard, outdoor string lights are a fantastic way to make your outdoor space feel more inviting. They are easy to install and come in an endless variety of styles. To help you choose the best outdoor string lights for your home, we've put together a guide filled with helpful information about outdoor string lights, as well as seven of our top picks. Keep reading below, or jump ahead for our list of the best outdoor string lights.

Before You Begin
Best Outdoor String Lights - Our Top Picks!

String lights are a great addition to your outdoor spaces. Not only can they brighten up the patio, outdoor string lights can also help create a cozy ambience ideal for relaxing, entertaining, and everything in between. Before you start shopping, we've highlighted a few things to consider.

Types of String Lights

With plenty of different designs, it's easy to find a type of outdoor string lights that match your aesthetic.

Standard: Standard string lights are the most popular type of string light. This simple design features light bulbs evenly spaced along a durable cable. The cable is often black, dark green, or white, and the bulbs can measure between 3" and 4" tall. Most standard string lights have a distance of 3' between each light to provide continuous illumination. Standard string lights come with a variety of different types of lightbulbs, including pear-shaped Edison bulbs and globe-shaped bulbs (see below).

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Globe: These are a type of standard string lights, characterized by round, globe-shaped bulbs. The globe-shaped bulbs typically measure between 1" and 2 ½", and the cords can vary in black, white, and dark green colors.Globe string lights have a more lightweight cable than standard string lights and pair well with any aesthetic, making them a versatile lighting option. The sleek globe shape pairs well with modern aesthetics and classic style alike.

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Fairy: Fairy lights are a type of string light composed of miniature ¼" lights attached to a thin metal wire. This type of string light is incredibly easy to install since the flexible wire can be twisted around any fixture, and the lightweight design ensures that the fairy lights can be hung anywhere without worrying if the fixtures can support them. The metal cord comes in copper, silver, and gold options to match your outdoor decor. Fairy lights offer a softer light than other popular types of string lights, creating a soft, cozy glow in any outdoor space.

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Novelty: Novelty string lights are a great way to add a fun touch to your patio or spruce up a themed event. Novelty string lights typically include a plastic shade featuring an interesting design like fruits or flamingos set over the light bulb.

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Shaded: Shaded string lights feature a small shade that covers each lightbulb. The shades can be made of fabric, metal, or plastic to suit a wide range of styles and designs. Shaded string lights often feature lanterns, geometric details, or dome-shaped shades that bring visual interest to outdoor spaces like porches or pergolas.

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Rope: Rope lights are a type of string light where the lights are enclosed in a durable PVC material to create a unique rope-like design. This helps protect the lights from the elements and make them last longer. Like the name suggests, rope lights look like lighted ropes. They can be hung like standard string lights or laid along a surface, such as a walkway, the top of a fence, or around a tree.

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Power Source

When choosing the best outdoor string lights for your home, their power source is an important element to consider.

Plug-In: If you're hanging outdoor string lights in a location near an outlet, plug-in lights are an easy and long-lasting option. As the most common type of outdoor string light, plug-in lights can be installed quickly and require no maintenance. After installing plug-in lights, make sure to keep the cords away from highly-used walkways for safety.

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Battery: Battery-operated string lights are an excellent choice if you want to illuminate an outdoor space that isn’t near an outlet. Many battery-operated string lights include a remote for easy use.

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Solar-Powered: Solar-powered string lights draw energy from the sun using small solar panels at the end of the cord. These lights are eco-friendly and simple to set up in any location that receives sunlight; the solar-powered panel allows you place these string lights in outdoor spots that aren't near an outlet. Check out Your Guide to the Best Solar Outdoor Lights to learn more about solar-powered outdoor lighting.

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Key Features

Upgrade your string lights with these convenient features.

Dimmable: Dimmable string lights offer you the ability to adjust the brightness to your preference. This is great for changing the ambiance, conserving electricity, and creating a customized space.

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Connects End to End: If you're planning on illuminating a large space, opt for outdoor string lights that connect end-to-end to ensure you'll have enough length.

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Edison Bulb: Give your patio a retro feel by choosing string lights with Edison bulbs. This type of lightbulb features an elongated bulb and cage-shaped filament for a vintage-inspired look and produces a warm glow that elevates your outdoor seating area.

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Smart Lighting: Smart lighting allows you to operate outdoor string lights from your smartphone. With smart lighting capabilities, it's easy to adjust the brightness, set a timer, change the color, or switch the lights on and off.

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Timer: String lights with timers give you the ability to turn string lights off automatically. This will help save energy, and you won't have to worry about forgetting to turn them off.

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Keeping in mind the different types of outdoor string lights, here are our top picks for you. We've gathered seven of the best outdoor string lights to illuminate your backyard, patio, or porch – whether you’re looking to create an intimate, cozy ambiance or light up a festive backyard party.

1. Brightech 48' Outdoor Standard String Light

If you're looking to light up your outdoor space with a timeless staple, Brightech' 48' Outdoor Standard String Light combines form and function. This plug-in style can connect end-to-end to span the length of your yard or zig-zag across the patio, so it’s great for illuminating a larger space. With 15 bulbs spaced an even 3' apart and a durable cord designed for year-round use, this string light shines in any climate and doesn't need to be stored during the winter months. The soft white glow from the Edison bulbs adds the right amount of vintage charm, and the dimmer compatibility ensures you can adjust the brightness to create the perfect ambiance.