10 Best Outdoor Christmas Lights of 2024

From smart, programmable lights to traditional incandescents and LEDs, these waterproof picks have you covered.

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If you could only pick one Christmas decoration for your house, we're willing to bet it would be Christmas lights. For good reason: Adorning your roof, stair rails, bushes and trees with colorful wired lights can transform a dreary winter block into a festive spectacle.

Over the years, the basics of the best Christmas lights has remained the same, but advancements in smart technology and programmable lights, options of LED and solar-powered displays and even Christmas projectors that require less setup have made putting on a festive light show easier than ever.

Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our engineers have researched, tested and evaluated holiday décor essentials — everything from Christmas lights to artificial Christmas trees to stands for real trees — annually for over a decade. When evaluating the best outdoor Christmas lights, our experts and engineers in the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab pay attention to important attributes like waterproofing, durability and ease of use.

We love that you can use these bright, warm white Christmas lights both indoors and outdoors to create a postcard-perfect wintery scene. And a relatively sizable one at that — you can connect up to five strings of lights (20 feet each) for a 500-bulb festive glow that spans a total of 100 feet.

Whether your taste is more contemporary or traditional, these will fit the bill. The small white bulbs are both classic and versatile. You could even keep them up year-round on your patio or use them for other parties and special occasions.

If you prefer something with a little more pizzazz, these strands come equipped with flasher bulbs. Simply replace a bulb in the string with the flasher bulb and wait a few seconds — your bulbs will begin to twinkle.

Overall, these incandescent lights may not be as long-lasting as LEDs, but we really love the warm white glow of the more traditional bulb. Plus, the set comes with two extra bulbs and two replacement fuses to help extend the usable lifespan.

Bulb type: Incandescent | Length: 20 ft | Maximum connected strands: 5

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These traditional Christmas lights are very comparable to our top overall pick — they're both about the same size, plus affordable and easy to use. But if you're really doing the math, these lights get the edge on value at just about 62 cents per foot (compared to about 84 cents per foot).

These lights are suitable both for indoor and outdoor use, and you’ll have plenty of length to work with since you can connect up to five strings. At the maximum, you'll end up with a 500-bulb glow that spans a total of 120 feet. Incandescent lights, as mentioned above, aren't as long lasting as LEDs.

Of course, the main difference here is color — one is white, the other multi-colored. Ultimately, we think the choice between the two largely comes down to personal preference.

Bulb type: Incandescent | Length: 24 ft | Maximum connected strands: 5

Christmas in the roaring 2020s means high-tech solutions to yesteryear's problems. Twinkly makes some of the most advanced string lights on the market, giving you more control over your Christmas light show than ever before. These lights are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connected to an app on your phone, letting you set custom patterns, program timers, design light shows and more.

They're also compatible with Google Assistant or Alexa, provided you have a smart speaker. You can also wirelessly connect multiple strings and types of Twinkly lights together so they work in unison. Just make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection — some users reported difficulty in ease of use because of a weak signal outside of their home.

Though they're pricey, our pros think they’re worth it for the ultimate Christmas light display. Think: The neighbor who impresses the whole community with their very own professional light show each year. You can also get more bang for your buck by using them for celebrations year-round — like to illuminate a backyard barbecue or set up a spooky Halloween display.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 157.5 ft | Maximum connected strands: N/A

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Hang these icicle lights from your roofline, fence or entryway to give your home a frosty makeover. Each icicle features a different drop length (9, 12, 15 and 18 inches), giving it a more organic look. With the possibility to link three strands of lights, you can cover around 25 feet of lighting with just one outlet. But if you need a longer length and don't have access to another outlet, you should consider purchasing LED icicle lights, which can oftentimes handle more connections.

Like other incandescent lights, these may not last as long as their LED counterparts, but the clear white glow is ideal for traditionalists. The set also comes with six replacement bulbs and two replacement fuses for a longer runtime over the years. The set also comes with three flasher bulbs, so you can make the lights twinkle, if you prefer.

Worth noting: Our pros do recommend purchasing light clips along with these lights for the easiest setup around your home — whether you're installing on the roof, stair or porch railing or a fence.

Bulb type: Incandescent | Length: 8.5 ft | Maximum connected strands: 3

We love that these battery-powered globe lights don’t require any outlets or extension cords, so you can hang them wherever you want — your front yard, backyard, porch or even a balcony on an apartment floors above the ground. The set doesn't come with batteries (add three AA batteries from your own stash), but it does come with a remote to make operation extremely easy.

It boasts a timer function, so you can automatically turn off your lights before heading off to bed. You can also adjust the lights' brightness and play around with eight different effect modes to create the perfect holiday ambiance. The have a water resistant rating of IP65.

Overall, these lights are better for a smaller display. The strand is only 18 feet long, and you can't connect multiple strands to make a more sizable display. On the upside, they're convenient for those without access to an outlet. They're also very versatile: Since you can change the colors, you can use them year-round for other occasions. And some creative users have even fastened light-up Halloween costumes out of these lights.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 18 ft | Maximum connected strands: N/A

These plug-in LED twinkle star strand will light up your space like a starry night. Each whopping 49-foot string is filled with 100 stars and can be linked together with nine other strands to reach nearly 350 feet, making these one of the more suitable options for large indoor or outdoor spaces.

The lights feature eight different modes, including slow fade, twinkle and more to strike your fancy. Unfortunately, there's no remote to simplify the process — you have to use the inline controller to switch between settings.

These string lights also have a lower IP rating (a marker of how durable and water-resistant they are), which means they cannot be submerged underwater. Our pros say they're best for a covered porch or indoor display.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 49 ft | Maximum connected strands: 10

These multi-colored mini bulbs look a bit like vintage Christmas lights, but they're made with LED lights rather than incandescent bulbs. That means they'll not only last longer, but they also have the power to twinkle and flash among six additional light modes (slow glow, twinkle, steady-on and more).

At 66 feet, this strand is also extremely long, making it a more suitable choice for those who want to fill a larger area — especially considering you can link strands to connect up to 1,000 LED bulbs of bright light.

We also like that you'll also get 17 feet of leading wire, so you can set them up further from the outlet. Just keep in mind that they’re not fully waterproof (IP44 rating) and aren’t recommended for harsh rain or snow conditions.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 66 ft | Maximum connected strands: 5

Dreaming of a white Christmas? These cool white snowflake icicle lights are perfect for creating a winter wonderland inside or outside of your home. Though they are shorter than other outdoor Christmas lights, you can link up to 44 sets (a total of 300 feet!) and the LEDs will last longer than incandescent lightbulbs.

The brand says the bulbs have an average lifespan of 100,000 hours — more than enough for at least a few years' worth of Christmas decor. And, don't worry, even if one light goes out, the rest will stay lit.

There's no IP rating specified, but the brand does note that these lights are "rated for outdoor use." Plus, according to the brand, each acrylic snowflake is built to withstand any shattering that can be caused by wind.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 7.5 ft | Maximum connected strands: 44

Overall, these solar-powered lights offer an exceptional value. The set comes with two 72-foot strings each equipped with 200 LED lights. Not to mention, they don't require any electricity to run. The included solar panels power up the lights, and on a full charge, you should get around 8 to 10 hours of light — plenty for a nighttime display.

We love that there are eight lighting modes and they’re sold in various color combinations too, so you can choose what coordinates best with your home, and the versatile design means you can use them all year round. Unfortunately, you can't connect multiple strands — each one needs its own solar panel to work — but you can buy and use as many as you'd like independently. They have a water resistant rating of IP65.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 72 ft | Maximum connected strands: N/A

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Love that vintage look of the big bulbs? Deck the halls with these vibrant, classic C9 Christmas lights. They may look like they were plucked right out of the days of old, but because they're LEDs, energy consumption is much lower than you’d find with incandescent bulbs. They should also last you at least a few Christmas seasons, adding to the overall value. (Unfortunately, bulbs can't be replaced, so once one goes, that's it.)

Though each individual set could be longer, we love that you can link together up to a whopping 90 sets. That means you should be able to cover a sizable area of 1,530 feet (that's more than four football fields) with up to 1,500 bulbs via one plug.

And if you're not sure you love multi-colored lights? The brand has eight other color offerings, including traditional warm or cool whites, plus more vibrant hues like blue.

Bulb type: LED | Length: 17 ft | Maximum connected strands: 90

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts and engineers have tested outdoor Christmas lights in their own homes as well as in our Media and Tech Lab.

Over the years, we have reviewed and evaluated dozens of options, and all of the recommendations in this guide have been vetted by GH Home Improvement and Outdoor Director Dan DiClerico and Data Engineer Nikolas Greenwald, who recently conducted a categorical test of outdoor Christmas projectors. We've also done more extensive in-Lab testing on solar-powered Christmas lights.

When evaluating outdoor Christmas lights, we looked at key criteria such as ease of installation and setup, performance, durability, bulb type, length, special features and more.

✔️ Bulb type: The first question to ask yourself when shopping for outdoor Christmas lights is the kind of bulb shape that you want. Do you prefer mini bulbs, regular-sized bulbs or bulbs that are in the shape of a snowflake, star or another unique configuration like an icicle? Most traditional outdoor Christmas lights will feature a C6 or C7 bulb shape, but you can opt for larger bulbs like C9, which are great for outdoor spaces.

You should also consider whether you want LED or incandescent lights, the main difference being that incandescent lights are typically more affordable but will not last as long as LED lights. It’s also worth noting that LED lights are more energy efficient and do not heat up as much as incandescent lights.

✔️ Length: Measure your desired space before purchasing outdoor Christmas lights to ensure that you’ll have enough coverage. You should also factor in how close your outlet is and the lead space you’ll need, as well as how many strings can be connected to a single outlet should you need to connect more lights down the line (without having to access another outlet or add an extension cord).

✔️ Durability: When provided, check your outdoor Christmas light’s IP (Ingress Protection) Rating, which will indicate how well they can withstand exposure to environmental conditions such as rain, dust, wind and dirt.

The first number refers to solids (i.e., dust) and how durable the product is, while the second is for liquids (i.e., water). Most outdoor Christmas lights are rated IP44, while more robust models are rated IP65. If you live in an area with harsh winters, consider a model with a higher IP rating.

✔️ Color: For the most part, you need to decide whether you prefer outdoor Christmas lights that are white or multicolored. While some lights may feature both, this isn’t common and will cost more. If you’re opting for white lights, ask yourself whether you prefer a cooler or warmer temperature. Cooler white lights will look slightly bluer while warmer lights tend towards the amber spectrum.

✔️ Extra features: While outdoor Christmas lights are fairly affordable, that doesn’t mean that they don’t come with extra features. Some of the picks we include have

For years, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and advice on home essentials like Christmas decorations and lighting.

Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski, who covers everything from consumer tech to smart home for GH, and Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with more than 15 years of product review experience, worked together to vet the picks above.

Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, overseeing product testing and covering tech, travel, home, fitness, parenting, health and more. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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