When choosing the best outdoor string lights, it is essential to consider both practical factors and aesthetics. In this article, we will tell you which factors you need to consider and recommend some options for your consideration.
Practical Factors
Practical factors include durability, power source, strand length, whether the bulbs are LED or incandescent, and whether the bulbs are preinstalled or are to be installed later.
Durability
Outdoor string lights will be exposed to the weather, so it is important to make sure that they are durable and weatherproof. Check the materials used to make the lights and whether they come with any ratings, such as IP ratings. IP45, IP65, and IP68 are common ratings that you can expect for weatherproof string lights.
Power Source
Outdoor string lights can be powered from the mains, by solar power, or by batteries. Depending on the use of the string lights or the power supply of your house, choose the most suitable one for you. Solar outdoor string lights usually cannot be connected because the solar panel may not be strong enough to power several strings of lights.
Strand Length
The length of outdoor string light strands is typically about 50 feet. Choose a strand length suited to your needs. If you have a large outdoor area to cover and want to use just a single power source or light control, choose lights that can be connected.
Bulb Type
Outdoor string light bulbs can be LED or incandescent. LEDs are more popular these days, and incandescent bulbs are the more traditional types of bulbs used up until about ten years ago. LEDs consume less electricity, are more durable, and last longer.
Bulb Installation
Some outdoor string lights will come with bulbs preinstalled, and others will come with bulbs you need to screw into the strand yourself. Outdoor string lights with preinstalled bulbs are quicker to put up but do not allow for a bulb to be changed if it stops working.
Aesthetics
When choosing the best outdoor string lights, in terms of aesthetics, you should consider colors, brightness, and light modes such as dimmability and light pattern.
Color
Some outdoor string lights come in a single color, some come in different colors, and some come in different temperatures of white. Lights that come in different colors can either show one color on all bulbs at the same time or show a pattern of different colors depending on the chosen pattern.
Brightness
Lumen is used to measure brightness. The larger the lumen is, the brighter the light is. Another factor you need to consider is bulb type. LED bulbs are usually brighter. Besides, the number of bulbs on each string is also important information you need to check. Additionally, the light in white color looks brighter.
Dimmability
Dimmability allows you to change the level of brightness for different times of the day or different occasions. You can use this feature to adjust the atmosphere of the space.
Light Patterns
Some outdoor string lights come with lighting patterns such as twinkle and fade. Lights with different patterns often have several different patterns to choose from, which can be selected from a remote control or switch.
Best Outdoor String Lights for Your Consideration
- Best Solar-powered Outdoor String Lights
- Best Connectable Outdoor String Lights
- Best RGB Outdoor String Lights
- Best Fairy Outdoor String Lights
- Best Dimmable Outdoor String Lights
Best Solar-powered Outdoor String Lights
Solar-powered outdoor string lights are good to use if you are looking to save money on your electricity bill and live in a sunny climate. Here is the best solar-powered outdoor string lights you may like. The features of these lights include:
- Power Source: The string light comes with a 5000mAh solar panel with a USB charging port. If it is a cloudy or rainy day, you can charge it with a power bank.
- Dimmability: These solar-powered outdoor string lights are dimmable, and you can adjust their brightness to four different levels using the remote controller included.
- Durability: These solar-powered outdoor string lights are very durable, being made from commercial-grade strands, thicker flexible stocks, and durable plastic bulbs. This robust construction will protect the lights from any weather situation.
- Colors: These solar-powered outdoor string lights come in 8 different single colors (warm white, red, green, blue, white, cyan, purple, and orange).
- Light Patterns: It has 6 dynamic modes including 2 jump modes, 2 fade modes, flash, and auto cycle.
Best Connectable Outdoor String Lights
Connectable outdoor string lights are good to use when you have a large outdoor area to cover and want to control the lights from a single control such as a switch or remote. The best connectable outdoor string lights we are recommending have those features:
- Connectability: A strand of the string lights is 50ft long and up to 19 strands can be connected together. The plug comes with two fuses and is designed for safe use outdoors.
- Dimmability: You can adjust the brightness of these connectable outdoor lights to four different levels using most dimmers available on the market.
- Durability: These connectable outdoor string lights have an IP45 rating and durable plastic bulbs, which endure high temperatures, heavy rain, high winds, and humidity.
- Color: The color of these connectable outdoor string lights is warm white (2700K).
Best RGB Outdoor String Lights
RGB outdoor string lights are good to use when you want to create an exciting party atmosphere using different choices for the appearance of the lights. The best RGB outdoor string lights are to be found here:
- Colors: The color of these RGB outdoor string lights can be set to any one of 8 different colors, including red, green, blue, warm white, daylight white, light blue, purple, or cyan.
- Light Patterns: You can adjust the mode from 4 options including fade, jump, auto, or flash. You can also control the speed of changing color.
- Dimmability: These RGB outdoor string lights are dimmable, and you can adjust their brightness using the remote controller included.
- Durability: These RGB outdoor string lights are IP65 waterproof and made from heavy-duty and commercial-grade materials with a thick cord, strong eyeholes, waterproof connectors, and shatterproof E26 Edison LED plastic bulbs.
- Connectability: Up to three strings of these RGB outdoor string lights can be connected together.
Best Fairy Outdoor String Lights
Fairy outdoor string lights are best for festivals such as Christmas and birthdays. They are particularly appealing for children or for use in commercial spaces. The best fairy outdoor string lights are to be found here:
- Rope: The fairy outdoor string lights are designed with RGB LED rope, which common string lights don’t have. The fairy rope looks like shining stars.
- Colors: The bulb of the string lights comes in 7 different single colors including red, green, blue, light blue, purple, neon green, and white. You can either display the same color in both the bulbs and the strand at the same time or display a mix of these colors at one time in “rainbow mode”.
- Light Patterns: It offers 11 lighting modes including Rainbow, Auto, Jump, Fade, Multi-color fade, Multi-color jump, Random fade, Random jump, Breathe, Strobe, and Twinkle. You can use a remote to change the mode conveniently.
- Durability: These fairly outdoor string lights are durable, being made from commercial-grade sockets, thicker flexible cords, and durable plastic bulbs.
- Connectability: Up to two strands of these fairy outdoor string lights can be connected.
Best Dimmable Outdoor String Lights
Dimmable outdoor string lights are best to use when you want to set a nice atmosphere late into the evening or if the lights are to be used in combination with other large sources of outdoor light. The best dimmable outdoor string lights are to be found here:
- Dimmability: You can adjust the brightness of these lights to four different levels using the remote controller included.
- Colors: These dimmable outdoor string lights can display one of three different temperatures of white (warm white, neutral white, and cool white) at any time.
- Light Patterns: The string lights have 2 modes – JUMP and FADE.
- Timer Function: You can set a timer for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, or 240 minutes.
- Durability: These dimmable outdoor string lights come with durable, waterproof, and shatterproof plastic bulbs.
