One important factor to contemplate is size, which you can determine once you’ve figured out where you’ll be hanging your new lights. String lights come in a variety of lengths, and oftentimes the longer the strand, the more lights it will have. From there, confirm whether you want incandescent or LED lights. The difference between the two lies in their brightness and energy consumption: LED lights are the brighter and more energy-efficient option. Extra features to consider include dimmers, weather-resistant materials, colors, smart functions, and the ability to connect with other strands. Before buying a pack of string lights, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have access to a power source. If you don’t have an outdoor outlet or don’t want to purchase an extension cord, opting for a solar-powered outdoor string light set may better suit your layout.

The 10 Best Outdoor String Lights

Best Overall: Addlon Outdoor String Lights Best LED: Brightech Ambience Pro LED Outdoor String Lights Best Solar-Powered: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar-Powered Outdoor String Lights Best Fairy: Sanjicha Solar Fairy String Lights Best Weatherproof: Lemontec Commercial-Grade Outdoor String Lights Best Budget: SkrLights Outdoor String Lights Best Dimmable: Newhouse Lighting LED String Lights Best Smart Option: XMCosy+ LED Outdoor String Lights Best for Camping: MPowerd Luci Solar String Lights Best for Big Spaces: Banford Dimmable LED Outdoor String Lights