The Best String Lights - 2023
We looked at the top 11 Holiday Lights and dug through the reviews from 72 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Holiday Lights.
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Our Picks For The Top Holiday Lights
- The Best Holiday Lights
- 1. TaoTronics String Lights with Remote Control
- 2. Brightown Globe String Lights, 25 ft
- 3. Ehome String Lights
- 4. Zoic Christmas String Lights
- 5. Aluan Christmas Lights
- 6. Prextex Clear Wire Christmas Light Set
- 7. Noma/Inliten Light Set
- 8. Prextex Green Wire Light Set
- 9. 12APM String Lights
- 10. Twinkle Star Star String Holiday Lights
- 11. Dailyart Globe String Lights
Multiple Brightness SettingsThanks to its many customizable settings, you won't have any trouble achieving the perfect look with this set of string lights.
Classic Globe LookThese string lights are perfect for creating an Instagram-worthy back patio or for decorating indoors.
Powered by USBYou won't need to worry about batteries with this strand of string lights, as it is powered by a USB plug.
Why we recommend these holiday lights?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 11 Holiday Lights and also dug through the reviews from 72 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Holiday Lights.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
TaoTronics String Lights with Remote Control
Our Take
What sets this string lights set with remote control above the rest is the ability to adjust the brightness. There are 10 different brightness settings, including flash and strobe. Since the lights are waterproof, they can be used indoors or outdoors. The strand also features eco-friendly insulation, which keeps the lights cool even after being left on for hours.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Ehome String Lights
Our Take
You can't go wrong with this set of string lights, one of the more affordable light sets on the market. Thanks to the copper wire, users can bend and position the lights in a myriad of ways. That also makes them a cinch to wrap around a banister. Perhaps the biggest draw is its ability to be powered via USB port.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Holiday Lights Findings
Prextex Green Wire Light Set
What We Liked: Perfect for decorating a fireplace mantel or a small evergreen tree, this set of string lights features 100 elegant white lights on each strand. Users can connect up to five strands to accommodate larger projects. This light set does come with two extra bulbs.
TaoTronics String Lights with Remote Control
What We Liked: What sets this string lights set with remote control above the rest is the ability to adjust the brightness. There are 10 different brightness settings, including flash and strobe. Since the lights are waterproof, they can be used indoors or outdoors. The strand also features eco-friendly insulation, which keeps the lights cool even after being left on for hours.
Brightown Globe String Lights, 25 ft
What We Liked: Each strand of this set of string lights is 25 feet long, which makes them perfect for rooftops, patios, backyards and even wedding venues.
Ehome String Lights
What We Liked: You can’t go wrong with this set of string lights, one of the more affordable light sets on the market. Thanks to the copper wire, users can bend and position the lights in a myriad of ways. That also makes them a cinch to wrap around a banister. Perhaps the biggest draw is its ability to be powered via USB port.
Noma/Inliten Light Set
What We Liked: Although this set of string lights is made up of mini lights, it comes with 300 lights in each strand. The wire is green, which means it will easy blend in with the green foliage of your tree. The wires and sturdy and durable and you can use up to three strands together at the same time.
Our Holiday Lights Buying Guide
Decorating your home or office with lights is an excellent way to get into a happy spirit. It’s even better when you can gather family or friends and put up the lights while listening to your favorite music. Before you plan your little get-together, you’ll need to make sure you have the correct lights with the right number of bulbs.
Read the product packaging to determine if the lights are safe to use outdoors. This is only important if you are planning an outdoor display. Just remember that outdoor lights can be used indoors, but indoor lights cannot be used outdoors. Indoor lights are not made to withstand wind, rain, snow and ice.
Check to see whether the lights have a green or white wire. For example, the Prextex Green Wire Light Set features green wiring in between each light, which blends in with the green foliage of an evergreen tree beautifully. A white wire would stick out in a tree but would look great across a white fireplace mantel.
Determine what type of lights you’d like, as there are a wide variety of choices. You could stick with all white lights or go with multicolored lights. You can opt for lights that flicker, flash or strobe. The TaoTronics String Lights with Remote Control has 10 different brightness settings to choose from. Thanks to the handy remote, users can even change the setting from across the room.
Size is also important, as lights come in large, regular and mini sizes. Of course, you’ll need to read the product packaging to determine how long the strand is, as the number of lights doesn’t determine this. That’s because the lights may be spaced further apart on one set than another. Even though the Ehome String Lights has 100 regular-sized lights, it’s only 4 feet shorter than the Noma/Inliten Light Set, which features 300 mini lights.
When browsing similar models, look for any extras that may set one model above the others. Does the light set come with a few replacement bulbs? Is it powered by a USB port instead of batteries or an electrical outlet? Perhaps it’s made with bendable copper wire for easier placement around picture frames and banisters.
DWYM Fun Fact
Before electric bulbs were invented, evergreen trees were decorated with lit candles. After Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, it wasn’t long before his assistant, Edward Johnson, created lights specifically for use on evergreen trees. It took a little while before these lights caught on.
A young man by the name of Albert Sadacca decided to modify the lights after a tragic house fire was caused by the original decoration of a lit candle. He painted the lights for a more colorful glow, and this led the sale of the lights to take off.
Here are a few more facts you may find interesting about lights:
- An astounding 20 million pounds of holiday lights are recycled each year in Shijiao, China.
- Although President Grover Cleveland was the first to decorate an evergreen tree with lights inside the White House, it was President Calvin Coolidge who set up the first outdoor National holiday tree.
- LED lights use 80% less energy than regular lights. The Rockefeller Center evergreen tree goes a step further by powering its LED lights with solar panels.
- The Gay Family in LaGrangeville, New York, has the record for “Most Lights on a Residential Property.” They used an astounding 601,736 lights to decorate their home.
The Holiday Lights Tips and Advice
- Never use a light set that has frayed cords, empty sockets or exposed wiring.
- Never add more strands than what is recommended in the product information sheet. This could pose a fire hazard.
- When hanging outdoor lights, stick with light clips that are designed specifically for use with lights. Nails and screws work to secure the lights, but there is a risk you could puncture the cord and expose the wiring. You’ll also need to use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet with outdoor lights to protect against the winter elements.
- Always conduct an inspection of any lights that you have from a previous year before using them again.
- Look for a UL Safety Certification on the product label. This certification means that the lights have gone through testing and have been found to meet industry standards.
- Festive lights don’t have to be stored away 11 months out of the year. They work great to accent a family portrait or a piece of wall art. They can be used to light up your banister or an outdoor walkway for better night vision.
- If you have a strand or two of lights that no longer work, you can recycle them. Many organizations are willing to take the old lights off your hands because lights are made using copper, plastic and sometimes glass. All of these materials can be melted down to make new products, which reduces waste.
- When comparing light prices, you’ll first need to take into account how many lights are on each strand. After that, look for any extras the light set may offer. For example, the Noma/Inliten Light Set has 300 lights per strand versus the 100 lights the other sets offer, so it commands a higher price. Although the TaoTronics String Lights with Remote Control has the same amount of lights as the Prextex Green Wire Light Set and the Ehome String Lights, it costs a little more due to its added remote control and multiple brightness options.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in gardening. She enjoys spending time learning about the latest gadgets that make designing, planting and maintaining a garden a breeze. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in leading home improvement publications. When she's not writing, you'll find her gardening, spending time with her kids, cooking in the kitchen or playing with her two kitties, Flitter and Otter. Alicia loves researching the latest and greatest gadgets, products and items that help her save time, energy and money.
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