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The Best String Lights

Last updated on June 22, 2020

We looked at the top 10 Holiday Lights and dug through the reviews from 48 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Holiday Lights.

Our Review Process

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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.

Our Picks For The Top Holiday Lights

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best Globe Lights

Brightown Globe String Lights, 25 ft

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Brightown

Globe String Lights, 25 ft

Each strand of this set of string lights is 25 feet long, which makes them perfect for rooftops, patios, backyards and even wedding venues.

Overall Take

Classic Globe LookThese string lights are perfect for creating an Instagram-worthy back patio or for decorating indoors.

 Best Decorative USB

Ehome String Lights

Ehome

String Lights

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.

Overall Take

Powered by USBYou won't need to worry about batteries with this strand of string lights, as it is powered by a USB plug.

Pros
" Includes an 8-function controller which enables you to customize the light patterns in almost any way you want. Made of high-quality materials to guarantee their toughness; these lights are also surprisingly flexible and easy to use."
Cons
"Lacks a USB cable."

Aluan Christmas Lights

Aluan

Christmas Lights

Overall Take

Zoic Christmas String Lights

Zoic

Christmas String Lights

Overall Take

Pros
" Uses little energy as the 500 lights only use 6 watts. Memory function capabilities: it will remember the last setting it had before it was switched off."
Cons
"Assembling quality is below average."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
17

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the holiday lights available to purchase.
10

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

48

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Savant Magazine, Paramatan, Top Ten Product Review, ReviewingPlus, Review Meta.

10,385

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 10 Holiday Lights and also dug through the reviews from 48 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.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Ehome String Lights

Our Expert Score

0.0
6 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

8.6
775 user reviews

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

Includes an 8-function controller which enables you to customize the light patterns in almost any way you want. Made of high-quality materials to guarantee their toughness; these lights are also surprisingly flexible and easy to use.
- Savant Magazine
It’s powered by a USB power bank so you will not have to worry about batteries.
- Paramatan
August 15, 2019 | Full review
Although it doesn’t cost much, it performs even better than most of the highly-priced models in the market.
- Top Ten Product Review
August 23, 2019 | Full review
Made of ultra-thin and flexible silver lacquer coated copper wires. They are bendable so you can shape them into the desired appearance. A USB plug or power bank power these LED lights.
- Buying Hack
March 2, 2019 | Full review
The 100 independent LEDs, can work individually even if one globe gets damaged.
- ReviewingPlus
May 30, 2019 | Full review

What other experts didn't like

Lacks a USB cable.
- ReviewingPlus
May 30, 2019 | Full review

What to Look For

  • 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.

Holiday Lights Rankings

1. Brightown Globe String Lights, 25 ft

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 1

2. Ehome String Lights

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 7

3. Aluan Christmas Lights

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 3

4. Zoic Christmas String Lights

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 10

5. Prextex Clear Wire Christmas Light Set

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 3

6. Noma/Inliten Light Set

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 8

7. Prextex Green Wire Light Set

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 6

8. 12APM String Lights

Overall Score: 8.2
Reviews Included: 8

9. Twinkle Star Star String Holiday Lights

Overall Score: 8.2
Reviews Included: 3

10. Dailyart Globe String Lights

Overall Score: 7.4
Reviews Included: 9

More to Explore

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.

More to explore