Introduction
String lights are the easiest way to make your patio or backyard feel magical at night. Hang them up, plug them in, and suddenly your outdoor space feels like a fancy restaurant or a cozy café.
But not all string lights are created equal. Some are dim, some don't last through one rainstorm, and some have that harsh fluorescent glow that makes everyone look terrible.
I tested 5 popular outdoor string lights in my own backyard to find which ones are actually worth buying and hanging up.
Types of String Lights
Incandescent (Edison Bulbs)
The classic, warm, golden glow. These have the best, most flattering light. But they use more energy, get hot, and the bulbs break more easily.
LED
More energy-efficient, longer-lasting, and they don't get hot. The light quality has improved a lot — many now have a warm, amber glow that's very close to incandescent.
Solar
No outlet needed — they charge during the day and turn on at night. Great for areas without power, but they're usually dimmer and don't last as long into the night.
Fairy Lights
Tiny, delicate lights on a thin wire. Great for wrapping around trees or railing, but not bright enough to be the main lighting for a patio.
What to Look For
- Brightness: Is it enough to actually see by, or just decorative?
- Light color: Warm white (2700K) is the most flattering. Cool white looks harsh and fluorescent.
- Weather resistance: Can it handle rain, snow, and temperature changes?
- Bulb type: Incandescent vs. LED vs. solar
- Length and spacing: How long is the string? How far apart are the bulbs?
- Connectability: Can you connect multiple strings together?
Top Picks
Best Overall: Brightown Outdoor String Lights
Price: ~$25 for 25ft
Brightown makes the most popular outdoor string lights on Amazon, and they deserve the hype. For $25, you get 25 feet of string with 25 Edison-style glass bulbs — and they look great.
The light is warm and golden — that perfect cozy glow that makes everyone look good. The bulbs are glass (not plastic), so they feel authentic. The string is weather-resistant and held up fine through rain and wind in my testing.
You can connect up to 3 strands together, which is enough for most patios. And replacement bulbs are cheap and easy to find.
Pros:
- Perfect warm, golden glow
- Glass Edison bulbs (authentic look)
- Affordable
- Weather-resistant
- Connectable (up to 3 strands)
Cons:
- Incandescent uses more energy
- Bulbs can break if you're rough with them
- Gets hot (don't touch while on)
Best LED: Addlon LED Outdoor String Lights
Price: ~$30 for 48ft
If you want the efficiency of LED but the look of Edison bulbs, the Addlon LED string lights are the best option. They have plastic Edison-style bulbs with LED filaments inside, so they look like the real thing but use 90% less energy.
The light is warm white (2700K) and very close to incandescent — you have to look pretty closely to tell the difference. The plastic bulbs are shatterproof, which is great if you have kids or wind that makes the lights swing into things.
At 48 feet, you get more length for your money. And you can connect up to 30 strands together (LEDs use so little power).
Pros:
- LED = energy-efficient and long-lasting
- Warm, Edison-style glow
- Shatterproof plastic bulbs
- Great value (48ft for $30)
- Connect many strands together
Cons:
- Plastic doesn't look quite as authentic as glass
- Light is very slightly cooler than true incandescent
- Not quite the same "vintage" feel
Best Solar: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar String Lights
Price: ~$50 for 27ft
If you don't have an outdoor outlet (or don't want to run an extension cord), solar string lights are the way to go. The Brightech Ambience Pro is the best solar option I tested.
The solar panel charges during the day and the lights turn on automatically at night. On a full charge, they last about 6-8 hours — enough for a typical evening. The brightness is decent (not as bright as plug-in, but good for ambiance).
Installation is super easy — no wiring, no outlet needed. Just mount the solar panel somewhere that gets direct sunlight and hang the lights.
Pros:
- No outlet needed
- Solar-powered (free electricity)
- Auto on/off
- Easy installation
- Good for areas without power
Cons:
- Not as bright as plug-in lights
- Only lasts 6-8 hours on a charge
- Doesn't work well in shady areas
- More expensive upfront
Best Fairy Lights: Koopower 33ft Fairy String Lights
Price: ~$15 for 33ft
Fairy lights are magical when wrapped around trees, railings, or pergolas. The Koopower fairy lights have 100 tiny LED bulbs on a thin copper wire that's easy to bend and shape.
They're not bright enough to be your main patio lighting, but they're perfect for adding extra sparkle and ambiance. The copper wire is barely visible during the day, so they look clean and elegant.
They're also battery-powered (3 AA batteries), so you can put them anywhere — no outlet needed.
Pros:
- Delicate, magical look
- Thin copper wire is easy to shape
- Battery-powered (no outlet needed)
- Affordable
- Great for wrapping around things
Cons:
- Not bright enough for main lighting
- Batteries need replacing
- More decorative than functional
- Can be tedious to hang
Best Heavy Duty: Feit Electric Heavy Duty String Lights
Price: ~$45 for 48ft
If you want commercial-grade string lights that will last for years, the Feit Electric heavy-duty lights are built to last. They have thick rubber cords, shatterproof LED bulbs, and they're rated for permanent outdoor installation.
They're more expensive, but they feel like they could survive a hurricane. If you're installing lights you want to leave up year-round, these are the ones.
Pros:
- Commercial-grade durability
- Thick, weather-resistant cord
- Shatterproof LED bulbs
- Built for permanent installation
- Long lifespan
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy cord is harder to hang
- Overkill for casual use
- Not as "charming" as lighter strings
How Many Feet Do You Need?
Here's a quick guide:
- Small patio (10x10 ft): 25-50 feet (one or two strands crisscrossed)
- Medium patio (15x15 ft): 50-75 feet (two to three strands)
- Large patio or pergola: 75-150 feet (multiple strands)
- Wrapping trees or railing: Measure and add 20% for slack
Pro tip: It's better to have a little too much than not enough. You can always loop or double up extra length.
Installation Tips
- Plan your layout first. Don't just start hanging — measure and plan where the lights will go.
- Use guide wire for long spans. If you're spanning more than 20 feet, use a steel cable to support the weight.
- Leave a little slack. Taut lights look weird and are more likely to break. Give them a gentle curve.
- Use the right hardware. Cup hooks or screw eyes work well. For stucco or brick, use adhesive hooks or rent a drill with a masonry bit.
- Get a dimmer. Being able to adjust the brightness is a game-changer. Sometimes you want bright, sometimes you want cozy.
Final Thoughts
String lights are one of those backyard upgrades that are cheap, easy, and make a huge difference. For $25-$50 and an hour of hanging, you can turn your boring backyard into a magical evening space.
My pick: Brightown incandescent string lights for that perfect warm glow, or Addlon LED if you want energy efficiency and shatterproof bulbs.
Hang them up, invite some friends over, and enjoy your new favorite outdoor space.
