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The most important thing to look for in outdoor Christmas lights is that they’re outdoor-rated.

A hand holding a Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Light

The Spruce

This ensures they can endure snow, rain, and sun with ease.

The bulb bang out and shape are also important considerations when shopping.

C9 bulbs are large and tear-shaped.

Common Bulb Shapes for Outdoor Christmas Lights

The Spruce

These are great for outdoors and covering large areas.

are unmatched in terms of aesthetics and quality.

While testing, we loved the vintage look that the textured glass on these bulbs emanates.

Yuletime Multicolor LED Christmas Lights

PHOTO: Amazon

Since they have a green wire, they would also work well indoors on a Christmas tree.

Plus, they have a one-piece construction to avoid water seeping through and damaging the lights.

Luckily, these lights are designed to remain lit, even if one bulb goes out.

Close up of the Yuletime Multicolor LED Christmas Lights in use

These multicolor LED lights earned our top spot for their classic look and easy installation.The Spruce

Smart lights make it easy to constantly switch between different colors and light shows depending on your mood.

We found these lights easily synced to an app and made controlling and changing the display seamless and exciting.

We wrapped these around our outdoor pillars and loved how easy it was to maneuver the rope lights.

A person placing the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights on a banister

PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob

Since the lights are small, we recommend using them on trees, shrubs, and railings.

They might be too tiny for rooflines, but we loved the brightness they provided.

We used small hooks to keep these up, but think they could improve with an included adhesive.

The Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights around a tree branch at night

The large bulbs perfectly matched the scale of the our oversized tree.The Spruce

We plan to use these on ourindoor Christmas treeeventually, so we love the versatility of options.

you’re able to even connect the lights to your Alexa or Google Home unit for voice-controlled decorating.

It took just five minutes to hang the 9-foot string of lights on our rain gutters using hooks.

A person pacing the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights onto a banister

PHOTO: The Spruce

Luckily, the wind and rain during our testing period didn’t impact the lights at all.

We loved the look and brightness of these lights.

These lights also don’t include any special effects or brightness controls.

The Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights installed around a tree branch

The netting and the bulbs are IP44-rated, so they’ll withstand rain and snow.

During testing, we experienced an intense rainstorm, and the lights worked like new.

One thing about net lights is that they are difficult to store and can easily get tangled.

A person holding the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights

We recommend rolling them around a cylinder-shaped object or folding them in individual bags.

This will make it easier to unfold your lights for next year.

They use 75 percent less energy to operate,allowing you to connect more strands.

A person wrapping the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights around a tree branch

We found that theyre particularly dim when the weather is cloudy or rainy.

Each strand is 29.5 feet long, and they feature 100 bulbs on classic green wire.

We thought these lights were of average brightness and liked the traditional appearance of the warm mini lights.

A person removing the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights from their packaging

If you live in a particularly rainy or snowy area, consider ourbest large-bulb lightsinstead.

They have a one-piece bulb and socket to prevent water from getting inside.

Measure all the straight lines of the house and add them together.

A person pacing the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights onto a banister

Dont forget to measure the distance to your power source!"

The adorable lights resemble huge versions of classic multicolor Christmas light bulbs.

The pack of five lights is easy to assemble and install.

The Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights installed around a tree branch

You must connect each light to its stake and then stake it into the ground.

We recommend getting a set of two for each side of your pathway.

We found them bright enough to feel safe walking in our yard during the night.

A person holding the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights

“In general, never use mini lights on a roofline, he says.

For roof lines and evergreen trees 20 feet and over, you want the larger C9 LED bulbs.”

Our best large-bulb option, theChristmas Lights Etc.

A person wrapping the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights around a tree branch

C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights, is a great choice for decorating large spaces.

For example, we used these on a large tree in our yard.

Plus, they turn on automatically after charging in the sun all day.

A person removing the Christmas Lights Etc. C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights from their packaging

But, they may be slightly too small for rooflines.

This pick features different strands of lights with large blue snowflakes hung in between.

During testing, we were pleasantly surprised by how many lights held up well in inclement weather.

Two hands holding the Govee Christmas String Lights box

PHOTO: The Spruce

you’re free to connect up to 90 strands of our best large-bulb lights, theChristmas Lights Etc.

C9 Warm White LED Christmas Lights, which is the highest amount on our list.

Smart Lights Come With Extra Features

Several lights on our list are considered “smart lights.”

The Govee Christmas String Lights on grass

We noticed while testing that the adapter on the cord wasn’t waterproof.The Spruce

This makes them extra durable for outdoor use.

If you prefer the standard look of classic Christmas lights, we get it.

Why Trust The Spruce?

The Govee Christmas String Lights decorating the porch of a house at night

PHOTO: The Spruce

Our Experts:

Led lighting,Energy.Gov.

The Govee Christmas String Lights on concrete

A person holding a booklet from the Govee Christmas String Lights box

The Govee Christmas String Lights decorating the porch of a house at night

The Govee Christmas String Lights on concrete

A person holding a booklet from the Govee Christmas String Lights box

The Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes hanging from a roof

You can give the illusion of icicles hanging from your home with icicle string lights.PHOTO: The Spruce

Glowing Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes hanging from a roof

These cool white snowflake lights were bright enough to see from our street.The Spruce

A close-up of the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes after installation

PHOTO: The Spruce

A person standing on a ladder while installing the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A hand holding the snowflake from the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A person unboxing the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A person holding the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A close-up of the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes after installation

A person standing on a ladder while installing the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A hand holding the snowflake from the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A person unboxing the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A person holding the Home Accents Holiday 70 Count Cool White Dome LED Icicle Lights with Snowflakes

A person holding a box of Twinkly Net Lights

PHOTO: The Spruce

A person placing the Twinkly Net Lights on a fence

We recommend anchoring the lights to the fence with zip ties to secure them against high winds.The Spruce

The Twinkly Net Lights lit at night

PHOTO: The Spruce

A person placing the Twinkly Net Lights over a hedge

The Twinkly Net Lights on at night

The Twinkly Net Lights wrapped around a tree

A close-up of the Twinkly Net Lights

The Twinkly Net Lights on during the day while hanging from a fence

The Twinkly Net Lights lit at night

A person placing the Twinkly Net Lights over a hedge

The Twinkly Net Lights on at night

The Twinkly Net Lights wrapped around a tree

A close-up of the Twinkly Net Lights

The Twinkly Net Lights on during the day while hanging from a fence

Touch of Eco LITEUP125 Solar-Powered Wide Angle LED Mini String Light

PHOTO: Amazon

Touch of Eco LITEUP125 LED Mini String Light on the roof of a house

These lights provide an attractive warm glow on our roof line without the need for cords or plugs.The Spruce

Amazon Home Accents Holiday 100-Light LED Mini Warm White String Light

PHOTO: Amazon

Home Accents Holiday LED Mini Warm White String Lights in a Christmas tree

These lights would look equally stunning on railings and shrubs as did on our Christmas tree.The Spruce

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights lit near a house

PHOTO: The Spruce

The side angle of the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights running at night

We recommend buying two sets of these cheery lights to line both sides of your pathway.The Spruce

A person holding the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights

PHOTO: The Spruce

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights in their packaging on blacktop

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights lined up in dirt by tree and stones

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights illuminated at night near a tree

A person removing the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights from their box

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights on at night

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights lit in a row

Two hands holding the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights box

A person holding the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights in their packaging on blacktop

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights lined up in dirt by tree and stones

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights illuminated at night near a tree

A person removing the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights from their box

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights on at night

The Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights lit in a row

Two hands holding the Home Accents Holiday Multi Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights box

A house draped in the Home Accents Holiday 300 Count Multi Colored Steady Lit Mini LED Lights

Brightness and color are key when using mini outdoor lights.The Spruce

A person installing the Twinkly Permanent Outdoor Lights to a house

Discrete clips allow you to simply leave them on your home year-round.The Spruce

A person adjusting the Twinkly Net Lights on a fence

We used an app to change the color of these net lights, including this fun rainbow design.The Spruce