Blog

Oct 26, 2024

11 Best Outdoor Christmas Lights of 2024, According to Reviews

Every item on this page was chosen by a Veranda editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. With glowing 5-star reviews and excellent specs, you'll want every kind of light

Every item on this page was chosen by a Veranda editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

With glowing 5-star reviews and excellent specs, you'll want every kind of light on this list.

When it comes to the holiday season, few things put us in a more festive spirit than Christmas lights. There's just something about them that makes the world feel just a bit brighter and friendlier. However, it's not always easy to find chic outdoor Christmas lights, and the options can be overwhelming between LED lights, remote-controlled lights, and color-changing holiday lights.

Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture and botanical garden in South Carolina, has its Christmas lights down to a science. For 25 years, the garden has put on a event called Nights of a Thousand Candles that runs through the holiday season. Each night, over 100 volunteers and staff get together to light candles throughout the garden's campus in addition to illuminating over 2 million electrical Christmas lights.

"It's really just a great family tradition for a lot of folks," shares the garden's Vice President of Marketing, Lauren Joseph. "It's really just a special event."

While your display at home might not be as enchanting as the lights at Brookgreen Gardens, here, we've pulled together a list of Christmas lights with glowing reviews. Additionally, we've rounded up a few tips from Joseph and other lighting experts to make sure your outdoor Christmas lights look merry and bright.

Designed to fill your home with a warm glow indoors and out, these Christmas lights from Amazon are sure to be a highlight of the holiday season. These no-frills bulbs don't have the stark look of newer LED lights or the boldness of multi-colored lights; instead they glow with warmth and welcome.

What Reviewers Say: "The lights are bright and each set is the perfect length for wrapping around trees. We love the way they look."

Lizzie Whitcher, the floral manager at Biltmore shared with us a holiday trend she's been noting in the lighting space: "I’ve been seeing smaller spray lights that allow your tree to be lit more fully and deeply."

While much smaller, these twinkling lights are still going to make a great impact, especially if you have a tree you love to wrap in your front yard or a wreath that is in need of an extra layer of holiday magic.

Playful and whimsical, these colored lights are small but mighty. Designed to pack a punch while using a lot less energy than your traditional string of lights, the mini size keeps these string lights efficient and reasonably priced. Their shape is also designed to withstand winter weather.

What Reviewers Say: "I have gone through a plethora of lights over the years due to inconsistent colors that look cheap/dull and the lack of durability from the products themselves. These lights are truly amazing and the colors are as vibrant as can be!"

If you like the idea of a mini LED light to save energy, but are more partial to the classic light shape, this set is sure to be exactly what you are looking for.

What Reviewers Say: "[These lights] are outstanding. They may be pricier, but you're getting more light, less power consumption, and a better experience for your $$."

Strings of lights are no longer exclusively for the holiday season—especially when you purchase a set of smart lights that can easily change color and pattern. This set even comes with an app which allows you to sync them with music!

What Reviewers Say: "I bought this so that I could leave my lights up all year round and just change the colors for different holidays and themes. They have been up on my deck for 2 years now with no issues. I like the timer function too so I don’t have to remember to turn them on and off. Worth the investment."

This LED design is larger in size, so they really shine in your outdoor holiday decor. For larger displays, you can connect up to 30 sets together into one outlet.

What Reviewers Say: "Perfect outdoor Christmas lights. Lightweight plastic so they don’t pull down the tree branches."

While maybe not as versatile as your typical set of string lights, these icicle lights look beautiful hanging from the ceiling of your porch or off the eaves of your house—even if there's no snow in sight.

What Reviewers Say: "These are great. Exactly the right length to plug into my outdoor outlet by the front door and then go along the front of the house."

In one of their spaces, Brookgreen Gardens hangs glass Edison bulb lights for an unexpected, but beautiful look. These, which we also included in our outdoor lighting guide, are sure to be a perfect fit for your space all year long.

There's something so nostalgic about classic colored lights. This bright, no-frills option makes for a festive display during the holiday season.

What Reviewers Say: "Bought these to wrap my patio for Christmas and love them. They were much brighter than other lights I had purchased and even though I left them on for 24 hours a day for months; they never faded. I'll definitely be buying more of these lights to decorate for next year."

This set of LED lights with color-changing bulbs adjusts between 10 functions on its manual switch, removing the need for an app or remote control. Since it features a weatherproof design, this set can be used on bushes or trees, and its steady lit technology means that even if one bulb goes out, the rest of the set will still work.

Solid colored lights are ideal for a specific holiday color scheme (like Hanukkah!) or for those who just love to color coordinate their outdoor decorations. With over 900 positive reviews, these lights from Home Depot are an excellent option.

What Reviewers Say: "Compared to the standard incandescent lights, these LED lights look fabulous! I was able to connect up to 30+ strands in 1 plug outlet, and this worked perfect! I didn't have any issues with lights not working, as I was very careful hanging them."

As they hang well over 2 million lights each year, Brookgreen Gardens has a bit of a method figured out for hanging and bringing down lights.

"When we get a new box of lights, we take them out of the box and roll them into a big ball, like a cannonball of lights. That makes it easier to put them on the trees and around them," shares Joseph. "When you take them down, you do the same thing."

While we're always highlighting the finer things in life here at VERANDA, there's no need to go for the most luxurious option of Christmas lights, unless you want to.

"Everything that we use is something that you could find at your local store," reveals Joseph.

Lauren Joseph is the vice president of marketing for Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture and botanical garden located in South Carolina.

For more than 35 years, VERANDA has been the authority on extraordinary design, outdoor living, art and craft, entertaining, travel, and culture. Every product we feature is expertly curated by our discerning editors and industry experts. Through market research, experience, and rigorous product testing, we only give our stamp of approval to the very best.

Tour High Hampton Resort at Christmas

Should Your Holiday Decor 'Match' Your Interiors?

Designers' Favorite Holiday Decorations on Amazon

15 Minimalist Christmas Decorating Ideas

The Top 5 Christmas Decorating Trends for 2024

27 Super Chic Vintage Christmas Decorations

70 of the Best Holiday Decor Ideas of All Time

25 Statement-Making Christmas Tree Toppers

40 Stunning Christmas Mantel Decorations

The 24 Most Gorgeous Holiday Wreaths

17 Best Christmas Stockings for a Cozy Mantel

How Jackie O Decorated for Christmas