10 Best Outdoor String Lights 2025 in the United States

The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 offers a long 100-foot string featuring 72 LED bulbs that provide bright, colorful lighting, including a 40-lumen white option at a neutral 4000K color temperature. These lights utilize advanced RGBIC technology for smooth, vibrant color changes from 16 million shades and 100 preset scene modes, along with AI-driven effects that create a personalized atmosphere.

Designed for year-round outdoor use, the lights have a strong IP67 waterproof rating to protect against rain and snow, complemented by an IP65-rated control box and adapter. This ensures reliability across a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures, from -4°F to 140°F. Powered by AC/DC with no need for batteries, the lights support smart home integration, allowing control via an app or voice commands through Alexa and Google Assistant.

Installation is straightforward with included glue and clips; however, the string cannot be cut, so planning your setup is important. These lights are ideal for anyone seeking durable, energy-efficient outdoor lighting with flexible colors and smart features—perfect for decorating yards during holidays, parties, or enhancing everyday outdoor spaces. Those needing to shorten the lights or preferring simpler, single-color options might want to consider alternatives.

The Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights offer 96 feet of colorful, customizable lighting that’s ideal for patios, backyards, or parties. These LED bulbs use RGBIC technology to display multiple colors simultaneously, enabling vibrant and unique light shows with 47 different scene modes and 16 million color options. Featuring a warm color temperature of 2700K and brightness up to 100 lumens per bulb, they emit a pleasant glow suited for mood or decorative lighting rather than intense brightness.

Control is very convenient through a smartphone app or voice commands via Alexa and Google Assistant, making adjustments simple and enjoyable. Designed for outdoor use, the lights are IP65 waterproof, capable of withstanding rain and snow, and have a shatterproof build to endure impacts. The power source is corded electric, requiring access to an outlet, and it is recommended not to connect more than 144 feet to prevent overloading.

Though not the brightest option for functional lighting, the combination of flexibility, weather resistance, and customizable effects makes these lights an excellent choice for enhancing the ambiance and style of outdoor spaces.

The Philips Hue Festavia 150ft outdoor string lights offer a generous length with 80 dimmable LED bulbs spaced along the 150-foot white wire, making them ideal for lighting large outdoor spaces permanently. Each bulb produces 55 lumens, combining for a bright total output of 4400 lumens, sufficient for creating a lively but comfortable atmosphere. These lights are weatherproof with an IP67 rating, meaning they can withstand harsh weather conditions including rain, snow, and extreme temperatures from -4°F to 122°F, so you can leave them outside year-round without worry.

The bulbs are tubular in shape and color-changing, allowing for a wide range of vibrant white and colored lighting options, controlled remotely or by voice through the Philips Hue system. This adds versatility for both everyday ambiance and special occasions. The string lights are powered by a corded electric source, so placement depends on access to an outlet. Installation is straightforward with included adhesive tape and screws, but the product is designed more as a permanent fixture rather than something you frequently move or take down.

These lights require a Philips Hue Bridge for control, which means an additional purchase and setup is necessary, potentially limiting for those seeking a simple plug-and-play solution. If you want smart, customizable, and durable outdoor lighting with the ability to sync with music and enhance home security, these lights represent a strong choice. The setup complexity and dependency on the Hue ecosystem could be a drawback for casual users looking for basic outdoor lighting.