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 Brightever LED Outdoor String Lights are designed for outdoor use, making them ideal for anyone looking to enhance their patio, garden, or backyard with charming lighting. At 100 feet long with 52 shatterproof Edison bulbs, they offer ample length for larger spaces and can connect up to 15 strands for even more coverage. Notably, their energy-efficient design can save you money on electricity bills when compared to traditional incandescent lights.

One of the key strengths of these lights is their durability. They are weather resistant and can withstand various elements like rain and snow, making them suitable for year-round outdoor use. The bulbs are shatterproof, alleviating concerns about broken glass, which is particularly beneficial when used in areas where safety is a priority.

The warm white color temperature of 2700K gives off a soft, inviting glow, perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere during gatherings or romantic evenings. They also support dimming, allowing for adjustable brightness to suit different occasions, though dimmers need to be purchased separately. There are a few considerations to keep in mind. While the lights are designed to be easy to hang with built-in hooks and zip ties, some users may find installation tricky depending on the setup of their outdoor space. Additionally, while the bulbs are LED and energy-efficient, they still require an AC power source, which may limit placement options if outdoor outlets are scarce.

The Brightever LED Outdoor String Lights stand out as a solid choice for anyone looking to enhance their outdoor space with stylish and functional lighting. They cater well to casual gatherings, festive occasions, or simply creating a lovely ambiance in your garden or patio. Just ensure you have the necessary power source and feel confident in your installation approach for the best experience.

The addlon outdoor string lights offer a generous total length of 96 feet split into two 48-foot strands, making them great for lighting up large patios, gardens, or outdoor events. They use vintage-style Edison incandescent bulbs that give off a warm white glow, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. With 36 bulbs included and six spares, you have plenty of lighting and backups in case bulbs burn out.

These lights are commercial grade and weatherproof, meaning they can handle rain, snow, sun, and wind without damage, which is important for outdoor use. The cord is heavy-duty and flexible, designed to withstand rough outdoor conditions. Since they are powered by a cord plugged into a standard outlet, you don’t need to worry about batteries, but you will need access to electricity where you hang them.

The bulbs are fairly bright at 265 lumens each, enough to light up spaces without being harsh or glaring. A nice feature is that these lights can work with a dimmer switch (sold separately), letting you adjust the brightness to suit the mood of your gathering. Installation is user-friendly, with hanging hooks on each socket for easy setup using hooks, zip ties, or wires. You can also link up to two strands for more coverage. Incandescent bulbs use more energy and produce more heat compared to LED alternatives, which might be a consideration for some users. Also, while the lights are weatherproof, the corded setup means positioning is limited by outlet placement. These string lights provide classic vintage charm combined with durable, weather-resistant construction for your outdoor celebrations or everyday ambiance.