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 Philips Hue Festavia 90ft outdoor string lights are a great choice if you want bright, colorful lighting that lasts year-round. With 48 dimmable LED bulbs spread over a long 90-foot cord, these lights provide plenty of coverage and put out a maximum brightness of 2,640 lumens, offering both vivid white and multicolor options. They are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, including rain and temperature extremes, thanks to their IP67 rating, making them reliable for outdoor use. The white wire blends smoothly into many outdoor setups.

Installation is meant to be permanent using adhesive tape or screws, so they aren’t as easy to move around as plug-and-play strings. You will need a Philips Hue Bridge to control the lights, which adds smart features like syncing with music and voice control but requires an extra purchase and setup. Powered by a corded electric source, they don’t rely on batteries.

These lights suit those seeking a durable and customizable lighting solution for patios or gardens that can enhance everyday ambiance and special occasions. If you prefer something portable or simple without smart controls, these might feel a bit complex and permanent.

The Philips Hue Festavia 150ft outdoor string lights offer a solid choice for those wanting a permanent and versatile lighting solution. With 80 LED bulbs spaced along a 150-foot black wire, these lights provide a good length for decorating patios, gardens, or backyards. Each bulb produces 55 lumens, delivering brightness suitable for creating ambiance rather than strong task lighting.

A key strength is their full weather resistance—IP67 rating means they can handle rain, snow, and temperature extremes down to -4°F and up to 122°F, making them dependable year-round. The bulbs are multicolor and dimmable, allowing you to customize lighting scenes and even sync effects to music, which adds a fun, dynamic touch for parties or holidays. They require a Hue Bridge to operate, which means extra setup and cost but also smart-home integration and remote control options via voice or app. The power source is corded electric, so you'll need a nearby outlet, but you avoid concerns about battery life. Installation is user-friendly with adhesive tape and screws included.

These lights are not the brightest if strong illumination is needed, and the dependency on the Hue Bridge might be inconvenient for those seeking a simpler plug-and-play setup. The price tends to be higher compared to basic string lights due to the smart features. They are best suited for users who want durable, weatherproof lighting with flexible color options and smart control, making them ideal for enhancing outdoor living spaces with convenience and style.