Add a twinkling effect to your outdoor space.
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String lights are typically associated with holiday decor, but you don't have to wait until December to get the most out of it. Solar string lights can be an energy-efficient, stylish way to light your front porch or back patio. The "set it and forget it" approach could be the outdoor lighting solution you've been looking for.
Not only is the solar power more environmentally friendly, it's kinder on your electric bill. These lights suck up the energy from the sun during the day and comes on automatically at night, so there's no need to keep track of when they're plugged in, either. To help you know what to look for, we tracked down some of our favorite options, from remote controlled ones to fairy lights that look extra magical.
Drape it above patio furniture, use it to illuminate an outdoor living room, hang it on your front porch or weave it through your garden. No matter how you choose to use it, they'll add a sparkling effect that you'll adore. When you see the glow of the light reflecting off of your outdoor sectional, it'll have all been worth it. What are you waiting for? Scroll on to see our favorites and give your deck a refresh.
The sturdy, commercial-grade bulbs on this string of lights are designed to stand up to whatever life throws at them. They're shatter-proof, waterproof, and with their Safe to Touch guarantee, there's no worry of burning your fingers on bulbs during installation. More than 22,000 five-star reviews speak for themselves.
| Number of Bulbs | 12 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | 5-6 hours |
| Charging Time | 6 hours |
| Lumens | Not listed |
| Length | 27 feet |
Whether you want to send a signal to pollinators to come visit your garden or just like the cute shape of the bumblebee bulbs, these adorable lights will ad a touch of whimsy to your backyard. Weave them through bushes and shrubs, and watch your garden come alive when the sun goes down.
| Number of Bulbs | 30 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | 8-10 hours |
| Charging Time | 8 hours |
| Lumens | Not listed |
| Length | 1.5 feet |
One of the worst parts about setting up string lights is figuring out how to connect it to an oddly-place outlet. This set alleviates that worry by using a detachable power unit. It takes in the power of the sun and can power the string lights well into the night. String the braided cord through your campsite for electricity-free ambiance.
| Number of Bulbs | 20 |
|---|---|
| Charging Time | Not listed |
| Operating Time | 40 hours |
| Length | 44 feet |
| Lumens | 20-140 |
For solar string lights that'll be at home in a dense forest or an extra green backyard, go with this strand that resembles a garland. The branch-like bulbs look pretty organic on their own, and there's nearly 10 feet of room to stretch it through the trees.
| Number of Bulbs | 120 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | 8-10 hours |
| Charging Time | 4-6 hours |
| Lumens | Not listed |
| Length | 9.8 feet |
The brass detailing on these lights is what takes it from college apartment to sleek outdoor living room. Edison-style bulbs will turn on automatically when it gets dark out. They're also great for standing up to weather, as they're designed to hold up against snow, wind, rain and even hail.
| Number of Bulbs | 12 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | 5-6 hours |
| Charging Time | 6 hours |
| Lumens | Not listed |
| Length | 28 feet |
As zen as having soft white light blanket your space is, sometimes you want something a bit more festive. These multicolored string lights bring some color to your space, without going full Christmas lights in the middle of June. They're also remote controlled so you can select the color scheme of your choice, like a grown-up version of LED dorm room lights.
| Number of Bulbs | 24 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | Not listed |
| Charging Time | Not listed |
| Lumens | 100 |
| Length | 48 feet |
For the quintessential fairy lights style, look no further than this set from Wayfair. Toggle between different patterns for an inviting twinkling effect. Be cautious though: the delicate look is beautiful, but it's also better suited for covered outdoor spaces than out in the open.
| Number of Bulbs | 100 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | Not listed |
| Charging Time | Not listed |
| Lumens | 8 |
| Length | 38.65 feet |
Instead of feeling the need to disguise them, you'll love showing off this sleek string of lights. The black cage encase each bulb almost makes the strand look like a bunch of mini lanterns. It's suited for indoor or outdoor use, and the relatively small cord is a good fit for fire escapes, smaller balconies, or reading nooks that call for creative lighting.
| Number of Bulbs | 10 |
|---|---|
| Operating Time | Not listed |
| Charging Time | Not listed |
| Lumens | Not listed |
| Length | 6 feet |
In our search for the best outdoor solar string lights, we cross-referenced outdoor retailers we trust with positive customer reviews to find the lights that strike that balance of being reliable and stylish. Since these lights will be used outdoors, we also checked for string lights that can stand up to the elements. Durable braided cords, water- and shatter-proof bulbs, and wind resistance were a few of the features we looked for to identify sturdy lights. And as always, we evaluated string lights for style. It's a delicate balance between cute bistro lights and dorm room Christmas lights, and we want to help you find something closer to the former.
We also looked for a lumens metric, which tells how much visible light comes from a given string. Not every retailer will list the lumen rating of their lights, but for the ones that do, a higher number will indicate a greater amount of light spread across your space.
Before buying solar string lights to last you for years to come, there are a few things you'll want to look out for. Special features like remote control access and a tangle-free central port are certainly helpful, but keep track of the following for any strand you go with:
Length: Measure the area where you plan to hang your string lights before you purchase, and give yourself a foot of extra room for good measure. Many solar string lights don't require an outlet, so you won't be stuck to a specific wall of the house, but if the solar battery needs to be staked into the ground, ensure you'll have room for the strand to stretch from the ground to wherever you decide to hang it.
Weather Resistance: As these string lights will spend close to all of their time outdoors, you'll want to make sure they can stand up to the elements. Wind resistance is key to keep them from getting tangled or flying away, and shatterproof or impact-resistant bulbs are great safety features. Arguably the most important is water resistance. Waterproof string lights can withstand rainy weather, just double check whether they can be left in the open or are better in a covered outdoor area.
Brightness: A great measure of how bright these lights will be in your space is lumens. The lumen rating is a number that conveys how much visible light a bulb will give off, and higher numbers correspond to brighter spaces. Not every retailer lists their lumen rating, however, so you also might want to look for how far apart individual bulbs on the strand are spaced, as wider distances might diffuse light over a wider space, but more narrow ones are better for lighting a small area with more brightness.
House Beautiful is dedicated to finding the best pieces for your home, no matter what your budget or design preference is. Our expertise is just as strong on the exterior of your home as it is on the interior. When it comes to outdoor furniture and accessories in particular, our team is well-versed in providing the best product recommendations, from patio sets and home saunas to durable outdoor rugs. We know how important (and difficult) it is to find something that's both stylish and able to hold its own against the elements.
For our recommendations on solar string lights, we spent 10+ hours scanning the market for items with features like water resistance, shatterproof glass, and heat resistance; all within a range of prices and styles. We also looked at the ratings and reviews in order to see what shoppers are saying, selecting only the best of the best outdoor solar string lights.
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