Christmas lights are among the most iconic and notable decorations of the season, perhaps second only to Christmas trees. You can find many types of Christmas lights in classic white or bright colors to wrap around trees or to adorn the whole exterior of your home.
Whatever kind of Christmas lights you require, this guide contains the information you need to select the perfect ones. Our favorites are LEDWholesalers’ LED Color-Changing Lights, which are sure to wow the neighbors with their ability to gradually change hues.
Considerations when choosing Christmas lights
Types of Christmas lights
It’s important to choose the right Christmas lights to suit your decorating needs, even if it means you have to shop around a little.
String lights are classic Christmas lights that come on a single strand. These range from small lights that are ideal for decorating a Christmas tree or wrapping around a banister to larger lights best suited to outdoor use.
Curtain lights have a number of long strands of lights that hang down from a single wire running along the top. You can use them to create a feature wall in your home or for an eye-catching outdoor display.
Net lights are set into a criss-cross, fishnet-like web of wires. They’re usually used to cover bushes for a magical effect.
Bulb type
Christmas lights either have LED bulbs or incandescent bulbs. LEDs are gradually overtaking incandescent bulbs in popularity since they’re inexpensive to run, are extremely safe as they don’t heat up, last tens of thousands of hours, and don’t cause the whole string to stop working if one bulb burns out. LED Christmas lights may cost a little more to buy than incandescent options, but you save money in the long run due to their longevity and lower running costs.
Features
Color
Do you prefer cheerful reds, greens, blues, and yellows, or classic white lights? There’s no correct answer here, so choose whichever makes you happy.
Blinking patterns
Most Christmas lights can either stay on continuously or blink on and off in a variety of patterns. If you specifically want blinking lights, make sure the ones you choose offer several patterns so you can choose a pattern that works for you.
Length
It’s important to know the length of your chosen Christmas lights, especially if you want them to fit a particular area. You can often string several light strands together, but check the instructions for safety advice.
Number of bulbs
Check the number of bulbs as well as the length of the string, because some are positioned closer together than others.
Price
The price of Christmas lights can vary from less than $10 to over $50, depending on the types of lights, the length of strings, and the number of individual lights.
FAQ
Q. What’s the difference between warm white and cool white?
A. You may see Christmas lights listed as warm white or cool white (sometimes called bright white). Warm white lights have orange/yellow undertones so they’re more akin to the light from a fire or candle. Cool white lights have blue undertones and, therefore, feel crisp like the light on a snowy day.
Q. How do I control my Christmas lights?
A. Christmas lights that offer a range of blinking patterns or color-changing options either come with a remote control or a wired box attached to the string of lights with buttons that let you alternate between the various settings. Some controls are easier to use than others.
Christmas lights we recommend
Best of the best: LEDWholesalers’ LED Color-Changing LIghts
Our take: These unique string lights will delight children and adults alike with their ability to change hues.
What we like: LED bulbs gradually change colors. A linkable string of 50 bulbs stretches 16 feet. Can be used indoors or outdoors. Quality construction.
What we dislike: Light wasn’t bright enough for some users.
Best bang for your buck: Noma/Inliten’s Holiday Wonderland 100-Count Clear Christmas Light Set
Our take: Good for indoor or outdoor decorating, these affordable lights have a green wire to blend in with foliage.
What we like: Features 100 bulbs of a 25-foot wire. Connect up to three sets of lights together. Pleasant warm white hue.
What we dislike: Incandescent bulbs don’t last as long as LEDs.
Choice 3: Paragala’s Meteor Shower Rain Lights
Our take: Thanks to the eye-catching cascading light pattern, these Christmas lights stand out from the crowd.
What we like: White or colorful options available. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Choose between 30-centimeter or 50-centimeter bulbs. Multiple strands can be strung together.
What we dislike: The white option is closer to blue.
Lauren Corona is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money. BestReviews never accepts free products from manufacturers and purchases every product it reviews with its own funds.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
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