Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
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Be the house people slow down to look at. Bob Vila hung 10 sets of outdoor lights on roofs, fences, bushes and poles, then left them out in rain, snow and freezing temperatures and even dropped them on concrete.
Our string lights, C9 bulbs, net, icicle and meteor lights and the laser projector are its category winners. Then let a plug do the work: Tom's Guide's favorite outdoor smart plugs turn everything on at sunset and off at bedtime, no running outside in socks. Start with a weatherproof string and a smart plug, then add a net for the bushes or icicles for the roofline. Each card shows the drawback the testers called out, like plugs and transformers that need covering from rain.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you're only decorating inside; the Christmas Decor list has the tree, indoor lights and ornaments.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHCLight Extra-Long LED Green Wire Christmas Lights | budget | $25-50 | covering a lot of house on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Prextex Christmas Clear White Wire 100 Light Set | budget | $15-25 | wrapping trees, poles and railings | 1 outlet |
| Wintergreen Lighting Wide Angle LED Mini Lights | mid | $15-25 | bright, sturdy mini lights in a specific color | 1 outlet |
Best outdoor string lightsbudget pick · 95 ft
Best for covering a lot of house on a budget
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck outdoor Christmas lights: excellent length and coverage for the price.
Heads up. The wire is a bit thinner than other options, and you can't connect more sets
1 outlet. Bob Vila best bang for the buck outdoor Christmas lights.
$25-50
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budget pick · 20 ft
Best for wrapping trees, poles and railings
Bob Vila's best overall outdoor Christmas lights: versatile, durable and low-priced, and they held up to weather and rough handling in reviews.
Heads up. You have to swap in specific bulbs to make them twinkle, and incandescent bulbs don't last as long as LEDs
1 outlet. Bob Vila best overall outdoor Christmas lights.
$15-25
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mid pick · 24 ft
Best for bright, sturdy mini lights in a specific color
Bob Vila's best mini outdoor Christmas lights: durable and bright outdoors, with 14 color options.
Heads up. No special modes or effects, and the stiff wire is hard to roll up for storage
1 outlet. Bob Vila best mini outdoor Christmas lights.
$15-25
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Best large-bulb lightssplurge pick · 66.8 ft
Best for the classic big-bulb roofline look
Bob Vila's best large-bulb outdoor Christmas lights: a vintage, perfectly uniform look with spring-loaded clips that make hanging them simple.
Heads up. Steady on is the only setting, and the long strand with big bulbs is bulky to store
1 outlet. Bob Vila best large-bulb outdoor Christmas lights.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twinkle Star 360 LEDs Christmas Net Lights | budget | $25-50 | covering a big bush in seconds | 1 outlet |
| Knonew Christmas Lights Curtain Fairy String | budget | $15-25 | icicles along the roofline | 1 outlet |
| Twinkle Star Meteor Shower Rain Lights | mid | $25-50 | a falling-star effect in trees | 1 outlet |
Best bush and icicle lightsbudget pick · 5 x 12 ft
Best for covering a big bush in seconds
Bob Vila's best outdoor Christmas lights for large areas: a net that drapes fast over big shrubs with even light.
Heads up. The transformer has to be protected from the elements, and Bob Vila struggled to get it to stay on one setting
1 outlet. Bob Vila best outdoor Christmas lights for large areas.
$25-50
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budget pick · 33 ft
Best for icicles along the roofline
Bob Vila's best icicle lights: a nostalgic icicle look with crisp white light that held up in a Colorado winter.
Heads up. IP44 isn't enough for very wet areas, and the plug needs protecting from water
1 outlet. Bob Vila best icicle lights.
$15-25
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mid pick · 26 ft
Best for a falling-star effect in trees
Bob Vila's best meteor lights: a falling-star look that survived windy rain in reviews.
Heads up. Only 8 meteor tubes per string, so bigger spaces need several sets
1 outlet. Bob Vila best meteor lights.
$25-50
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Best light projectormid pick · Covers 3,800 sq ft
Best for instant patterns on a garage door
Bob Vila's best outdoor projector lights: plug-and-play red and green holiday patterns, quick to set up on a garage door from about 33 feet.
Heads up. Patterns are less sharp than in the ads, and Bob Vila's unit didn't always respond to the remote
1 outlet. Bob Vila best outdoor projector lights.
$25-50
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Best outdoor smart plugmid pick · 2 outlets
Best for lights that turn on at sunset by themselves
Tom's Guide's best outdoor smart plug overall: affordable, durable and compatible with most major smart home platforms, with two outlets you control separately.
Heads up. Short cable
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best outdoor smart plug overall.
$25-50
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budget pick · 1 outlet
Best for dimmable lights on a schedule
Tom's Guide's best dimming outdoor smart plug: dim whatever lights are plugged in, with scheduling in the Kasa app.
Heads up. Only one outlet, and some lights may flicker when dimmed
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best dimming outdoor smart plug.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Bob Vila says outdoor Christmas lights should be 100 percent waterproof, with an IP code of at least 4 in the second digit (like IP44 or IP65). Some sets have a control box or transformer near the plug that isn't waterproof, so cover it or keep it out of the elements.
Tom's Guide says it's not advisable: indoor plugs aren't built to keep water out, which can damage them and be a safety hazard. Use an outdoor plug, mount it with the outlets facing down and cover the outlets you aren't using.
Removable clips are easiest and cause the least damage to your home, per Bob Vila, and it says to have a helper hold the ladder for stability. A timer or smart plug saves energy too.