Best outdoor LED string lights

Whether you want to throw all-night parties in the back yard, light up your patio, or ensure that your house is convenient for delivery drivers to find at night, investing in some good lights becomes absolutely vital.

String lights in the yard
(Image credit: Amazon)

Lighting up the outdoors is an excellent way to set the mood for night-time hangouts, as well as illuminating the yard properly. Outdoor LED lights make that easy by delivering stylish options to suit every aesthetic, without breaking the bank in the process. LED lights have a longer lifespan than earlier filament lights, and some even come with features like color changing! We've spent some time with a lot of different lighting setups and have brought you this selection of the best around.

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(Image credit: Amazon)

Banord LED Outdoor String Light

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Commercial grade

If you want to throw parties that light up the night, you're going to need some string lights that can get the job done. The Banord LED Outdoor String Lights to do just that with a 48-foot strand that features 15 dangling bulbs to help add some atmosphere to your patio. 

These commercial grade lights are weather-resistant, so you can leave them up year-round if you want, and have a great look so they won't look out of place even at upscale occasions.

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Omika LED Rope Lights

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Color changing

Half of the fun of having LED lights on your house or out in the yard is seeing the different colors that they can change into. The Omika LED Rope Lights deliver a 66-foot strand with 200 LEDs and 16 different color options, giving you tons of control over the hue of your lights. 

You can use the remote or the controller to fine-tune the way they look in the yard after you've plugged them in, and there are four modes, including a 6-hour timer option. This means you can program your lights to turn off at a particular time so that your power bill isn't always through the roof!  

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Brighttown Outdoor Patio Lights

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Shatterproof safety

If you've got lights up for a wedding, party, or special occasion, the last thing you want is to wind up with broken glass on the ground. Brighttown's Outdoor Patio Lights not only illuminate everything going on outside, but they're also a shatterproof option that looks great when they're lit up. 

That makes them safer than some alternatives, and since they come in 25, 50, and 100-foot lengths, you can always find the right size for your event! 

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ELlight Outdoor String Lights

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Waterproof color

The last thing you want to worry about after stringing up lights is whether they can survive a sudden downpour of rain. ELlight's Outdoor String Lights deliver fantastic color, and since they're waterproof, you never need to worry about pulling them down before a storm to protect them. 

This 35-foot string of lights has 100 LED bulbs and gives you unparalleled control over the color, brightness, and even pattern that the lights display in using an app on your smartphone. 

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Ollny Outdoor String Lights

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Warm lighting

It used to be that if you were using LED lights at night, you'd get a cold hue of lights that threw stark shadows and didn't look particularly inviting. That isn't true anymore, and it's never more evident than when using Ollny's Outdoor String Lights. This 330-foot string has 800 LEDs, and they all are lit with a warm golden light that makes any event look better.

High-quality bulbs mean that the lights never get too hot, making them safe to use year-round and at events big and small. Even better since this is a massive 330-foot string, you can purchase one without having to do tons of math about whether you'll have enough lights for your event. 

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(Image credit: Amazon)

Mlambert Color Changing Outdoor String Lights

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Durable lighting 

Color changing lights can add some real flair to your backyard, but if you lose your remote, you might be stuck with whatever they're set at. Mlambert's Color Changing Outdoor String Lights makes that a little bit easier by giving you two remotes so that if you misplace one, you still have a backup. 

These lights are also rated for all seasons so you can put them up whenever you want and not have to worry about pulling them down before winter hits and makes going outside less fun. The lights are also dimmable, switch between 8 different colors, and can be programmed for a personalized look to your patio. 

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(Image credit: Amazon)

ZAECANY String Lights

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Lots of length

The one big pitfall with many LED string light options is how long the strings are. If you're trying to decorate a big backyard or illuminate the dance floor for an outdoor wedding, 30 or 40 feet just isn't going to cut it. ZAECANY offers a lengthier option with a 165-foot string of warm golden lights for a price that can't be beaten. 

This string is lit with 500 bright LEDs perfect for coiling around banisters or attaching to your porch. These lights are also soft and bendable, making them an excellent option for lighting your front walk. 

Bottom line 

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Outdoor LED lights are a great way to ensure the yard is lit up for company at night, but not all lights are made equal. You want to snag a set that suits both your space, and your design aesthetic. The good news is that there are plenty of excellent options out there, making it possible to find the perfect option.

If we could only suggest one string of lights it would be the Banord outdoor LED lights. This dimmable option is waterproof, making them perfect for all seasons without a hassle. You get 102 feet of light for an affordable price, and these bulbs are built to withstand the test of time! 

Why trust us? 

 At Real Homes, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible. 

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