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While you may do your market research when it comes to buying replacement lightbulbs for your ceiling lights and lamps, there’s at least one kind of light product that you want to spend as little time and money on as possible: Christmas lights.

That’s totally understandable. You might only use Christmas lights for one, maybe two months every year. So as long as you choose ones with positive reviews, you’ll probably be fine.

However, having experts show you which lights are actually worth your money — without costing too much, either — is a far better approach. It doesn’t require any extra effort on your part, and you get products that will last longer, perform better and make your home more beautiful.

Enter Jennifer Klestinez, who owns a lighting installation company in upstate New York and offers home lighting advice as @thebrightboss on TikTok.

While there are some pro-grade lighting products that Klestinez prefers over commercially available ones, she shared plenty of helpful recommendations of holiday lights you can buy at Amazon, The Home Depot and Walmart.

Klestinez’s main piece of advice is to avoid incandescent bulbs. “They get hot, you can’t string many together, they use a lot more energy and the glass shatters,” she told the New York Post. That’s why Klestinez focused on LED lights, which are more durable and reliable.

Shop the best outdoor Christmas lights below, as recommended by Klestinez, Lance Allen (a senior decorative holiday merchant at The Home Depot), Stephen Dunkelberg (a landscaper and Christmas light installer on TikTok) and Monica Reese (a home styling expert at Lowe’s).

Best Outdoor Holiday Lights Overall

Wintergreen Lighting C7 OptiCore Commercial Christmas Lights

Length: 25 feet

Colors: warm white, white, red, yellow, green, pink, purple and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: LED bulbs offer reliable brightness, and stringer can be used with other C7 bulbs

One of the most important things to look for in Christmas lights is how easily you can replace bulbs that burn out. The bulbs in this set can all be replaced as needed and swapped out for different color C7 shaped bulbs, which makes it so much easier to maintain your design once it’s set up. These lights can also work with a dimmer and are exceptionally durable. Rated to last for up to 60,000 hours, too.

“This one in particular is just classic fun Christmas vibes with LED perks,” Klestinez said. “They’re the most versatile size, and if you use the stringers with wider spacing, it looks better and is easier to scatter in trees than a heavier string with more bulbs.”

Home Accents Holiday 300L Warm White Mini LED Steady Lit Lights

Length: 86.8 feet

Colors: warm white and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: package includes replacement LED bulbs

Comprised of two strings of 150 lights each, this bundle is a fantastic starting point for all of your outdoor (and indoor) holiday lighting arrangements. You can connect these lights to as many as nine other light strands for maximum coverage. Plus, the LED bulbs have a long lifespan, and if a few go out, they won’t cause a whole section of lights to go dark.

Lance Allen, senior decorative holiday merchant at The Home Depot, recommended these as his favorite overall choice. “If you like the mini, twinkling light look, these are the ultimate choice for your outdoor holiday lighting needs,” he said. “With two light strings, each containing 150 bulbs, they neatly wind around two reels for safe storage until the holiday season.”

Novelty Lights 25-Pack C9 Bulbs

Length: 3 inches tall each

Colors: red, white, warm white, yellow, purple, green, lime green and orange

Noteworthy Features: energy efficient and dimmable

Pick up these bulbs along with this 250-foot long stringer to screw them into, and you’ll be all set for the holidays. Multiple sources we spoke to said that the professionals buy the bulbs and stringers separately because it gives you so much more control and freedom in customizing your setup. You can choose the exact arrangement of bulb colors, easily replace burnt out or broken bulbs, and you practically never run out of sockets to screw bulbs into.

“This is what the pros use,” said Stephen Dunkelberg, a landscaping specialist and Christmas light installer on TikTok. “You can build a professional Christmas light display custom fit to your home. The strand can be cut to size to create a clean, custom fit display.”

Best Budget-Friendly Outdoor Holiday Lights

wominoy 50-Count LED Christmas Lights

Length: 25 feet

Colors: warm white, red, white and blue

Noteworthy Features: ability to connect with up to 45 strands

If you’re covering a large area and want to save money, these value lights are a smart option. While their LED bulbs aren’t replaceable, their wiring is designed so that if you have multiple strands plugged into each other and one strand goes out, the others will remain lit.

“The construction is more promising than the majority of others at big box sites,” said Klestinez. “The shape also diffuses the light more widely, which you want outside.”

Klestinez also recommended these because their length is easy to work with. “Don’t get big rolls of 100-feet and 300-feet of lights,” she said. “Shorter lengths are better to control for a neater final project.”

Best Large Bulb Outdoor Holiday Lights

Vickerman 15 Pearl White G50 Lights

Length: 10 feet

Colors: white (with more colors available here)

Noteworthy Features: easy to replace with other G50 bulbs

Vickerman offers their large, rounded bulbs in a rainbow of colors, so after you get this kit that includes plain white bulbs and a stringer to plug them all in, you can experiment by switching out different colored bulbs.

While the shorter strand length means you may have to buy more bulbs, these are noticeably bright and can be a great choice for highlighting smaller areas such as a window frame or door frame.

“I love the bigger round shape which spreads the bright LED light nicely,” said Klestinez. “The globe style is visually much more versatile and can work beyond the holiday season. Use them on rooflines and in big tree canopies.”

C9 OptiCore Commercial Outdoor Christmas Lights

Length: 100 feet

Colors: warm white, white, multicolor, purple, red, blue and green

Noteworthy Features: sockets have built-in clips

Generally speaking, C9 is the largest size bulb you can buy for stringer lights, and this large pack that’s 100 feet long with 100 lights will cover a massive area. The LED bulbs are dimmable, and their casing is made from a polycarbonate lens that’s much stronger than glass (so you don’t have to worry about them breaking). These are designed to safely connect to strands up to 1,000 feet long, so you can wrap up your entire house like a big, sparkling Christmas present.

“OptiCore C9 LEDs will be the biggest and brightest bulbs on the street,” said Dunkelberg. “They will be comparable to the professional installations at an affordable price. They come in a variety of colors in a variety of lengths. The LEDs will last you many years longer than the big box store bulbs.”

Best Colorful Outdoor Holiday Lights

Holidynamics Dynamic RGB 5MM Light Set

Length: 17 feet

Colors: white, red, green, blue, yellow, purple, teal and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: remote controlled and customizable

Instead of buying different colored bulbs that you have to switch out, you can more quickly access a wide range of colors with this programmable set. Choose from eight color options and 10 lighting modes for a ton of versatility and easy customization.

“These RGB string lights have a rich, bright color, and it is super fun to play with the preset color and motion options using the remote,” said Klestinez. “The control is more reliable than an app-connected light set and is especially fun for the kids. They’re also very well made with lock-together connections and solid-molded bulbs that won’t break off and are meant to handle the outdoors.”

Home Accents Holiday C9 LED Heavy Duty Christmas String Lights

Length: 66 feet

Colors: multicolor and white

Noteworthy Features: flicker-free technology for steady brightness

These large and bright lights are the key to making your home look like it was decorated by a professional. Each LED bulb stays cool to the touch, so repositioning them once they’re plugged in won’t be a problem, and if any over go out, you can simply unscrew them and swap in replacement C9 bulbs. As a bonus, the light sockets have built-in clips to conveniently hold them in place along your roof, siding or wherever you set them up.

“If you prefer larger or colorful lights, your best option is the Home Accents Holiday Multicolor C9 LED Heavy Duty Christmas String lights,” said Allen. “These will add vibrancy and dazzling wonder to your holiday decor.”

Best Outdoor Pathway Holiday Lights

Wintergreen Lighting C9 OptiCore LED Pathway Christmas Lights

Length: 50 feet

Colors: warm white, white, red, blue, green and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: removable stake attachments let you use these lights in the ground or around your home

Made by the same company as Klestinez’s pick for best overall lights, these have two important features that make them work buying: Easily replaceable bulbs and stake attachments to plant in the ground. The polycarbonate material on the C9 bulbs is more durable than glass, so you won’t worry about broken bulbs, and they work great with a dimmer.

“Nice and bright and available in different lengths and colors. I don’t use these much in the northeast for Chrismas because we get buried in snow, but I have used the same brand’s bulbs in custom configurations for path lights during summer events that always look great,” Klestinez said. “The stakes included could make for an easy installation, and unlike most path light strings at big retailers, these can connect together for long runs without worrying about using more extension cords.”

Home Accents Holiday Multi-Colored Giant C7 LED Pathway Lights (Set of 5)

Height: 20 inches

Colors: multicolor

Noteworthy Features: C7 bulbs are easy to swap and replace

The large size of the bulbs makes these stake-in lights stand out as decor pieces, elevating them above standard Christmas lights. Buy at least two of these five-light sets so you can have one on each side of your walkway, and if you’re really in the holiday spirit, you can pick up a few more and connect them together to extend all the way to the sidewalk or street.

Allen recommended these for both their durability and festivity. “The weatherproof LEDs provide a steady and cool-to-the-touch brightness,” he said. “Perfect for lighting up your walkway, driveway and more.”

Best Novelty Outdoor Holiday Lights

Rirool Meteor Cascading Tree Lights

Length: ~1 foot per tube light, pack contains 10 tube lights

Colors: blue, white, warm white and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: built-in sequencing function

Instantly add a wow factor to your outdoor light setup when you incorporate these novelty lights with a simple rod shape and cascading effect. You can hang them from trees or on the outside of your house, and you don’t need many to create a mesmerizing look. Best of all, you have the freedom to hang each light on its own or connect multiples together.

“I like the interesting motion these meteor tubes offer,” Klestinez said. “You can connect multiple strings and use them to add some drip to a tree, scatter under a pergola or covered entry, or accent railings and rooflines.”

Philips Warm White Hanging Spheres (Set of 4)

Size: 5.5 inches

Colors: warm white

Noteworthy Features: separate plug for each sphere

The best aspect of these hanging sphere lights is their ability to work in both minimalist and maximalist designs. If you want just a few bright spots sprinkled around your home, you can use one or two sets of these. But if your want to really dazzle your neighbors, you can grab multiple sets and bathe your home in warm white light. These are also a good fit for hanging from trees or oddly shaped surfaces.

“Welcome your holiday guests with the Philips hanging spheres,” said Allen. “The warm white hue on these novelty lights adds a timeless touch to your holiday decor, and they can be arranged with up to ten sets to shower your home with festive cheer.”

GE Snowflake Sparkling White Icicle Lights

Length: 7 inches per snowflake, pack contains eight snowflakes

Colors: warm white

Noteworthy Features: built-in sparkle effect

Take inspiration from nature with these snowflake-shaped lights. You have the option of hanging them individually or connecting them to be part of one long strand. They’re large enough to be noticeable on their own, so even just one set of these spaced out evenly on the front of your house will add a distinct flair to your decorations.

“We’re seeing an uptick in front porch decor, and consumers are looking to upgrade their holiday curb appeal,” said Monica Reese, a home styling expert at Lowe’s. “Our Sparkling White Snowflakes add such a fun and whimsical touch to any front porch. Pair them with our Blue Mini LED Icicle Lights to complete the look and transform your outdoor space into winter wonderland.”

Best Fairy Outdoor Holiday Lights

Wintergreen Lighting SoftTwinkle LED Twinkle Christmas Lights

Length: 17 feet

Colors: warm white, white, blue, gold, green, orange, red and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: lights pulse independently for true twinkle effect

These acrylic bulbs are slightly shorter and less pointed than standard Christmas lights, which makes them much harder to break in case they get stepped on or smushed. The subtle twinkling effect they provide is a lovely alternative or complement to the rest of your outdoor light setup, and because these are rated to last for up to 50,000 hours, you won’t have to worry about replacing them any time soon.

“Unlike a typical twinkle motion, these slowly fade on and off independently, evoking enchanting fireflies or an otherworldly fairy utopia,” Klestinez said. “The single-molded bulbs don’t pop off or let water in, and you can string up to 45 strands together. They look amazing for your summer garden or event lighting, too.”

Best Easy-Installation Outdoor Holiday Lights

Brighttown C9 LED Christmas String Lights with Quick Clips

Length: 68 feet

Colors: warm white, blue, red/green, red/white and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: hinges let you rotate bulbs up to 180º

Save time and effort on your installation job with these Christmas lights that come with detachable mini clamps for setting in place. The set includes 100 clamps (one for each of its 100 bulbs), and you have the option of clipping on every single light or alternating between them to save even more time. The C9 size bulbs aren’t as easy to replace when they burn out because they don’t screw in, but for this amount and length of lights, you get a great deal.

“Having the bulb attached to the clip is nice, especially for removal time,” Klestinez said. “It can be tricky to maintain a unified look as you make your way around changing features of your roofline, and these seem helpful with some of that. You will get the most brightness facing them straight out and sometimes a preferable glow on the architecture of your home if you face them down.”

Star Shower Motion Laser Christmas Projector Light

Cord length: 1 foot

Colors: red and green

Noteworthy Features: lights up to 100 yards away

What if your holiday light installation could take less than five minutes? If you opt for this projector, you get the quickest and easiest Christmas lights you’ve ever had. The device has a built-in stake to secure it in the ground and shines moving red and green lights on your house, making your holiday decorations seem more lively and professional. It’s built to withstand temperatures down to 30º F, and it’s the quickest way to make your lighting setup feel complete.

“To create a festive atmosphere without any hassle, opt for this projector light,” said Allen. “This delightful decoration casts an array of green and red moving lights around your home, creating a festive starry ambiance without any of the legwork.”

Best Mini Outdoor Holiday Lights

Kringle Traditions LED Christmas Mini String Light Set

Length: 17 feet

Colors: warm white, white, blue, green, purple, red and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: work well on indoor and outdoor Christmas trees

At 5 millimeters long, these are about as short as you can go with Christmas lights while still maintaining visible brightness and outdoor durability. Their wiring is designed to eliminate unwanted flickering effects, and you can connect dozens of strands together — up to 45 strands — to cover a ton of surface area. Klestinez recommended grabbing at least two boxes so you can play with mixing colors together.

“These are made to be outdoors and are going to be easier to work with and more durable than some other lights you see that come in rolls and super long lengths,” Klestinez said.

Wintergreen Lighting 5mm LED Christmas Lights

Length: 24 feet

Colors: red, white, warm white, blue, green, multicolor, orange, yellow and purple

Noteworthy Features: ENERGY STAR certified

These lights have an interesting concave design on their casing that helps to disperse light evenly in all directions, so you get excellent coverage no matter where you string these up. They have a shatterproof acrylic casing for increased durability, and you can connect up to 44 different sets together.

“Wrap your trees, bushes and columns like the pros,” said Dunkelberg. “The 5mm lights look small, but they are bright and can add some pop to your display. They come in a variety of colors to match or add contrast to your roof lines, or act as a standalone display.”

Best Outdoor Holiday Lights for Rooflines

Wintergreen Lighting C9 OptiCore LED Commercial Outdoor Christmas Lights

Length: 25 feet

Colors: multicolor, warm white, white, blue, red, green, orange, yellow, pink and purple

Noteworthy Features: choose between smooth or diamond patterned bulbs for different textured looks

These lights use similar bulbs as the Wintergreen Lighting option that Klestinez recommended for pathways, and are an Amazon Choice product. The set uses easy-to-replace C9 size bulbs, which let you create customized light patterns by mixing and matching colors, and they work well with a dimmer if you want to incorporate that into your design.

To attach these lights to your roofline, Klestinez recommended pairing them with these tabs that can slide into shingles, or these clips that go over gutters.

For styling your roof lights, Klestinez suggested adding warm white bulbs into a multicolor set or alternating with three bulbs of one color, then three bulbs of another color. “Take time to screw the bulbs in straight and you will get the best results by pointing them out for the most light or down for a pretty glow against your home,” Klestinez said.

Best Solar-Powered Outdoor Holiday Lights

JJGoo Solar Firework Lights

Length: ~3 feet tall

Colors: warm white, white, blue, pink, green, purple and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: two lighting modes (steady and flash)

While solar-powered lights aren’t always a great choice as your main light decoration for the outside of your house — because they’re often not bright enough — Klestinez has found some solar-powered accent options that perform well. You can stake these in the ground or in planters, then bend the individual light strands into different shapes to create eye-catching ornaments (including a heart for Valentine’s Day).

“One of my customers has these, and if you take the time to really set all of the malleable twigs just right, it really does look beautiful to see them peppered through landscaping at night,” Klestinez said.

As a second option, Klestinez recommended these leaf-shaped solar-powered lights. “I like the idea of these for a frozen forest look and similar standalone-type lights for going with solar,” she said.

Best Outdoor Holiday Net Lights

The Holiday Aisle LED Net Lights

Length: 11.5 feet long x 10 feet wide

Colors: multicolor

Noteworthy Features: battery-powered, includes rechargeable AA battery

As a general rule of thumb, Klestinez cautioned against using net lights. While they’re intended to quickly provide neat and even coverage of an area, they can easily clump up and look messy. As an alternative to regular net lights, Klestinez recommended this set that uses a star at the top end and string lights on the bottom to create a sort of customized installation look without very much effort.

“I would not use these on bushes because they just look like nets,” Klestinez said. “As a workaround, this seems to be my best option. Otherwise, it is tangle-city and never looks good!”

Home Accents Holiday 150L Warm White LED Mini Christmas Net Lights

Length: 4 feet by 6 feet

Colors: warm white and multicolor

Noteworthy Features: package includes replacement LED bulbs

When you need to cover a wide area both vertically and horizontally, this net light makes for quick and easy decorating. You can use this net on its own or connect it to other light strings to create a bigger and more elaborate setup. It’s made up of 150 LED lights and can be used indoors or outdoors. Plus, when the holidays are over, it’s just as easy to take down as it was to put up.

“Add life to your holiday gatherings with ease with these net lights,” said Allen. “The ample-sized net covers bushes or porches for brilliant illumination, and connects with up to nine other sets to ensure your entire yard is sparkling all season long.”

Best Smart Outdoor Holiday Lights

Home Accents Holiday 24L Faceted C9 Color-Changing Smart LED Lights

Length: 15 feet

Colors: color changing (white, pink, blue, green and teal)

Noteworthy Features: controllable through a smartphone app

Sometimes you’re not sure exactly which color lights you want. In that case, you’re better off getting this set of smart Christmas lights that lets you change their colors by using the included smartphone app. The size C9 bulbs also provide great coverage, so if you don’t want to augment these with additional sets of smaller lights, your setup would still look marvelous.

Allen recommended these for their ability to help you “craft a captivating display,” he said. “The smart string lights can be customized with multiple colors for a festive feel or offer a warm glow with traditional white. The best part? The lights are controlled from the touch of a smartphone through the Hubspace app, Google or Alexa, offering timed options to bring the holiday magic to life as the sun goes down.”

Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.

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