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These Christmas Lights Will Make Yours the Best-Looking House on the Block This Year

SPY 12/9/2021 Sarah Morlock

‘Tis the season to start thinking about your holiday decorations. Over 86 percent of all Americans will decorate their homes this December. Admit it— you’ll feel like a grinch if you don’t participate.

In addition to hanging the stockings and putting up the Christmas tree, the most popular type of holiday decoration is surely Christmas lights. Come December, strings of colorful and white lights of all shapes and sizes will adorn the outside and inside of homes around the country.

Today's Top Deals

Wherever you choose to hang your lights, there are several factors that go into choosing the best Christmas lights. First, you have to decide between white or colored lights. White offers a subtle glow, while colorful lights create a certain festive atmosphere.

In addition, you’ll need to decide on the size and shape of your lights. Small bulbs are ideal for indoor use and outdoor use on small bushes or balconies. On the other hand, larger bulbs are great for hanging from the gutters.

You’ll also notice that bulbs come in different shapes, including normal bulbs, spheres, and strawberry-shaped bulbs. There are now also smart Christmas light bulbs that you can control through voice control or an app. In the end, whatever you choose really comes down to personal preference.

So, whether you’re a new homeowner purchasing lights for the first time or you have decorated for many years but need newer, safer lights, these are the best Christmas lights to buy this year.

1. Prextex Christmas White Wire Light Set

BEST OVERALL

There’s something incredibly picturesque about a house covered in white lights and fresh snow. The white color is clean and soft, relaying the peaceful feeling of the holidays. Whether you intend to put lights indoors or outdoors, these Prextex Christmas White Wire Light Set can help give your home the classy white Christmas appearance. Each string has 100 bulbs. In addition to holiday decor, these lights could also be used at weddings or year-round on your outdoor patio.

Buy: Prextex Christmas White Wire Light Set $12.98 (orig. $16.99) 24% OFF

2. Holiday Essence Multi-Color Christmas Lights

BEST BUDGET

Some things are just classically Christmas, like evergreen trees, red and white Santa Caps and these colorful string lights. Decorating the tree or the outside of your house with the Holiday Essence 100 Multi-Color Christmas Lights is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. The string of lights includes five different colors and can be lit continuously or with a flashing mode. Each string boasts 100 lights, and if one light bulb burns out, the others will stay lit.

a group of items on a table: Holiday Essence 100 Multi-Color Christmas Lights

Buy: Holiday Essence 100 Multi-Color Christmas Lights $12.95

3. Roytong Waterproof Cascading Meteor Shower Rain Lights

Deck your home out with these cascading rain lights. In each set, you’ll receive 10 brightly lit tubes that can be hung indoors or out. Offered in four vibrant colors, you can string several sets together to make an even bolder statement.

Buy: Roytong Waterproof Cascading Meteor Shower Rain Lights $16.98

4. VELTED Smart Outdoor String Lights

BEST SMART

Take total control of your home’s Christmas lighting with these smart string lights. You can customize them in any color you want and choose between eight different modes. These lights work with Alexa Google Assistant or by an app for easy customization and operation from anywhere at any time.

Buy: VELTED 49FT Smart Outdoor String Lights $59.99

5. Popotan Smart Outdoor String Lights With Music Sync

BEST SMART DANCING LIGHTS

These multicolor Bluetooth lights offer over 16 million colors and over 50 dynamic modes that can be manipulated via remote control, app or Amazon Echo. There’s also a built-in mic to sync with sound and dance to the beat of the music.

a bunch of colorful flowers: Popotan Smart Outdoor String Lights With Music Sync

Buy: Popotan Smart Outdoor String Lights With Music Sync $37.99

6. Minetom LED Globe Ball String Lights

MOST UNIQUE

While you could go for the classic Christmas look, having different lights will help you stand out from the crowd. These Minetom 33Ft 100 LED Globe Ball String Lights boast globes instead of pointed light bulbs for a soft, vintage look. Each string comes with 100 bulbs that can be lit with warm white or multicolor. These lights also feature a USB hub and adapter, so you can plug them directly into any outlet or laptop. They also have a built-in timer, so you don’t have to worry about turning them on and off.

a lamp that is lit up at night: Minetom 33Ft 100 LED Globe Ball String Lights

Buy: Minetom 33Ft 100 LED Globe Ball String Lights $16.99 (orig. $19.99) 15% OFF

7. Govee String Lights

BEST FAIRY LIGHTS

Make your indoor decoration displays a little more special with these string Christmas lights. These fairy lights and flexible and can be easily woven through a string of garland on the mantel or added to your miniature house display. They feature eight modes and four timing features and come with a remote for easy use and programming.

a remote control on a table: Govee String Lights

Buy: Govee String Lights $16.99

8. VanRayal C3 Christmas Tree Lights

BEST FOR CHRISTMAS TREES

We’ve come a long way since lighting our Christmas trees with candles, but sometimes the old way is better. Skip the bright LED lights for your tree this year and instead use these attractive VanRayal C3 Christmas Tree Lights for a softer look. They’re still LED lights to save you money on your electric bills, but they use lower power to allow for more beautiful colors. Each strand of these “strawberry lights” has 50 bulbs, and up to 42 strands can safely be connected together.

Buy: VanRayal C3 Christmas Tree Lights $16.99

9. TOPIST Falling Rain Decoration Lights

BEST ICICLE

The TOPIST Falling Rain Decoration Lights are like icicle lights on steroids. These LED tubes create a falling rain (or snow) aesthetic for a unique light display that could be hung from trees or from your gutters. Each string includes eight tubes, and each tube includes 18 lights, so each string has an impressive 144 LED lights. Thanks to their unique design, these falling rain lights could also be used for weddings or year-round decor.

a close up of a tree: TOPIST Falling Rain Decoration Lights

Buy: TOPIST Falling Rain Decoration Lights $14.99

10. HAYATA C9 Bulbs Christmas Lights

BEST OUTDOORS

Transform your home into a gingerbread house for the holidays with the HAYATA C9 Bulbs Christmas Lights. These traditional bulbs are larger than most other outdoor Christmas lights on the market, allowing your house to make a more colorful appearance. Each 16-foot string contains 25 LED bulbs, and up to 90 strings can be connected together.

a close up of a toy: HAYATA C9 Bulbs Christmas Lights

Buy: HAYATA C9 Bulbs Christmas Lights $39.99

11. Christmas Outdoor Laser Light Projector

EASIEST TO PUT UP

If you want to skip the hassle of hanging strand after strand of Christmas lights from your gutters, think about investing in laser lights. These devices are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their ease of use. All you need to do is point the light at your home, pick which of the five patterns you want to display, and turn it on. The laser light will then cover the exterior of your house with a beautifully festive design.

Buy: Christmas Laser Lights $50.99

12. Kooper Solar Lights Outdoor Christmas Decorations

BEST SOLAR

These individual solar hanging lights are great for indoor and outdoor use. You can clip them onto your Christmas tree or string them on a line and attach them to other areas of your home. They offer two lighting modes (warm amber and multi-color changing) that last up to 8-10 hours after being fully charged.

Kooper Solar Lights Outdoor Christmas Decorations © Provided by SPY Kooper Solar Lights Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Buy: Kooper Solar Lights Outdoor Christmas Decorations $36.99

13. Twinkle Star LED Star String Lights

BEST SHAPE

Reimagine the starriest of nights with these star-shaped string lights suitable for both indoor and outdoor decorating. A set of twinkly little stars will really set you apart from the rest of the block. The best part about them is that you can’t really tell they’re stars until you’re more up close with them, so they aren’t as obtrusive as you think shaped lights would be. Looking to decorate the interior of your home this Christmas? These will make a striking addition to any holiday table centerpiece or fun mantle design.

a close up of a light: Twinkle Star LED Star String Lights

Buy: Twinkle Star LED Star String Lights $18.98

14. Ollny Net Mesh Lights

BEST NETTED

While you might be wondering why you would ever need anything like this, think about it: these net lights are an easy way to decorate a fence or larger bush during the holiday season. They’re even better in color, which is a nice alternative to the usual warm lighting most Christmas lights have. The lights also come with a remote control to activate eight different lighting modes and four levels of brightness to match exactly what you want your home to look like this winter.

Buy: Ollny Net Mesh Lights $32.99

15. LED Pine Sprig Dew Drop Battery Operated Lit Garland

BEST INDOOR

This 30-count string light with pine twigs makes a beautiful statement on any tree, mantle or trim. The 10.83-foot silver wire comes wrapped in twine with 30 lights that produce a warmly lit glow.

Buy: LED Pine Sprig Dew Drop Battery Operated Lit Garland $10.00

16. Wintergreen LED Red and White Christmas Lights

BEST MINI LIGHTS

This set of 70 red and white mini Christmas lights come strung on a cord 24 feet in length. Offered in a variety of other colors including, white, green, purple, blue and more, these lights will look good in any area of your home, indoors or out.

Buy: LED Red and White Christmas Lights

17. Room Essentials LED Plug-in Curtain String Lights

BEST INDOOR

Although the Room Essentials LED Plug-in Curtain String Lights are made for indoor use, we love these Christmas lights for spicing up your home interior during the holiday season. If you’re hosting a holiday party, the string design looks really great draped in between door frames to bring more holiday spirit to your home interior. Living in a dorm or smaller space? Use these lights all year round to lighten up your room and make it feel merrier.

Buy: Room Essentials LED Plug-in Curtain String Lights with Clips $10.00

18. Brighttown Store Outdoor Curtain String Light

BEST CURTAIN STRING LIGHTS

These Brighttown Store string lights will add amazing beauty to the front of your house. These Christmas lights are also great in bedrooms or offices. Each strand is 19.6 feet long and has eight modes of operation. The st some with a remote that allows you to automatically turn on the icicle lights for six hours and turn them off for 18 hours each day.

a building lit up at night: BestCircle Outdoor Curtain String Light

Buy: Brightown StoreIcicle Lights Christmas Lights $22.99 (orig. $27.99) 18% OFF

19. DenicMic Firework Lights

BEST STARBURST LIGHTS

For a burst of twinkly fun, starburst lights are the way to go. Each one is a little firework that’ll light up any indoor or outdoor space. This option comes with a pack of two, so you can hang them both together for an extra glow or put one in the foyer and one in a tree in the backyard. You can also use the handy remote to switch between different brightness levels and blinking modes.

Buy: DenicMic Firework Lights $26.98 (orig. $29.99) 10% OFF

20. Globe String Lights

BEST GLOBE LIGHTS

These embellished globe lights provide a unique, warm glow to any space. If you’re over traditional twinkly lights, these can offer you the same Christmas spirit with a bit of a twist. The decorative little orbs make a bit more of a statement to illuminate and bring holiday cheer.

Buy: Globe String Lights $11.99

21. Suction Cup Fairy Lights

BEST FOR WINDOW DISPLAY

Christmas lights don’t always have to hang on a string along roofs or mantles. These themed suction cup lights are perfect to create a holiday window display. They include bell, snowman, star and Santa fairy lights that you can enjoy while inside and the neighbors can enjoy when they walk by the house.

Buy: Suction Cup Fairy Lights $11.99

22. Snowflake Pathway Lights

BEST PATHWAY LIGHTS

You want the Christmas cheer to hit you and your guests the second you start walking up to the house. Pathway Christmas lights can help you make that happen. These colorful snowflakes come on stakes to line the pathway leading up to your home. You can also control them with an app to easily turn them on and off from the warmth and comfort of your couch.