The 11 Best Twinkle Lights & String Lights for Indoor and Outdoor Use

Decorative vs. Functional Use If you’re using twinkle lights to add a bit of ambience, opt for a few strands to drape over entryways or along the ceiling. If you’re looking to add functional light, try out a net of twinkle lights, which comes with multiple pre-connected strands. But for true functionality, you might want to go with bistro or globe style lights, which offer significantly brighter light than smaller twinkle light bulbs.

Standalone vs. Connectable Strands If you’re planning on lighting a larger area, you should opt for lights that let you connect multiple strands together. What length will you need? Measure the wall or space where you’d like to hang your twinkle lights. Then, add 2–6 ft (0.61–1.83 m) extra—that addition will tell you the total length of lights you should buy. Aim for 2 ft (0.61 m) extra if you’re looking to gently drape the lights or add just a little slack into the strand. If you’re looking to create more elaborate designs or pin the lights up at multiple points, aim closer to 6 ft (1.8 m) of extra length.

• To figure out how many feet of twinkle lights you need for a Christmas tree, we recommend using the free Omni Calculator tool.

Outdoor vs. Indoor Use For outdoor twinkle lights, look for a rating of at least IP65 or a product description that says "UL-listed for wet locations." That way, you won’t have to worry about serious safety hazards if your lights get exposed to rain or a jet of water from a sprinkler head.^[1] Then, if you’re using lights outdoors, you might want to opt for solar-powered lights. With solar lights, you won’t have to worry about running a long extension cord outside if you don’t have an easily accessible outlet. Just make sure you place the solar charging unit in a spot that gets full sun (most lights need 7-8 hours for a full charge).

• IP ratings measure how effectively electrical components are sealed in order to keep out dirt, moisture, and other foreign particles.
• You can use outdoor lights indoors, but you shouldn’t take indoor lights outside. If lights meant for indoor use get exposed to moisture, they’ll create an electrocution hazard.

Switch vs. Smart Home or Remote Control We recommend getting lights that are at least remote controllable, because you’ll likely hang your twinkle lights up high or in hard-to-reach areas. Remote controls will typically let you switch the lights on and off, and some might even let you change the lights’ colors. You’ve got options you can control via a regular remote or an app, and you can even find lights that are smart home compatible.

Twinkle Star 100 LED Lights The Twinkle Star 100 LED Lights offer warm white light that’ll add a cozy, magical atmosphere to any room. They’re our top pick for the indoor category because you can connect up to 10 chains of lights together to decorate a larger area. Just keep in mind these lights are controlled via a switch rather than a remote.

• Cons: These are only rated to IP44 for outdoor use, which means they’ll likely withstand dew, but won’t tolerate heavy rain. They do offer 8 different lighting modes (like flashing or dimming), but the modes cycle through pretty fast, so they’re not aesthetically pleasing.

Koxly Battery-Operated Lights The Koxly Battery-Operated Lights are a great choice for dorm rooms and bedrooms. Because they offer a remote with a timer feature, they’re super easy to use. Like the Twinkle Star lights, the Koxly lights offer 8 modes of brightness and lighting patterns (like a strobe effect or a rippling effect). Plus, the lights will “remember” your previous settings when you turn them on. Pop 3 AA batteries into the waterproof battery box, and you’ve got instant mood lighting. These lights are even IP65 rated, which means they’re suitable for use in rain or snow, just in case you want to take them outside!

• Cons: They’re sold as a 2 pack of 16.4 ft (5.0 m) chains, so you won’t be able to cover a ton of area with these. Plus, you can’t connect these string lights together.

BesLowe Solar String Lights The BesLowe Extra Long 288 FT Solar String Lights are made with durable, waterproof copper wire. The wire’s flexible enough to wrap around trees, light posts, trellises, or anything else in your garden, yard, or patio. These lights come with solar panels that you can either stake into the ground or mount (with their included installation kit). When night falls, the lights will automatically turn on and run for up to 10 hours.

• Cons: These lights get tangled easily when you first unwrap them. To prevent tangling, users recommend unrolling the lights from the opposite end (where they’re not connected to the solar panel).

Yuletime LED Christmas Lights Yuletime Warm White LED Christmas Lights are UL certified, which means they meet rigorous quality and safety standards conducted by a reputable third-party hazard evaluation company.^[2] For easy wrapping, the strands are 66 ft (20 m) long, and you can connect up to 30 strands simultaneously. The wire itself is green, so it’ll camouflage itself well as you wrap your tree. If you’re a fan of bright colors or multicolored lights, the Yuletime lights are available in a variety of different colors.

• Cons: Some people feel like the warm white hue is closer to yellow. If you’re looking for white Christmas lights, we recommend ordering the same lights in “cool white.” These lights also use a traditional plug and switch rather than a remote control.

Koopower Indoor String Lights The Koopower 200 LED Indoor String Light with Remote and Timer are a great LED choice for indoor or outdoor use. These lights are dimmable and come with 8 different modes (to control brightness and flashing frequency). You can easily toggle between modes and functions via the remote control. As an added bonus, the lights offer a 6 hour on, 18 hour off timer function so you can “set it and forget it.”

• Cons: These aren’t the warmest looking lights. They have a slightly brighter white LED hue, which might not feel as cozy as the warmer indoor options we listed earlier.

Ariceleo Fairy Lights The Ariceleo LED Fairy Lights come with elegant copper wire that’s easy to shape. Wondering about the difference between twinkle lights and fairy lights? Essentially, fairy lights have smaller, delicate bulbs that sit closer to the wire. We liked the battery box feature of these lights because it offers portability. You can put the lights in lanterns or string them up on bookshelves without having to worry about finding a power outlet.

• Cons: These lights don’t have a timer or a remote, so you’ll have to turn them on or off by hand. Because they’re battery powered, users report they’ll run about 4 days continuously before dimming out.

Pottery Barn Globe String Lights Globe String Lights are the perfect addition to any backyard, porch, or patio. We liked the Globe String Lights from Pottery Barn because you can string up to 3 50 ft (15 m) strands together to create the light design of your dreams. They’re even wet UL-listed, which means they’re safe to use in exposed areas that might get rain. Plus, Pottery Barn gives you the option to purchase the lights on their own or add in standing posts to act as supports.

• Cons: You can’t buy replacement bulbs if you break one.

Minetom Christmas Color Changing Lights The Minetom Christmas Color Changing Lights offer 12 different color settings. They’re a fairy light design style with durable, 4-strand silver wire. The lights themselves are even IP67 waterproof (which means they’re suitable for outdoor use), though the USB adapter that acts as the power source isn’t waterproof. As a result, you can use the lights outdoors with caution, as long as you plug the adapter in someplace completely dry.

• Cons: If you’re into really bright, bold colors, these might be too pastel for you.

Twinkly Smart Lights Gen II The Twinkly Smart Light RGB Generation II can connect to your Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for voice control. Oh, and did we mention they change color, too? Via the Twinkly app, these lights enable you to map out precisely what colors you want and where you want them. You can even sync your Spotify to your lights so the lights change color based on the music.^[3]

• Cons: These lights are about 6 times more expensive than regular twinkle lights.

Brightown Hanging Window Curtain Lights A twinkle lights curtain can create a great backdrop for photography or add an extra special touch to an engagement party or wedding. We’re a fan of the Brightown Hanging Window Curtain Lights, because this setup comes with a remote control and timer. The remote lets you switch between 8 different modes, and the lights are dimmable, too. Just keep in mind the word “curtain” means the lights come in connected strands—they don’t come with a sheer white curtain.

• Cons: The warm white color is closer to yellow than white.