Christmas Bulbs and Cords
Projects and Tech Support
See how customers did it, then shop the same lights, and see answers to your most common questions.
What Is the Difference Between C7 and C9 Bulbs?
C7 Christmas Bulbs and Cords
Installing Christmas Lights on Gutters
White C9 Glass Twinkle Bulbs
C9 LED Faceted Bulbs
C7 LED Bulbs
Smooth LED Bulbs
Decorating with Burlap: Light It Up!
C7 and C9 Christmas Lights Buying Guide
Step 1. Choose a size and shape of bulb
- C7 - C7 bulbs are about 1 1/2 inches long and have E12 bases, the same base as a nightlight. At 5 watts per bulb, they are a great size for wrapping tree trunks, outlining buildings, and decorating your Christmas tree.
- C9 - C9 bulbs are about 2 1/4 inches long and are the large traditional lights everyone associates with Christmas. They are great for outlining, wrapping, and draping indoors and out. These retro bulbs are enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
- Globe - G30, G40, and G50 globe bulbs look like ornaments on a Christmas tree and are a more popular choice for outlining rooflines every year. Consider this alternative shape for the season, then switch them to party lights in January.
Step 2. Choose LED or incandescent
Incandescent (glass)
C7 and C9 bulbs both come in all of these styles.
- Transparent - These painted bulbs have a see-through finish. Clear (white) transparent bulbs are the most popular choice for Christmas decorating. Transparent bulbs have 2 layers of paint for the brightest color.
- Opaque - This painted finish is sometimes called ceramic. The paint is not see-through and has a soft pastel look when lit. It is very traditional and closely resembles vintage Christmas bulbs, making it the most popular choice for a retro look.
- Triple Dipped - These transparent bulbs are painted with 3 layers. They have intense color but are slightly dimmer than our standard transparent bulbs.
- Twinkle - These transparent bulbs flash on and off randomly at roughly one-second intervals.
LED
- Faceted - The LED shape and finish most widely seen in the marketplace. The facets add sparkle. These bulbs are for steady use only: they are perfect for outlining and other decorating, as long as you don't connect them to a controller that flashes them on and off quickly.
- Smooth - The newest lens finish. The clear, smooth lens closely matches the look of traditional glass bulbs and is becoming increasingly popular.
Step 3. Add cords
1. Select a wire color
- Green
- White
- Brown (select cords only)
- Black (select cords only)
2. Select the insulation thickness
- SPT-1 - The standard insulation thickness commercial installers have used for years.
- SPT-2 - Slightly thicker insulation for harsh environments and projects that need greater resistance to wear and weather.
3. Select the socket spacing
The distance between bulbs, or socket spacing, depends on the size of your project. Smaller projects look best with shorter spacing. Larger projects, like spanning a long distance or wrapping large trees, are good candidates for wider spacing.
Be sure to take breaker capacity into account when using shorter spacing with incandescent bulbs.
4. Choose the cord length
C7 and C9 cords come in the following lengths:
- 25 feet - made with male and female plugs; connect a maximum of 2 end to end
- 50 feet - made with a single male plug
- 100 feet - made with a single male plug
- 250 feet - plugs not included; choose the Gilbert plug that matches your cord
- 500-foot spools - plugs not included; choose the Gilbert plug that matches your cord
- 1000-foot spools - plugs not included; choose the Gilbert plug that matches your cord