Outdoor Christmas Lights
Can these lights be used outdoors?
Are these battery lights water resistant?
These are the types of questions that we receive on a regular basis so we thought we'd make it easy for you to determine if you are looking for the right light for your outdoor lighting application.
Here is a simple table to help you get started. We've listed all of our major product lines and if they are suitable for outdoor use.
Product Type |
Outdoor |
Notes |
Incandescent Mini Lights |
Yes |
Great solution for decorating indoors and out. Bulbs do warm up during operation |
Incandescent Battery lights |
No |
These battery lights are for indoor use only. |
LED Battery Lights |
Yes |
These lights are rated for indoor/outdoor operation but should be used in a protected environment. Harsh elements will shorten their lifespan |
LED String Lights |
Yes |
Great solution for outdoor operation. Cool temps make them great for indoor projects as well. Consider plugging them into an outdoor rated surge protector. |
12 Volt LED lights |
Yes |
Great for use in cars, boats and golf carts. Wiring is susceptible to degradation due to exposure salt water and elements if used in a marine application. |
Incandescent Net Lights |
Yes |
Quick and easy solution for decorating shrubs outdoors. |
LED Net Lights |
Yes |
Rated for outdoor use. Consider plugging into an outdoor rated surge protector. |
Craft Lights |
No |
These lights are tailored for use indoors in small projects. Not for outdoor use. Not for use around flammable materials |
LED Craft Lights |
No |
These lights are tailored for use indoors in small projects. Not for outdoor use. Their low heat operation make them a great alternative when you can't have your project warm up. |
Rope Light (Incandescent and LED) |
Yes |
Works great out of doors outlining windows and accenting yard art. Casing is susceptible to UV exposure. |
Curtain Lights |
Yes |
Terrific for both indoor and outdoor applications. These lights do warm up so use caution when using with fabric. Do not operate unattended. |
C7 and C9 Bulbs |
Yes |
Classic outdoor Christmas light decorations. Use different colors for different Holidays all year. |
LED Bulbs |
Yes |
Cool operating bulbs are fade and breakage resistant. Great choice due to lower electricity consumption. Used by residential and commercial users. |
18 AWG C7 and C9 Cords |
Yes |
Choose between SPT-1 and SPT-2 insulation depending on environmental conditions. This line is used by professionals for outdoor displays all over the country. You can use them with either incandescent or LED bulbs. |
With the exception of lights tailored for craft projects, most Christmas lights are manufactured for use outdoors.
Here are a the answers to a few other questions we hear:
How long will my lights last?
We warrant all of our lights for 90 days of normal seasonal use. (That’s standard in the Christmas lights industry.) How long your lights will last is ultimately dependent on how you use them and the ruggedness of your environment.
Installation is a big part of longevity. Lights nestled under eaves or shrubs will not experience the same wear as lights on a metal frame with full sun and exposure to the elements.
Be careful when uninstalling your lights. Yanking on copper wiring can damage the bulb housing and internal connections. This is a big contributor to why lights don’t come on next season.
Store lights in a cool location—not in an overheated attic. Heat will take a toll on insulation and plugs.
Are your lights waterproof?
If you are asking if our lights—specifically the LED lights—are submersible, the answer is an emphatic NO. Use lights to accent your garden and patio but keep all electrical devices away from water.
How many lights do I need for my project?
That’s a tough question to answer. One man’s simple installation is another man’s extravaganza.
Here are some suggestions to help you determine your individual answer to this question:
Walk your home and make some estimates based on the height of your roof elevation. Measure your flower beds, walkways and driveways—you’d be surprised how much longer and shorter they are than you think.
Order samples. If you don’t have a great feel for how many lights to order—or if you’ll like the style or color, order a few strands and install them and see what they look like after dark. Practice how you are going to wrap your trees and based on installing a set or two, you can roughly estimate how many lights you’ll need for the rest of your trees.
Look at last year’s lights. You may be able to estimate the number of new sets by looking at your old lights. In fact, if you are reading this in the Summer or Fall, consider taking careful notes of your upcoming Christmas lights display to guide installation next year.
What lights are most energy efficient?
Our LED light strings use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. If you want more lights than your electrical service could normally provide adequate power for, LED strings or LED bulbs and your C7 or C9 stingers might be a good solution.
But I LOVE incandescent lighting!
Traditional incandescent lights have timeless appeal. The boldest and brightest of all the light bulbs, incandescent C9 lights continue to stand as a classic when it comes to celebrating Christmas.
Consider using a timer. Don’t turn on lights until it’s fully dark and turn your display off at 10:00 pm.
Do I need to worry about electrical surges?
That’s a good question – especially if you live near hydroelectric power generation. (Live in an area served by Niagara Falls?) Hydroelectric power can have energy spikes and surges on the line. Surges on the lines are the one thing most like to cause failures in LED light strings.
In the same way that you wouldn’t plug a computer directly into an outlet, use an outdoor rated surge protector for your LED lighting installation.