Outdoor Furniture & Decor

String Lights Outdoor

Outdoor string lights have become the single most popular decorative lighting choice for patios, pergolas, backyards, and outdoor event spaces, offering an effortless way to create warm, magical ambiance. Their cascading glow evokes festive gatherings, romantic evenings, and cozy celebrations, transforming even modest outdoor areas into enchanting environments. The visual appeal is universal—few outdoor lighting solutions generate as much emotional response as a well-draped canopy of warm bulbs against the night sky. Today's outdoor string lights come in a remarkable variety of formats, from vintage Edison-style filament bulbs on heavy-gauge wire to delicate fairy lights with hundreds of micro-LEDs on thin copper strands. Commercial-grade options designed for permanent installation feature shatterproof LED bulbs, heavy-duty rubber or PVC-insulated wire rated for wet locations, and end-to-end connectivity that allows multiple strands to be linked. Solar-powered and battery-operated versions eliminate the need for outdoor electrical outlets, making installation possible virtually anywhere.

Key Characteristics

  • Warm ambient overhead illumination
  • Flexible installation and draping options
  • End-to-end strand connectivity
  • Weather-rated for permanent outdoor use
  • LED and incandescent bulb options
  • Dimmable with compatible controllers

Types & Variations

Edison vintage filament string lights
Globe bulb string lights
Fairy micro-LED string lights
Solar-powered outdoor string lights
Color-changing RGB string lights

Common Materials

Shatterproof LED bulbsCommercial-grade rubber wirePVC-insulated weather-rated cableCopper wire micro-LED strandsStainless steel mounting hardwareUV-resistant plastic sockets

Works Well With These Styles

Placement & Usage Tips

Hang string lights in a gentle swag pattern rather than pulling them taut for the most flattering drape. Mount at a minimum height of 8 feet for comfortable clearance, and use guide wires or cable between anchor points to support the weight without sagging over time.

💡 Pro Tip

Install an outdoor-rated dimmer switch or smart plug for your string lights. Dimming the bulbs to about 60 percent output creates a warmer, more intimate atmosphere while dramatically extending bulb life and reducing energy consumption for lights that may run for hours each evening.