Buyer’s Guide: The Best Christmas Tree Lights of 2022
Updated: Nov. 29, 2022Need to buy new lights for your Christmas tree? Here are some of the best options out there.
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Christmas tree lights are a well-loved holiday tradition. We’ve come a long way from attaching real candles to Christmas trees. From solar-powered strands to multi-colored bulbs, Christmas tree lights have more choices than ever before. Knowing which Christmas tree lights to choose can be difficult, but we’ve weighed some options.
We compared customer reviews, price points and lighting longevity when selecting the best Christmas tree lights. Some of our top picks are battery-powered, while others plug in. But most of our choices work for both indoor and outdoor purposes. So wherever your Christmas tree is, here are some of the best holiday lights this year.
Prextex Christmas Tree Lights
These Prextex Christmas lights are some of the highest-rated on Amazon, earning 4.6 stars out of five. They come with 100 lights, two flasher bulbs, two extra bulbs and two replacement fuses on an 18-foot string. There are 100 LED Christmas lights on the string.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Long-lasting
- Twinkle effect
- Waterproof
Cons:
- Some users note strands with an occasional broken bulb
LED Warm White Lights
Amazon customers give these Christmas tree lights from PMS 4.6 stars, and for good reason. You get 1,000 LED lights with eight modes and a memory function. You’ll cover plenty of ground with 338 feet of lights. After Christmas, just be sure you know how to best store Christmas lights.
Pros:
- 8 lighting modes
- Fairy light effect
- Low voltage transformer
Cons:
- Some users note discrepancies between strands
Koopower LED Battery Operated String Lights with Timer
These Koopower LEDs battery-operated weatherproof string lights can be used indoors or out without trailing cables or an external power supply. With the timer function, these lights will turn on in a pre-programmed 24-hour sequence: Six hours on, 18 hours off. The sequence continues until switched off or the battery runs out of power. The automatic shutoff feature helps save money during the holidays.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Remote controlled
- Waterproof
Cons:
- Battery powered
Recesky Christmas String Lights with Timer
These Christmas lights from Recesky rank among the best-selling and top-rated LED lights on Amazon. You’ll get 19 feet of these waterproof, battery-operated LED lights (50 bulbs in all), which should be great for your holiday utility bill. They come with a timer and eight light modes; you supply the three AA batteries needed to power them.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Smart timer
- 8 lighting modes
Cons:
- Battery powered
- Only multicolor options
StayBright White LED Christmas String Lights
Bring a warm, festive glow to your home with StayBright LED string lights. These cheerful lights, excellent for holiday and party decorations, use 250 micro-bright LED bulbs per string.
Hang or wrap the string lights indoors or outside for a speckled, firefly effect.
Pros:
- High quality
- Can connect up to 3 sets
- 8 lighting modes
Cons:
- Only one light pattern
Twinkle Star LED Star String Lights
These Twinkle Star warm white star string lights are durable, long-lasting and extremely energy efficient. They’re easy to use as well; just plug them in and adjust the lighting mode with the controller. If you know how to store and fix Christmas lights, these energy-efficient strands will save you money year after year.
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Multiple color options
- Star-shaped bulbs
- 8 lighting modes
Cons:
- Does not have a memory function for lighting modes
Fullbell Fairy Twinkle LED Lights
Fullbell is one of the best-selling Christmas light brands on Amazon, and this 66-foot string of 200 LED lights is a sweet deal. The multiple-color, waterproof string comes with a controller. The multi-colored twinkle lights make great holiday decór pieces.
Pros:
- Memory function
- Long length
- 8 different flash functions
- Low energy consumption
- Remote control
- Multiple color options
Cons:
- Some users note issues with remote control
Twinkle Star LED String Lights
These Twinkle Star LEDs are a best seller on Amazon, and they’re affordable too. These lights are waterproof, feature eight modes and can be used in several settings. There are 300 lights in a package. The simple design means these add ambiance during the holidays and throughout the year.
Pros:
- Twinkling
- Remote controlled
- Waterproof
- 8 lighting modes
- Multiple color options
Cons:
- Some users note a green tint to the lights
Sterno Battery Powered Fairy String Lights
These Sterno home lights are a versatile addition to your holiday displays. They’re battery-operated so they can go anywhere, and they’re remote-controlled, too. You get 50 LED lights and a combined length of 65 feet with a four-pack.
Pros:
- Copper wire
- Fairy light effect
- Adjustable timer setting
Cons:
- Battery powered
- Only one option
Choosing the Best Christmas Tree Lights
When creating your Christmas lighting display, there are many lights to choose from. It can be difficult to know which type of Christmas lights will best suit your holiday decorating needs. Below are a few things to consider when purchasing Christmas lights this year.
Should you buy LED or incandescent Christmas tree lights?
Both LED and incandescent Christmas lights come in a variety of colors and shapes. But there are a few differences between the lighting types that are worth considering when deciding which lights to buy.
The plus side to incandescent lights is that they are often more affordable than LED lights. They also have a soft, warm glow. However, incandescent lights often use more energy than LED lights and LED lights are longer lasting. If you can afford to go the LED lighting route, we recommend doing so.
How many strands of Christmas tree lights will you need?
Whether you want a few simple, twinkling Christmas lights or flashing lights on your tree, you’ll want to consider a couple of basic things.
Firstly, you’ll want to consider bulb spacing. Strands of Christmas tree lights with more space between lights are ideal for wrapping slender trees and tree branches. Strands with less space between blubs, on the other hand, are best suited for draping over larger indoor Christmas trees.
You’ll also want to consider the length of the string lights. Two strands of Christmas lights with the same number of bulbs might have different string lengths if their bulb spacing isn’t the same. Depending on the size of the tree you want to light, you’ll want to pay attention to the length of the string itself.
Which color of Christmas tree lights is best for me?
You might already know which color scheme you want for your Christmas tree lighting display. If you don’t have a preference, here are a few tips for deciding which color of Christmas tree lights is best for you.
White Christmas tree lights are classic and timeless, and they go with just about any other décor and Christmas ornaments. Not all white lights are the same, however. Some have a warm yellow hue, while others have a bright blueish tint. Depending on your tree lighting preferences, that can be an important factor.
Multicolor Christmas tree lights capture the nostalgia of a youthful Christmas unlike plain white lights, but they can require a little more thought when incorporated into a larger Christmas tree display. We also like the idea of wrapping a tree in a strand of single-hue lights for a dramatic holiday effect.
Next, after you’ve chosen your preference of Christmas lights, use this Christmas tree light hack to make your lights shine even brighter this holiday season.
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