Best Solar Christmas Lights
1. BEST OVERALL SOLAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Dazzle Bright 2-Pack Solar String Lights
PROS
- Very bright and colorful
- Flexible, clear wiring blends into the background
CONS
- Style of bulbs makes it a little more difficult to replace if one breaks
The Dazzle Bright string light set topped our test, thanks to its brightness and how colorful it is. It comes with two adjustable solar panels that you can stake into the ground and two sets of string LED lights. Each string holds 120 multicolored lights on a flexible copper wire so you can adjust the shape to your choosing. We especially like this set because the clear string was less noticeable, making the lights pop more.
The controls are located conveniently on the back of the solar panel. The mode button switches among eight different lighting variations including steady on, flashing, waving and more. Our lead tester noted that it’s important to remember to turn the panel on during the day to collect a charge. The lights automatically turn on and off depending on how much light they detect, so be sure to place the solar panel with its light sensor in direct sunlight. If one of the lights break, the bulb may be tricky to replace.
2. BEST VALUE SOLAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Joomer Solar Christmas Lights 2 Pack
PROS
- Available in several long lengths
- Light sensor which turns lights on and off based off day/night-time
CONS
- May not be bright enough for some
According to the brand, these Joomer lights take about 6 to 8 hours to fully charge. While you can purchase these lights at 72 feet long and with 200 LEDs, you can also opt fot a shorter 100-LED option that’s 39 feet long, or you can go all out and purchase the 300-LED option that’s 105 feet long. Each set of lights comes with a solar panel and a ground stake with controls located on the back of the solar panel. Once the solar panel is switched on, the charging begins. A light sensor determines when it’s dark enough to automatically turn the lights on.
There are eight different lighting modes that flash in different ways to provide the aesthetic that you want. Our pros like that it has a memory function, so if you have it on a specific mode and turn it off, it will go back to that mode when it turns back on.While these lights aced our Lab tests, some customer reviews noted that these lights weren’t as bright as they had hoped, so if you’re looking for something on the more intense side, opt for our top pick.
3. BEST SNOWFLAKE SOLAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Brightown Solar Christmas Snowflake String Lights
PROS
- IP65 rating
- 8 different strobe modes
CONS
- Not all colors come in all lengths
Nothing screams holiday cheer like a house littered in dazzling snowflakes. These solar-powered string lights from Brightown are a highly versatile way to ramp up your home’s festiveness, coming in three different colors (pure white, warm white, and multicolor) as well as several lengths to ensure your desired area is showered in light. That said, we wished all the colors came in the different lengths available, so be sure to know how much space you’ll need to cover before selecting your color option.
While we didn’t test this model in-Lab, we’ve previously recommended other Brightown lights because of their IP65 rating (meaning they’ll survive inclement weather) and unique shapes. We liked the ambience-based auto-light feature which automatically shuts the lights on and off given the presence or absence of daylight. And the eight different light strobe modes are also a nice touch.
4. BEST SOLAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WITH MULTIPLE LENGTH OPTIONS
Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights
PROS
- Bright lights
- Can purchase multiple lengths
CONS
- Too short to cover large areas
These Brightown LED string lights can be purchased in solid colors or multicolor, so they are a one-stop shop for your decorating needs. At a length of 33 feet with 100 bulbs, it’s ideal for smaller projects like around doors, as opposed to full fences or lines of landscaping. According to Brightown, the lights can work up to 10 hours after 4 to 6 hours of charging by sunlight.
With a claimed IP65 rating, they should be capable of resisting impact from the elements like dirt and water. That means even when it rains or snows, these should still work well so long as there is sunlight to charge it— just make sure your solar panels aren’t obscured by snow.
Like our top pick, it has eight different modes to choose from, and you can readily cycle through them with a click of a button on the back of the solar panel. The solar panel contains a light sensor, so your lights will automatically turn on once it gets dark. In our tests, we found these lights easy to operate, and they were able to provide ample brightness once charged.
5. BEST LONG-LASTING SOLAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Lalapao Solar String Lights
PROS
- Come in a wide variety of colors
- Can last all night if fully charged
CONS
- May be too long for indoor use
These lights from Lalapao were a star in our in-Lab testing, since they are bright, resistant to going out when one bulb is damaged, and offer eight different lighting modes. They are available in multiple color variations, from solid colors to multicolored and even red, white and blue if you want to decorate for the 4th of July. At 72 feet long, they’re sure to cover any big lighting project, and are available in a two-pack for more ambitious designs. Because they’re so long, they’re not the best fit for indoor use unless you’ve got a very large house.
The brand claims these can work up to 10 hours or more when fully charged. When we tested, it took about one hour of sunlight before the lights would turn on. The auto-on feature means the lights turn on as soon as we switched the sunlight off in our test. The lights are IP65 rated so they are built to be resistant against water and dirt.
