8 of the Prettiest Outdoor String Lights to Illuminate Your Backyard

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Hanging strings of small individual lights adds a warm glow to the ambiance of any outdoor space. To help guide your search for the best outdoor string lights for your yard, we've rounded up eight beautiful options for your consideration. Whether you are looking for waterproof or solar-powered lights, LED bulbs, or a 100-foot strand, we have selected outdoor string lights that are as pleasing to the eye as they are durable and functional.

Depending on the setup of your patio, you can hang them from poles across your outdoor living space and seating arrangements (perhaps with a great looking sectional) or along an existing structure like a pergola or porch. Aesthetics vary by product, so you can peruse black and bronze sockets, globe- or Edison-shaped bulbs, and different spacing options. Some offer different lighting styles and dimmer options, and others are crafted to be particularly weather-resistant. Without further ado, here are the best outdoor string lights.

Glow Solar Hanging String Lights

There’s no need to find a power outlet for these solar-powered LED lights; they light up automatically when it’s dark out. Their brass sockets and vintage-style bulbs bring a chic look to any setting, too. The 28-foot strand features 12 sockets, each 1.6 feet apart, and comes with a 1.5-watt solar panel for outdoor use.

What Reviewers Say: “We bought these lights to replace another manufacturer's lights in our patio, they kept going out all the time and weren't durable enough for us. Super grateful for BrightTech, all of their lights are durable and heavy duty, and I love that these are solar. I can't wait to see the savings on my electric bill, and we really enjoy coming home after work and seeing these gorgeous lights lit up on their own. The best part is that they are LED so they don't get warm at all, super safe for our kids.”

15 ST19 LED Bulb String Lights

This commercial-grade set of string lights is guaranteed to last up to 13 years and 15,000 hours. The vintage-style LED bulbs are as good looking as they are functional. Each set comes with 15 sockets spaced 2 feet apart on a 30-foot string, plus two spare bulbs. Replacement bulbs are also available on the Rejuvenation website.

Shaded String Lights

The ruffles on these petticoat shades, reminiscent of French milk glass lamps, are sure to add an elegant embellishment to any garden party. Its 10 bulbs come on a 12-foot string with 17 inches in between each, and its standard G40 lightbulbs are easy to replace.

IYN G40 Bistro String Lights

These bistro-style globe lights, available in either gold or black, will beautifully illuminate your outdoor space. The shatterproof plastic bulbs are lightweight and feature warm LED lights, with 25 bulbs on each 25-foot strand. You can also connect up to 28 strands together to cover a large space.

Renel Outdoor String Lights

If you are looking for a different look than the ubiquitous black strands, these LED bulbs come dressed up in white. Also unique to this string set is its three lighting styles (soft, diffused, and ambient), and its strand is a lengthy 48 feet.

Simple String Lights

This glowing garland, available in a brass or dark bronze finish, features frosted globe bulbs to add warm light to your outdoor space. Ten bulbs are on the 11-foot strand. Bonus: You can recycle your old bulbs at your nearest West Elm store and buy replacement bulbs from their website in sets of four.

Commerical Light String

These durable commercial-grade string lights come at a reasonable price point to light up your patio in style with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Each set features 15 sockets on a 48-foot strand, with 3 feet between each bulb.

Outdoor String Lights

If you are looking for an extra-long strand of bulbs, this one with shatterproof LED lights will cover 100 feet of lighting for a larger space. The strand features 32 bulbs, so they are more than 3 feet apart.

What Reviewers Say: “I am so impressed with the quality for the price. The lights are the perfect addition to our backyard!”

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