Give your home and garden an attractive look that everyone will admire with these eco-friendly, beautiful lights.They are a great decorative accessory to illuminate spaces to create a cozy and inviting outdoor environment. To help you select which one is best for you, I have outlined the various features below along with a list of the best solar string lights currently available.
UPDATED: March 10, 2022.
What are solar string lights?
These lights are similar to standard string lights with the exception being how they are powered. During the day, a solar panel converts the sunlight into electrical energy that is stored in the rechargeable battery, then the battery powers the lights at night.
Types of String Lights
There is a range of different string light designs and configurations to suit different mounting solutions and appearances. The two main types are bubs lights and fairy lights.
Bulb lights offer the traditional look of a light bulb, usually consisting of an outer plastic surround that encloses and protects the LED bulb within. These are then strung together with a heavy electrical wire that can be mounted between and around objects. It can be difficult to wrap them around something like a tree trunk without additional support. Typically these are best for hanging between fixed points.
Fairy lights are usually much smaller and offer a compact 360-degree light. These are often more effective for wrapping around objects since the light will always be pointing outward. They are also strung together with electrical wire but can use exposed copper wire to provide the connections. The copper wire is extremely thin and lightweight so it can easily wrap around branches and fences, for example.
In addition, decorative lights are available featuring flower and teardrop designs for a unique appearance.
Pros and Cons
The downside with plug-in lights is you have to be able to run them to an outlet or use an extension cord. The benefit of solar lights is that they can be placed anywhere outside. Since these lights are powered by a battery it offers almost unlimited flexibility and a cleaner cord-free appearance since you don’t have to get back to wall power.
The downside is that the solar panel must be exposed to light to be able to charge the battery. So if you have a dark or shaded area it will not work as effectively. Also, if you want to run the lights continuously day and night, the panel will not be able to keep up with the constant demand.
See also: The Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights
Depending on your needs there are several important features when selecting a light:
Lighting Type
Traditionally string lights used incandescent bulbs which worked fine but consumed large amounts of electricity and didn’t last long. In recent years LED's have become the standard because of the low energy use. This is particularly important for solar lights because they rely on the relatively limited capacity of the battery. In addition, most of these LED bulbs offer a long life span of up to 10,000 hours. That translates to over six years of use at four hours per day!
Check with the specific manufacturer to see what the required charge and resulting lighting times are since these can vary significantly based on the configuration.
Color Temperature
The color temperature is essentially the color output of the light and is measured in Kelvins, represented by the symbol K. Color temperatures over 5000 K have a bluish light and are referred to as "cool colors". Lower color temperatures at around 3000 K are known as "warm colors". Depending on the look or feel you are going for, you may prefer one color temperature over another.
Lighting Modes
Some of the light options will offer the ability to choose lighting modes. You may be familiar with Christmas lights that have a similar feature. It allows you to choose different settings such as steady on, fading, chasing, twinkling, and more.
Automatic On-Off
Some models feature a sensor that automatically shut-offs of turns on the light when the ambient light reaches a certain level. In other words, it turns the lights off during the day and on at night. Not only does this not require manually turning on and off but it also helps to preserve the battery life.
Weatherproof Rating
Since these lights spend their lives outdoors it is important that they are weatherproof to avoid damage over time. The standard rating system is known as the IP Code (Ingress Protection Code) and is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC). This IP Code or rating establishes the amount of protection provided against the intrusion of dust and water. This system is used to provide specific values to help clarify the rather vague terms of waterproof, weatherproof, and water-resistant.
The most common rating for these types of lights is IP65. The first number refers to the solid particle protection. In this case, a “6” is the highest possible rating since it provides complete protection from the ingress of dust. The second number refers to the protection from water. In this case, an IP65 has a rating of “5”. The exact definition is that can withstand a 1/4” jet of water from any angle. Typically we call this a “water-resistant” rating meaning it can withstand outdoor conditions but not be completely submerged in water.
Installation
Most of these lights offer an easy installation process and do not require any tools. You can simply wrap the lights around trees, branches, shrubbery, furniture, trellis, and over decks to create the perfect outdoor oasis. In addition, you can hang them between poles placed in the ground or along the eaves of your house, similar to Christmas lights.
Now, on to the individual products. Each unit included below has been assigned a key feature that makes it particularly noteworthy and has been broken down according to its essential functions to help you make an informed selection.
So here is my list of The Best Solar String Lights for 2022.
Enjoy!
Best Overall: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar String Lights
Runner-up: Sunlitec Solar String Lights
The Sunlitec Solar String Lights features a 27-foot long strand with 25 LED bulbs that are 10 inches apart.
Includes G40 LED bulbs for long life and low power consumption.
Features a warm white light color at 3,000 Kelvin
Uses only one watt per bulb.
Includes a solar panel with a 4500 mAH battery.
Charges fully in just 5 hours of sunlight.
Provides light for up to 8 hours on a full charge.
Best Fairy Style: Supsoo Solar String Lights
Best Premium Option: MagicPro Solar String Lights
The MagicPro Solar String Lights features a 44-foot strand with 15 LED bulbs with shatterproof covers.
Includes four lighting modes: constant on, slow flash, pulsating, and quick flash.
Includes a solar panel that requires 6 to 8 hours for a full charge.
Provides up to 8 hours of light when fully charged.
Features a waterproof IPX5 rating for outdoor areas.
Best Warm Light: DeVida Solar String Lights
The DeVida Solar String Lights features a 55-foot strand with 120 LEDs plus a long lead wire for positioning the solar panel.
Features eco-friendly low-energy use LEDs.
Lights up automatically saving time and reducing energy costs.
Does not require an electrical connection so it is great for a range of placement options.
Offers a convenient and easy installation.
Best Ornamental: Qedertek String Lights
Best Copper Wire Design: Brighttown Solar String Lights
Best Water Drop Design: Lemontec Solar String Lights
The Lemontec Water Drop Solar String Lightseatures 30 LEDs arranged 8 inches apart on a long 20 ft cable.
Powered by a 1.2V 1000mAh battery that lasts up to 10 hours on a full solar charge.
Includes a mode switch that has to set either steady on or flashing options.
Features an automatic shut-off sensor when the ambient light reaches 15 lux or higher.
Includes LED lights that have a lifespan of up to 5,000 hours.
Features a waterproof design so it can be placed indoors or outdoors.
Easy to install and easy to operate.
Most Total Lights: Lemontec Solar String Lights
The Lemontec Solar String Lights features 200 soft-light bulbs that are arranged on 72 ft (22m) cable.
Includes a 5.9 ft (1.8m) extension wire from the solar panel to the first bulb.
Equipped with a 1800mAH (Ni-MH) lithium battery that activates the solar charge, which is enough for 8 hours of lighting.
Works in rainy weather (waterproof certification of IP65).
Equipped with an auto on-off sensor that reacts to the surrounding lighting conditions.
Includes a mode button that offers steady and twinkling options.
Long-lasting LED’s with up to a 10,000-hour lifespan.
Offers a tool-free installation.
Best Budget Option: AMIR Solar String Lights
I hope this list of the best solar string lights was helpful.
If you think I left out one that is important or have a suggestion for a future article, let me know in the comments below.
Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
