Best Christmas String Lights of 2026: Top 5 Picks for Every Home
Choosing the right Christmas string lights can transform any space into a warm, festive wonderland. This guide covers five standout options for every style, space, and skill level.
Indoor String Lights
The best indoor Christmas string lights for trees, mantels and windows: warm white, multicolor and color-changing LED strands compared.
How to Fix Christmas Lights When Half the Strand Is Out
Troubleshoot a Christmas light strand that is partly dark: check the fuse, find the bad bulb and know when to replace the strand instead.
How Many Lights Do You Need for a Christmas Tree?
Use the 100 lights per foot rule to work out how many Christmas lights your tree needs, with a quick chart by tree height and lighting style.
Indoor String Lights Buying Guide
For a tree, plan on roughly 100 lights per foot of height: a 7 ft tree looks fully lit with about 700 bulbs, while a lighter look needs fewer. Strand length matters too, since you need enough to wrap the tree from top to bottom and still reach the outlet.
Warm white suits most decor and looks closest to classic incandescent bulbs. Cool white looks brighter and more modern. Multicolor gives a traditional look, and color-changing sets let you switch between white and multicolor without buying two strands.
Check how many strands you can connect end to end; the manufacturer lists a maximum, and exceeding it is a fire risk. Green wire blends into branches, while clear or white wire suits white trees and windows.
Look for a safety listing from a recognized lab such as UL or ETL. Built-in timers and remotes are worth paying for if the lights are hard to reach. For trees that already have lights, see pre-lit Christmas trees.