The aisle displaying Christmas lights and lighted decorations seems to grow longer every holiday season.
While you might appreciate the dazzling selection, a wealth of choices can blind you to more practical considerations – or shed a glaring light on your indecision.
You have questions: What’s the difference between LED and incandescent lights? Which Christmas lights can be used outdoors? Should you consider specialty styles?
So many Christmas lights, so little clarity! How do you cut through the confusion to find the best Christmas lights for your needs?
As with any other purchase, a little knowledge can be enlightening. Knowing where you want to use the lights, the type of lights you prefer and the effect you want to create can help narrow your choices and ease your decision.
Whether you will use your Christmas lights indoors or outdoors, prefer energy efficient LEDs or classic incandescent, or want to accent a specific decoration or feature, each application has its own specific requirements.
Below, Christmas Central sheds some light – and offers some practical advice – on how to prepare for the lighting situations and Christmas light styles you are likely to encounter this holiday season.
Choose by Lighting Location
Start by thinking about where you will use the lights. Measure the size of the area you want to cover and estimate how many lights you will need. Also, consider the scale of the area you are decorating and your overall style.
Below is a breakdown of light styles and some common applications.
Indoor Only
Small Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, tabletop accents
Micro lights (fairy lights) — Gentle glow, flexible, often battery-powered
Mini string lights — Classic look, choice of warm or cool white and colors
Theme lights — Playful, unique and eyecatching
Large Christmas trees, architectural features
Mini string lights — Traditional style, incandescent or LED
Retro lights — Nostalgic look, larger bulbs for larger applications
Globe lights — Uncommon style, variety of sizes and colors
C-Style lights — Large, bold and bright bulbs that make a statement
Outdoor or Dual Indoor/Outdoor
Rooflines, bushes, walkways, stairs, whole-house displays
LED string lights — Durable and weather-resistant
Icicle lights — Mimic frozen drips along gutters and eaves
Net lights / Trunk lights — Instant coverage for bushes and trees
Rope lights / Tape lights — Great for railings, columns, outlining architecture and defining pathways
Christmas lights rated for indoor use only should not be used outdoors in areas that will be exposed to the elements. Outdoor lights are specially made to withstand weather exposure.
Choose by Technology
There are two primary types of Christmas lights: incandescent and LED.
Incandescent Lights: A Classic Choice
Incandescent light bulbs contain a filament that glows when electricity flows through it. In use for more than 100 years, incandescent Christmas lights typically have a lower upfront cost and are admired for their nostalgic, warm glow.
Several different kinds of incandescent Christmas lights are available, including classic mini lights, C7 and C9 big bulb Christmas lights and a variety of retro styles.
Larger incandescent light bulbs can grow hot to the touch and should be used with care near flammable decor. The hot bulbs could present a fire hazard if used in a live tree, natural wreath or garland, or combined with burlap, jute, paper, ribbons and other textiles.
Because incandescent Christmas tree lights also use more electricity, they may be more appropriate for smaller, indoor displays. However, their warm, classic glow makes incandescent light sets the perfect choice if you love a classic holiday vibe.
LED Lights: Best All-Around
LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, contain tiny semiconductors that produce light when stimulated by an electrical current. Due to their technology, however, LED Christmas lights can have a higher initial cost.
Many types of LED Christmas lights, such as mini lights and big bulb styles, mimic traditional incandescent lights. However, LEDs enable a much wider range of lighting options, including fairy lights, novelty theme lights and rope lights. In addition, some sets feature multiple flash sequences, as well as the ability to switch between white, multicolor and soft-color options.
Since LEDs stay cool to the touch, they are used extensively to decorate Christmas trees and a variety of other decorations.
The fact that LED Christmas lights are bright, vibrant, long-lasting and highly energy efficient make them a top choice for many decorators. The range of styles available encourages creativity and appeals to decorators looking for flexibility.
Select by Decor Style and Function
There are so many Christmas lights to choose – and so many ways to use them! However, certain types of lights can sometimes work best for certain decorating projects or styles. When you know exactly how and where you want to use your Christmas lights, consider the particular characteristics of the lights, their scale, durability, special features and energy efficiency to determine the best lights for your needs.
Consider Power & Practical Needs
Ensuring a beautiful, successful Christmas light installation means considering some practicalities.
Where are your electrical outlets?
Whether you are decorating indoors or outside, know the location of the nearest available outlets.
You should also know how many lights you can safely plug in without blowing a circuit. Calculate how much power is currently being drawn from the circuit (link to technical information) to determine if it can handle the additional wattage of your Christmas light display.
If outlets are few and far between, be sure to budget for extension cords and power strips to help expand your options and put less strain on your electrical system.
No outlets? Use battery-operated lights and decorations to brighten your holidays.
How many lights do you need?
The number of Christmas lights you need varies depending on how they’re being used. A good rule of thumb for Christmas trees is 100 lights for every foot in tree height. For outdoor applications, measure the area you’ll be decorating and choose light strings long enough to reach your extension cord or outlet.
Product specifications can provide helpful information as you plan, such as bulb spacing and the length of the lead cord (the unlit section of cord between the plug end and the first light on the string).
If you need to connect multiple lights, check how many sets you can safely string together. Manufacturers typically limit the number of lights that can be linked. You often can connect three to five incandescent light sets together and up to 20 or more LED light strings, but check and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to be safe.
Do you need to match existing lights?
Many people are surprised how difficult it can be to match white or colored lights purchased years apart or from different manufacturers. Although both boxes may be labeled the same color, they can appear very different side-by-side.
Pay attention to color temperature and bulb type (warm vs cool white, incandescent vs LED tint), so your display looks unified.
Choosing Christmas lights doesn’t need to be complicated or confusing. Work out a few important details so you have a better idea what to look for before you shop.
You’ll spend less time wandering the Christmas light aisle and more time enjoying your well-planned Christmas light display.
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