6 Best Solar Christmas Lights for Outdoor Decorating, Tested by Experts

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, but the lights themselves automatically turn on and off depending on how much light they detect. For best results, be sure to place the solar panel with its light sensor in direct sunlight.

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While this set's price is actually higher than the price of our best overall choice, it's our best value pick because you get 400 LEDs as opposed to 120 for a greater total value (about 3 cents per bulb compared to the 5 cents of our top pick). You can also opt for a shorter 100-LED option that's 39 feet long, or you can go all out with 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. According to the brand, these lights take about six to eight hours to fully charge. Once fully juiced up, the 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 at-home users say these lights aren't as bright as they had hoped, so if you're looking for something on the more intense side, opt for our top pick.

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Nothing screams holiday cheer like a house dressed up in dazzling snowflakes. These solar-powered string lights from Brightown are a highly versatile way to amp up your home's festiveness. They are available 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 measure how much space you'll need to cover before selecting your color option.

Our pros also like these Brightown lights because of their IP65 rating, meaning they'll survive inclement weather — ideal for those in cold-weather climates. We also appreciate the ambience-based auto-light feature, which automatically shuts the lights on and off given the presence or absence of daylight. The eight different light strobe modes are a nice touch too.

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These Brightown LED string lights can be purchased in solid colors or multicolor, so they are a one-stop shop for all your decorating needs — they even have a Halloween-themed option. At lengths of 33 feet with 100 bulbs or 66 feet with 200 bulbs, they're ideal for smaller projects like outlining a doorway, as opposed to a full fence or a strip of landscaping.

With a claimed IP65 rating, they should, however, 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 them — just make sure your solar panels aren't obscured by snow.

Click a button on the back of the solar panel to cycle through the eight different modes. 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. According to Brightown, the lights can work up to 10 hours after four to six hours of charging by sunlight.

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, and at 72 feet long, they're sure to cover any big lighting project. You can also get a two-pack for more ambitious designs.

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 designed to be resistant against water and dirt. On the downside, some users complain about how prone to tangling the strands are.

This set of two solar-powered strands comes with two 72-foot strings, each equipped with 200 LED lights with a water-resistant rating of IP65. The included solar panels power up the lights after about eight hours of charging, and on a full charge, you should get around eight to 10 hours of light — plenty for a nighttime display.

We love that there are eight lighting modes (a built-in memory chip remembers your preference). The lights are available in cool or warm white, both of which are versatile enough to use year round for holiday or party decor. Unfortunately, each strand needs its own solar panel to work, so you can't connect multiple for grand displays. Instead, buy and use as many as you'd like independently.