My favorite time of the year is almost here. I have all my decorations up; the only thing missing is my Christmas lights.
This year, I decided to get solar lights instead of the usual ones. My son suggested this idea when he came to stay with me for a month. I am so excited to start my Christmas decorations with my family - the newest addition being solar Christmas lights.
I wasn't too keen on using solar lights because I was under the impression that they wouldn't work at night. How silly of me! Fortunately, my son explained everything to me, telling me that these lights, which are powered by the sun, work on rechargeable batteries during the night.
Hi! I'm Stacy, and today I'm going to tell you about some of the best solar Christmas lights you can consider for your home.
Without further ado, let's begin!
5 Best Solar Christmas Lights
1. Dazhengyang Outdoor Solar String Lights
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I was curious to find out more about these wonderful solar lights, so I did a little research on my own. That is when I came across these beautiful blue fairy lights, which immediately caught my attention. They are super bright and have eight lighting modes to match any mood or season.
Product Highlights
During Christmas, being my favorite time of the year, I tend to go all out when it comes to decorations. This year too, I left no stone unturned. I wanted to hang bright fairy lights around my patio that would look warm and welcoming to the guests coming over for the holiday season.
These solar LED lights came in a pack of two, so I had plenty to experiment with. I like to create unique shapes and patterns with my lights, and this product allowed me to do it with its flexible copper wires.
I ended up decorating my front porch with these lights and experimented with the modes. There were so many to choose from! Flashing, slow fade, waves - and each of them looked better than the previous one!
Furthermore, I was rather impressed by the build quality - these aren't your typical flimsy Christmas lights. Each light bulb lens is thick, heavy, and teardrop-shaped. By far, one of my favorite lights to date!
What I like about it
The wires and light bulbs are thicker than I expected, which is great! These were built to last, and it shows through in the little details. The teardrop-shaped outer casing of the bulbs can be opened (if you don't like it), which will give them a brighter glow.
Once the sun went down, the solar lights turned on automatically. They lasted all night (about 11 hours) and turned off automatically when the sun came back up, with no intervention from me.
What not to like about it
While the lights are water-resistant and rated IP44, the plugs are not. This can be an issue if you experience rainfall or snow. However, there is an easy way to fix this. Cover the plugs/socket with plastic or place it under your awning to avoid accidental electric shocks.
I'd like to mention another small thing - although the eight lighting modes are fantastic, there is no option to switch modes.
Pros and Cons of Dazhengyang Outdoor Solar String Lights
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2. Koxly Solar Christmas String Lights
Next up, I needed to find solar-powered lights for my massive Christmas tree. My son got me these lights from Koxly, and I can't wait to light them up on Christmas eve. These lights took about 8 hours to charge fully and lasted another 8 hours, thanks to the rechargeable batteries.
Product Highlights
Although these solar lights come in beautiful shades of green, purple, and warm and cool white, I got the blue ones to match my front porch. They come with eight modes to choose from and have an excellent memory function that remembers the last light setting that was used. So, you won’t have to click away to find your favorite mode.
This feature was missing from my previous recommendation, but thankfully, the lights from Koxly had them. A switch allowed me to choose between the different lighting modes, so it wasn't stuck on a continuous loop.
With 200 LED bulbs and a wire length of 72 feet, I could comfortably wrap my Christmas tree with these lights. Also, the on/off button is located on the solar panel, which I think is a bit inconvenient, but not a deal-breaker.
What I like about it
I liked the adjustable solar panel that allowed me to angle it wherever the sunlight was strongest during the day. It took about 6 hours to get fully charged; of course, the initial charging time was 8 hours.
Furthermore, the automatic on/off function was remarkable. I didn't have to worry about the lights staying turned on unnecessarily during the day and was pleasantly surprised to see them turn on automatically at dusk.
What not to like about it
I couldn't wait to test the lights and did so right after my son gave them to me. I love the fact that I can change the lighting modes and even turn on or off the lights with a button.
However, this button is located on the solar panel itself, which is slightly inconvenient. I wish there were a way to switch the modes without having to go to the solar panel each time.
Pros and Cons of Koxly Solar Christmas String Lights
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- Solar Powered & Auto On/Off：Solar powered christmas lights are solar powered, energy saving, environmentally friendly and durable. The light sensor controls the solar Christmas lights to turn on automatically in the dark and turn off automatically during the day.
- 2 Switches and 8 Different Modes: Solar christmas lights have on / off button and mode button on the solar panel. Press the mode button to choose 8 different modes, including Combination, In wave, Sequential, Slo glo, Chasing / Flash, Slow fade, Twinkle / Flash, Steady on. 8 different modes of christmas lights solar can meet your various needs.
- Waterproof and Memory Function：Outdoor solar lights can withstand all kinds of weather (IP44), including hot winter, sun, wind, rain, snow and humidity but cannot be immersed in water for a long time. Solar lights are perfect for indoor and outdoor decoration. The built-in memory chip saves your previous mode settings without having to reset the mode every day.
3. Laswumen Christmas String Lights
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Once I finished setting up my new solar lights on the Christmas tree and front porch, I needed to find something for my entryway. This time, I had to find something that was waterproof and stayed lit for a long time. I came across Laswumen, which was perfect for my needs.
Product Highlights
First and foremost, I wanted the batteries to be powerful, allowing the lights to stay turned on overnight for at least 12 hours. Moreover, I needed something waterproof.
I felt like all my queries were answered with the Laswumen Christmas String lights. These beautiful, warm yellow lights are 33 feet in length - perfect for my entryway. Since they are entirely solar-powered, I no longer have to worry about utility bills or replacing the batteries.
The copper wire and solar lights are IP65 waterproof, making them ideal for hanging outdoors in any weather. With eight lighting modes to choose from and a warm, golden glow emanating from them, my entryway is set to look like a winter wonderland every day of the holiday season.
What I like about it
To begin with, I loved the warm golden tones of these lights. It creates the perfect ambiance to welcome family and guests. Being entirely solar-powered, there are no batteries that need to be replaced or repaired, which is a big relief for me.
I also loved that these lights had an IP65 waterproof rating, which is better than most others out there in the market.
What not to like about it
The solar panel tilts backward at an angle of 120 degrees only. While this works fine under most circumstances, I wish it was a little more flexible.
It is imperative for the solar panel to face the sun directly when it is charging. When the sun starts to dip around dusk, the 120-degree tilt can be restrictive, especially when I'm trying to charge the solar panels using the last, nearly horizontal rays of sunlight.
Pros and Cons of Laswumen Christmas String Lights
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4. Upoom Solar String Lights
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I was nearly done decorating my home for the holiday season, but I still had two areas remaining. The garden and my staircases. I quickly went online in search of more solar lights for my Christmas decorations. I decided on the Upoom Solar String Lights for my garden.
Product Highlights
The garden is my favorite place to be in my entire home. In fact, I take great pride in the amount of love and hard work I put into regularly tending to it. So, of course, when it came to decorating it with Christmas lights, I didn’t leave anything to chance.
These solar lights from Upoom feature 200 bright and beautiful LED lights in each pack - I got two packs. That's a total of 400 LED lights! The warm white glow it emanates is the perfect look I wanted for my garden.
An impressive thing about these solar lights is that they are rated IP65 waterproof and guaranteed with CE and RoHS certification. Furthermore, they come with a powerful 1200mAh battery that guarantees to last throughout the night.
The flexible copper wire allowed me to create any design I wanted to, so I opted for a couple of stars, and a half-moon. I used the other light to make a Christmas tree on the grass.
What I like about it
When sufficiently charged during the day, these powerful LED lights can run for almost 14 hours at a stretch! I guess this is because of the powerful 1200mAh battery they are packed with.
They also have eight different light modes - from twinkling to waves. These options really help me set the mood for different occasions and different times of the day. Each string is 36 feet long, giving me plenty of freedom to create wonderful shapes and designs.
What not to like about it
I wish there were a setting to decrease the brightness just a bit, as this does end up eating away at how long the lights last. If kept on the 'steady' mode, they seem to drain much faster than when put on other modes.
Pros and Cons of Upoom Solar String Lights
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5. Ankway Solar String Lights
I was almost done with my decorations, just one area remained - the staircase. I decided to opt for a warm, white shade, as my Christmas tree and patio were already a bright blue. After a lot of searching, I finally decided on getting the Ankway Solar String Lights for this purpose.
Product Highlights
These solar-powered lights had 200 LED bulbs and were 72 feet in length, making them perfect for adorning my staircase. The rechargeable 1200mAh batteries were powerful enough to run for almost 12 hours after a full charge, which was excellent.
The next morning, I charged the solar panel for about 7 hours, and once again, the lights beautifully lit up my staircase for 12 hours. I was thrilled!
I wrapped each light string around the banister and was pleasantly surprised to observe how flexible the wires were. I also noticed that these lights came with an IP65 waterproof rating, which is fantastic, but since I used them indoors, I didn't really get a chance to test this feature.
Lastly, the eight lighting modes were gorgeous and befitting the merry occasion.
What I like about it
The solar panel can be adjusted and tilted backward up to 270-degrees. This feature is something I especially liked, as not many solar panels have this flexibility. The copper wires too, even though durable, could be bent, allowing me to turn and twist them in different designs.
With a charging time of only 8 hours, these solar lights provided a warm, beautiful glow.
What not to like about it
This is my personal opinion only, and you may not have an issue with this at all. However, I feel like I should mention it.
I loved the different modes this light offers, but I felt that the lights blinked a little too fast. I wish they could have slowed down the speed slightly to make the lighting changes more enjoyable.
Pros and Cons of Ankway Solar String Lights
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Buyers Guide
These are a couple of solar lights that I decided to purchase after my son gave me the first set. I was so impressed by them that I decided to throw away all my old Christmas lights and 'go green' this year, using only solar-powered lights.
After scouring the internet and narrowing down on the best solar lights, I learned a few things that I would like to share with you. These tips might help you make an informed decision when buying solar lights for your home.
1. Solar Battery
If you live in a place that receives plentiful sunlight all day, you don't need to worry about this one. However, if you don't, then you should check the solar batteries and their capacity before purchasing your new set of solar-powered lights.
Without sunlight, solar lights will work for a couple of hours only. However, if they are packed with a powerful rechargeable battery, they might run for up to 10 hours, which is great, if you live somewhere that doesn't experience a bright, sunny climate.
2. Lighting Effects
If you're looking to adorn your home with bright LED lights, then opt for the ones that have warm tones and no vinyl casing. However, if you would rather have the soft glow of incandescent bulbs, look for those that come with tinted encasings.
More often than not, these lights will be labeled as 'soft glow,' 'amber glow,' or 'soft white lights.'
Having an option to choose from different lighting modes is also something I would recommend. While some holidays call for twinkling or flashing lights, others call for a calm wave.
3. Smart Lights
With the advancement of technology, products like solar lights are not too far behind in catching up with the latest trends. Modern solar-powered lights are designed to be as energy-efficient and adaptive as possible.
When buying solar lights for your home, try to find one that offers an auto on/off system. This system enables a light sensor that automatically turns on your solar lights at dusk and turns them off at dawn.
It not only eliminates the need for you to be mindful of turning on or off the lights but is also far more energy-efficient. It is best if these lights can be turned on or off with a switch, so you have the option to turn them off at night if you're not using them.
4. Storage Capacity
Although I bring out my fairy lights only for special occasions or holidays, many people prefer keeping them up for months. If you like doing this too, then I recommend purchasing solar-powered lights that have a large storage capacity.
A large storage capacity translates to taking less time to charge and lasting for longer (up to 8-12 hours). Keep in mind that although batteries with low storage capacity charge faster than others, they do not last long. A high-capacity battery will take slightly longer to charge but also give you many more hours of light, which I think is a pretty good deal.
5. Waterproof
I cannot stress how important it is to find solar-powered lights that are waterproof. You might think it is not necessary, but I learned this the hard way. A little rain or an accidental water spill is enough to damage these beautiful fairy lights.
When purchasing your lights, look for ones with high water-resistant or waterproof ratings. Anything above IP44 is good, in my opinion. However, if you live in a place that experiences heavy snowfall or rain, I would recommend going for something with a higher rating like IP65.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unless your solar lights have been damaged, they should easily last for about 3 to 4 years. Of course, in case you notice the lights giving you trouble, you can replace the batteries, and they will be as good as new.
Ideally, solar lights need to charge entirely so that they can run at maximum brightness. How often you need to charge them depends entirely on the battery and storage capacity. While some solar lights need to be charged every day (if you use them overnight), others can run for a day and a half without requiring to be charged again.
Most manufacturers will recommend charging your solar-powered lights for at least 8 hours before using them. This may vary depending on the product you purchase, so it is best to check the owner's manual for instructions.
Our Final Recommendation
I hope you enjoyed going through my guide, and I was able to help you decide on the best solar Christmas lights for your home. As soon as I made the switch from traditional to solar lights, I instantly knew I made the right choice.
Not only am I saving energy and costs, but these lights are so bright and beautiful that I don’t see why I ever used anything else! Well, before I sign off, let me help you with one last thing.
If you are looking for very bright LED solar lights, I recommend the No products found.. However, my personal favorite was the Koxly Solar Christmas String Lights, so you decide which one you like more.
Be sure to let me know which solar lights you finally chose for this holiday season!
Take care, until next time!