6 / 7
Kathleen Purvis for Family HandymanThe holiday season deserves something special, and these Twinkle Star string lights answer that desire with 100 clear plastic stars over LED twinkle lights. You can set it for eight effects, including blinking, fading and flashing. Each star is about 1 inch, with 4 inches between each one. The clear wire is easier to mix into decorating schemes, and it comes with an adapter so you can string together up to four strands.
“These hooked right into the LED string lights I purchased,” reviewer Kate explained. “They synced immediately to the pattern I chose. Great addition to my Christmas lights!”
Pros
- Unique star-shaped string light design
- Setting stays when you restart the lights
- LED lights use less energy, saving on electricity costs
- Waterproof for indoor/outdoor use
Cons
- No remote or automatic timer
7 / 7
Kathleen Purvis for Family HandymanIf your holiday tastes run more to Grinch green or evergreen forests, this string of 25 C9 bulbs may be just the touch you need: Each light is covered with a 2-inch-tall green plastic diamond-cut faceted prism. Although the 16.8-foot strand won’t cover a whole tree, there are plugs at both ends, so you can string together up to 90 strands. The LED lights are Energy Star-rated and are covered by a three-year limited warranty if they need to be repaired or replaced.
Pros
- Unique diamond-cut faceted C9 bulbs
- Each bulb has a clip for attaching to eaves or tree limbs
- Safe for indoor/outdoor use
- Includes two fuses and two spare bulbs
- Can connect up to 90 strands
Cons
- Pricey compared to other lights
- No remote, special effects or timer
What to Look for in Christmas Tree Lights
Prices vary widely for an unusual look. Most of our choices are LED (light-emitting diodes), which are more energy-efficient and stay cool to the touch, so they’re safer than incandescent bulbs, especially around children or on live trees. Brightness can range from strands rated “ultra-bright,” which are usually a blue-white, to “warm white,” which has a look similar to the yellow glow of candlelight.
While twinkle-style lights have simple bulb shapes, from blunt to tapered, you can also find special shapes, such as pine cones and stars. Many strands offer up to eight special effects—such as blinking, fading and waves—controlled by a transformer built into the plug. A few have automatic timers (the lights go on at the same time every day and stay on for six hours). Depending on the price, many also come with options that include remote controls and dimmers.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a long-time journalist, I have more than 30 years of testing products and appliances aimed at consumers. I’ve also been decorating Christmas trees of my own since 1982, including longtime use of incandescent bulbs and bubble lights. The Christmas tree lights on this list were tested at my home on a 5-foot artificial tree from Balsam Hill.
How We Found the Best Christmas Tree Lights
To choose the lights we tested for this article, we looked for the highest number of favorable ratings from consumers and considered both the positive and negative comments from people who have purchased them. I then used them on my own tree, looking for ease of use, features like special effects and automatic timers and checked manufacturers’ recommendations on battery or bulb life and energy usage.
FAQ
What are the best Christmas tree lights that last the longest?
While incandescent lights are less expensive, today’s LED lights last much longer and use less electricity, balancing their cost with longevity and energy savings. Most LEDs can last for hundreds and even up to thousands of hours of use without burning out.
How many lights do I need for a 7 foot tree?
In general, you need 100 to 200 small lights for every 1 foot of vertical height. For a 7-foot-tall tree, you’d need 700 to 1,400 lights. That can vary, though, based on how long each strand is and how much space there is between each light. Another consideration is the length from the plug or battery pack to the first bulb. If you’re stringing together multiple strands, you might want a shorter distance to reduce gaps between the light strands, while a longer length at the end of the bottom-most strand will make it easier to reach an outlet.
The number of light strands also depends on how you wrap your lights—horizontally around the tree, or vertically, as many professional decorators do. This zig-zag hack may bring the brightest look to your tree.
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