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Buyers Guide: 5 Best Solar String Lights (2024)
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The best solar string lights add a classy, welcoming flair to any outdoor space. From bespoke rooftop parties to boho backyard hangouts, solar string lights allow you to achieve an ideal ambiance powered by 100% renewable solar energy.
But with so many options on the market, how do you know which outdoor solar string lights to buy? In this article, we’ll recommend a few top products as well as explain factors to consider when purchasing solar-powered lighting.
Best Solar String Lights
Switching to solar-powered outdoor patio lights can give you an eco-friendly light source that doesn’t raise your electricity bill. To choose the best solar string lights, we looked at durability, ease of use, charge time and run time, lumens, cost, customer reviews and more. Based on these factors, here are our top picks for solar-powered string lights:
| Best Solar String Lights | Our Award | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights |
Best Overall | Check Price |
| Sunlitec Solar String Lights | Best Backyard Lights | Check Price |
| YIQU Ultra-Long LED Solar String Lights |
Best Solar Fairy Lights | Check Price |
| Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights |
Best Color-Changing String Lights | Check Price |
| Toodour Solar String Lights | Best Solar String Lights Under $15 | Check Price |
Our In-Depth Review on Solar Sting Lights
Best Overall: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights
brightech.com
These Italian cafe-style LED string lights feature 3,000K vintage Edison bulbs, making them perfect for a patio, porch, gazebo, pergola, bistro or any other space needing some warm vintage vibes. They’re bright enough to light a space for eating without being overpowering.
The Brightech Ambience Pro solar string lights have a five- to six-hour runtime on a full charge. They take six hours to charge in direct sunlight with the included solar panel. Weatherproof, shatter-resistant and durable, these high-quality solar string lights will hold up through inclement weather. They’re available in 27-foot and 48-foot sections that can be strung together to light any space.
Pros:
- Bright enough to be practical
- Weatherproof, shock-resistant and shatterproof plastic bulbs
- Replaceable bulbs and batteries
- Excellent two-year warranty
- Multi-strand stringing
- Auto on/off plus manual shut off switch
Cons:
- Only one lighting mode
- No remote control
- May not be bright enough for every application
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with over 16,000 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: Brightech Ambience Pro solar string lights give a dreamy vintage feel to any outdoor space. The features and durability of these lights, plus their versatility, make them the perfect energy-efficient light for nearly any commercial or residential outdoor area.
Best Backyard Lights: Sunlitec Solar String Lights
Sunlitec
Indoor/outdoor lights made to perform and please, Sunlitec’s solar string lights are adorned with 25 durable LEDs along a 27-foot stringer. Four brightness modes provide warm 3,000K light to set the mood for any occasion. Solar charge time is eight hours with the included solar panel, or four hours with USB charging, providing uninterrupted lighting for eight hours per charge.
Pros:
- Weatherproof and shatter-resistant
- Replaceable glass bulbs
- Four brightness modes
- Dual charging options
Cons:
- Short length from first bulb to solar panel (1.5-2 feet)
- Non-replaceable battery
- Off switch located on solar panel, no remote control
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with over 4,500 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: We love the Sunlitec Solar String Lights’ multiple light modes and bulb density (one lightbulb about every 10 inches). Partnered with dual charging options, this lighting set may be a great fit for your year-round backyard solar lighting needs.
Best Solar Fairy Lights: YIQU Ultra-Long LED Solar String Lights
YIQU
For those looking for twinkling fairy lights, look no further than the YIQU Ulta-Long LED Solar String Lights. Featuring 200 LED bulbs with nine lighting modes strung across 72 feet of copper wire, you’ll have plenty of string length to light large areas. Waterproof and durable, these fairy lights will stand up to the elements, making them perfect for adding magical charm to both indoor and outdoor spaces. The lights last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge, with an eight-hour charging time via solar power. Auto on/off and memory mode settings secured a spot on our list of best solar string lights.
Pros:
- 72 feet long
- Two strings included (72 feet each)
- IP65 waterproof rating
- Multiple lighting modes, including twinkling and static
Cons:
- Could be higher quality
- Some reviews cite poor weather sealing of solar panels
Customer Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars with over 4,600 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: Fairy lights are designed for wonder and charm, and this offering from YIQU fits the bill. You’ll get impressive features and capabilities not found in similarly priced items. While quality control could be an issue, these lights beat the competition as an overall good performer for solar fairy lights.
Best Multicolor String Lights: Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights
www.brightown.com
Single-color solar lights won’t always cut it. When you need to ring in the holidays, bring home Brightown’s Outdoor Solar String Lights. Two 33-foot strings festooned with 100 LED lights feature nine color modes — including wave, sequence, glow, flash, fade, twinkle and static — to fit a variety of decorative needs. The lights illuminate 360 degrees, so you won’t have any dark spots. They run eight to 10 hours on a single charge, with lights turning on automatically after dark.
Pros:
- Multicolored
- Multiple modes
- Auto on/off
- IP65 waterproof rating
- Shapeable wire
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Non-replaceable parts
- Reported quality control issues
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 13,300 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: Multicolored solar lights are a great alternative to traditional holiday decorative lighting, and Brightown’s solar string lights offer exceptional value for the money compared to other lighting types and solar competitors. With their nine lighting modes, incredible modularity, durability and festive pazazz, Brightown’s multicolored solar lights are the perfect solar-powered touch to bring home this holiday season.
Best Solar String Lights Under : Toodour Solar String Lights
Toodour
Being on a budget doesn’t mean solar string lights are out of reach. We recommend the Toodour solar string lights as the best budget pick, as they have many features that punch above their weight class. Sixty one-inch LED bulbs across 35.6 feet of cording provide warm white light, and they’re waterproof for all-year outdoor use. Toodour’s string lights feature eight lighting modes for a variety of needs, with lights switching on and off automatically. Bulbs run eight to 12 hours on a single charge, with a six- to eight-hour charging time via the included solar panel.
Pros:
- IP65 waterproof rating
- Eight lighting modes and memory mode
- Auto on/off
- Generous lead cable for attaching to panel (6.56 feet)
Cons:
- Quality control can be an issue
- Not exceptionally durable
- Not exceptionally bright
Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars with over 2,300 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: While the overall quality of these lights is on par with other budget options, the features are not. Packed with perks not found in similarly priced items, Toodour solar string lights are the best value for budget-minded solar lighting needs.
How Much Do Solar String Lights Cost?
Solar string lights vary in cost depending on multiple factors, including efficiency, durability, materials, brightness, battery life, features and more. Solar string lights usually cost $15 to $100, with more expensive options scoring higher marks for features and quality.
How to Choose the Best Solar String Lights
Solar string lights are most often used for mood lighting, so chances are you’re looking for something to add ambience and flair to a patio, porch or indoor space. When shopping for solar string lights, ask yourself the following questions:
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- What kind of lighting do I want out of my string lights?
-
- Where will they be located?
-
- Do I need static or multiple lighting modes?
To choose the best solar string light for your space, identify how much lighting you’ll actually need: Solar string lights vary significantly in brightness, with some providing serious illumination. Others provide little more light than a candle.
You’ll also want to consider ease of use: Do you need plug-and-play ability right out of the box? Auto on/off features? Easy-to-change lighting and memory modes? Other features, like dual charging, battery capacity and charging time, replaceable parts, durability, and cost should be key factors when considering which solar string lights to buy.
FAQ: Best Solar String Lights
We chose Brightec’s Ambience Pro as the best solar string lights for their awesome features and durability. All of Brightec’s products have similar features and quality, so we recommend them as the best brand of solar string lights.
We recommend YIQU Ulta-Long LED Solar String Lights if you’re looking for the best solar fairy lights. Each 72-foot string has 200 LED bulbs with nine lighting modes.
If a unit is properly installed, most solar string lights work very well right out of the box. However, a string light made for ambience lighting might not work for lighting an entire patio. Quality also plays a pivotal role in the long-term functionality of a solar string light.
