10 Outdoor Patio String Lights That'll Get Your Backyard Ready for Summer (2024)

FAQs

What string lights don't get hot? ›

Do LED String Lights Get Hot? LED lights do not get hot.

First, Measure Your Space

Part of what makes patio string lights so appealing is the natural curve created by the strings. To make sure you have enough length to account for the swag in your light strings, add 2 - 6 feet of length to your measurements and purchase strings that coincide with those final numbers.

If you live in an area with a lot of bad weather, wind, or trees that can damage your lights, consider shatterproof options first. Another safety consideration with outdoor patio lights is heat. Incandescent string light bulbs get hot to the touch within seconds. Most LED bulbs do not.

Use a Big Tree as a Base

This setup proves you don't need much to light up your backyard. Simply drape string lights from a big tree to the roof of your house and watch your backyard shine.

Because incandescent and halogen bulbs create light through heat, about 90% of the energy used is wasted to generate heat. To reduce the heat emitted by regular incandescent and halogen bulbs, use a lower watt bulb (like 60 watts instead of 100). Fluorescent light bulbs use an entirely different method to create light.

Incandescent and CFL bulbs get so hot because most of their energy is being released as heat, not light, making them much more ineffeicient. Proprietary tests show 100W incandescent lights burning at 335.4 F, CFL lights burning at 179.2 F and LED bulbs burning at 87.2 F.

For columns or trees, measure once around and multiply that by how many times you'll wind your light around. Once you determine the total length, divide that by the length of a single strand for the quantity you'll need to purchase.

The number of lumens needed for outdoor lighting depends on the purpose and location of the light. For example, a porch light may require 800-1000 lumens, while a floodlight may need 2000-3000 lumens. For pathway lighting, 100-200 lumens per light are sufficient.

In general, high-end LED string lights will last for around six to seven seasons—or two to three years if you use them year-round.

Outdoor string lighting from Outdoor Lighting Perspectives®, also known as bistro or café lighting, sets the stage for relaxed backyard enjoyment.

What is the best color for outdoor lights? ›

Cool White: 5000K-6500K

These lights are ideal for security lighting or where visibility and safety are needed because cool light appears brighter. Cool white lights are also used to create a moonlighting effect since natural moonlight appears bluish. Shop cool white landscape lighting here.

Outdoor lights should not be left on for prolonged periods of time or overnight. Even LED lights can overheat and cause a fire if exposed to dry leaves or flammable substances.

You can crisscross light strings across any space to make an X pattern, and this design works especially well in wide spaces or areas that are square shaped. If you have multiple light strings, hang several X's in a row to create a diamond pattern.

You can wrap them around poles or branches and/or use small hooks to secure along the way. Bolster with guy wire: If you're using heavier lights or draping them over a long distance, use guy wire and turnbuckle hooks. “This prevents your lights from sagging or falling over time,” says Lee.

Longer answer: No, they do not.

Joking aside, based on semiconductor technology rather than heating a filament like an incandescent bulb, LED bulbs and light strings do not heat up under operation.

Fire Safety Precautions for Outdoor String Lights

Outdoor lights should not be left on for prolonged periods of time or overnight. Even LED lights can overheat and cause a fire if exposed to dry leaves or flammable substances.

They also emit less heat than these other types of lighting, making them safer for use in spaces where there is risk of fire. More importantly, LED doesn't get hot enough to be able to ignite anything and they have significantly lower temperature than their counterparts.