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Solar-powered Christmas lights are a great option if you’d rather skip the hassle of running wires to outlets—plus, you can save a bunch of money on your energy bill. They come in the same colors and styles as plug-in or battery-operated lights—from traditional white and multicolor to novelty to Christmas net lights that drape over your shrubs. And, in terms of price point, solar-powered Christmas lights cost roughly the same as plug-in lights.
Like with other solar-powered devices, battery life, runtime, and water-resistance are the most important things to consider when shopping for solar Christmas lights. Beyond that, we looked for sets with high-quality solar panels, simple operation, and easy setup, along with extra features like a variety of lighting modes, timers, and memory functions.
Whether you go all-out with your winter wonderland display and want to add solar lights to the mix or are simply looking for quality holiday lights that are easy to install, these are the best solar Christmas lights we tested and recommend.
Prep for the holidays with the best Christmas tree lights, artificial Christmas trees, and Christmas window decorations.
The Best Solar Christmas Lights
- Best Icicle: JMexsuss Solar-Powered Christmas Meteor Shower Lights
- Best Traditional White Lights: Albelt Warm White Solar Christmas Lights
- Best Spotlights: Roshwey Spotlight Solar Christmas Lights (Set of 4)
- Best Vintage-Style Lights: Huacenmy Strawberry Solar Christmas Lights
- Best Color-Changing Lights: Joomer Color-Changing Solar Christmas Lights
What to Consider
IP Rating
All solar Christmas lights are waterproof to varying degrees, with an optimal rating of IP65—that means the lights are totally water- and dust-proof. Some manufacturers list the type of solar panel used—either highly efficient monocrystalline cut from a single piece of silicone, or less efficient polycrystalline. If you live in an area with frequent snowfall or inclement weather, opt for lights with a high IP rating.
Efficiency and Runtime
You can judge the lights’ efficiency by looking at the charge time and the number of hours the lights stay bright at night. But keep in mind that runtimes listed by manufacturers are an estimate calculated in perfect conditions, and daytime cloud cover decreases efficiency. As with any solar-powered lights, you’ll have to manage expectations when it comes to runtime, particularly during short winter days with less sunlight. Several options on our list can run for over eight hours, depending on how long the solar panels get charged.
Ease of Setup
All of the solar panels in this roundup have a rod and stake for ground installation. Many sets have different lighting modes to choose from, and some change color, which is a nice feature for mixing up your display. Some of our selections include a remote, while others have a simple power and mode button on the solar panel.
How We Selected and Tested
We cast a wide net to find solar Christmas lights in a variety of styles, including traditional wire lights, novelty lights, and spotlights, and looked for sets with decent solar panels, battery life, and runtimes. From there, we found a handful of promising models to test, and we set them up on banisters, trees, and outdoor landscaping. We took into account how easy they were to set up, how well the solar panels worked, and the overall quality.
For sets that we weren’t able to test, we vetted specs and sought out Christmas lights with value-added features, such as multiple lighting modes, timers, memory functions, and remote controls. Our selection includes single- and multi-set lights in a range of styles and colors so you can decorate your home without plugging in a thing.
Pros
Vibrant for big impact - Seven color options
- IP65 waterproof rating
- Panel rotates 360 degrees
Cons
- No remote
If you want to decorate your home for Christmas without spending hours hanging lights, these solar spotlights are the way to go.
These are incredibly easy to use, and setup didn't take long during our testing. Each spotlight comes with its own stake, and the solar panels are larger than some of the other options on this list. We found these to be one of the more efficient and brightest lighting options that we've used, and they turned on around dusk.
You can control the power and seven lighting modes with a button on the solar panel, you just have to long-press to switch between settings. We also like that there's an auto-cycle lighting mode, so you don't have to keep manually changing the colors.
The solar panels have full rotation, making it easier to find the best angle to catch the sun, and they can be set at two heights.
Key Specs
| Length | 14.5 in.; 21.5 in. |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 22 LEDs |
| Listed Runtime | Up to 10 hrs |
| Lighting Modes | 1 |
| Remote Included | No |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
2
Best Traditional
Albelt Warm White Solar Christmas Lights (Set of 2)
Pros
- High bulb count
- One solar panel per set
Cons
- No remote
We like the warm ambiance that these solar lights bring to holiday decor, and the amount of coverage you get from just one set. There are 480 mini LED bulbs on each 85-foot green wire, making these a great option for decorating bigger trees or a lot of surface area in your home.
The bases of the stakes are adjustable, so we could angle them depending on where the sun was at the time. We could also control the lights from the solar panel itself with the "mode" button. There are eight settings in total, and you can just click through to find the lighting mode that you want (we liked slo-go the best).
Since there are so many lights on a single wire, they can get tangled pretty easily, so we suggest keeping them bound together and slowly unraveling as you decorate. It’s also important to note that the instructions recommend charging the lights for a full 24 hours to get the best effect.
Key Specs
| Length | 85 ft. |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 480 LEDs |
| Listed Runtime | Up to 12 hrs. |
| Lighting Modes | 8 |
| Remote Included | No |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
Pros
- Style not easily found in solar-powered
- Eight lighting modes
- Bright, colorful bulbs
Cons
- Solar panel is sensitive
These multicolor vintage-style strawberry solar Christmas lights show up beautifully on bushes and hedges, thanks to their size. Each of the 50 LED bulbs is 2 inches long, and they’re spaced 4 inches apart on a 21-foot green wire, so they won't get lost in the greenery. The 3.2-foot lead could be longer, but considering these are made for outdoor use, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
There are eight lighting modes controlled with a button on the solar panel to cycle through options and power on and off. The brand says the lights shine for approximately 6 to 8 hours on a full charge.
Key Specs
| Length | 21 ft. |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 50 LEDs |
| Listed Runtime | Up to 8 hrs. |
| Lighting Modes | 8 |
| Remote Included | No |
| IP Rating | Not listed |
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Pros
- 11 lighting modes
- Remote control
- One strand of lights for two different colors
Cons
- Not as many bulbs per foot as other options
Whether you want a traditional warm white or multicolor glow, you can get the best of both worlds with these solar lights. There are 200 LED bulbs along 72 feet of black wire that switch between colors, and there are 11 lighting modes to choose from. Plus, the included remote and memory mode automatically remembers your last setting.
The stakes and panels can be adjusted depending on the angle of the sun or shadows. The lights take approximately 4 hours to charge—less than most of our other picks—with up to 8 hours of brightness on steady mode.
Key Specs
| Length | 72 ft |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 200 LEDs |
| Listed Runtime | Up to 8 hrs. |
| Lighting Modes | 11 |
| Remote | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
Pros
- Eight lighting modes
- Features include timer
- Comes with remote control
Cons
- Only 50 lights
These snowflake solar Christmas lights are a great addition to any outdoor holiday display. There are 50 cool white lights inside the crystal-clear snowflakes, which are strung on a clear wire that glows in the brightness and gives off an icy look.
The snowflakes have eight lighting modes and can last for up to 10 hours at night, and the monocrystalline solar panel has a 800nmAh battery and adjusts 180 degrees. There's also a timer and the set has a IP65 waterproof rating.
Key Specs
| Total Length | 24.6 feet |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 50 LEDs |
| Listed Runtime | Up to 10 hours |
| Lighting Modes | 8 |
| Remote Included | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
Pros
- Simple and straightforward operation
- Unique illusion
- Weather-proof
Cons
- Only eight tubes per pack
- Solar panel stake is flimsy
The cascading design of these solar Christmas lights mimics the natural beauty of icicles to help transform your property into a winter wonderland.
We hung these along a front porch banister, and they were fairly easy to wrap in between each pole. That helped cut down on the slack of the wire. The white LEDs twinkle in a downwards motion, which created the illusion of falling snow, and operation is very straightforward, since there’s only one light setting available. The lights turned on just around sunset hours after we set them up.
However, we found that the solar panel stake was pretty flimsy. It held up the panel okay, but the support clips chipped while we attached the pieces together. Also, only eight tubes come in a one-pack, so if you want to decorate the entire exterior of your home, we recommend buying more than one set.
Key Specs
| Length | 11.8 in. in between tubes, 9.84 ft. total |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 288 |
| Listed Runtime | 6 hours |
| Lighting Modes | Not specified |
| Remote Included | No |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
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Pros
- Comes with a remote
- Easy to set up
- Covers a large area
Cons
- Some customers reported quality concerns with the remote and solar panels
Net Christmas lights are a great alternative to traditional Christmas lights because you can blanket them over bushes and hedges, or even hang on fences rather than stringing single wires. Solar panels make them even easier—just toss the net, place the solar panel, and enjoy a perfectly-decorated yard all season long.
There are 300 multicolor LED lights on this net, which gives you 74 square feet of coverage. It also has eight lighting modes, four brightness levels, and it comes with a remote for quick and easy control. The 1200mA battery can run for up to 13 hours off of a 3 hour sunlight charge, too.
Key Specs
| Total Length | 74 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Bulb Count | 300 |
| Listed Run Time | Up to 13 hours |
| Lighting Modes | 11 |
| Remote Included | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
Amber Joglar
Digital Content Producer
Amber is the Digital Content Producer for Popular Mechanics, Runner's World and Bicycling, where she covers a range of tasks for the commerce team. She also writes fashion and beauty content for Best Products. Her work has been featured across all of the Enthusiast Group sites. In her free time you can likely find her watching horror movies, reading a good thriller book, or listening to a comedy podcast.
Rachel Klein
Senior Commerce Editor
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
