The countdown to Christmas is almost up and so are your indoor Christmas decorations, now share a little of your joy with the outside world by setting up some solar Christmas lights. With the sun powering these gorgeous decorations, faulty power outlets and broken batteries are a thing of the past. ‘Tis the season for sharing and we want to help you bring a warm glow to your neighborhood with this list of solar Christmas lights to make your home more festive.
Why should I buy solar Christmas lights?
While they are very similar to any other type of holiday lighting, their energy comes directly from the sun, not your power outlet. While you’re helping the environment by cutting back on CO2 and other greenhouses gases, you’ll also be able to save money on your electricity bill, which is music to any Christmas light lover’s ears during December. Solar Christmas lights use LED bulbs and the energy department estimates that you’ll pay $17.99 to light a tree for 10 holiday seasons with LED lights as opposed to $122.19 using regular incandescent bulbs. What’s not to love?
How do solar Christmas lights work?
These tiny christmas solar lights have intricate scientific concepts behind them. We’re not scientists but we were able to break down and simplify the process. Your lights come with a mini solar panel that grabs energy from the sun and funnels it into a battery, which has a diode that stops the energy from escaping. Then, when night falls, a controller board that can detect light and darkness signals the lights to turn on. When the sun comes back up, this same board switches the lights off and the process starts over.
How to fix solar Christmas lights
You bought them, set them up, and ta-da! They’re not working. Before you find your receipt and get ready to head back to the store, there are a few solutions you can try beforehand. First, double check that the lights are switched on and any tabs or stickers are removed and batteries are inserted. If you have this all in place and the bulbs are still putting up a fight, make sure that the solar panel is clean of any dust or dirt and facing the direction of the sun. Your last option is to switch the lights off and let them recharge for a few days to make sure their battery is full.
Shop our favorite Christmas solar lights below. Happy Holidays!
These darling candy cane path lightsare not only perfect for celebrating Christmas, they'll also light your way when it’s dark or snowy. Each set comes with six lights and one solar panel stake, so you won’t have to deal with wires that could potentially cause you to trip.
“We have purchased a total of 10 sets of these lights and LOVE them,” wrote one reviewer. "If you have a good location for direct sun, you will not be disappointed!”
Stake these solar laser Christmas lights into the ground and watch as their four bright LED bulbs offer a dazzling spectacle for neighbors and passersby. Fully adjustable and built to withstand all kinds of weather, these lights are color-changing, alternating between red, green, blue, and yellow. They feature a sizable solar panel, and each bulb stays lit for six to nine hours once fully charged.
One happy Amazon buyer wrote, "I love this solar-powered laser light. It was so easy to set up and took so much stress [out of] decorating for the holidays. Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but it's also solar-powered, which I love. No wires, no electricity. And the range is phenomenal. The entire back and side of my house is covered."
These pretty little snowflakes can help light walkways — and your rows of plants — with a simple stake that goes into the ground. The vivid rainbow glow they emit switches between seven different colors: white, pink, red, orange, green, purple, and blue.
“Love the solar snowflakes!" one shopper wrote. "The color changes are dramatic and distinct."
Another buyer raved, "These are BEAUTIFUL to see at night time. ... I get all kinds of compliments about them."
We all know and admire the neighbor who has those impeccableicicle lightshanging from her roof, and with these lights, you’ll be that neighbor! Strung with 300 waterproof LED bulbs, this solar-powered set charges fast and can stay lit for up 12 hours at night.
Exclaimed one reviewer: "These work really well and are non-stress Christmas lights — what can be better?"
We may not like shoveling it, but without snow, winter doesn’t seem nearly as stunning. Revel in the beauty of a fresh snowfall by draping these little snowflake lights from your roof or wind them up around your lamp post. Featuring 30 LED waterproof lights and eight different modes (flashing, twinkle, waves, sequential, slow-glow, chasing, slow fade, and steady on), these stunners will add a gorgeous finishing touch to your winter display.
One buyer shared, "These are great! They look nice, charge easily and are perfect for our house because we don't have plugs that are accessible for the front of our house. [They] ... charged well in the daytime and ran for about six hours at night. No need to turn them off, they go off [by] themselves when they are out of power or when the sensor detects light."
If white lights just don’t do it for you, pick up this colorful bundle instead. A rainbow assortment that will light up the outside of your house and truly bring the holiday cheer, these solar lights feature 200 bright LED bulbs, waterproof construction, and a long-lasting solar panel that will keep your lights lit well into the night.
More than one reviewer was impressed by these stunning strands, with one raving, "I can not say enough about these lights. They look amazing and even on cloudy days they still light up bright during the night."
There are two types of people: those who are colored light fans and those who appreciate a clean white look. If you fall into the latter category, these warm white lights are the perfect addition to your home. Featuring 200 bright LED bulbs and eight light modes (combination, waves, sequential, slo-glo, chasing flash, twinkle, slow fade, and steady), these lights will add just the right amount of glow to your home.
Wrote one happy purchaser: "These look great at night. We put several strands throughout our backyard around our trees and a few bushes. I was pleasantly surprised how bright they were for being solar lights! All-white is a beautiful way to have a cohesive, timeless look for Christmastime, and just because they're solar doesn't mean they won't light up your yard."
These vintage-looking stakes are perfect for adding some seasonal flair to your yard. Made from wire and acrylic, they're equipped with powerful LED bulbs and are rust-proof for year-round use. Offering the ability to switch between white and colorful displays, these flexible branches can be illuminated for up to eight hours.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “A beautiful Christmas decoration. The quality of the product is high. Very colorful and bright. That is what I was always looking for. I love it. Five stars.”
While wreaths are a popular form of greenery to hang from windows and doors, this little Christmas floral mailbox arrangement offers up a different way to approach outdoor decoration. We adore its pretty poinsettias, holly berries, and pinecones almost as much as the fact that it lights up — using solar power, of course.
One buyer raved, "[I] love this decoration for my mailbox. ... [It's] just perfect! I have gotten a lot of compliments from my neighbors. The lights are pretty too!"
With the addition of this solar-powered icicle chandelier to your yard, which emits a blue solar-powered light, you’ll feel like Elsa of Arendelle decking out her icy kingdom in honor of the season!
Raved one Walmart shopper, "Very pretty at night when lit up and also pretty during the day!"
If you think static lights are too plain and blinking ones are too flashy, this is your happy medium: These raining weather-resistant lightsare mesmerizing and quickly turn any home into a holiday wonderland. Coming with eight tubes with 36 lights each, they'll make your trees look like something straight out of Whoville!
“These lights are fantastic! The ‘meteor shower’ action is beautiful," wrote one buyer. "The colors are pure and very bright. The solar cells charged quickly, and lasted all night long."
This darling spiral Christmas tree is just the right decoration to take the place of your wind chimes for the season. Measuring in at 18 x 8.5 inches, it's a sizable piece of décor, complete with a festive topper that's sure to get you compliments from holiday guests.
Customer Kristine is a fan, writing, “[I] love this! Works great and looks so cute hanging on my front porch! ... The tree is perfect and [helps] add to my festive Christmas decorations!”
Welcome guests by candlelight with these adorable solar-powered candle decorations. Staked right into the ground and equipped with a solar panel that will help light light up your entryway, they feature two bright flickering flameless LED candles surrounded by wire Christmas trees and holiday poinsettias.
One customer wrote that they" add a nice touch to the yard. They look like they will hold up well.”
For a glass-blown look, try thesecrystal ball string lights. Featuring eight light modes and a myriad of festive hues, these lights will add an icy, colorful touch to any holiday display. Their solar panel kit saves your light mode preferences, so you won't have to mess with them more than once after you string them along your banister or wrap them around that gorgeous tree out front.
One happy decorator shared, "Installing these was simple and obviously saves money on the electric bill as well. No hassle! Just turn them on and when the sun comes up they go off, and as soon as the sun goes down they come on very brightly! Fantastic lights!”
Create a starry night overhead with these gorgeousstar-shaped solar string lights. Featuring 50 LED-powered stars and eight different light modes (waves, sequential, slo-glo, chasing/flash, slow fade, twinkle/flash, and steady on) this pick is energy-efficient and immediately begin to light up once dusk arrives.
“Loved these lights," one buyer wrote. "They were perfect little stars with just the right amount of light. ... They are very pretty on their own during the day, but are beautiful when they light up at night. They stay lit almost all night and really look good.”
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