No Outlet, No Problem—We Narrowed Down the Best Solar String Lights

Domino Shopping: Worth-It Deals, Editor Picks, and Gift Guides

Join us for a weekly shopping trip right in your inbox.

Email address Join Thank you!

Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

Pros have long relied on string lights to cast a soft, ambient glow on outdoor living and dining spaces, but these days, you aren’t limited to your proximity to a power outlet. Meet the best solar string lights—as long as they get a decent amount of direct sunlight, you can hang our picks pretty much anywhere, even draped from a tree canopy or along a fence. Whether you’re after simple white globes or something a bit more unexpected (colorful wire! wicker shades!), we’ve found your perfect match below.

Our Favorites

• Best overall: Brightech Glow Solar LED String Lights 
• Best lantern: West Elm Rectangular Solar String Lights
• Best value: Brightech Ambiance Pro Solar LED String Lights 
• Best mini: Biolite Inc. Tangle-Free Solar Glow String Lights
• Best pop of color: Pooky Heidi Solar String Lights
• Best shaded: Target Solar LED Outdoor Orb and Globe String Lights

Best Overall: Brightech Glow Hanging Solar LED String Lights 

Length: 27 feet | Hours: 5–6 | Number of bulbs: 12

Why we chose them: Edison-style bulbs and brass-effect sockets make for a particularly elevated take. 

As soon as the sun disappears behind city buildings or your neighbor’s house, these retro bulbs automatically turn on. Come daytime, the mid-century modern sockets are less distracting than most other options. And while looks matter, these lights are reliable, too: The shatterproof bulbs and rubberized cord are resistant to the elements, and their long-lasting durability is backed by the brand’s two-year warranty. 

Best Lantern: West Elm Rectangular Solar String Lights

Length: 6 feet | Hours: About 5 | Number of bulbs: 10  

Why we chose them: Minimalist metal shades offer a unique industrial vibe.

West Elm’s candle-shaped bulbs and metal cages are a modern twist on a classic railroad-style lantern, so turn to these to give your space a little edge. You’ll probably want to stock up on a few sets, though, as there are only 10 bulbs per string.

Best Value: Brightech Ambiance Pro Solar LED String Lights 

Length: 48 feet | Hours: 5–6 | Number of bulbs: 15

Why we chose it: No-frills, bistro-style lighting that gets the job done.

The baby sister of our favorite Brightech Glow style, the Ambience string lights have the same commercial-grade weatherproof guarantee—they can stay outside all-year long, enduring up to 50-mile-per-hour winds—but with less style points. The bulbs come in a timeless Edison shape, but their black plastic sockets are purely utilitarian.

Best Mini: Biolite Inc. Tangle-Free Solar Glow String Lights

Length: 44 feet | Hours: 40 | Number of bulbs: 20

Why we chose it: Tiny twinkles with some seriously with some seriously sweet bonus features. 

Originally designed to illuminate campsites, these string lights pack power in a compact package. They arrive wound neatly inside a sleek storage case that’s also home to the solar panel, plus a handy backup plug for USB charging on cloudy days. Unlike our other picks, these lights can be unplugged from their power source until they need a charge. And that won’t be for a while: The bulbs last an impressive 40 hours. Oh, and did we mention that the case also acts charging spot for your phone in a pinch?

Best Pop of Color: Pooky Heidi Solar String Lights by The Novogratz

Length: 25.5 feet | Hours: 10 | Number of bulbs: 10

Why we chose them: Meet the brainchild of two design powerhouses: The Novogratz family and British lighting brand Pooky.

These colorful, buoy-like solar string lights are like nothing we’ve seen before. But beyond The Novogratz’s personality-packed design is the practicality that Pooky is known for: two charging options, a remote for dimming the bulbs or simply turning them on and off, and a wet location IP rating (bring on the rain).

Best Shaded: Target Solar LED Outdoor Orb and Globe String Lights by Threshold Designed With Studio McGee

Length: 25 feet | Hours: N/A | Number of bulbs: 10

Why we chose them: Ruffly rattan shades lend welcome warmth and texture.

Cottagecore takes the patio: These solar string lights, a Target collab with Studio McGee, sport subtly scalloped rattan shades, a quaint complement to the simple globe bulbs. If you don’t have an easy spot to hang yours overhead, the included ground stakes allow you to line a garden bed or pathway instead. But with only 10 bulbs per strand that reviewers say are quite dim, expect ambience, not task lighting.

How We Chose These Products

The best solar string lights never let sunshine go to waste and won’t get tattered after a thunderstorm. Your dinner parties can go on for hours, from sunset to sunrise, in any season, thanks to this durable mood lighting. We made sure our picks went beyond the standard chunky black cables, focusing on design-forward picks that can easily be strung along your balcony fence or even the tree limbs in your backyard. Each product on our list provides a minimum of five hours of glow and won’t require direct-only rays to light up come evening. 

Our Shopping Checklist

Style and Shape

Many popular solar string lights have clear globe or Edison-style bulbs, but you’ll see a variety of finishes (think: frosted or colors) and sizes (even fairy lights!). However, string lights, for the most part, are on the smaller side, as they’re tethered by a main line and can’t be too heavy. Aside from the bulb, the socket can help make your string lights feel like a design fixture; our list features both metallic and brightly colored versions for an aesthetic boost. Decorative shades are another nice-to-have for a hit of texture.

Brightness and Color Temperature

Solar string lights are best for adding ambience. In most cases, they don’t put out enough lumens to be path or stair lights. As Julia Discroll of Katherine Field and Associates previously told us when talking about the best outdoor solar lights, they can’t compare to the brightness of hardwired lighting. The latter is typically able to deliver 300 lumens, whereas solar lights average out at about 30. 

Weather Resistance

As outdoor fixtures, solar string lights need to be durable enough to survive the elements. To make sure yours are safe to leave outside 24/7, look for an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of at least 44. The higher the number, the more they can endure, from dust and debris to water drips, jets, spray, splashes, and more. Of course, the rating becomes less of a concern if you’re hanging your string lights from a covered patio ceiling versus a tree in the yard.  

Wire Length 

The biggest perk of solar-powered lights is you aren’t restricted by proximity to an outlet. However, you’ll still want strands long enough to loop or weave; most options range from 25 to 60 feet long. For an exact measurement, note the total length that the wire needs to stretch across, and add 2 feet or more (we wager you’ll want a soft dip in between destinations). Our advice: Buy more than you think you need, then return whatever any extras. 

Ask Domino

Q: How long will outdoor solar string lights last? 

This really depends on the product. While solar lights rely on the sun to operate—an arguably endless energy supply—the panels themselves won’t be effective forever. You’ll likely only get two years or so out of your lights before they fail to glow.

Q: Where is the best place to put the panels for solar string lights? 

Be strategic about the placement of the solar panel that comes with your string lights—it should get plenty of direct sunlight to ensure the bulbs will blink on come nightfall.

Q: Why do my solar string lights turn on automatically? 

The solar panel is equipped with a sensor so that it absorbs sun during the day, then channels all that power to your bulbs in the evening. Many solar lights do come with a manual switch, though, if you’d prefer to have control.