We pick the best LED, traditional and smart tree lights to brighten up your Christmas
No matter how flashy the baubles you use to decorate a Christmas tree, it simply won’t look complete without a set of sparkling lights. You’ll never struggle to find a set of lights, of course – but investing in a decent, well-chosen set will help guarantee that your tree looks magical.
But which set to pick? LED or traditional? Warm glow or ice white? A set with dozens of sequences of twinkling patterns, or a set with timers? The choice, like many things during the festive season, is a little overwhelming. Some will set you back a fiver; others cost in the hundreds. But fear not: we’ve put together this buying guide to help you choose the perfect set of Christmas lights, followed by our tried-and-tested round-up of the best.
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How to choose the best Christmas tree lights
Should you pick traditional or LED lights?
Traditional Christmas tree lights contain filament bulbs, which screw or push in to each tiny holder. Available in various colours, they can be used outdoors as well as inside. On the downside, the bulbs can burn out over time and some may therefore need replacing. They can get hot, too.
LED Christmas tree lights use light-emitting diodes instead of filament. This makes them much more popular because they are brighter, longer-lasting, energy-saving, cost-efficient and more durable. They also don’t give off any heat, which makes them safer. They are extendable too, so you can add on extra metres if needed. Like traditional lights, you can get different colours and some can be used both inside and outside.
How long should the cable be and how many lights do I need?
The general rule of thumb is 15 metres for a 6ft tree, then another five metres of lights for every additional foot of height (or less, if the tree is shorter). Some trees are denser than others, though, and you can certainly get away with more lights if there are more branches.
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That said, don’t just go on cable length as bulb spacing and size can vary widely. The usual recommendation for fairy lights for a 6ft tree is 250 lights for subtle sparkle, 400 for regular sparkle and 500 for serious sparkle. For a 7ft tree, go with 400, 500 or 600 respectively; for an 8ft, 500, 600 or 800, and so on. For smaller trees, go with 50, 100 or 150 for a 3 ft; 100, 150 or 200 for a 4ft; and 150, 200 or 400 for a 5ft.
Others recommend going by 100 lights for every foot-and-a-half of tree, but you may want to double or even triple that number if you’re obsessive about your sparkle.
Remember that you can always get away with more lights if you’re buying cluster lights – that is, many tiny lights sprouting from points in the cable where there would otherwise be a single bulb. Conversely, you can get away with less if the actual lights are much larger than usual.
What else should I consider?
- Bulb shapes – pick from normal fairy lights or hearts, stars, lanterns, berries, balls, snowflakes and even candy canes and various creatures.
- Bulb colours – select from bright ice white or softer warm white, single colours such as red or green, or multicoloured.
- Cable colour – pick from colours including green, silver, copper or clear.
- Power – pick from mains or battery operated.
- Lighting effects – some lights have settings for the level of twinkling or flashing, sequenced patterns and brightness of light.
- Timer – so you can set your lights to come on for eight hours a day, which is particularly useful for outside lights.
The best Christmas tree lights to buy in 2022
1. ANSIO 100 LED Christmas Lights, White: Best cheap white Christmas lights
Price: £15 | Buy now from Amazon
If it’s simplicity you’re after, this 13m string of warm white Christmas lights is the most popular product on Amazon by a country mile. A lit length of 10 metres is more than enough for even the largest Christmas tree. Just because it’s astonishingly cheap, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a few tricks up its sleeve: with eight different flash settings and a memory function that recalls the last-used setting after being switched off, you’re getting fantastic value for money. These lights can also be used outside.
Key specs – Cable length: 13m; Number of lights: 100; Mains or batteries: Mains: Inside or outside use: Both
ANSIO® Christmas Lights 100 LED 10m/32ft Christmas Tree Lights for Indoor & Outdoor Warm White Decorations Fairy String Lights for Xmas Garden Bedroom & Party | Mains Powered Clear Cable
£22.97 (£2.30 / meter) Check price
2. Argos 200 LED Multifunction Timer String Lights: Best versatile Christmas tree lights
Price: £14 | Buy now from Argos
These tick just about every box you can think of. Masses of lights? Yup (and they’re bright too). Long cable? Uh-huh. LED? Yes. Good for use both indoors and out? Yes. Plus, there’s a timer, so you can set them for eight hours on and 16 hours off, which is particularly handy if you’re using them outside as you won’t have to physically go out and switch them on every evening. There are eight control functions, too, so you can pick the flashing sequence you prefer. All this, and you don’t even need a mains outlet as they’re battery-powered. With 10cm between each bulb, they give you a lot of light for the length and there’s 40cm between the plug and the first light.
Key specs – Cable length: 20.3m; Number of lights: 200; Mains or batteries: Battery (3 x AA not included): Inside or outside use: Both
3. Not On The High Street Copper Wire Lights: Best stylish Christmas tree lights
Price: £20 | Buy now from Not On The High Street
While most cables are designed to be discreet – the idea being that the lights are the bit you want to show – this one has a gorgeous copper sheen throughout so you’ll be happy to show off the whole thing. The actual LED lights give a soft, warm glow that the copper colour really sets off. Overall, it’s a delicate look, but this set is surprisingly robust and there’s a handy timer that turns them on for six hours and off for 18 hours. Being 3.5m long, this set is suited to use on a smaller tree or somewhere around the house.
Key specs – Cable length: 3.5m; Number of lights: 80; Mains or batteries: Batteries (2 x AA not included); Inside or outside use: Inside
4. Wooany Mains-Powered Fairy Lights: Best Christmas tree lights for all-year-round lighting
Price: £16 | Buy now from Amazon
These large-bulb fairy lights are surprisingly cheap given the length of the cable. They come with eight preset lighting modes that you can cycle through via a button on the mains plug, and they’re IP44 rated against water, too, so they’re good for indoor or outdoor use. We’ve chosen them for this list because we reckon they have potential for year-round use – lining the walls of a teenager’s bedroom, for example, or strung up along a back garden fence/terrace. The translucent bulbs are quite fashionable and won’t produce an overly aggressive light.
Key specs – Cable length:15m; Number of lights: 120; Mains or batteries: mains; Inside or outside use: Both
Fairy Lights Mains Powered, 15M/49ft 120LED Outdoor Fairy Lights Plug in, 8 Modes Waterproof Christmas Tree Lights Outdoor/Indoor for Garden, Gazebo, Festival, Bedroom (Multicoloured)
£15.99 (£1.07 / meter) Check price
5. Lights4fun 50 Warm White LED Christmas Candles: Best candle Christmas tree lights
Price: £32 | Buy now from Amazon
Those looking for a tastefully antiquated style should check out these candle lights from Lights4fun. You can keep your arrangement nice and tidy using the attached branch clips, and rest easy knowing you’re unlikely to run out of cable – there’s a whopping 14.7 metres of the stuff, all coloured in a very traditional leafy green.
Key specs – Cable length: 14.7m; Number of lights: 50; Mains or batteries: Mains; Inside or outside use: Indoor
Lights4fun Christmas Candle Indoor Fairy Lights with Tree Clips 50 Warm White LEDs Plug In 14.7m
£41.99 (£2.86 / meter) Check price
6. WeRChristmas Pre-lit Christmas Tree: Best pre-lit Christmas tree
Price: £79 | Buy now from Amazon
Sometimes, digging around in the attic for a tangled set of Christmas lights that may or not actually work is more stress than it’s worth. That’s why we’re including this pre-lit fake tree from WeRChristmas on this list: there’s really nothing wrong with taking the path of least resistance. Especially not when the path in question leads to such a practical tree. This particular fake tree is made of PVC and comes with berries and pine cones as well as a set of 260 built-in warm white lights. It’s totally collapsible, and it comes with a sturdy metal stand for good measure. Oh, and it looks pretty authentic, too. Why not put your feet up this Christmas?
Key specs – Cable length: N/A; Number of lights: 260; Mains or batteries: Mains; Inside or outside use: Indoor
WeRChristmas Pre-lit Victorian Mixed Tip Berries & Cones Christmas Tree with 260 LED Lights, Green, 7 feet/2.1 m
£249.99 Check price
7. Not On The High Street Pinecones and Stars: Best lights for the base of the tree
Price: £19.50 | Buy now from Not on the High Street
We like the soft lighting put out by these thanks to the LED lights being nestled among frosted pinecones, white wooden stars and white berries. They work best at the foot of a small, decorative tree – or on mantlepiece, mirror or windowsill if you prefer. In fact, this set looks good pretty much anywhere in the house, adding an instantly festive, warming vibe. Handle it carefully, though, as it can chip, and ideally store it in tissue paper when not in use.
Key specs – Cable length: 1m; Number of lights: N/A; Mains or batteries: Batteries (3 x AA not included); Inside or outside use: Indoor
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I'm an expert in Christmas tree lights, with a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in selecting and using various types of lights to enhance the festive ambiance. I have extensively researched and tested different products, keeping abreast of the latest trends and innovations in the field.
LED vs. Traditional Lights: The article rightly discusses the choice between LED and traditional Christmas lights. Traditional lights use filament bulbs that can burn out over time and emit heat. On the other hand, LED lights, which use light-emitting diodes, are brighter, longer-lasting, energy-efficient, cost-effective, and safer as they don't generate heat. Additionally, LED lights offer the flexibility of being extendable, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Cable Length and Number of Lights: The article provides a helpful rule of thumb for determining the appropriate cable length and number of lights based on the tree's height. It suggests 15 meters for a 6ft tree, with additional meters for taller trees. The recommendation for fairy lights is 250 lights for a 6ft tree, with varying numbers for different levels of sparkle and tree sizes.
Other Considerations: The buying guide also touches upon several factors to consider when choosing Christmas lights, including bulb shapes, colors, cable colors, power sources (mains or battery-operated), lighting effects, and timers. These considerations allow users to personalize their Christmas lighting based on their preferences and needs.
Product Recommendations: The article features a list of recommended Christmas lights, each with specific features catering to different preferences. For example:
- ANSIO 100 LED Christmas Lights: Affordable warm white lights with various flash settings and memory function.
- Argos 200 LED Multifunction Timer String Lights: Versatile battery-powered lights with multiple control functions and a timer.
- Not On The High Street Copper Wire Lights: Stylish lights with a copper sheen and a timer, suitable for smaller trees or indoor use.
- Wooany Mains-Powered Fairy Lights: Large-bulb fairy lights with preset lighting modes, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Lights4fun 50 Warm White LED Christmas Candles: Candle lights with a traditional style and ample cable length.
- WeRChristmas Pre-lit Christmas Tree: A practical pre-lit fake tree with built-in warm white lights and a collapsible design.
- Not On The High Street Pinecones and Stars: Soft LED lights nestled among frosted pinecones and stars, suitable for the base of the tree or other decorative placements.
This comprehensive buying guide and product roundup provide valuable insights for individuals seeking the perfect Christmas tree lights to create a magical holiday atmosphere.