How To Choose Your Christmas Lights
It’s helpful to identify which lights to use before learning how to hang Christmas lights inside and outside your house. Here are our tips for choosing the perfect lights for your tree, roof, windows, and outdoor spaces.
Know the Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Lights
Not all Christmas lights are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Unless specified otherwise, most should only be used indoors on your Christmas tree display.
For lights you can use on trees, greenery, the roof, or other exterior areas, choose a product specifically marked “outdoor-safe.” Look for lights approved by trusted companies such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory) or ETL (Edison Testing Laboratories).
Find the Right Type of Lights To Hang Outside
Christmas lights come in various colors, sizes, and special features to suit different decorating styles. Survey the outdoor area you intend to decorate and determine which light type will best accentuate the space. Learn more about common light types to help narrow down your options. You can opt to combine different kinds for a dazzling display.
- Cascading String Lights - Also known as icicle lights, these long light strings hang vertically and cover large areas with a curtain-like effect.
- Festoon String Lights - This type features small to mid-sized bulbs evenly spaced out along the length of the string and is meant to hang horizontally across roof gutters and moldings.
- Outdoor-Safe Christmas String Lights - If you like the look of trees wrapped with Christmas lights, use these classic warm white or multi-colored bulbs that are perfect for winding around posts, tree trunks, or illuminating plants or shrubbery.
Regardless of the outdoor Christmas light you choose, consider the bulb type. LED lights emit less heat and consume less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. They may be a bigger investment upfront, but LED bulbs last longer and can help you save on electricity costs and replacement bulbs.
Measure Your Display Area
Measure the area where you plan to install the Christmas lights. Then, compare this with the length of the light strings or the bulb count to determine how many strands you’ll need. For artificial Christmas trees, the general rule of thumb is 100 to 200 lights per foot of your tree’s height.
For exterior areas, you’ll need to match the length of the light strands to the total area you intend to cover. The standard length for a 50-light strand is 25 feet, while a 100-light strand usually measures 50 feet. For example, if you need to cover a 120-foot space, you’ll need at least five 50-light strands or three 100-light strands. You may need more if you’re hanging the lights in a pattern.
Insider’s Tip
How To Put Lights on Your Christmas Tree (Step-by-Step Instructions)
To put lights on a Christmas tree, start with compatible light strands that provide your desired brightness and coverage. Using enough bulbs and following a consistent lighting pattern helps create an even, professional-looking glow from the inside out.
- Untangle and test the lights — Carefully untangle each light strand and plug it in to confirm all bulbs are working before placing them on the tree.
- Prepare the first strand — Loosely coil the first strand around your hands to prevent tangling, and position the plug end so it can easily reach a power source.
- Start at the base of the tree — Beginning near the bottom, wrap the light strand around the trunk and inner branches, weaving lights in and out toward the branch tips for depth.
- Work upward and around the tree — Continue circling the tree as you move upward, maintaining even spacing. When one strand ends, connect the next and hide the socket within the branches.
- Check coverage and adjust — Once all lights are in place, plug them in and step back to check for dark spots or uneven areas. Reposition lights so no branches block the bulbs.
Safety Tips for Stringing Christmas Tree Lights
- Use light strands that are compatible with each other, ideally from the same brand, to avoid connection issues.
- Make sure all bulbs have the same wattage to reduce the risk of power surges or electrical failure.
- Use a single extension cord and avoid overloading outlets.
- Keep cords secured and out of reach of children and pets, and never run them across open walking areas.
How To Decorate Outdoor Trees With Lights
After you’ve determined the number of lights you’ll need and tested them beforehand, here are the steps to follow:
- Start at the base – If you want to wrap lights around the whole tree, start near the bottom of the trunk, ensuring you can access a power source nearby.
- Wrap the branches – Work your way up, wrapping and hanging lights around branches. Consider cascading light strings on outer branches to create a romantic effect.
- Adjust – Step back, turn the lights on, and survey the tree to ensure the light distribution is balanced. Adjust as needed.
- Secure the lights – Use zip ties or clips to secure the lights against the wind.
Decorating Ideas
- Try hanging lighted decorations on the outer branches shading a lounging area to provide a pretty and functional focal point.
- Match your string light display with smaller lit vignettes on the ground. Try groups of lanterns on porch steps or at the base of large trees, pathway lights, or lit wire sculptures.
- Dazzle neighbors with color-changing lights you can program to create your own light display.
How To Hang Outdoor Lights
Lights add an enchanting glow to exterior spaces. Wrap them around outdoor Christmas decorations or greenery or hang them in a pattern from eaves and railings. Remember to use the proper tools and follow safety precautions for a trouble-free installation. Here are the steps to follow when hanging lights from rooflines, window ledges, and the like:
- Untangle the lights—Carefully untangle or unspool the strings and lay them out on a dry surface outside.
- Test the bulbs—Plug in the light strings and check if all the bulbs are working. Also, check your extension cords and other electronic accessories carefully. Make sure there are no frayed wires or other damage.
- Measure the section—If you’re planning to hang Christmas lights on the roof, use a tape measure to measure the length of the section you’ll hang lights on and compare it against the length of the light string to make sure it will fit. When assessing how to hang Christmas lights on gutters using cascading lights, measure even spaces between light string placements for a uniform effect.
- Attach the hooks—Secure the Christmas light hooks and clips to your chosen location. Spread the hooks evenly to prevent the light strings from drooping or gaping. For windows, you may opt to use Christmas light hooks or window clips with either adhesive backing on the window frame or suction cups against the glass itself.
- Hang the light strings—Carefully attach the light strands using the clips or hooks. Make sure each section is free of tangles or twists. Plug the lights in to check your display and adjust as needed.
Safety Tips
- When using a ladder, set it down on a dry and level surface. Have someone hold the ladder at the bottom to keep it from shifting.
- Verify that the lights are outdoor-safe.
- Avoid overloading extension cords. To be safe, use only 75% of the available plugs and one plug per outlet.
- Use insulated nails or hooks to minimize electrical hazards.
- Do not pull or twist Christmas lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we answer common questions about hanging Christmas tree lights.
How Many Feet of Christmas Lights Do I Need To Wrap a Tree?
It depends on the total height and size of your tree, as well as the light density you prefer. Start with 1-2 standard light strings to wrap tree trunks and 4-5 strings for the entire tree.
How Many Lights Do I Need To Cover a 7-Foot Christmas Tree?
Aim for 100-200 lights for each foot, depending on how bright you want your tree to glow. So, for a 7-foot tree, you’ll need anything from 700 to 1400 lights.
What’s the Best Way to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree?
The best way to put lights on a Christmas tree is to start at the base, work upward, and weave the light strings in and out of the branches for depth and even coverage. Step back periodically to check balance and adjust so no branches block the lights.
We hope this guide helped you learn all about Christmas lights, including how to put lights on a Christmas tree and decorate both indoor and outdoor spaces with confidence.