How to string lights outdoor

Working Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours
Skill Level: Easy
Estimated Cost: $110

Photo: istockphoto.com

How to hang outdoor string lights on your property will depend on how your deck, patio, or balcony is set up. The time it takes to hang the lights, too, will vary depending on how many strings of lights you are hanging and the structures surrounding your outdoor living area.

Before getting started, measure the length and width of the outdoor space you want to illuminate, and determine whether you want your lights to go around your patio’s perimeter, zigzag across the pergola, or be arranged in some other configuration. This will help you determine how long each set of string lights should be and how many sets of lights you’ll need. Though it’s possible to hardwire outdoor string lights, that process will likely require hiring an electrician. The goal of this guide is to explain how to install plugged-in or solar string lights.

• Outdoor string lights
• Extension cord rated for outdoor use (optional)
• String light suspension kit (optional)
• String light poles (optional)
• Tape measure
• Cup hooks
• See full list «
• Drill (optional)
• Masonry wall anchors (optional)
• Ladder
• Zip ties
• Staple gun (optional)

STEP 1: Select the right string lights for your space.

The first step to installing hanging outdoor string lights is to determine the best outdoor string lights for your alfresco living area. Calculate how many total feet of outdoor string lights you need, and decide on your preferred bulb type and style. String light bulbs come in a variety of shapes and sizes; some of the most popular options include globe bulbs, Edison bulbs, lantern-style bulbs, and tiny fairy lights.

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The next important consideration is how the string lights will receive power. Homeowners with outdoor electrical outlets can use LEDs or incandescent lights. (If the electrical outlet is far from the mounting location, you might also need an extension cord that’s rated for outdoor use.) Battery-powered string lights are a great option if there are no outlets on your patio or deck. Solar-powered string lights are a terrific energy-efficient option, particularly in outdoor areas that get a lot of direct sunlight during the day.

String lights come in a variety of lengths varying between 25 and 150 feet. If you need to join more than one set of lights together to span your patio or deck, confirm that the lights you want have both male and female connections. You’ll also want to research the manufacturer’s recommendations about how many strands you can safely connect. Once you’ve purchased the string lights, be sure to test each strand before hanging them—it’s best to make sure all of the bulbs work before the lights are hanging high over your head.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Once you’ve purchased and tested your lights, decide where and how you will mount them. In a wooded backyard, lights can easily be strung from tree branches. Fences, walls, pergolas, porch posts, roof eaves, or your siding’s trim are other good places from which to hang string lights. If your light strands are very long and you plan to suspend them from just a few well-placed hooks, consider purchasing a string light suspension kit. Although string lights that hang a little loosely look great, mounting them on a taut wire will keep them from falling too low.

If your outdoor space doesn’t already have appropriate locations from which to hang string lights, you’ll need to purchase 8- to 10-foot wooden or metal string light poles and install them in the area to be illuminated. Once you’ve determined how and where the lights will hang, lay the strands out on the ground in the planned configuration to ensure that they are long enough to span the space. (Take note of where the plug ends of the strands will hang, too—if you can hide a bulky male-to-female connection under some tree branches, do it!)

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Photo: istockphoto.com

Determine how far off the ground you want the string lights to hang. With pencil or chalk, mark the desired height on the first post, fence, or tree from which the lights will be suspended. Use a tape measure to determine the height of that first mark. Mark the remainder of the posts or hanging structures at this same height so the string lights hang evenly.

At the locations you’ve marked in pencil or chalk, screw the cup hooks in a clockwise direction. (Be sure that the open end of the hook is positioned so it’s facing upward to prevent the string lights from slipping off.) Depending on the material into which you’re inserting the cup hooks, you might need to drill pilot holes before twisting the cup hooks in. If you’re mounting cup hooks to a brick surface, you’ll have to drill masonry anchors before screwing in the hooks.

Note: If you are using a string light suspension kit, install it before hanging the string lights. Most kits come with their own hardware, and you may not need the cup hooks. Skip to Step 5.

RELATED: How to Drill Into Brick

STEP 5: Hang the string lights.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Hanging string lights is a lot easier to do if you screw in the glass bulbs after the strands are hooked in place (this is particularly true if you’re working with bulkier globe- or Edison-style bulbs). The strands are easier to maneuver without bulbs—and of course, you reduce the likelihood of the bulbs breaking.

Enlist a helper to hold the plug end of the first set of lights—or the extension cord, if you are using one—near the electrical outlet that will power it. This will ensure that you’re allowing enough length in the cord to reach the outlet. Starting at the hook closest to the outlet, stand on a ladder and feed the string lights through each cup hook. For added stability, use zip ties to secure the string lights in place around the hooks. Once the strings have all been suspended, have your helper hand you the bulbs one by one. Insert the bulbs into their sockets.

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Note: For some simpler, lower-to-the-ground applications—say, if you’re running string lights under your deck’s railing—you might be able to forgo cup hooks altogether and use a heavy-duty staple gun, fastening the light strands every few feet. Pull them taut as you staple, keeping your general spacing and design in mind. 

When the lights are securely in place, plug them in and enjoy your relaxing new outdoor oasis!

Photo: istockphoto.com

To maintain your outdoor string lights and maximize their longevity, it’s a good idea to take them down in winter if you live in a cold or snowy climate. Be mindful that many older homes do not feature weather-resistant outdoor outlets, so for optimal safety consider having them replaced with more modern outlets that fit The National Electrical Code guidelines.

By following these instructions, you’ll make your outdoor living area bright and inviting—and really, change the whole vibe of your space—without breaking the bank. Take the time to research the best string light options for your needs before making a purchase, and be sure to measure the area ahead of time to make sure you buy enough sets of string lights. After just a couple of hours of work, you’ll be ready to entertain or simply relax in your new-and-improved yard or patio.

Though hanging string lights in your alfresco space isn’t a difficult DIY, there are some key decisions homeowners have to make before beginning the project. Read on for answers to additional questions about how to hang outdoor string lights.

The number of sets of outdoor string lights you need for your space depends on the size of your patio and the length of the light sets you’re considering. To determine how many sets of lights you need, it helps to first sketch out your patio after measuring its length and width. Then, sketch where you want the lights to go—around the perimeter, for example—and calculate the perimeter in feet. (Be sure to account for enough string length to reach the electrical outlet, too.) Once you’ve selected the string lights you want, divide the perimeter by the length of the light strand—that’s how many sets of lights you need.

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If your outdoor space has no trees from which you can hang string lights, consider hanging them from a pergola, fence, deck railing, your roof’s eaves, or the exterior wall of your home. If the space you want to illuminate is an open area without structures, consider purchasing string light poles that can be inserted into the ground.

The best way to hang string lights to existing structures is to screw in cup hooks, not nails. If you’re reluctant to drill holes into your wood deck railing or fencing, consider stapling the lights in place using a heavy-duty staple gun.

An easy, economical way to hang string lights over a deck is to screw 8-foot furring strips into the deck’s rail posts, and hang the lights from cup hooks drilled a couple of inches from the top of each furring strip. If you’re hanging string lights in an open area without wood structures to which you could fasten furring strips, string light poles are worth considering.

The easiest solution is to plug patio string lights into an outdoor electrical outlet that is located near the area you want to illuminate. If your residence lacks an outdoor electrical outlet, consider purchasing battery- or solar-powered string lights.

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