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The 9 Best Indoor Christmas Lights of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

For a merry and bright home

Pile of Indoor Christmas Tree Lights on a rug

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

No holiday display is complete without a few strings of Christmas lights, and no matter your style, there are plenty of indoor string lights to help make your home festive.

Before shopping, make a plan for where and how you want to hang your lights, says Lance Allen, Decorative Holiday Merchant at The Home Depot. “Decking the halls looks different for everyone, but I do recommend mapping out a plan for your lights to get the best results. Pick a focal point to highlight. Place your brightest lights or a higher concentration of lights on the areas you want to pull the most focus on and build out your plan from there," he says. Once you plan your holiday lights for this year, make sure you pick the right bulbs and brightness to fit your vibe.

To find the best lights for your holiday display, we spent several weeks researching indoor lighting products, purchased 15 options, and tested each in our homes for 28 hours, comparing each light's brightness, bulb shape and size, length, quality, and features.

Illustration of Common Bulb Shapes for Indoor Christmas Lights and text on a peach background

The Spruce / Michela Buttignol

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Wintergreen Lighting LED Christmas Lights

Wintergreen Lighting 5mm LED Christmas Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    5/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Length
    4/5
  • Overall Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Extremely bright lights

  • 3 year warranty

  • One-piece bulbs resist corrosion

  • Able to connect up to 44 strands

What We Don't Like
  • Bulbs can’t be replaced

For bright, festive indoor lights that will stand the test of time, we recommend the Wintergreen Lighting 5mm LED Christmas Lights. They were the brightest and most vibrant lights out of all the products we tested. These holiday lights are 24 feet long with 70 bulbs on each strand, and they’re available in a variety of popular color schemes, including amber and cool white, red, multi-colored, and even red and white. Plus, you can connect up to 44 strands end-to-end using just one outlet, which is a higher maximum than most other brands we researched and tested.

When testing the Wintergreen Lighting Christmas Lights at home, we liked that they had one-piece professional-grade bulbs, which keep moisture and dust out to prevent corroding. The lights are Energy Star-certified, and the brand offers a 3-year seasonal warranty as well.

One downside is that individual bulbs are not replaceable, and we wish these came in longer strands, but it is easy to connect a few to cover large spaces. Still, the brightness and variety remain unmatched.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: 5mm conical | Length: 24 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 44

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with Wintergreen Lighting 5mm LED Christmas Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best Budget

Home Accents Holiday LED Mini Warm White String Light

Home Accents Holiday 100-Light LED Mini Warm White String Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    4/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    3/5
  • Length
    4/5
  • Overall Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Long-lasting

  • Classic appearance

  • Also available in multi-colored options

  • Able to connect up to 30 strands

What We Don't Like
  • Slight strobing effect

  • Not the brightest lights we tested

These under $20 Christmas lights are just under 30 feet long with 100 bulbs per strand. The Home Accents Holiday Mini String Lights include T5 mini bulbs in a warm white color for a traditional holiday display. (They’re also available in a multi-colored option.) You can connect up to 30 sets of these LED lights, and they come with a few replacement bulbs in case one ever goes out. 

While we appreciated the classic look of these Christmas lights during testing, we noticed that they have a slight strobing effect (caused by a lack of rectifiers, which are placed along the string to prevent this). It’s not as noticeable when the lights are spread out and hung on a tree covered with ornaments, but it can hurt your eyes if they're bunched up closely together, you stare at them for too long, or you're sensitive to flashing lights. Additionally, these lights weren't the brightest of the bunch we tested, but they were plenty bright for an indoor Christmas display and looked very pretty on a tree.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: T5 mini | Length: 29.5 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 30

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with Home Accents Holiday 100-Light LED Mini Warm White String Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Expert Buying Tip

"I recommend paying attention to the connection limits of light strands. Don’t connect more strands together than the directions recommend." Lance Allen, Decorative Holiday Merchant at The Home Depot

Best White

GE Colorite Miniature LED Light Set

GE Energy Smart Colorite Miniature LED 100-Light Set

Walmart

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    5/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Length
    4/5
  • Overall Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Good value

  • Extremely bright and vibrant

  • Strand stays lit if a bulb is out

What We Don't Like
  • Not available in other colors

  • Bright white isn't as cozy as warm yellow

For those who enjoy pure white Christmas lights for a minimalist, cohesive display, we recommend the GE Energy Smart Colorite LED Light Set, which impressed us with its brightness. These Christmas lights have classic T5 mini bulbs, but they’re slightly larger than usual and extremely bright, making them stand out from the competition. The Energy Star-qualified lights meet strict energy efficiency criteria, which helps you save money on utility bills, without sacrificing brightness or performance. 

Each stand is 33 feet long with a total of 100 LED lights. The white Christmas lights have 'constant on' technology, meaning you won’t lose the whole strand if a bulb burns out or comes loose. (They do come with replacement bulbs and fuses just in case.) You can connect up to 25 strands of these lights end-to-end. We do wish they came in other colors, including a warm white, which can be less harsh and more cozy than the brighter pure white alternative.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: T5 mini | Length: 33 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 25

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with GE Energy Smart Colorite Miniature LED 100-Light Set

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

How do you fix indoor Christmas lights?

If your Christmas lights aren’t turning on, there are a few troubleshooting steps to take. The first step to fix Christmas lights is to check that there’s power to the wall outlet. If that’s not the problem, you’ll want to check to see if any of the bulbs are loose or burned out and replace them, if needed. If that doesn’t work, you can also try replacing the fuses, which are located in the plug—most string lights come with one or two replacement fuses, which are small metal and glass cylinders.

Best Colored

Pro Christmas T5 LED Christmas Lights

Pro Christmas T5 Smooth LED Christmas Lights

Christmas Designers

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    4/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Length
    4/5
  • Overall Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Available in numerous colors

  • Bright and colorful

  • Double sealed against the elements

What We Don't Like
  • Not the most saturated in color

If you’re looking for classic colored Christmas lights to deck your holiday tree, the Pro Christmas T5 LED Lights are bright and cheerful. They come in a range of hues, including multi-colored, red and green, and blue. During testing, we noticed they weren't the most saturated in terms of color, but they’re fairly bright and look nice wrapped around a Christmas tree or railing. Plus, the professional-grade lights feature a one-piece bulb and socket design that prevents rust and corrosion, ensuring your lights last for years to come. 

These Christmas lights are over 23 feet long with 70 bulbs on each strand, and you can connect up to 44 sets end-to-end to decorate even the largest displays. We liked that the lights are fully wave rectified, meaning there’s no flickering from the LED bulbs.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: T5 mini | Length: 23.3 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 43

Closeup of a Christmas tree branches lit with Pro Christmas T5 Smooth LED Christmas Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best for Christmas Trees

MZD8391 Christmas Lights

MZD8391 105FT 300LEDs Christmas Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    5/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Length
    5/5
  • Overall Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Extra long strand

  • Can be used outdoors as well

  • Offers several lighting effects

What We Don't Like
  • No replacement bulbs

  • Smaller bulbs

There’s nothing worse than running out of lights when you still have several feet to decorate, but that won’t be an issue with these lights from Amazon, which measure in at an impressive 105 feet (the longest on our list), making it a great choice for artificial or live Christmas trees of any size. This extra-long strand of lights is available in 10 color combinations including classic options and more unique purple and yellow. We found that they’re brighter than many other products, even though the bulbs are quite small. 

These 300 LED bulbs span 99 feet with an extra 6 feet to reach out-of-the-way outlets. We liked that the wires of these Christmas lights are noticeably thinner than the norm, making them easy to hide in a holiday tree or other decoration, and as an added bonus, there’s even a button on the plug that allows you to cycle through the set’s eight lighting effects, transforming your tree into a colorful light show.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: Not listed | Length: 105 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 4

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with MZD8391 105FT 300LEDs Christmas Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Expert Buying Tip

"Consider where you are hanging lights, LED bulbs are best suited for live trees and wreaths because they stay cool to touch and prevent fires." –Lance Allen, Decorative Holiday Merchant at The Home Depot

Best Professional-Grade

Holiday Essence LED Mini Christmas Lights

Holiday Essence LED Mini Christmas Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    4/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Length
    3/5
  • Overall Value
    3/5
What We Like
  • Durable one-piece bulbs

  • Bright and colorful

  • Able to connect up to 45 strands

What We Don't Like
  • Very short

  • Slight strobing effect

If you’re tired of having Christmas lights burn out after just one or two seasons, it might be time to upgrade to professional-grade lights, such as the Holiday Essence LED Mini Christmas Lights. The bulbs and sockets are one solid piece in these expert-recommended lights, which prevents moisture, dirt, and dust from getting into the bulbs and causing them to burn out prematurely. 

Keep in mind these lights are quite short at just 16 feet (the shortest on our list). While there are 60 LED bulbs on each strand, we found that you need at least two sets to decorate a Christmas tree, maybe even three, but luckily you can connect up to 45 strands of them to complete your holiday display. The lights come in both multi-colored, white, red, blue, and green options.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: 5mm conical | Length: 16 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 45

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with Holiday Essence LED Mini Christmas Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best Large Bulb

NOMA LED Christmas Lights

NOMA C6 LED Christmas Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    3/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Length
    4/5
  • Overall Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Cute faceted bulbs

  • Ideal for larger displays

  • Replacement bulbs included

What We Don't Like
  • No lead wire

  • The colored lights aren't as vibrant

The NOMA C6 LED Christmas Lights are perfect for making a bold statement—the C6 bulbs have a pretty teardrop-shaped design that we loved in testing. We also appreciated that they’re not so big that they seem out of place indoors. However, they work best in larger spaces on large trees, railings, or mantles.

These lights come in a wide range of colors, and each strand is over 23 feet long with 70 bulbs spaced 4 inches apart. During our tests, we found that the colors aren’t as vibrant as other Christmas lights, but they still stand out on a tree thanks to their unique shape. You can connect up to 45 strands of these lights, but the one downside is that there’s virtually no lead wire, meaning the bulbs start immediately after the plug. This means you have to use them very close to an outlet or use an extension cord.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: C6 | Length: 23.8 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: 45

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with NOMA C6 LED Christmas Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best Smart

Twinkly LED Christmas Lights

Twinkly App-Controlled LED Christmas Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    5/5
  • Ease of Use
    3/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Length
    5/5
  • Overall Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Extremely high quality

  • Able to be controlled via smartphone

  • Many customization options

What We Don't Like
  • Can get warm to the touch

If simple lighting displays just aren’t your style, the Twinkly LED String Lights give you more customization options than you ever thought possible. These high-end Christmas lights sync up to your smartphone, and through the Twinkly app, you’re able to put them on a timer, adjust the brightness, and play around with dozens of lighting effects. In testing, we found that it was easy to sync the strands to the app, and we were impressed that the app can even use the phone’s camera to 'map' the lights in your home and ensure everything looks cohesive and beautiful.

The Twinkly Lights offer 65.5 feet of wire and 250 LED bulbs—enough to cover a large tree—but we thought it was strange that the string lights are split into two separate strands, both of which are connected to the main control unit. This unconventional design makes it somewhat complicated to set the lights up, but thankfully, both strands have a generous lead wire to get them where they need to go, even if that is far away from a power outlet. The lights have the brand’s AWW bulbs, which appear to be a smaller version of 5mm conical bulbs, which are shorter than T5 bulbs and are more square-shaped. Not that they do get a little warm to the touch if left on for long periods, so just make sure to handle them with care.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: AWW | Length: 65.5 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: N/A

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with Twinkly App-Controlled LED Christmas Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best Lighting Effects

JMEXSUSS LED Indoor String Lights

JMEXSUSS LED Indoor String Lights

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Brightness
    4/5
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Length
    5/5
What We Like
  • 8 lighting effects

  • Clear wire blends in at night

  • UL588 safe certified

What We Don't Like
  • Extremely long lead wire

  • No way to connect multiple strands

For a more dynamic Christmas display, the JMEXSUSS LED Indoor String Lights have eight lighting modes, including twinkling, chasing, slow fade, and more. During testing, we found the lights to be warm, cozy, and bright, despite having smaller-than-usual bulbs. We also liked that the strand’s wires were clear and thin, which made them virtually invisible at night. 

These Christmas lights are 43 feet long in total, but it’s important to note that only 33 feet of the wire are lit—there’s a generous lead wire that’s 10 feet long (the longest we tested). To change the lighting effect, you simply press a button on the plug, so you have to stay nearby the lights to control them, unlike a smart option that is controlled from your smartphone. Keep in mind that you’re not able to connect multiple strands, so these are best for small spaces or mini trees.

Bulb Type: LED | Bulb Shape: Not listed | Length: 43 feet | Maximum Connected Strands: N/A

Closeup of Christmas tree branches lit with JMEXSUSS LED Indoor String Lights

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Compare

Brightness Ease of Use Quality Length Overall Value
Wintergreen Lighting 5mm LED Christmas Lights
Best Overall:
Wintergreen Lighting LED Christmas Lights
5 5 5 4 5
Home Accents Holiday 100-Light LED Mini Warm White String Lights
Best Budget:
Home Accents Holiday LED Mini Warm White String Light
4 5 3 4 4
GE Energy Smart Colorite Miniature LED 100-Light Set
Best White:
GE Colorite Miniature LED Light Set
5 5 5 4 5
Pro Christmas T5 Smooth LED Christmas Lights
Best Colored:
Pro Christmas T5 LED Christmas Lights
4 5 5 4 4
MZD8391 105FT 300LEDs Christmas Lights
Best for Christmas Trees:
MZD8391 Christmas Lights
5 5 4 5 5
Holiday Essence LED Mini Christmas Lights
Best Professional-Grade:
Holiday Essence LED Mini Christmas Lights
4 5 5 3 3
NOMA C6 LED Christmas Lights
Best Large Bulb:
NOMA LED Christmas Lights
3 5 4 4 4
Twinkly App-Controlled LED Christmas Lights
Best Smart:
Twinkly LED Christmas Lights
5 3 5 5 4
JMEXSUSS LED Indoor String Lights
Best Lighting Effects:
JMEXSUSS LED Indoor String Lights
4 5 4 5
Final Verdict

Our top pick for indoor Christmas lights is the Wintergreen Lighting 5mm LED Red and White Christmas Lights, which blew away the competition in terms of their brightness and quality. They’re available in several color schemes, and each strand is 24 feet long with 70 extra-bright bulbs (other options available). If you’re looking to really step up your display, the Twinkly LED String Lights are a smart option that's worth checking out.

How We Tested the Indoor Christmas Lights

Our search for the best indoor Christmas lights began with weeks of research on the best brands and lighting products. Then, the actual testing process occurred over two days. We first unpacked each strand and took note of how many (if any) spare bulbs and fuses were included in the packaging. From there, we sorted the lights into groups—white lights, colored lights, large bulbs, etc.—and set up the strands side-by-side. For some of the lighting products, we could simply plug them in, but other more high-tech options required syncing with her phone.

Once each group was set up, we compared the different lights, picking out which ones were the brightest and most colorful in each group. We left them plugged in for several hours during the day to see if they got warm to the touch at all. Next, we strung the lights up on an artificial Christmas tree, evaluating each product's brightness and overall appearance both during the day and at night. Once we selected the top products from each group, we then compared the "winners" to each other to further narrow down our favorites.

Hand holding phone with Twinkly App displayed on screen in front of lit Christmas tree

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

What to Look for in Indoor Christmas Lights

Bulb Type

The expert we spoke to recommends LED Christmas lights, which offer several benefits over incandescent options. “Incandescent lights are the traditional Christmas lights that we grew up with—they produce visible light by heating a wire filament until it glows," explains Lance Allen, Decorative Holiday Merchant at The Home Depot, "and while they are initially more wallet-friendly than LED lights, they do use up to 80 percent more energy.” 

On the other hand, Allen says that LED bulbs last 20 times longer than traditional lights and use up to 80 percent less energy. “They also come in a wider variety of colors than traditional incandescent bulbs.” He explains that LED lights stay cool to the touch, which is safer when you’re stringing them on a live tree. All of the options on this list are LED bulbs.

Bulb Shape

There are several bulb shapes commonly used for Christmas lights, with T5 mini lights being the most popular as seen in our best budget pick, the Home Accents Holiday 100-Light Mini LED Warm White String Lights. This classic, elongated shape offers a nostalgic vibe for many people, as it’s designed to resemble traditional incandescent bulbs and offers a mid-level brightness that’s ideal for indoor displays. 

If you want your decorations to really pop, 5mm conical lights are a similar size but brighter than T5 bulbs seen in our best overall pick, as their concave tips help to magnify the light. They are a bit more square than the classic teardrop T5 bulbs. For a bolder display, you can also opt for larger specialty bulbs, including C6 or C7 bulbs, which have a teardrop shape, like our best large bulb option, the Noma C6 LED Christmas Lights. These are ideal for large spaces and larger displays, including oversized Christmas trees, tall staircases, and big mantles.

Rectifiers

One common complaint about LED Christmas lights is that they flicker ever so slightly, often creating a subtle strobing effect that can bother your eyes. This happens because 60Hz LED lights technically cycle on and off 60 times per second. We found this to be an issue with our best budget pick, the Holiday Essence 60 LED Mini Christmas Lights, so we'd stay away if you're sensitive. If the strobing bothers you, you may want to opt for string lights with full-wave rectifiers, like the Pro Christmas T5 Smooth LED Christmas Lights, which speed up the flickering so it isn’t visible to the eye. 

Special Effects

There are plenty of basic, no-frills Christmas lights available today, but if you want to create a more complex display, you may prefer a set of lights with special features. Common features include various light effects, such as twinkling, built-in timers, color-changing abilities, like the JMEXSUSS 33ft 100 LED String Lights, which have our favorite lighting effects, or even smart capabilities, like our best smart option, Twinkly LED String Lights, which has remote operation from your phone.

FAQ
  • How do you hang indoor Christmas lights?

    There are several ways you can hang indoor Christmas lights. The simplest option is to put small nails along the wall where you want the lights, then drape the wire over them. Alternatively, some people opt to use cup hooks, which are ideal if you’re hanging lights from the ceiling, or Command hooks, which won’t cause damage to your wall. 

  • Can you use outdoor Christmas lights on an indoor tree?

    When Christmas lights are UL-certified for outdoor use, it means that the strand won’t burn out or cause a safety hazard if it gets wet. Always check the instructions on your lights to be extra safe, but you can typically use these lights indoors as well. 

  • Can indoor Christmas lights get wet?

    The majority of Christmas lights sold today are approved for both indoor and outdoor use, meaning they can be used even in wet conditions. (Note: Always check the labels and make sure that they are UL-certified to be sure.) However, if moisture gets into the bulb itself, it can cause rust or corrosion, which may shorten the lifespan of the bulb. To avoid this, you may want to opt for “professional-grade” string lights, which have a one-piece bulb and socket that water cannot get into.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Julia Fields a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more. Using expert recommendations, testing insights, and product research, she compiled a list of the best outdoor Christmas lights on the market, considering the durability, bulb shape, and performance of each pick.

Our Experts:

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. Chen, Liang, and Xiao-Wei Zhang. “Which Lamp Will Be Optimum to Eye? Incandescent, Fluorescent or LED Etc.” International Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 7, no. 1, 2014, pp. 163–68. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2014.01.30.

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