We Tested Some Outdoor LED Strip Lights—Here Are the Brightest Picks

Outdoor LED strip lights are incredibly easy to install and, with the right placement, their inviting glow can transform patios and walkways, illuminating them subtly while adding a magical feel. To separate the best from the rest, we researched dozens of brands of strip lights and then selected five for hands-on testing in our own backyards. After testing them, we found a favorite: a set of waterproof Govee strip lights that were easy to install and capable of being controlled remotely via app or smart-home voice control. 

Outdoor LED lights are affordable and versatile. They don’t require an electrician or extra wiring to set up. Most come with adhesive backing or a clip option. Some require access to an outlet, while others are solar or powered by batteries. In short, they’re simple, affordable, and impactful. Ahead, find shopping tips and learn how the following models earned a spot on our list of the best outdoor LED strip lights. 

1. BEST OVERALL: Govee Wi-Fi RGBIC Outdoor LED Strip Lights
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Daybetter Waterproof LED Light Strips
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3. BEST BATTERY: Xyop Battery-Operated RGB LED Light Strip
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4. BEST SOLAR: Echosari Outdoor Solar Strip Lights
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5. BEST FOR ENTERTAINING: Energizer Multicolor Sound Reactive LED Light Strip
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6. BEST WHITE: HitLights Outdoor Single-Color LED Strip Lights
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7. BEST ADDRESSABLE: Alitove RGB Addressable 12V LED Strip Lights
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8. ALSO CONSIDER: Surnie 150-Foot Waterproof Dimmable LED Strip Light
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Outdoor LED Strip Lights Comparison

Our Top Picks

Add easy-to-install, customizable, and entertaining lighting to any outdoor space with the help of one of these outdoor LED strip lights. 

Our Ratings

These lights from Govee are our top pick because their mix of reliability and user-friendly features is exactly what many shoppers want in an outdoor LED strip light. This smart light strip is Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi–enabled, so it’s controllable directly through the company’s proprietary app as well as Alexa and Google Assistant. The Govee Home app was easy to download and sync with the lights (although you will need a 2.4 GHz network). 

We installed the Govee lights using their adhesive backing, which we found to be very strong. Clips are also included. The adhesive held flawlessly throughout our 3-week test, but if you plan to keep the lights up longer, it’s a good idea to reinforce them with clips.

We were able to choose from over 16 million color options and 64 preset modes that delivered dynamic light scenes. The strip was capable of displaying up to 15 colors at a time, and we liked that we could also select the level of brightness. These are high-quality strip lights that will last for months—or longer—if installed correctly, and the color selection means they’re suitable for year-round (not just holiday) use.

What our tester says: “I love not having to flip a switch—or even use the remote—to turn the Govee lights on. All I have to do is ask Alexa to turn them on since they’re smart-home compatible!”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Govee outdoor LED strip lights at Amazon or Govee. 

Our Ratings

Creating an illuminated outdoor spot that’s warm and inviting doesn’t require spending big bucks, and these lights from Daybetter prove it. We tested the super-affordable 16.4-foot option and found it to be bright, durable, and easy to install. 

This brand’s lights are adhesive-only, and we installed the strip just behind the lip of the arched trim on our garage door, cutting off the excess so that it fit perfectly. But take care to position the strip right where you want it the first time, because once you install it, if you pull it off, the adhesive won’t hold as well the next time. 

The remote control worked well during testing. We were able to turn the light strip on and off, select individual colors, or use a handful of presets. We also tried out the strobe effect, which some may find attractive, but we thought it was a little annoying. That’s just our personal preference, though.

The Daybetter strip lights are a great choice for parties and can also function well as a long-term lighting option. Considering their affordable price point, we think they’re a no-brainer for anyone on a tighter budget. 

Get the Daybetter LED strip lights at Amazon. 

Our Ratings

If you want to add some illumination to an outdoor spot but no electrical outlet is nearby, these battery-powered strip lights from Xyop might be the ticket.

We received two non-connectable 6.56-foot LED light strips, so we installed one on the pitch of our she-shed and the other on our wide front porch steps. These lights install via a strong adhesive backing, and they stayed firmly in place for our 3-week testing period. 

The Xyop strip lights feature in-line controls located in the cords near the battery pack, and we were able to select a single color or let the lights scroll through multiple colors. 

The upside of these lights is that they can be used anywhere—even in a remote location, such as a beach gathering. However, the downside is that we had to replace the three AAA batteries on both of the strips after a couple of weeks. Still, these strip lights offer a workable solution if you need to create an inviting, illuminating scene without an outlet. 

Get the Xyop outdoor LED strip lights from Amazon. 

Our Ratings

If you’re looking for remote convenience but you’re not keen on buying and replacing batteries, these Echosari strip lights might be right for you. They come with a solar panel that recharges the lights by day, so they light up at night. 

Opting to test the 32.8-foot strand, we installed these solar strip lights along the width of our garage. This size fit perfectly, but other lengths are available as well.

At first, we were concerned that the solar panel wouldn’t get enough light because the only spot available for it was in the gutter on the east side of the garage. We didn’t need to worry—even though the panel wasn’t in direct sunlight for more than about 4 hours a day, the strip lights came on and stayed on until the wee hours of the morning. 

The adhesive backing held the lights firmly in place during our 3-week testing phase, but clips are included if you want to create a longer-term look. 

What our tester says: “I really liked being able to put these lights anywhere without having to worry about being near an outlet. The remote control is an additional perk.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Echosari outdoor LED strip lights at Amazon. 

Our Ratings

If you’re looking for the convenience of Wi-Fi and smart-home operation but don’t want to pay what some of the other leading smart strip lights cost, check out the Energizer outdoor LED strip lights. Yes, that’s the brand that made the Energizer Bunny famous!

The only real difference we noticed between this set and fancier strip lights was the lack of adhesive backing on these. However, they come with clips, and clips offer the most long-lasting method of installation, even if it takes a bit longer. We tested these lights by winding them around the poles on our front porch and only clipping them at the top and bottom for stability. The clips held the lights securely in place throughout the 3 weeks of testing.

We downloaded the app, which synced with our network seamlessly. We were able to use the app to set colors and coordinate a pulsing effect to the beat of our music. That was pretty wild, making this strand of lights a good pick for outdoor parties. 

Get the Energizer outdoor LED lights at Amazon, Walmart, or Energizer.

More Great Options

While we didn’t personally test the following outdoor strip lights, they made our shortlist due to their waterproof ratings, flexible installation methods, and ease of use. 

For shoppers in search of white lights, it doesn’t make sense to fuss with a color-changing strand. Instead, these single-color lights from HitLights can just be set up and left alone. They come in a warm white color, though the brand also manufactures them in bright white for those who prefer that hue. 

This strip light measures 16.4 feet long—a length we personally prefer—but be sure to measure before you order, as some people prefer longer strips. These lights have a weather-resistance rating of IP67, so they can endure being submerged for short periods. We think these would be good for installing in landscape beds that may take on water. 

There are 600 LEDs per 16.4-foot strip, which is relatively dense, so it helps provide an overall bright look. This strand isn’t smart-enabled; it’s the simpler type that users can turn on and off as needed. A remote (not included) can be added for easier control, and users will likely also need to purchase a power supply since this set doesn’t come with one.

Get the HitLights outdoor LED strip lights at Amazon.

Addressable lights grant users more flexibility to set lighting colors and scenes. Instead of assigning a color to the whole strand, they make it possible for the user to control individual or small groups of lights independently. The Alitove RGB addressable 12V outdoor LED strip lights group three LEDs together in each section, and each section is individually controllable. 

To operate, users will need to connect the strip light to a compatible LED light controller (not included), such as a Raspberry Pi, Arduino, FadeCandy, or T1000S, among others. A downside for us is that the strip light does not connect directly to a smartphone like others on the market, so it requires more setup effort. The strand measures 16.4 feet long and has an IP65 rating. 

Get the Alitove outdoor LED strip lights at Amazon or Alitove.

While linking multiple light strands using connectors or soldering is possible, buying the right length is easier. At up to 150 feet in length, we think these LED lights from Surnie are perfect for users wanting to cover a lot of ground. 

With a thick PVC jacket, these are more like flat rope lights than LED strip lights, which are a bit thinner. Their thick coating helps with water resistance, giving the lights an IP65 rating. They still function like regular LED strip lights, as they are flexible and cuttable. 

The light is daylight white, though blue and warm white are also available. This strand isn’t smart-enabled, so it can’t change colors, but it is dimmable with the addition of a light dimmer (not included). It comes with an extra power adapter, which can be useful as a backup or to create a second light strand after cutting. 

Get the Surnie outdoor LED strip lights at Amazon.

How We Chose and Tested the Best Outdoor LED Strip Lights

In selecting the best strip lights for testing, we included several options with IP65 (or better) ratings. We were careful to select lights of varying lengths to suit different applications and prioritize those that are both easy to install and use. 

In our hands-on tests, we installed each light strip outdoors and spent the next 3 weeks noting how easy the strips were to operate, how durable they seemed, whether they came with added features, and how well they illuminated the area.

We awarded each set of lights points based on a rubric. The better it did on a test or assessment, the higher the points. After testing was complete, we averaged the scores and used them to determine our best overall pick and categorize the others for their best uses. 

What to Consider When Choosing Outdoor LED Strip Lights

There are plenty of LED strip lights out there, but how do you find the best option for your backyard lighting needs?

We spoke with Taylor Petrik, an electrical engineer at Professional Engineering Consultants, which has offices in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado, about these lights. He told us that build quality is important, especially when it comes to outdoor installations. “Look for LED strip lights from companies with a track record of making quality products they stand behind,” he says, “and look for fixtures rated for outdoor use with a weatherproof coating and an IP65 rating or greater.”

Waterproofing

Outdoor LED strip lights are designed for use in the great outdoors, which means they have some level of water resistance. Many outdoor LED strip lights have a silicone casing, which allows them to partially or completely resist water. This makes them a bit less flexible than their interior counterparts (which often don’t have a casing), but they can still be used in a range of installation settings. 

Like other exterior house lights, outdoor LED strip lights have an IP (Ingress Protection) rating, expressed as IP and then a two-digit number (for example, IP65). The first number refers to the protection against solid materials, like dust, on a scale up to 6. The second refers to the protection against liquids on a scale up to 9. Most outdoor LED strip lights are dust-tight (a 6 rating). 

Common water-resistance ratings can range from a 5, which means the light can handle jets of water, to an 8, which can handle immersion in water. Look for a rating depending on the planned installation location (for example, lights in a covered outdoor area can have a lower IP rating than those meant to be used underwater). 

Brightness, Color, and Color Temperature

Some of the best outdoor LED strip lights are smart lights, and like the best smart outdoor lights, they have brightness and color controls. These dimmable and color-changing options are typically not significantly more expensive, so the flexibility is well worth it for most shoppers. 

Lights that include a remote or link to a free app give users the ability to adjust the lighting’s warmth/coolness, brightness, and color. Sometimes these apps offer millions of colors to choose from on a color wheel. This feature is great for setting the atmosphere, whether it’s warm and dim exterior lighting for an outdoor dinner party or flashing colorful lights for a holiday display. 

Size

Just like their indoor counterparts, outdoor LED light strips come in varying lengths. To choose the right size for your needs, consider the planned installation area. Remember that LED strip lights must be plugged into a weather-resistant outlet, so account for the distance to the outlet when taking your measurements. 

Unlike the best string lights, many outdoor LED strip lights can’t easily connect to another strand, so users will want to plan their setup accordingly. Outdoor LED strip lights also lose their weather resistance if they’re cut. Cutting the string opens the casing and breaks the seal at the cut point, so it’s important for users to pay attention to the manufacturer’s directions when cutting LED lighting strips.

Ease of Installation

One of the biggest advantages of outdoor LED strip lights is that they are easy to install. Placement options include along roofs, railings, and fences, as well as around gazebos, trellises, or outdoor cabinetry. Users can install outdoor LED strip lights just about anywhere! 

Unlike hanging outdoor string lights, which can be heavy, LED strip lights are typically lightweight and often come with adhesive backing (3M adhesive is common) for easy installation. Even though they’re designed to be non-damaging, some adhesives can cause wood or paint to peel. Traditional mounting clips can also be used for those who prefer to avoid adhesives. Mounting clips may also be more reliable in areas exposed to a lot of water. 

Controls

While simple plug-in outdoor LED strip lights are available, many of today’s top options are smart. That means they connect to a smartphone using Wi-Fi and can be controlled through an app. Some also include small remote controls. 

A remote is a great option for less tech-savvy users, though it likely means the lights have fewer settings. Petrik mentions that it’s important for users to ensure the desired functionality pairs with the controls and that options with smart-home integration allow for on-demand control and remote access via Bluetooth or a home’s Wi-Fi through a smart hub.

FAQs

Installing and using the best LED light strip is fairly straightforward, even in outdoor settings. The finished display is often beautiful and flexible, with many lights offering brightness and color-changing settings. However, there might still be some questions about this popular lighting type. Read on for answers to frequently asked questions about outdoor LED strip lighting. 

Meet the Tester

Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.

Additional research provided by Jasmine Harding.

 

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