3 Best Christmas Tree Lights of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Tested by Brigitt Earley

If you don't have an artificial Christmas tree already studded with twinkling lights, you'll need your own strands to make your spruce shine. And there are options abound, from traditional warm white or multi-colored bulbs to more modern mini LEDs and smart lights that can be controlled with your phone or a home assistant like Alexa.

The best options on the market are user-friendly (read: they don't readily tangle and illuminate in seconds), can be connected to other strands to fill your tree, plus have plenty of bulbs that shine brightly for hours on end without getting hot to the touch.

To help you find these convenient and attractive options, we put eight of the most popular and well-rated Christmas tree lights on the market to the test in side-by-side comparisons to find the best indoor lights for your Christmas tree.

How We Tested

Our editorial team is constantly evaluating seasonal decor, including artificial Christmas trees and string lights for both indoor and outdoor use. During our most recent round of testing, we selected eight of the top-selling warm white and multi-colored lights for Christmas trees.

During initial intake, we recorded all kinds of data points: bulb type and shape, length, spacing between lights, plus any manufacturer claims surrounding things like weatherproofing and how many hours the lights are meant to last over their lifespan. We then laid all of the strands out side-by-side for easy visual comparison, noting differences in color and brightness, plus assessing each for ease of use and any issues during setup.

Finally, we strung the most promising options onto a seven-foot unlit artificial Christmas tree to see how well the strings wrap around the branches, plus how they look when turned on (during both the day and the evening). We also disassembled each strand to determine how easy each one was to pack up and store.

What to Consider When Buying Indoor Christmas Lights

LED or Incandescent: "For energy savings, safety and longevity, LED lights are better," says Docia Boylen, owner of Handyman Connection in Golden, Colorado. "However, some people prefer the glow traditional incandescent lights give off." LED lights can use 80 percent less energy than traditional lights, she says, adding that LED lights can last over 25,000 hours, whereas traditional bulbs only last about 1,000 hours. LED lights also remain cool to the touch, reducing fire risks, she says.

Strand Length: "The rule of thumb is 100 lights per foot of tree height," says Dara Greaney, Founder and CEO of LEDLightExpert.com. "For a six-foot tree, you'll want around 600 lights." As for bulb spacing, it really depends on the effect you're after. "Closer spacing (two to three inches between bulbs) gives you that bold, densely lit look," she says. "For a more subtle and softer glow, go for wider spacing, like four to six inches."

Color: Indoor Christmas lights come in all different colors, but the most popular tend to be warm white and multi-colored. There are also smart options available today that provide users with a wide range of options — as many as 16 million colors that remain steady, blink, glow and more — that can be easily changed via a compatible app or even a household assistant like Alexa.

Bulb Shape: Christmas lights also come in a wide variety of bulb shapes, though you may be most familiar with the C7, C9, or M5 mini bulbs that have the traditional tapered shape. Today, conical styles like 5MM are increasingly popular, as are G12 bulbs that more closely resemble cafe lights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you leave Christmas lights plugged in overnight?

It's always a good idea to shut your Christmas tree lights off before you leave the house or retire for the night. Most package instructions recommend this, plus advise customers to only use lights on well-maintained and watered trees that have not dried out. Incandescent lights in particular require more caution, says Greaney. "These bulbs can get quite hot if left on for too long, so it's smart to use a timer that'll shut the lights off after a few hours," she says. "With LED lights, it's pretty safe to leave them plugged in overnight, since they don't generate much heat and are built for long hours of use."

How long do indoor Christmas lights last?

The lifespan of indoor Christmas lights depends on the type of bulb — LED versus incandescent — plus usage. In general, LED lights tend to be more durable and last longer than incandescent lights. Incandescent lights typically have lifespans of a couple thousand hours of continuous use — enough to get you through one or two holiday seasons, says Greaney. According to the brands, the LED lights we evaluated have a much greater usable lifespan of 25,000 to 75,000 hours, which Greaney says could see you through as many as 10 seasons.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Brigitt is a writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience at premier lifestyle publications and is one of Muck Rack's most popular freelance journalists. She specializes in creating SEO and e-commerce content in a wide range of coverage areas and regularly evaluates consumer products, including Christmas trees and Christmas tree lights. Brigitt generally gravitates toward warm white styles for her own tree, but was highly impressed by GE's colored lights during the testing process.

Why You Should Trust HGTV Shopping Experts

HGTV Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are not tested in sterile laboratory settings that don't mimic real life. Instead, we test products in real homes that reflect our readers' real lives, which can also include pets, kids, partners and more. We follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing our top picks, we evaluate all of our testing data and take into consideration many factors, including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. Our goal is to choose the best products for our readers.