Hanging patio string lights is a beautiful and charming way to light spaces in and around your home, but it isn’t always clear how to set them up or what bulbs can be used with them. Let’s discuss how to hang patio lights and what makes different light bulbs better for different applications.

Hanging Patio Lights

Begin hanging patio stringers by choosing the surfaces or structures you will attach your lights onto, which are known as anchor points. These can include railings, trees, fences, walls, gazebos, and more. You can also create anchor points by staking poles or posts yourself.

If a string isn’t as long as you’d like, you can connect it end-to-end to more stringers. Strings have a maximum wattage rating, so you should always do the math beforehand to prevent exceeding it and causing issues. While connecting two strings together doubles the number of sockets, it does not change the maximum wattage rating. Choosing LED bulbs for your string lights often makes it easier to avoid exceeding the maximum wattage as they draw so little power compared to incandescents. LED bulbs are also more durable and less prone to breakage.

If you’re running lights in a precise pattern or across a wide space, you’ll need to use a guy line (or guy-wire) to help support the stringers. Light strings with suspended sockets commonly have eyelets above the sockets to run a guy line through. If your sting doesn’t have eyelets, you can use zip ties to attach it to the guy line.

For suggested patterns to hang your patio lights in or for more information on installing patio stringers, visit this How To Hang Patio Lights page from the Lighting Resources at 1000bulbs.com.

Bulb Bases, Sizes, and Shapes

Now that you have the string up, you need bulbs. If your sting doesn’t come with bulbs, you need to determine what base type the sockets are. 1000Bulbs carries patio stringers with three socket types: medium (E26), candelabra (E12), and intermediate (E17).

If you aren’t sure what base your bulb has, you can measure the base to check its size. Medium (E26) bases, considered the standard household size, have a diameter of 26 millimeters. Candelabra (E12) bases have a diameter of 12 millimeters, and intermediate (E17) bases measure 17 millimeters in diameter.

After you figure out what base type your patio stringer is compatible with, a good next step would be to decide what bulb shape you’d like. Many use LED or incandescent S14s in their patio lights. However, other shapes like A19s, globes, Edison bulbs, or chandelier bulbs provide distinct options that work well in stringers. Additionally, you can choose bulbs with a distinct look to customize your stringers’ look even further. Vintage LED filament bulbs are excellent for replicating the look of a classic bulb, for example.

While you’re choosing the shape and style of your bulbs, you will also need to pick the bulbs’ sizes. The larger the area you’re stretching your patio stringer across, the larger you’ll want your bulbs to be and the more spacing you’ll need between each bulb. On the other hand, smaller bulb sizes are ideal for lighting smaller spaces and you will not need much space between each bulb.

Bulb Certifications

While you are choosing the general look of the bulbs you want to use in your stringer, be sure that the bulbs are suitable for the environment you use them in. If you want to hang your lights outside in a spot where they will be directly hit by rain, a UL wet location certification is likely your best bet. For areas that are humid but not necessarily wet, damp location certified bulbs are great. In locations where your lights likely won’t come into contact with water or condensation at all, products that are UL listed for dry locations will do just fine. Keeping these certifications in mind and choosing your bulbs accordingly will make sure they last as long as possible and can be used safely in your chosen environment.

For help choosing string lights and bulbs that best suit your needs, call 1-800-624-4488 to speak with one of our lighting experts.