The most wonderful time of the year is upon us again — Christmas is coming!
The most joyous holiday of the year is an opportunity to spend time with family and make your home look festive. You can even put Christmas decorations together to get in the holiday spirit.
But, the more lights you hang, the higher your electricity bill will be. Christmas lights waste energy, disrupt ecosystems of nocturnal wildlife and wash out the stars in the sky.
Instead, consider using solar Christmas decorations. LED lights use up to 80% solar energy. By using solar decorations, you’ll have a lower electricity bill and can enjoy the holiday guilt-free.
Here’s a selection of my favorite solar Christmas decorations.
6 Best Solar Christmas Decorations to Put You in the Holiday Spirit
1. ILOVERD Garden Solar Light Metal Snowman/Santa Claus/Reindeer Yard Stakes
Product Specifications:
- Waterproof Rate: IP65
- Working hours 8 to 10
- Charging time 6 to 8 hours
- Dimensions 11.69 x 7.36 x 5.16 inches
- 3 AAA batteries required
My choice #1 for solar outdoor Christmas decorations is a snowman, Santa Claus, and reindeer pack.
I love that these aren’t made of plastic but stainless steel metal. This means it’s extremely durable, and you’ll be able to use the solar decorations for years to come. They are hand-painted, which means attention to detail is guaranteed.
Each of the solar lamps has a star-shaped LED light that will light up your garden at night. The lights automatically turn on at dusk and provide 8 to 10 hours of illumination.
The light is soft and warm, just bright enough without disturbing the neighbors and nocturnal animals.
The two-pronged base stake keeps the solar decoration stable. You don’t have to worry about how it’ll hold up in windy conditions.
2. MAGGIFT Solar Hanging Ball Lights with Umbrella Clips
Product Specifications:
- Dimensions 2.4″ L x 2.4″ W x 5.3″
- 1 x AAA NI-MH rechargeable battery
- Working hours 6 to 8 hours
- IP44 waterproof solar panel
These solar hanging balls are an excellent Christmas decor because they can be used individually. They aren’t connected to a string, but you can place each ball whenever you like — put them on a tree, your porch, fence, bird feeding station, and more.
They come equipped with a clip, so it’s easy to attach them.
You’ll get 8 solar balls in the package. I was wowed with the design — there’s a crackled glass ball cover that looks elegant, and it’s weather-resistant. These will last for a long time, as each ball has a stainless steel top with a waterproof solar panel built into the lid.
The balls are RGB LED, and they alternate between four colors — red, green, yellow, and blue.
The crackled glass makes the colors look nice, and they provide enough light without being too strong.
3. Vosaro Outdoor Solar Christmas Tree Lights
Product Specifications:
- 600mAh large capacity battery
- 8 F5 RGB lamp beads
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 8 to 12 hours working time
Nothing says Christmas more than Christmas trees. Now you can have them light up your garden in an eco-friendly way.
These solar Christmas trees are made from premium ABS material, and they simulate pine and cypress leaves. The 8 lamp beads are wrapped around the tree for an eye-catching appearance.
The lamps are colorful, which adds to the festive atmosphere, but they aren’t so strong as to cause light pollution or disrupt nocturnal wildlife, which is a big plus.
This solar Christmas tree comes with a solar panel and 600mAh battery, which is enough to make it last for 8 to 12 hours when fully charged.
This is more than most other solar decorations.
The trees have two modes — on and off. Simply toggle the switch at the bottom of the tree to turn them on. I liked that there’s no need for any additional batteries. As long as they are placed in a sunny location, you’re all set.
4. Vintage Truck Christmas Garden Stake with Solar Lights
Product Specifications:
- Dimensions: 12″W x 2-1/2″D x 21-1/2″H
- 4-inch stake
- 6 to 8 hours working time
I heard about this Christmas solar light from a friend. When she told me she got a solar Christmas truck for her garden, my first thought was — a truck? That’s not very Christmassy.
Boy, was I wrong!
All it took was one look, and I was ordering it for myself.
The Christmas truck has a vintage look that will give a farmhouse feel to your yard. The red color is Christmas-appropriate, and the distressed finish makes it resemble galvanized metal.
The faux tree and pinecones are well-made.
The truck has solar headlights, which will light up your yard, and the decorations give a holiday look.
5. SOWSUN Outdoor Solar Light Christmas Decorations
Product Specifications:
- 1 AA batteries required
- Waterproof solar panel
- 8 working hours
If you’re tired of all the traditional Christmas decorations, such as Santas, bulbs, and Christmas trees, here’s something different — a cross. This can also be used as cemetery decoration.
This faux floral cross has a large poinsettia in the center, decorated with pine cones, holly leaves, and berries. If you’re looking for a way to honor the memory of your loved one, this could be your best choice.
You can stake the cross at a grave city or put it in your garden if you’re a fan of more somber decor while still maintaining the holiday spirit.
It features a waterproof solar panel and will illuminate the yard all night long, as long as you place it under direct sunlight during the day. You’ll have a calming warm light that turns on automatically at night.
6. Exhart Solar Garden Stake Lights
Product Specifications:
- 4″ W x 34″ H
- 1 AA batteries required
- 8 working hours
Nothing will make your yard look more magical than a glowing angel. This acrylic angel has an elegant design. It sits atop a sturdy brushed metal stake.
The acrylic construction and a metal stake will help it sit securely and withstand all weather conditions.
The angel has 12 solar LED lights in its wings, which give out a warm, white glow. The statue lights up on its own every evening without any work needed from you.
The elegant design looks fragile and will wow all visitors to your home with its crystal-like appearance.
It’s an excellent choice for Christmas decor, but you can use it for other holidays as well, even year-round.
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Solar Christmas Decorations Buyers’ Guide
Here’s everything you should know about buying solar Christmas decorations, as well as all the reasons why you should take the plunge and go solar.
Working Hours Vs. Charging Hours
The first thing you should consider when buying solar Christmas lights is how long they charge and how long they will stay on.
The typical charging time of solar lights is 6 to 10 hours. This varies, depending on the amount of solar radiation throughout the day.
Keep in mind, the number of hours solar lights need to charge according to the manufacturer’s specification are hours of full direct sunlight. In case there are clouds, the solar panel won’t charge as efficiently.
My advice is to get lights that take fewer hours to get fully charged. In this case, even if there are cloudy weather conditions, there’s a higher chance of your solar lights reaching full charge.
As for the working hours, this represents the hours during which your lights will be lit up. This depends if the battery was capable of getting fully charged or not.
Choose a solar light with a realistic working time, and keep in mind that if the suggested charging time is 10 to 12 hours, you’ll likely need two days for the lights to get fully charged, which means you won’t have a lit-up garden every night.
Pro Tip: If you don’t charge the battery to its full capacity several times, this can badly affect its performance in the future.
Color and shape
Think about the aesthetics, especially when shopping for solar Christmas decorations.
Lights come in many versions. I’ve listed some solar lights that have up to 7 colors. On the other hand, some solar lights are white or soft yellow. Decide if you’re going for a colorful ambiance, which is often associated with Christmas, or if you want something more elegant and more understated, such as one-color lights, which can also be used on other occasions.
As for the shapes, the most common Christmas options are trees, snowmen, snowflakes, crystal balls, and more. It’s a matter of preference.
All Weather Durability
Manufacturers will give a rating to their products. This is usually IPXY, where Y stands for protection from water, and X is protection against dust particles.
Most solar lights won’t be affected by snow and rain, as they are made to last for a long time in these conditions. But, to be on the safe side, check the manufacturer’s rating for outdoor use.
Lighting Modes
One final thing to consider is the lighting modes. Many solar Christmas lights will have two modes — steady and flashing.
However, some solar lights can have other options, such as waves, twinkles, combinations, fading, and so on. All of these will add a different atmosphere to your garden or yard.
If you want to stand out, go for a solar Christmas light with as many lighting options as possible.
Why Should You Go for Solar Christmas Decorations?
Environmentally-Friendly
Solar Christmas decorations are safe for the environment. I’ve already mentioned how they will help you lower your electricity bill.
That’s not all. Solar lights won’t leak any pollutants into the air or leach them into the ground.
Moreover, they are more durable compared to traditional lights. This means you won’t have to replace them as often, and you’ll be sending a lower number of light strings to the landfills.
Convenience
Solar Christmas decorations are, in most cases, extremely easy to install. Simply place the stick in the soil, or in the case of bulbs, use a clip to hang them wherever you like.
You don’t have to worry about cords and wires, nor how far away the lights are from the closest electric plug.
Also, in case of a power outage, these can serve as emergency lights. You won’t be left stranded in the dark.
Safe to Use
Solar decorations are also safe. I mentioned how you won’t have to fear the proximity to the closest eclectic outlet. This also means there’s no need for extensions that can be dangerous.
No wires and cords are also important if you have little children or pets, which can trip and fall or cause a fire. Solar decorations won’t harm them.
Finally, they don’t get overheated, so the fire risk is zero.
Cost-Effective
One final reason why you should go for solar Christmas decorations is because they are cost-effective. Solar lights use free energy — the sunlight.
An average user spends $10.00 per 300 hours of traditional Christmas lighting, so solar decoration will end up saving you a ton of money.
Yes, they can be expensive upfront, especially more high-quality decorations. However, when you think about the electricity bill, you’ll have to pay, and this ends up being more than paying off.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where to buy solar-powered Christmas decorations for the outside?
You can buy solar-powered Christmas decorations for the outside on Amazon. Amazon offers an endless selection of solar Christmas decorations.
Do solar Christmas lights really work?
Yes, solar lights really work. As long as you place them under direct sunlight so they can be fully charged, your solar lights will work all night long.
What is the most popular Christmas decoration?
Most popular Christmas decorations include garlands, candles, Christmas trees, ribbons, poinsettias, wreaths, and more.
Do solar Christmas lights work in winter?
Yes, solar Christmas lights work in winter, as long as they get enough sunlight to charge the battery so it can function.
Where should solar lights be placed in the yard?
Solar lights should be placed so they are visible. You want to show off your Christmas decorations. You should also place them so they won’t get in the way.
Can you charge solar lights without the sun?
Yes, solar lights can be charged without direct sunlight using artificial light sources such as incandescent or LED bulbs. However, this method is less efficient compared to charging with sunlight. The intensity and proximity of the artificial light to the solar panel will affect the charging effectiveness.
My Recommended Solar Christmas Decoration
The ILOVERD Garden Solar Light set, featuring a snowman, Santa Claus, and reindeer, is my top pick for solar Christmas decorations. These aren’t your typical plastic adornments; they’re crafted from durable stainless steel and meticulously hand-painted, ensuring longevity and attention to detail.
What sets these apart is their star-shaped LED lights. They cast a soft, warm glow, bright enough to enchant without disturbing. Automatically lighting up at dusk, they promise 8 to 10 hours of illumination, effortlessly creating a magical atmosphere in your garden.
Installation is a breeze, thanks to the stable two-pronged base, making them perfect for any outdoor space. Plus, their solar-powered nature means they’re as eco-friendly as they are charming.
For those seeking durable, beautiful, and environmentally conscious holiday decorations, these solar lights are unmatched. Their quality, ease of use, and gentle lighting make them the best choice for festive outdoor decor.
