Learn How to Hang Outdoor String Lights ⋆ Love Our Real Life

Learn how to hang heavy duty outdoor string lights with this simple to follow tutorial!

Outdoor string lights add that special touch to make a backyard or any outdoor space perfect for dinner parties, hanging out around a fire pit, or just enjoying a regular night at home with family. Learn the best way to hang outdoor string lights for your home!

It's a simple DIY you definitely will not regret. Your outdoor space will be so inviting with your pretty string lights, you'll never want to leave.

Deck and patio with string lights at dusk with dog in background.

Winter seemed to linger far too long in Missouri this year! My husband and I managed to hang outdoor string lights recently, but nearly froze doing so. Seriously, we could only stay out for a few minutes at a time and had to keep coming in to warm our hands. BUT, they are up and when the weather decides to be kind, we are ready to enjoy our outdoor living space!

Outdoor light strands can get wet! SO our patio lights are safe year round!

Nothing says "relaxing outdoor living space" light like the ambiance of cafe' style string lights.

I'm much more inclined to pick a restaurant with a great patio on a nice day, aren't you? Alfresco dining is even better on a nice evening when the outdoor dining area has beautiful lighting.

In hopes of dining at home more often, I've attempted to create an outdoor space that we love. Of course, string lights were at the top of the list for making our outdoor area more inviting.

Time to gather the right tools for this fun project. Keep in mind these outdoor patio string lights are meant to be a permanent installation, for you to enjoy year round.

RELATED READING...Can Outdoor String Lights Get Wet?

SUBSCRIBE: Gain access to my free email series
"5 Secrets to a Happy Home"

SUPPLIES TO HANG OUTDOOR STRING LIGHTS:

Heavy Duty String Lights. My sister gave me the commercial grade lights I used, I believe from Home Depot or Lowe's. I couldn't find a link to this particular set, but I linked to commercial grade string lights that got fantastic reviews on Amazon.
Screw Eyes / Hooks. We picked ours up at Lowe's. But, I provided a link for your convenience. Just know you will have LOTS left over if you get the package I link to here. (You could also consider using cup hooks in lieu screw eyes and D ring clips. I just felt the D-ring clip made the patio lights seem more stable.)
D Ring clips.
Waterproof Outdoor Outlet with Remote. These are made for outdoor use and the easiest way to turn your lights on and off. (In my opinion this is a MUST as it makes using your lights so easy and convenient!)
If using long strands of light strings in open spaces connected to wood poles, pvc pipe, tree branches, etc., you may need to consider using guide wire and zip ties to hold your lights strings in place although I did not use these with this particular project.
Tape measure
Replacement bulbs (for just in case!)

How to Hang Outdoor String Lights on a Deck or Pergola:

1. Measure the Space to Determine How Many Lights You Will Need.

Get out your tape measure and determine the measurements of the space you are considering for your lights and see how that compares with how many feet of lights you have.

There are so many different options and different designs for the configurations of the string lights. Do what works for you and your space. We changed our minds several times, but in the end, we just went with what made the most sense for our deck.

If you have a challenging layout, you might find criss crossing your lights, or using a zig zag pattern helps to pull the look together. Straight lines with your strings of lights can also be a great option!

Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. In my opinion, draping the string lights with a little slack always adds a pretty touch.

Since my sister gifted the lights to us, I knew we had a total of 48 feet of cord to work with (2 sets of 24 ft lights). In some ways, being "limited" made it easier as we knew exactly the length we were working with.

Commercial grade string lights approved for wet locations in yellow box.

We had enough length to string them from the wooden posts and around the majority of the deck perimeter. We did the same configuration on our covered patio which is just below our deck.

Ensure a power source / electrical outlet is conveniently located to the starting point of your string lights when you are determining your configuration.

You could always use an outdoor extension cord if needed if you are struggling to start hanging your lights at the exact point of your power outlet.

2. Screw the Screw Eye hooks into place.

Hanging string lights without the use of nails is my preference. Screw hooks are more durable!

We opted to put up screw hooks for the mounting points to fasten the lights into place every 4 to 5 bulbs. Our home sits up fairly high and gets A LOT of strong wind gusts. So, I was concerned the bulbs could potentially break if they were not secured well.

There have been several storms since we've put our lights up and this appears to work well for our location.

PRO TIP: Use a drill to start the hole (pilot hole) prior to screwing in the screw hooks. Makes the process a lot easier and keeps the wood from potentially cracking or splitting!

Package of screw eye hooks with one laying on a wooden table.

I highly recommend getting the heavy duty commercial grade lights. They are made to withstand the elements! With most commercial-grade string lights, the bulbs are spaced every 24 inches. At the top of every bulb there is a molded loop to making hanging easier.

Close up of molded loop used when hanging commercial grade string lights.

3. Connect the Molded Loop to the Screw Hook using a D-ring Clip.

Process of connecting molded loop to screw eye hook when hanging outdoor string lights.

Thankfully the bulbs aren't in during the hanging process, so that makes it much easier. No worries about accidentally breaking a bulb!

4. Screw the Bulbs into Place

Outdoor string lights on deck during winter months.

5. Attach Lights to Outdoor Wireless Remote Control Weatherproof Outlet

This may be one of my favorite things about the outdoor lights!

Farmhouse style hooks with rubber band holding remote controls for outdoor string lights.

If you are going through the trouble to hang outdoor string lights you will definitely want to add an outdoor remote control outlet so you have the convenience of turning your lights on from inside your home.

This great way to help you use your cafe lights any time you'd like, even if the weather doesn't allow you to go out on the back patio or deck space.

We hang our remote controls by our deck door. It makes it super easy to turn on the lights when we are looking for a little ambiance. If something is convenient, you are sure to use it more!

Outdoor string lights attached to outdoor remote to allow turning lights on from indoors.

Other tips for hanging string lights

Take the glass bulbs out BEFORE hanging. You don't want to deal with broken bulbs!
If hanging your string lights on stucco, you will need to use wall anchors specific to stucco.
Get an assistant to help. Even having one of your kiddos help out by handing you items can make this process go a lot quicker!

Outdoor spaces that are perfect for string lights

Deck
Patio
Pergola
Connected from a tree to a house
Free standing poles with attached string lights in the backyard
Fence rope lighting
Lights wrapped around an outdoor tree for beautiful dinner ambiance in your outdoor space.
Above a fire pit

Frequently asked questions

What are festoon lights and how do you hang festoon lights outside?

Festoon lights are simply cafe style or party lights just as I've described above! You hang them following the tips outlined above!

What is the best way to hang outdoor string lights?

In my opinion, the steps I included above are simple, safe, and sturdy. So, sounds like the best way to me! Keep in mind the space you are considering hanging lights will determine the exact approach you will take.

How do you hang outdoor string lights without nails?

As per above, using screw eye hooks is perfect for hanging lights to make them hold up to outdoor elements.

I hope I've answered your questions so you can get started with your lights!

You guys should have seen our west-facing deck before it got a major makeover. We went from avoiding it completely, to being outside any chance we get!

Dusk view of covered deck with string lights and a tabletop fire bowl on teak table.

It's the perfect time to give your home a little curb appeal! Get ideas for front yard landscaping as well as what to avoid with your landscaping project!

What projects are you working on currently? I'd love to hear about them!