The Ultimate Christmas Lights Checklist for 2023

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Christmas is just around the corner, and this year, 1000Bulbs can help make this holiday season the best and brightest. We know that creating a beautiful lighting setup can seem daunting, but fear not! We’ve put together a brief overview covering everything about outdoor Christmas lights and accessories to help you create a fantastic light setup, and you can do it all on your own.

Step 1: Deciding on the Perfect Lighting Locations

The first step to building a beautiful lighting setup is to decide where you want your lights. From roof lines to trees to driveways, each location has a light that works best for your specific situation. Take some time to envision your ideal Christmas light display and plan accordingly.

Step 2: Measuring for Success

Once you have decided on the locations for your lights, it’s important to measure so you can determine how many feet of outdoor Christmas lights you will need to cover each area. This will help you ensure that you have enough lights to create the look you desire.

Be sure to double-check your measurements for accuracy. While measuring by hand is the tried-and-true method, there are some tools that you can make the job easier:

• Digital tape measure

• Laser tape measure

• Using Google Street View

• Using roof measurement apps

Step 3: Choosing the Right Stringers and Spools

Now that you have your total feet, you will need to decide what type of strings to use. Stringers and spools are the most common lights used for outdoor holiday lighting. They do not come with bulbs, allowing for a fully customized setup.

Most installations use 25, 50, or 100-foot stringers. 25-foot stringers can be plugged end-to-end with male and female plugs. 50 and 100-foot stringers only have male plugs and are designed to be cut down to the specific length you need.

Spools have no plugs and come in 500 or 1000-foot lengths. You can fully customize the length and add male and female plugs as needed. They are best suited for covering longer distances.

Decorating Tip: Keep some extra stringers on hand in case you need them. They can be useful if you make a mistake cut a string down, miss-measured an area, or need to replace a bad string.

Step 4: Pick Your Wire Type

You will also need to decide what type of wire you’ll be using. Stringers and spools are available with either SPT-1 or SPT-2 wire. The main distinction is the thickness of the insulation. In most cases, SPT-1 wire is sufficient. It’s suitable for nearly all environments and is a great choice if your lights will only be in use during the holiday period. SPT-2 wire is only needed if you reside in an exceptionally harsh environment or if you intend to keep your Christmas lights up year-round.

Step 5: Bulb Basics

The next step is to choose what size and type of bulbs to use. The most common bulb sizes used for Christmas lights are C9 and C7s. C9 bulbs are the larger, more traditional bulbs used for roof lines and fences due to their visibility. These bulbs have an intermediate E17 base. C7 bulbs are slightly smaller and ideal for lining windows, pathways, and other areas that don’t need a larger bulb. These light bulbs have a candelabra E12 base, the same a nightlight and chandelier bulbs used in your house. Both are available in incandescent and LED options.

LED or Incandescent Lights?

C7 and C9 bulbs are available in incandescent and LED options. For a traditional Christmas look, opt for incandescent bulbs. They are the traditional Christmas lights, bringing warmth and cheer to any setup. Keep in mind, however, that there is a limitation on how many incandescent bulbs can be used on a single circuit. Incandescent Christmas lights typically use between 5 to 7 watts, so you will need to pay close attention to your wattage to avoid overloading your circuits.

 If your setup requires longer runs or if you just want to keep your energy costs down, go with LED bulbs. With their lower wattage, you can safely use three to four times more LED bulbs than incandescent without overloading your circuits. These energy efficient bulbs are available in warm white and smooth opaque colors that closely match the look of incandescent bulbs, letting you enjoy the traditional look you grew up with. Plus, unlike incandescent bulbs that are made of glass, LED bulbs are made from durable polycarbonate that can withstand the wear and tear of the holidays.

Step 6: Beyond the Stringers and Spools

Your arrangement doesn’t have to be limited to just stringers and spools. There is a diverse range of Christmas light strings available for different areas around your home. LED and incandescent mini string lights are great for outlining windows and doorways. Icicle lights can be hung beneath C7 and C9 stringers to adorn roofs and fences. Net lights provide consistent illumination for bushes. Contractor packs of pre-rolled mini LED lights are perfect for swiftly wrapping trees, columns, and posts.

Mini LED Christmas Lights

Incandescent Mini Christmas Lights

Icicle Lights

Net Lights

Contractor Packs

Decorating Tip: When it comes to wrapping lights, we advise maintaining closely packed spacing to ensure a higher density of lights per square inch.

Twinkly RBG Christmas Lights

For those who want their display to truly stand out, check out our wide range of Twinkly products. New for the 2023 season, Twinkly string lights feature LED RGB bulbs that produce over 16 million colors. They are controlled by the Twinkly app that allows you to quickly map each individual LED, then create custom effects, color combinations, and animations. They are the premier, customizable LED Christmas lights.

Step 7: Installing with Ease

Now that you have all your lights, it’s time to hang them. Hanging Christmas lights can be a bit tricky, but 1000Bulbs offers a variety of mounting clips and stakes that make installation a breeze. From roof ridge clips to gutter clips, or to adhesive clips for your windows, our mounting clips ensure your string lights stay straight without sagging or falling.

Mounting stakes are perfect for lining driveways, paths, and more. Simply attach your light strings and push the stake into the ground. Their slim design and black finish won’t detract from your light display.

Step 8: Essential Accessories

Don’t forget to stock up on the essential accessories. Keeping extra bulbs on hand for replacements is a must. Extension cords will ensure your lights have power, but make sure that they are outdoor rated and long enough to reach your lights. Learn more about finding the right extension cords by reading this blog post. You can also use bulk wire and vampire plugs to create your own custom extension cords that are easier to conceal.

Cord protectors snap over cord connections to provide added protection against rain and snow. Timers allow you to set start and stop times for your outdoor Christmas lights, ensuring you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off in the morning. Like extension cords, you will need to make sure that any times used outside are outdoor rated. Outdoor power outlet stakes provide additional outlets and built-in timers, making it easier to prove power to your Christmas lights and other holiday decorations.

Outdoor Extension Cord

Bulk Wire & Plugs

Cord Protector

Outdoor Christmas Light Timer

Power Outlet Stake

Expert Help Just a Call Away

If at any point you have questions or need help finding the right Christmas lights and accessories, give us a call at 1-800-624-4488. Our US-based lighting experts are ready to help and walk you through the entire process.

Remember, with a little planning and the right products, you can create a stunning and memorable Christmas lighting display that will make your home the talk of the neighborhood. Happy decorating!

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