There are more types of Christmas lights out there than most people realize until they stand in front of a whole wall of them. Strings, bulbs, sizes, finishes, colors: the options multiply quickly, and the labels do not explain themselves. That is where this guide comes in.
With the right holiday lights, you can make your Christmas tree glow, your mantel glitter, and your home’s exterior shine. Light strings have come a long way since the first electric Christmas lights appeared in the 1880s, and today there is a bulb for every taste. St. Nick’s has you covered.
Types of Christmas Lights: A Helpful Holiday Guide
There are so many different types of Christmas lights available that something is guaranteed to suit your decorating vision. Narrowing it down is the hard part. The guide below breaks down all of your options, explaining everything from bulb type and size to finish and color. With our help and the massive selection of holiday lights for sale from St. Nick’s, you will be ready to light up your home with holiday spirit in no time at all.
LED vs. Incandescent Bulbs
Wondering how to choose between LED and incandescent Christmas lights? The decision mainly comes down to personal preference. Each type of bulb creates a unique look, and each comes with its own pros and cons.
Incandescent bulbs are:
- Ideal for a warm glow and the classic holiday lights look
- Less expensive up front
- More fragile, and will generally need to be replaced more often
- Usually associated with higher electricity usage, and higher electrical bills
LED bulbs are:
- Ideal for an extra-bright, brilliant shine
- Able to emit more light per bulb
- More durable, and less likely to need replacement
- More energy efficient, which can lower holiday electrical bills
The most obvious difference between incandescent and LED Christmas lights is their brightness and warmth. LED bulbs are brighter, with a cooler tone; incandescent lights have a warm tone but are not as bright. The gap is closing, though. Retro-style LED sets now mimic that vintage incandescent glow while still sipping power.
Christmas Lights Bulb Sizes
If you have ever been confused by the difference between C7 and C9 Christmas lights, or puzzled by the letters and numbers on various sets, you are not alone. The sizing system seems complicated at first, but once you learn the basics you can shop like a pro.
There are two standard sizes for classic Christmas bulbs:
- C7 bulbs measure about 2 cm wide and 3.5 cm tall
- C9 bulbs measure about 3 cm wide and 5 cm tall
You will also find round globe bulbs in a range of sizes: G8, G12, G20, G30, G40, G45, G50, and G80. The bigger the number, the bigger the ball of light.
Beyond that, you can find mini string lights, cascading lights, and a huge variety of novelty lights. If you prefer LED lights, there are also some unique sizes and shapes, like M5 LED lights, to choose from.
Christmas Light Bases
There are various types of bases for Christmas lights, but two are the most common by far:
- An E12 base is often called a “candelabra” base, and is the smaller of the two. This base size is paired with C7 bulbs.
- An E17 base is usually called an “intermediate” base, and is noticeably larger. This base size works with C9 bulbs.
The numbers refer to the width of each base in millimeters. In general, you only need to think about socket and base sizes when you are shopping for replacement bulbs for an existing strand.
Christmas Bulb Finishes
There are generally three surface finishes for holiday lights, and each brings its own character to your decor:
- Ceramic, opaque, or smooth bulbs disperse light evenly for a solid glow
- Transparent bulbs let the filaments or diodes show for a more traditional, even vintage-inspired look
- Faceted bulbs have a crystal-like surface for a beautifully sparkling effect
Christmas Light Colors
For many people, choosing colors for Christmas lights is one of the easiest holiday decor decisions of the season. Most of us gravitate toward certain colors based on personal style and taste.
From traditional to eclectic, there are holiday light colors for everyone:
- White and neutral holiday lights make a beautiful backdrop for a sophisticated winter wonderland. Options are organized by color temperature, measured in Kelvin (K):
- Bright white (4300-4600K)
- Warm or clear (3200-3500K)
- Champagne (2000-2300K)
- Colored lights are available in every shade of the rainbow. Whether you want a monochromatic look or something vivid and vibrant, playing with color is a fun way to get creative with your holiday decor.
- Multicolored lights combine several colors on a single strand. On some strands a basic pattern stays static, while others change colors according to their settings.
How to Pick the Best Christmas Lights for Your Home
Now that you know the different Christmas light types you can choose from, think about which options best suit your home and style.
Factors worth weighing include:
- Where you will hang the lights (outdoors, on your Christmas tree, along the mantel)
- How many lights your tree’s size and shape call for
- The look you want to achieve
- How much energy efficiency matters to you
A rule of thumb many decorators use is about 100 mini lights per vertical foot of tree, and closer to double that for a densely lit look. For outdoor runs, measure your rooflines and walkways before you shop, check the box for an outdoor rating, and note the maximum number of sets that can be connected end to end.
If you are still not sure how to choose Christmas lights for your home, the knowledgeable holiday helpers at St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles can guide you through the process.
Tips for Holiday Lights
Finally, a few of our favorite tricks for picking Christmas lights and creating a stunning effect at home:
- Do not be afraid to mix white, clear, and colorful lights. It is a great way to add extra flair to your tree.
- Use larger bulbs throughout the tree, then layer in small LED lights for a more dimensional look.
- Wrap twinkle lights around the tree’s main trunk for a glittering glow that reads as depth, not clutter.
- If you have chosen clear accent lights, keep bulb temperature in mind so all your lights look cohesive.
- Novelty lights, such as vintage bubble lights, are a fun addition to a pre-lit Christmas tree. You keep the convenience and gain a little extra magic.
Make This Holiday Season Extra-Magical with Decor, Gifts, and More from St. Nick’s
At St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles, we believe in the magic of holiday traditions, festive decor, and lifelong memories. Here, you can find everything you need to create a beautiful backdrop for your most special holiday moments.
We have an extensive selection of Christmas lights for sale online and in our Denver Christmas store, so you can browse every style, color, and size in one place. St. Nick’s also carries an incredible variety of Christmas trees, ornaments, gifts, and everything else you could want for the most wonderful time of the year. Here, shopping for holiday decor is just as fun as celebrating the season with friends and family.
Find all of your holiday necessities when you visit St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles or shop our online store today!
Frequently Asked Questions
The big categories are mini lights, larger C7 and C9 bulbs, round globe bulbs from G8 up to G80, and specialty sets like icicle, cascading, and novelty lights. Within each shape you choose incandescent or LED, then a finish and color. Most homes end up combining two or three types, such as mini lights on the tree and C9 bulbs along the roofline.
Size and socket. C7 bulbs measure roughly 2 cm wide and 3.5 cm tall and use the smaller E12 candelabra base. C9 bulbs are larger, about 3 cm wide and 5 cm tall, and use the E17 intermediate base. C9 sets read bolder from the street, which is why they are a favorite for rooflines.
Neither is better for everyone. Incandescent bulbs cost less up front and give the classic warm glow, but they use more electricity and break more easily. LEDs cost more per set, run cooler, last longer, and use far less power. If you love the vintage look, retro-style LED bulbs now split the difference nicely.
Mixing the two looks on one tree is fine, but connecting different set types end to end on one run is not recommended unless the manufacturer says so, because their power draws differ. Keep each type on its own run and follow the maximum-connected-sets number printed on the packaging.
They describe the base, the threaded part that screws into the socket, and the number is its width in millimeters. E12 is the small candelabra base that pairs with C7 bulbs, and E17 is the larger intermediate base that pairs with C9 bulbs. Match the base first when buying replacement bulbs, then pick your finish and color.
A common rule of thumb is about 100 mini lights per vertical foot of tree, so a 7-foot tree wants around 700 lights. Double that for a densely lit, professional look. Larger bulbs cover more visual ground, so C7 strands can run thinner. When in doubt, buy one extra set; an unopened box is easier to return than a dim tree is to fix.
Color temperature, measured in Kelvin. Warm or clear lights sit around 3200 to 3500K and glow golden, champagne bulbs run 2000 to 2300K for a softer antique tone, and bright white sits around 4300 to 4600K with a crisp, icy cast. Pick one temperature and stay with it so your display looks cohesive.
Bubble lights are a mid-century classic: each bulb heats a sealed vial of liquid until a steady stream of bubbles rises through it. They clip onto branches and add motion that ordinary string lights cannot. Vintage-style sets and replacement bubble light bulbs are still made today.
Usually, yes. Identify the base size first, E12 for C7 strands and E17 for C9 strands, then match the bulb style and color. Fuses and specialty replacements such as bubble light bulbs are also still available. Replacing a few bulbs is often all an older strand needs.
Yes. Outdoor-rated sets use weather-resistant sockets and wiring and are marked for exterior use on the tag or box. Indoor-only sets should never hang outside, though outdoor-rated sets are fine indoors. Whatever you hang outside, plug it into a GFCI-protected outlet and keep connections off the ground.
Find It at St. Nick's
St. Nick’s Christmas and Collectibles has been Littleton, Colorado’s Christmas store since 1976. Shop online, visit us in person, or call 1-800-875-8865 with any questions.
