What permanent outdoor lights are

Permanent outdoor lights are string lights designed to stay up year-round instead of coming down after holidays. They connect to an app for custom color control and scheduling.

How they attach to your home

You can anchor permanent lights with screws or adhesive. They need eaves, preferably flat ones, to hide the thick cords. Some people hire professionals for harder-to-reach areas.

Top picks from WIRED

Govee costs three hundred dollars for one hundred feet. Eufy costs three hundred fifty dollars for one hundred feet. Cync costs one hundred seventeen dollars for one hundred feet.

Year-round uses beyond Christmas

WIRED reviewer Kat Merck uses hers to display her husband's favorite sports team colors. Another reviewer backlights a spiderweb for Halloween. They work for Super Bowl, World Cup, St. Patrick's Day and Fourth of July.

Homes that work well

Most one and two story homes can accommodate permanent lights. You need accessible roof eaves, an outdoor ceiling like a porch roof, or flat smooth materials including glass, cement, wood or metal.

Homes that struggle with installation

Stucco exteriors, homes with no roof eaves, cross-style eaves, three-story homes with no lower eaves, and townhomes or condos that forbid permanent changes are difficult or impossible.

Cut and splice ability matters

WIRED reviewer Kat Merck finds the ability to cut and splice lights to be a key feature. Many homes have varied architectural features like peaks and gables, so customization creates a professional look.

“the ability to cut and splice the lights to be a key feature”

Weatherproofing ratings explained

Every model needs an IP weatherproofing rating to survive outside. The control box usually has a lower rating than the lights, so place it somewhere less exposed to the elements.

Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro

Govee's one hundred foot set costs three hundred dollars.It has an IP sixty seven rating for lights and IP sixty five for the control box.The app includes color controls, scenes, scheduling and music sync.

Govee's new two thousand twenty six model

Govee released the Permanent Outdoor Lights two Pro for two hundred eighty dollars. It promises more than one hundred modes and includes AI Lighting Bot two point zero for custom lighting design.

Eufy Permanent Outdoor Lights S4

Eufy's S4 costs three hundred fifty dollars for one hundred feet. It has one hundred twenty preset holiday scenes, an AI feature for custom light shows, and an IP sixty seven waterproof rating.

Eufy's performance over time

WIRED reviewer Kat Merck has had Eufy lights on her house for the better part of a year with no issues.She found the app incredibly easy to navigate and the lights work with Matter protocol.

Cync budget option

Cync Smart Eave Lights cost one hundred seventeen dollars for one hundred feet. They come with three M sticky strips already on individual lights and have an IP sixty five waterproof rating.

Cync's long-term reliability

The reviewer has had Cync lights on a balcony for about a year with no issues, even after months of leaving them off. They easily reconnect and allow quick setup for different holidays.

Alternative for incompatible homes

Twinkly smart string lights cost one hundred twenty five dollars for sixty six feet. They have an IP forty four splash proof rating and let you photograph your setup to customize light patterns.

When to buy permanent lights

There is no wrong time to buy, but permanent lights often go on sale during Prime Day and Black Friday.Aim for summer Prime Day or early fall to have lights ready for Halloween and Christmas.

How WIRED tests these lights

WIRED tests permanent lights on reviewer homes in Washington state, Missouri, Scotland and Southern California. Lights stay up for weeks, months or years to see how they hold up to weather.