20-meter outdoor string lights

Count on 20 metres of flexible cable strung in a single line, with evenly spaced light points: this length follows a pergola, a railing or two sides of a terrace without a visible joint. The right model stays outside, plugs into the mains, runs on a solar panel or recharges, and its protection rating must match its exposure.

What is a 20m outdoor string lights?

A 20m outdoor string lights is a flexible cord fitted with sockets or integrated LEDs, designed to withstand humidity and temperature swings. It differs from an indoor string light by its sheathed cable, its protection rating and its power supply suited to the outdoors. Length makes the difference in use: it lets you keep a single continuous run instead of lining up several small string lights and as many sockets.

20m outdoor string lights: what the length covers

Twenty metres cover a long side of a terrace, the underside of a pergola or a garden fence, provided you count the detours and fixing points before buying. Allow a slack loop between two fixings: a cord that is too taut works and wears out its attachments. For a full loop around a gazebo or a stairway descent, the stair string light usefully complements the main line.

Guinguette string light or globe string light: which effect to create?

The guinguette string light lines up small bulbs on a flexible cord and creates an outdoor dining mood, close to cafe terraces. The globe string light plays on larger spheres, visible from afar, that draw round points above a table. Both families are found in our outdoor string light for terrace and garden, to be chosen according to viewing distance: fine for a pergola, generous for a large garden.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service accompany every order, from choosing the model to installation.

Which light colour to choose for a living room or a terrace?

Three moods are enough to decide: warm white, softer and welcoming; neutral white, more readable for moving around and eating; multicolour, reserved for festive moments. Warm white suits meals and relaxation corners, neutral white suits areas where you need to see clearly. On an outdoor string light, the colour is chosen as much for the terrace as for the living room that sees it in the evening.

Light colour for a living room: warm white or neutral white?

In a living room, warm white flatters materials and relaxes the atmosphere, while neutral white stays more comfortable for reading or entertaining. If the string light is visible from the room, its hue extends the living room outwards: a warm light softens the transition, a neutral light keeps an impression of clarity. A wall string light for bedroom follows the same logic, in an indoor version.

And on a terrace, which light colour in the evening?

On a terrace, warm white sets the mood for long meals and stays discreet seen from the garden. Multicolour is reserved for occasional evenings, birthdays or end-of-year parties, as it tires with daily use. A wall string light fixed near the door can stay in warm white all season.

20m solar string light or mains string light: which to choose?

A 20m solar string light is installed without a socket or cable to run: the panel charges during the day and powers the LEDs in the evening. A mains string light offers more regular light and does not depend on sunshine. The choice depends mainly on the distance to an outdoor socket and the consistency of lighting expected.

20m outdoor solar string light: what to know before installing it

The panel must catch the sun for a good part of the day: face it south, away from the shade of a wall or tree, and check the cable length between the panel and the first light point. Outdoor solar string lights suit a fence or a garden corner far from any socket. On overcast days, the light dims and the operating time shortens, which is normal.

220 V LED string lights or 24 V low voltage: what difference in use?

220 V LED string lights plug directly into a socket, without an intermediate transformer, which simplifies installation when the socket is nearby. 24 V low voltage string lights go through a transformer that must be kept dry: a little more equipment, but a lower voltage near damp areas. In both cases, the connection block remains the point to protect.

String light or 20m outdoor LED strip: are they interchangeable?

No. A 20m string light is a flexible cord with spaced light points: it draws a line, stretches between two supports and can be moved. A 20m outdoor LED strip is a continuous ribbon stuck to a smooth surface, giving a linear, grazing light, without the string light effect.

20m outdoor LED strip: when it is the better choice

The LED strip has the advantage when the light must follow a flat surface: under a handrail, behind a bench, along a step or in a recess. It does not stretch into empty space and therefore does not replace a line suspended above a table. For under-cabinet or indirect wall installation, browse the available LED string lights and compare the effects.

Globe string lights: which size and spacing to look for?

The larger the globe string lights, the more they read from afar and the more space you need between them to avoid overloading the eye. On a pergola, medium spheres spaced regularly give a clean pattern; on a balcony railing, smaller globes avoid a heavy effect. A solar string light with globes suits a fence seen from the house.

Which IP protection rating to choose for an outdoor string light?

The IP rating indicates resistance to dust and water. IP44 protects against splashes and suits under an awning or a covered pergola. IP65 resists water jets and withstands direct exposure to rain. For an open garden, aim for IP65; under shelter, IP44 is often enough.

IP44 or IP65 LED string lights: the right choice by exposure

IP44 models are intended for a sheltered balcony, a conservatory or a pergola with a roof, where rain does not directly reach the cord. IP65 LED string lights hold up on a fence, a tree or an uncovered terrace. The luminaire rating does not remove the need to protect the connection: socket, transformer and solar panel remain the sensitive points.

Do you need an outdoor socket to plug in a 20-metre string light?

Not necessarily. A solar version or a rechargeable string light does without a socket outdoors: the first charges in the sun, the second is brought inside to recharge. If you go for a mains version, a protected outdoor socket is preferable to an extension lead crossing the terrace. Otherwise, keep the connection sheltered from water, under a cover or behind a door.

Which outdoor E27 bulb to provide for a string light with sockets?

On a string light with sockets, each light point takes an E27 screw bulb. Choose an outdoor E27 bulb, meaning designed for humidity and temperature swings, in LED to limit heat. Check the maximum wattage indicated on the string light before screwing one in.

Outdoor E27 bulb: LED or filament, what holds up outside

An LED bulb heats little, which limits stress on the sockets and cable, and uses less for extended evening use. A filament bulb gives a warm hue appreciated in guinguette settings, but remains more fragile to shocks and humidity. In both cases, the outdoor use marking and respect for the maximum wattage take priority over aesthetics.

Screw socket or integrated LED: which to choose for a 20-metre string light?

The screw socket lets you replace a burnt-out bulb without changing the string light and vary the hue with the season. Integrated LEDs avoid bulbs to buy again and age with the cord: simpler, less modular. A string light with sockets remains the flexible choice for a pergola you want to evolve.

How to install and hang a 20-metre string light?

First stretch a cable or a line between two fixed points, then fix the string light to it with hooks or ties, without over-tightening. Leave a slack loop and keep the socket dry. In autumn, take it down and store it.

At what height should a string light be hung above a terrace table?

The line must pass above the heads of seated and standing guests: a little higher than head height, so the cord does not touch hair and the light is not in the eyes. A terrace table suits a regular horizontal run, with a fixing point at each end. For a descent of steps, the outdoor string light is stretched following the handrail.

How to make 20 metres hold between two posts or on a railing?

Between two distant posts, a support cable stretched first carries the string light and prevents the cord from sagging in the middle. On a railing, regular ties about every metre are enough, avoiding pinching the cable. For an indoor stairway start, the stair string light follows the same method. Take it down and store it off-season to extend its lifespan.

String light or outdoor terrace wall light: which to choose?

An outdoor terrace wall light is fixed to the wall and lights downwards or upwards, in a fixed way, for reading or moving around. A string light brings a decorative line and ambient lighting. The two complement each other: the wall light for useful light, the string light for atmosphere.

Outdoor terrace wall light: when it replaces the string light

The wall light takes over where you need to see clearly: near a front door, a staircase or a dining corner used late. It gives a fixed, directional light and does not depend on hanging at height. Its protection rating is chosen like that of a string light, depending on whether it is under shelter or exposed. For lighting the rest of the house, see all Designix luminaires.

Wall string light: the version to hang or stick

A wall string light is fixed along a wall, a headboard or a beam and replaces a light panel with little effort. On a balcony, it draws a frame above the railing. Indoors, a bedroom wall string light extends the terrace into the room with the same hue.

The choice comes down to three concrete points: the distance to a socket, the real exposure to rain and the length of run to cover. Once these three answers are set, the power supply and IP rating follow on their own. Find all the string lights and the luminaire range to complete the outdoors as well as the indoors.

Frequently asked questions