Herbie's Picks

Home Outdoor Updated Sep 9, 2026

Best waterproof patio string lights

Waterproof on a listing is rain, not a pond. If I were hanging a string over a patio table, I'd start with the 48-foot G40 LED. Plastic bulbs survive a bump. Glass Edison looks warmer and breaks.

See the picks Jump to reviews

1 Start here

SUNTHIN 48 ft G40 LED lights A patio table hang that should not use glass 2

SUNTHIN 48 ft Edison commercial A patio that wants glass Edison glow 3

SUNTHIN 27 ft G40 LED lights A small porch or one pergola beam 4

Tenmiro 200 ft LED yard lights A long fence, tree, or yard you do not want to splice 5

Govee 100 ft G40 RGBIC lights A patio that will actually use color scenes

Glass Edison vs shatterproof LED

The commercial SUNTHIN is 48 feet of glass S14 bulbs at 11 watts. That is the bistro look. It is also glass over a table. The 48-foot G40 LED uses plastic globes and includes a spare. I'd take the G40 if kids, wind, or a low hang are in the room. Take the Edison if the glow is the whole point and you will replace a broken bulb.

27 feet, 48 feet, or 200 feet

Measure the run before you fall for a photo. 27 feet is a small porch or a single pergola beam. 48 feet is the usual patio rectangle. 200 feet is a yard, a fence, or a tree you do not want to splice. Connecting extra 48-foot strands is still an option. You do not have to buy 200 feet because the yard is wide.

A wall switch vs an app

The SUNTHIN strings want a dimmer you buy separately, or a plain switch. The Govee 100-foot RGBIC set is the one that wants the app, Alexa, and color scenes. If you never open an app, I don't think that extra earns its keep. The plug still needs a covered outlet. IP65 on the Govee listing is the string, not a promise the adapter can sit in a puddle.

Pick by job

Pick	Best for	Skip if
SUNTHIN 48 ft G40 LED lights	A patio table hang that should not use glass	You wanted glass Edison glow, or the run is a small porch.
SUNTHIN 48 ft Edison commercial	A higher pergola that wants glass Edison	The string hangs low over a table where glass can break.
SUNTHIN 27 ft G40 LED lights	A small porch or one beam	You already measured a 48-foot patio rectangle.
Tenmiro 200 ft LED yard lights	A long fence or yard without splicing	The patio is one 48-foot rectangle.
Govee 100 ft G40 RGBIC lights	Color scenes you will actually open the app for	You only wanted warm white, or the adapter cannot sit under cover.

Start here

SUNTHIN 48 ft G40 LED lights

Best for: A patio table hang that should not use glass
Skip if: You wanted glass Edison glow, or the run is a small porch.

SUNTHIN 48 ft Edison commercial

Best for: A higher pergola that wants glass Edison
Skip if: The string hangs low over a table where glass can break.

SUNTHIN 27 ft G40 LED lights

Best for: A small porch or one beam
Skip if: You already measured a 48-foot patio rectangle.

Tenmiro 200 ft LED yard lights

Best for: A long fence or yard without splicing
Skip if: The patio is one 48-foot rectangle.

Govee 100 ft G40 RGBIC lights

Best for: Color scenes you will actually open the app for
Skip if: You only wanted warm white, or the adapter cannot sit under cover.

Product reviews

5 picks with live Amazon ratings

1 Start here A patio table hang that should not use glass

SUNTHIN 48 ft G40 LED lights

4.5 (8,753 Amazon ratings, as of 2026-09-09)

This is the 48-foot G40 LED: 25 plastic globes and one spare. Waterproof and shatterproof on the listing. This is the one I'd hang over a table.

Connect more strands if 48 feet is short. The listing allows a long daisy chain. You still need hooks and a plan for the plug.

A dimmer is sold separately. A wall switch still works if you only want on and off.

Good for

48 feet of plastic G40 globes
One spare bulb in the box
Waterproof patio listing

Skip if

Dimmer is a separate buy
Still needs a covered outdoor plug

Check on Amazon

2 A patio that wants glass Edison glow

SUNTHIN 48 ft Edison commercial

4.7 (8,336 Amazon ratings, as of 2026-09-09)

This is the commercial SUNTHIN: 48 feet, 15 sockets, 11 watt glass Edison bulbs. Waterproof sockets on the listing. Warm amber, not an LED globe.

You can connect up to five 48-foot strands. The dimmer is sold separately, and the listing wants a stout one if you stack strands.

Glass breaks. If the string hangs low over a table, I'd take the G40 LED instead and keep this for a higher pergola run.

Good for

48 feet of glass S14 Edison bulbs
Commercial-grade waterproof listing
Connect up to five strands

Skip if

Glass over a table will break if it gets hit
11 watt bulbs run warmer than the LED globes

Check on Amazon

3 A small porch or one pergola beam

SUNTHIN 27 ft G40 LED lights

4.5 (8,753 Amazon ratings, as of 2026-09-09)

Same G40 plastic recipe as the 48-foot LED, cut down to 27 feet with 14 bulbs and one spare. That is a porch, a balcony, or one beam. It is not a patio rectangle.

You can connect more strands if you outgrow 27 feet. I would start with the 48-foot LED if you already know the run is longer.

Waterproof and shatterproof on the listing. Dimmer sold separately, same as the longer sibling.

Good for

27 feet for a short run
Plastic G40 globes plus a spare
Connectable if you add another strand later

Skip if

Too short for a full patio rectangle
Dimmer is still a separate buy

Check on Amazon

4 A long fence, tree, or yard you do not want to splice

Tenmiro 200 ft LED yard lights

4.3 (637 Amazon ratings, as of 2026-09-09)

This is the long run. 200 feet, 72 shatterproof bulbs, two spares, remote, timer, three modes. Waterproof on the listing. You buy this to skip a pile of 48-foot connectors.

If the patio is one rectangle, I would stay on the 48-foot G40 and add a second strand only if you need it. 200 feet is a lot of cord to hide on a small deck.

The remote and timer are why this listing is not just a longer SUNTHIN. You still need a place for the plug.

Good for

200 feet in one run
Remote, timer, and three modes
72 bulbs plus two spares

Skip if

Too much cord for a small patio
The plug still has to reach a covered outlet

Check on Amazon

5 A patio that will actually use color scenes

Govee 100 ft G40 RGBIC lights

4.3 (102 Amazon ratings, as of 2026-09-09)

This is the app string. 100 feet, 50 G40 RGBIC bulbs, IP65 on the listing, Alexa and the Govee app. Warm white is still in there. Color is the reason to buy it.

If you only wanted warm white hang lights, I'd stay on the 48-foot G40 LED. Color is the reason this listing exists.

IP65 is the string. The listing says the adapter is not waterproof. Park the brick under a cover. 102 ratings as of 2026-09-09, so treat the score as a thin sample.

Good for

100 feet of G40 RGBIC with app and Alexa
IP65 on the string
Color scenes if you will use them

Skip if

Adapter is not waterproof
102 ratings as of 2026-09-09

Check on Amazon

FAQ

Are waterproof patio lights actually waterproof?

The listing means rain on the sockets and bulbs, not a string you drop in a pool. Keep the plug and any adapter under cover. Govee's page says the adapter is not waterproof even though the string is IP65.

Glass Edison or plastic G40?

G40 LED if the hang is low or the deck is windy. Edison if you want the glass glow and you will swap a broken bulb. I would not hang glass over a table with kids.

How long a string do I need?

Measure the path, including slack to the outlet. 27 feet is a porch. 48 feet is the usual patio. 200 feet is a yard or fence. Connecting extra 48-foot strands is still easier than hiding leftover 200-foot cord on a small deck.

Do I need the Govee app lights?

Only if you will change colors or set scenes. Warm white hanging lights do not need Wi-Fi. If you never open the app, I'd take the 48-foot G40 LED.