Cozy up your patio with string lights—here’s how to hang them (2024)

There are numerous ways to create a beautiful, relaxing outdoor space. Whatever kind of space you have or are building—whether that’s a deck, a patio, or a pavilion or pergola in the yard—adding lighting to your outdoor living area can make a huge difference. Proper light can let you use your space long into the night, but it can also help you create a specific atmosphere and aesthetic for your home.

Patio string lights are an affordable, versatile option, and are surprisingly easy to install almost anywhere you need them.

Here’s how to hang patio string lights in your backyard.

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What you need

• Patio string lights
• String light poles to hold the lights in the yard
• Q-hanger hooks to attach lights to wooden structures
• Command outdoor light clips to attach lights to non-screwable surfaces
• Power drill
• Extension cord

How to hang patio string lights

Step 1: Select light location and layout

Before buying a single string of lights, you need to know exactly where you want to run the lights. Without planning ahead, you risk not having enough lights, not having enough hangers, or having the wrong kind of hangers.

While you’re measuring, take into consideration the inevitable drape of the lights. Chances are you won’t be able to pull them tight, and frankly, you don’t want to aesthetically.

Use lengths of twine to mimic the kind of draping that you’re looking for to get an accurate measurement for how many strings of lights you need to buy.

Also think about how to power the lights. You may need to purchase one or more outdoor extension cords if your layout plan doesn’t run close to your outdoor power outlets. If you do wind up needing extension cords, consider how to run those safely so that they don’t create trip hazards in your yard.

Finally, think about how you’re going to actually hang the lights themselves. If you’re hanging them from an existing structure like a pergola or the railings of a deck, you may not need hangers at all. At my house, we draped our lights over the support beams of our deck pavilion, no tools or hardware of any kind needed.

However, most people will need something to hold the lights up. If you’re attaching to an existing structure like your home or a deck, then you can use hooks with clips on them. If you need to cross areas of your yard, then you may want to invest in some string light poles.

Finally, if you want to attach to something that you don’t want to drill into, then consider going with outdoor light clips that attach with powerful adhesives.

Step 2: Install all of your hangers as needed

How to install depends on which kind of hangers that you decided to use. The string-light poles are relatively easy to install.

Most of these have spikes that drive into the ground to hold them in place. There are other kinds of light poles that have more permanent attachment methods. Some install into concrete, while others can be lagged down to a wooden or brick base.

If you decide to use one of those more permanent styles, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Installing the adhesive clips is relatively simple. While you should again follow your specific product’s instructions, generally speaking you’ll need to clean the area that you want to install the clip on, peel off the backing paper, and then press it firmly into place for a few seconds. These typically need some time for the adhesive to cure before you put any weight on them.

If yours calls for cure time, don’t skip this step, no matter how eager you are to finish. Otherwise they’ll fall right off the wall as soon as you attach the lights. Ask me how I know.

Finally, there are the screw-in hooks. These are again simple to install. Technically, you can just screw them into wooden structures by hand, but that’s difficult and time-consuming. Instead, drill a small pilot hole and then screw them into that.

You can use a crescent wrench or pliers to help with the turning, particularly if you’re doing a lot. They can be a bit painful on your hands by the time you’re working on the fourth or fifth hook.

There’s no hard and fast rule for how far apart to space your hooks. It’s mostly going to be an aesthetic choice. The farther apart you space them, the more the lights will drape. That said, check your lights to see if there is a maximum span you have to stay under.

Step 3: Hang the lights

Now for the fun part—clip all of the strings of lights in and see how it looks! While actually hanging the lights is pretty straightforward, they will need adjusting as you go.

The first task is to ensure that the lights reach all the way from the beginning to the end. Start with the plugged in side and go from there.

Once you know that the lights cover the full span that you need, go back through and adjust how far down the strings drape between the hooks and clips. Again, this is purely aesthetic.

Personally, I try to make all of the draping arcs approximately the same, but fix it to sit however you like.

Step 4: Plug it in and enjoy!

Once the lights are hung and adjusted to your liking, plug them in and watch your yard transform in an instant!

There’s nothing better than being able to sit out through and beyond the sunset, sipping your favorite beverage long into the night with friends and family.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.