Here's a simple, sturdy way to hang those string lights you've been eyeing.
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Jessica Bennett is an editor, writer, and former digital assistant home editor at BHG.
Updated on January 9, 2024
Ready your outdoor space for al fresco dining and bonfire season with the warm glow of string lights such as these Better Homes & Gardens 10-Count Warm White LED Ribbed Outdoor String Lights,($34, Walmart). If you don't have any deck or porch posts accessible or trees you can use to string outdoor lights, this backyard project for string light poles can help you suspend lights anywhere with minimal effort.
Long vertical poles secured with concrete footings are an easy way to support twinkling string lights and are sturdy enough to stay up for the entire summer season. Only a little carpentry work and a few basic supplies are required, and this DIY project can be done in one day. See how we did it below, and check out our expert advice to hang string lights correctly the first time.
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Equipment / Tools
- Hacksaw
- Drill
- Paintbrush
Materials
- Concrete forms
- Concrete
- 1-inch diameter PVC pipe
- 3/4-inch conduit
- 3/4-inch cap
- Screw eye
- Nut
- Primer
- Paint
- String lights
- Zip ties
Instructions
Set Concrete for String Light Poles
Create a sturdy base for the string light pole supports using concrete and PVC pipes. Sink concrete forms at each end or corner of your patio or backyard area. Make sure the concrete forms are set deep enough to go below the frost line, which varies by region. (In the lower 48 states, it can range from zero to eight feet, so research how deep your frost line is before you start this project.) Center a same-height piece of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe inside and fill form around the pipe with concrete.
Cut Pipes for String Light Poles
Cut 3/4-inch conduit to the height you want the lights, plus the height of the PVC pipe that is already installed in the ground. You can cut the conduit using a hacksaw. Don't stand the pipe up in the tube in the ground yet.
Drill Holes in Pipe
Screw a 3/4-inch cap onto the conduit end, and drill a hole 1 inch below. Feed a screw eye through the hole and secure with a nut. The screw eye is what will hold the string lights.
Finish Poles for String Light
Prime and paint the string light pole any color you'd like (we went with classic black). Next, feed it into the PVC pipe in the concrete. Before you do this, make sure the concrete has dried all the way through.
Hang Outdoor String Lights
Attach outdoor lights to the screw eye using zip ties. If necessary, spray-paint the zip tie to match the color of the pole and hook. Remove the string light poles when not in use, and mow right over the concrete bases if needed.
:strip_icc()/light-pole-in-mulch-1ab41f5c-c8443923c6f647c191d0eb81f88a4eb7.jpg "How to Install String Light Poles in Your Backyard (3)")
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:strip_icc()/lights-attached-to-pole-f9b98cd0-777b7a32224e47b4b85a523d754cd17f.jpg "How to Install String Light Poles in Your Backyard (5)")
