The best solar fairy lights, compared.
Top pick: HHMTAKA 9.5 m flower string Best value: btfarm 2 × 8 m strings – 16 m stated for about £8.55, with 4.3 from 3,916 reviews. No IP code and no printed cell size, and dead-on-arrival strings are a repeated review theme. Updated 22.10.2026.
Solar fairy lights are a flexible string of small LEDs with a solar panel and a rechargeable cell. In the UK you use them as decoration on a hedge, a tree, a fence, a patio, or in a jar indoors. They are not a path light or a porch light. You judge a suitable string by checks that stay true when the listings change. Lit length and LED count have to match the plant, and the lead to the panel is not part of that length. The panel needs open sky. Copper bends around twigs. Rubber or PVC is the sturdier sheath when the listing names it. Read any cell size in milliamp-hours. IP65 is protected against water jets, not a pond, and a waterproof line with no code is not a rating. Leave the set switched on so it can charge. A long glow after a short charge is a bright-day claim, and a British November often will not deliver it. The [length, wire and IP guide](/hub/garden-decor/solar-fairy-lights/sub/solar-fairy-lights-buying-guide) walks through those checks.
Solar fairy lights are a flexible string of small LEDs with a solar panel and a rechargeable cell. In the UK you use them as decoration on a hedge, a tree, a fence, a patio, or in a jar indoors.
28 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +17,200 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will the string go?
The HHMTAKA HMT-103 is a 9.5 m blossom string with 50 warm-white LEDs at £12.99, and 4.8 from 117 reviews. That star line is the highest here, and the sample is the smallest. A detailed UK review describes silicone flowers, a tiltable panel, about 10 hours on a static mode, and an archway. Other reviews mention an apple tree and a gentle glow, and one says the lights work and are a bit dim, which is often what a blossom cover does to a small LED. The bullet allows light rain and does not state an IP code. One AA cell is included, with no milliamp-hour figure, and the run-time claim is 8–10 hours after a full charge. Memory is claimed, and pressing the switch again resets the mode. It is a flower look for an arch or a small tree, at the same £12.99 as the 24 m PVC run.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An arch, apple tree, or trellis where you want blossom shapes and a gentle glow.
Less suitable: A bright hedge, a pond, or weather harsher than light rain.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the lights solar powered?
Yes. The power field says Solar Powered. One AA cell is included and is recharged from the panel.
How long is the string?
9.5 m / 31 ft. Item Length is 950 centimetres.
Does it remember the mode?
The bullet says memory saves the last mode, and that pressing the switch again resets it. Fixture features also list a timer; the bullet describes auto on at night and off at sunrise.
The bitjam SL60P is a 6 m warm-white rubber string with 60 LEDs and a 2 m lead, listed at £6.99 with an IP65 claim. It scores 4.6 from 259 amazon.co.uk reviews, a higher star line than the long sets, on a much smaller sample. UK comments are short and mostly positive: bright, usable on a small outdoor Christmas tree, and straightforward once the panel is in the sun. A minority say a set stopped working. No milliamp-hour figure is printed, and the water-resistance field says Water Resistant beside the IP65 bullet. The run-time line is still 8–14 hours after a 6–8 hour charge, which a short British day will not fill. It is a short rubber run with a stated IP code, and it will not dress a long hedge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small outdoor tree, a rose arch, or a short fence where you want rubber rather than thin copper.
Less suitable: A long hedge, or a buyer who will only order a printed milliamp-hour figure.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it withstand rain, according to the listing?
The bullet claims IP65 and all-weather use. The water-resistance field says Water Resistant.
What is the cable length?
6 m of lights, stated as an upgrade from 5 m, plus a 2 m extension. Item Length is 6 metres.
Does it have a timer?
No countdown timer is stated. A light sensor charges by day and switches on at nightfall, and memory is claimed.
The cshare copper string is 5 m with 50 warm-white LEDs at £6.59, the lowest shelf price in this set, with 4.4 from 460 reviews. The listing says indoor and outdoor, eight modes, memory, and up to 8–12 hours when fully charged. No IP code and no cell size are stated, though the bullets call all parts waterproof and say the wire should not overheat. UK reviews mention a fence, a tree branch that was fiddly to wrap, a lamp indoors, and a charge that ran about five hours after a short afternoon in the sun. One reviewer could not find a steady mode, and one said the set never lit. The panel still needs sunlight if you hang the LEDs inside. It is a short copper strand at the bottom of this price band, and the weather line is a word rather than a code.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small bush, a jar, or a short indoor drape where the panel can sit where it actually gets sun.
Less suitable: An exposed fence in driving rain, or a long hedge.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used indoors?
The listing says indoor and outdoor. The panel still needs sunlight to charge.
What is the wire made of?
Copper. The bullet calls it insulated copper and says it will not overheat.
Does it need batteries you buy separately?
The bullet says no battery or mains electricity, and that sunlight charges the set. A cell capacity is not stated.
Lezonic’s two-pack is £8.99 with 4.3 from 14,557 amazon.co.uk ratings, the largest review count in this set. The title says 240 LEDs and 80 ft, while the bullet says 120 LEDs and 40 ft of lights plus a 6 ft lead, and the Number of Lights field is 120, so one figure cannot stand for the order. Bullets state an 800 mAh cell, IP65 on the string and the panel, eight modes, and two switches. The control-method field says Remote, and the bullets do not describe a handset. UK reviews praise brightness and wrapping trees and fences, including all-night running for some buyers. They also report one of two strings dead, a copper joint pulled apart, and no memory on at least one set. The volume of ratings is the reason to look twice, and the clashing length is the reason to read the specification table before you trust the title.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A heavily reviewed copper two-pack, if you will follow the 120-LED and 40 ft row rather than the title.
Less suitable: You need one agreed length on the page, or a handset the bullets actually describe.
Specifications
Common questions
How many LEDs are listed?
The title says 240 LEDs and 80 ft. The bullet says 120 LEDs, 40 ft of lights and a 6 ft lead. Number of Lights is 120 and Item Length is 40 feet.
Does the listing include a remote?
The control-method field says Remote. The bullets describe two switches, power and mode, and do not describe a handset.
What rain rating is claimed?
IP65 for both the string and the solar panel.
This btfarm two-pack is two warm-white strings of 8 m and 80 LEDs each, 16 m and 160 LEDs in the title, at £8.55. It carries 4.3 from 3,916 amazon.co.uk ratings, and UK reviews call the lights bright for the money and, in summer, still on late. The included list is a manual, two strings, and four screws, so a ground stake is not named. Waterproof is claimed, with no IP code, and no cell capacity is stated. The bullets pair a 6–8 hour charge with an 8–14 hour run that depends on the weather. Reviews also report one or both strings dead on arrival, wiring that looks untidy, and brightness that some buyers found modest. One review title says a set survived a UK winter, which is a single anecdote. You get a lot of stated length for £8.55, and a dead half of the pack is a repeated complaint. It is the best value here on stated length and review count, not on a printed IP code.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two separate 8 m runs, such as a pair of shrubs, when you can accept a waterproof claim without an IP code.
Less suitable: You need a printed IP65 line, a stated milliamp-hour figure, or one continuous 24 m length.
Specifications
Common questions
Is an IP code stated?
No. The bullets claim better waterproofing and the field says Waterproof. No IP code is given.
Does it include a way to fix the panel?
The included list is a manual, two strings, and four screws. A ground stake is not named.
Is there a timer?
The listing question asks. The bullets describe auto on/off and memory, not a countdown timer.
The Kolpop SL240P is a 24 m warm-white PVC string with 240 LEDs, listed at £12.99 with a stated 1,200 mAh cell and IP65 on all parts. Across 6,034 amazon.co.uk ratings it sits at 4.2, and UK reviews in the file praise the length on hedges, pergolas, and trees, including on dull days. Spacing is about 10 cm, so the run reads as many small points rather than a handful of bright bulbs. The listing asks you to leave the switch on for a 6–8 hour charge and an 8–14 hour glow, which is a bright-day claim and shortens in a British November. Reviewers also report a set that failed after a few days, a string that kept only some LEDs after two months, and a panel that looked tatty after two years while the lights still worked. A material field says Crystal, which disagrees with the PVC bullet, and a USB field is not described as a charger. It is the top pick here when you want one long stated run and a printed 1,200 mAh cell, with those early-failure reports still in view.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A long hedge, pergola, or tree where you want one 24 m PVC run and a cell size printed as 1,200 mAh.
Less suitable: A small shrub, a pond, or a December evening you expect to last 8–14 hours.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing state a rain rating?
Yes. The bullet claims IP65 for all parts.
What colour are the LEDs?
Warm white, stated at 2,700 K.
Is a timer listed?
No countdown timer is stated. Memory appears under fixture features, and the bullet says to leave the switch on so the panel can charge.
Each string in this btfarm two-pack is 6 m of copper with 60 warm-white LEDs and a 2 m lead, 12 m and 120 LEDs in total, at £8.54. The bullets state an 800 mAh cell, IP65, eight modes, and memory, and the box includes two lamp stakes and two panels. Stars are 4.2 from 617 reviews. UK reviewers like the warm colour at 3,000 K and an easy wrap, and one coastal Wales review says a set coped with rain and wind, which is a comment rather than a weather test. Others say winter charging is weaker, that 60 LEDs was less than they assumed, that one string lit only in part, and that a set stayed dark after two sunny days. The 8–14 hour run is still a bright-day bullet. It is a compact copper pair with a stated cell and stakes, and the partial-string reports are the limit you should read before you order two.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two small shrubs or a short fence where you want copper you can bend and a stake for each panel.
Less suitable: A long hedge, or a winter evening you expect to match the 8–14 hour bullet.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is each string?
Each string is 6 m with 60 LEDs, plus a 2 m lead. The total in the title is 12 m and 120 LEDs.
Can the panel be staked?
Yes. The box list includes two lamp stakes and two solar panels, and the bullet allows a ground stake or a wall mount.
Is a countdown timer listed?
No. The bullets describe eight modes and memory. A UK review describes on, off, or auto.
GCCATE’s three-pack is listed at £12.99 with copper wire, a stated 800 mAh cell, and IP65 on the panel and the string. The title says 12 m / 39 ft and 120 LEDs, while the same bullet also says 12 m / 27 ft plus a 2 m lead, and Item Length is 14 m, so the length is not one figure. Stars are 4.2 from 162 reviews, a modest sample beside the sets with thousands of ratings. UK reviews praise the look on trees and the price, then say the lights dim after about three or four hours. At least one review says the set does not keep the last mode and starts in a flash pattern, which contradicts the memory bullet. A 12-month warranty line is written as if the product were a 2-pack. You are buying three copper strings whose stated length does not agree with itself.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Three copper strings for separate shrubs, if you will measure what arrives rather than trust one length figure.
Less suitable: You need one agreed length for a fence, or a mode that stays put overnight.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is each string?
The title says 12 m / 39 ft. The same bullet also says 12 m / 27 ft plus a 2 m lead, and Item Length is 14 m. Those figures do not agree.
Does it need tools?
The bullet says no tools. Stake the panel or set it on a flat surface.
Does it keep the last mode?
The bullet claims memory. At least one UK review says the set does not keep the last mode.
Eight amazon.co.uk listings were scored out of 100 from the pages and the first 50 UK review texts read on 20 October 2026. Stars are up to 40 points: the amazon.co.uk rating divided by five, times 40, then rounded. Review depth is up to 20: 20 at 10,000 reviews or more, 16 at 3,000, 12 at 500, 8 at 200, otherwise 4. Listing clarity is up to 20, for a named IP code, a length and LED count that agree, a printed cell size, and a memory claim the review themes do not contradict. Review themes start at 14, out of 20, with deductions for failure within days, a dead string in a multi-pack, and evenings well short of the run-time line, and a small addition for a stated run of a season or longer. The highest score is the top pick. The best value is the 16 m two-pack at £8.55 with 3,916 reviews. This is not a lab test, not a Which? score, and not a BBC Gardeners’ World award. A higher price in this band is not a winter guarantee. Waterproof with no code is not treated as IP65.
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk star line, as (rating / 5) × 40, rounded to the nearest whole number. A high star line on a small sample is not the same evidence as a lower line on thousands of reviews.
Review depth
20%Review count, from 4 points under 200 reviews up to 20 points at 10,000 or more. 3,000 reviews score 16, 500 score 12, and 200 score 8.
Listing clarity
20%An IP code, a length and LED count that agree, a printed cell size in mAh, and a memory claim that UK review themes do not contradict. Waterproof with no code scores less than a named IP rating.
Review themes
20%Starts at 14. Early failure, a dead string in a multi-pack, and evenings well short of the run-time bullet score lower. A stated run of a season or longer can add a little. The floor is 0.
Match lit length, wire, a real IP code and a readable cell size to the plant before you compare a shelf price. A waterproof word is not an IP rating. A bright-day run-time line is not a British winter guarantee.
Solar fairy lights on amazon.co.uk are a flexible string of small LEDs, a solar panel and a rechargeable cell. UK buyers use them as decoration on hedges, trees, fences, patios and indoor jars. They are not a path or porch light. Judge a listing on lit length, the separate lead, the wire, a real IP code and a cell size you can read. Lit length, LED count and the lead come first. A 5 m copper strand and a 24 m PVC run are different jobs. Titles mix metres and feet.
The lead only moves the panel into the sun. Titles that mix metres and feet, or that disagree with the specification row, hide the lit length. Leave the transit film on, or the switch off, and the cell does not charge.
Copper bends around twigs and kinks if you tension it like a washing line. Rubber or PVC is the sturdier sheath when the listing names it. Cable strain is a known failure point on solar garden lights.
A 6–8 hour charge and an 8–14 hour glow is a bright-day claim. A British November often will not fill it. Waterproof without a code is not IP65, and IP65 is not a pond.
Kolpop states 24 m of PVC and 240 LEDs at about £12.99. The btfarm 16 m pack is two strings of 8 m at about £8.55, in copper and plastic, with no separate lead length printed. bitjam is 6 m of rubber plus a 2 m lead at about £6.99. The other btfarm pack is two 6 m copper strings, each with a 2 m lead, at about £8.54. Lezonic’s title says 80 ft and 240 LEDs, while the specification row says 40 ft and 120 LEDs, about £8.99. cshare is 5 m of copper and 50 LEDs at about £6.59.
Kolpop is the only row here with 1,200 mAh printed, and it claims IP65 on all parts. The 6 m btfarm copper pair, Lezonic and GCCATE state 800 mAh and IP65. bitjam claims IP65 and prints no milliamp-hour figure. The 16 m btfarm pack and cshare say waterproof with no IP code and no cell size. HHMTAKA says light rain, with no IP code and no milliamp-hour figure. White Stores’ 1,200 mAh line is a retailer rule of thumb for mixed UK days, not a standard.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one long run on a hedge, pergola or tree from April to September, and you can put the panel in real sun. Kolpop is 24 m of PVC with 240 LEDs, a stated 1,200 mAh cell and IP65 on all parts, about £12.99, with 4.2 from 6,034 reviews. UK reviews include early failures and a panel that weathered.
You cannot add a mains point and you want two separate runs. The btfarm two-pack is 8 m and 80 LEDs on each string, 16 m in total, about £8.55, with 4.3 from 3,916 reviews. Waterproof is claimed with no IP code, no cell size is stated, and reviews include strings dead on arrival.
You are dressing a small outdoor tree or tub for a few weeks, and the panel still needs sun in a short day. bitjam is 6 m of rubber with 60 LEDs and a 2 m lead, IP65 claimed, about £6.99, with 4.6 from 259 reviews. No milliamp-hour figure is printed, and 6 m will not dress a long hedge.
The top pick is the Kolpop 24 m PVC string at about £12.99. It is the highest score in this set, 86, with 240 LEDs, a stated 1,200 mAh cell and IP65 claimed on all parts, and 4.2 from 6,034 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK reviews include a set that failed after a few days and a panel that looked weathered after two years. The best value is the btfarm two-pack, 16 m in total at about £8.55, with 4.3 from 3,916 reviews. Waterproof is claimed with no IP code, and no cell size is stated. Reviews include one or both strings dead on arrival. A higher price in this £6.59–£12.99 band is not a winter guarantee.
btfarm 2 × 8 m strings
16 m stated for about £8.55, with 4.3 from 3,916 reviews. No IP code and no printed cell size, and dead-on-arrival strings are a repeated review theme.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for electrical safety, product safety and waste electricals. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 20 October 2026. This is not a lab test.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
