Best Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights: Specs, Picks & Buying Guide
Outdoor smart plugs from Kasa, Wyze and meross that put any holiday display on a schedule.
The easiest smart upgrade for any holiday display is not a new set of lights at all. A smart plug turns the lights you already own into connected lights, so they switch on at sunset, turn off at bedtime and respond to a quick voice command. We compared the best smart plugs for christmas lights for porches, yards and indoor trees, focusing on weather ratings, outlet count, scheduling features and voice assistant support.
Below you will find the product table, our three top picks, a buying guide, installation and safety tips, and answers to common questions.
Our Top 3 Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights at a Glance
These picks cover the most useful outdoor plug, a tiny budget option and a premium plug with energy monitoring. All are well reviewed on Amazon.
Best Overall Tech Pick: Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug EP40
The Kasa EP40 is the outdoor smart plug we would buy first. It has more than seventeen thousand Amazon ratings and a 4.6 star average.
- Two independent outlets: control the roofline and the yard display separately, each rated up to 15A and 1875W.
- Sunset and sunrise scheduling: lights turn on at dusk automatically as the days get shorter.
- Voice and app control: works with Alexa and Google Assistant, with a weatherproof cover for unused sockets.
The trade off is that it needs a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal at the outlet. At around $23, it is the best value for most outdoor displays.
Best Bang for the Buck: Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug KP401
For a single string of lights, the compact Kasa KP401 is all you need. It has a 4.5 star average from nearly seven thousand buyers.
- IP64 weather resistance: protects against dust and splashing water.
- Long Wi-Fi range: Kasa rates it for up to 300 feet in open space.
- Schedules and countdown timers: with sunset and sunrise offsets.
The limitation is a single outlet. At around $13, it is the cheapest way to automate a porch or wreath.
Best High End Pick: Wyze Plug Outdoor
The Wyze Plug Outdoor adds energy monitoring to a dual outlet design. It has a 4.5 star average from more than three thousand buyers.
- Dual outlets with energy monitoring: see how much power the display uses each day.
- IP64 rated: built for outdoor holiday use.
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant: plus schedules in the Wyze app.
The downside is a higher price than Kasa's basic plugs. At around $37, it suits people who want to track energy use.
How to Choose the Best Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights
Smart plugs for christmas lights look similar, but small details make a big difference outdoors.
Bulb Type and Brightness
Smart plugs work with almost any plug in lights. For incandescent strings, check the total wattage against the plug's rating. LED strings use far less power, so one outlet can handle many strings.
Power: Plug In, Battery or Solar
Smart plugs only control lights that plug into an outlet. Solar and battery strings have their own timers, so a smart plug will not help with those.
Weather Rating
Choose an outdoor plug with IP44 or IP64 protection for porches and yards. Indoor plugs like the Kasa Ultra Mini should stay inside, near the tree.
Length, Coverage and Connectability
Count how many separate zones you want to control. A dual outlet plug handles two zones, and the meross three socket outdoor plug handles three.
Controls and Smart Features
Look for sunset scheduling, voice control and away mode. Dimmer plugs like the Kasa outdoor dimmer and TREATLIFE dimmer let you adjust the brightness of compatible LED strings.
Installation Hardware
Most plugs simply plug into an outdoor outlet. Use outdoor rated extension cords and keep connections off the ground with stakes or hooks.
Types of Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights
Here is how the options in our table compare.
String and icicle lights
A dual outlet plug like the Kasa EP40 or the BN LINK three outlet plug can run icicle lights on the roof and string lights on the bushes on separate schedules.
Net and curtain lights
Net lights on shrubs and curtain lights in windows usually use little power. The Kasa KP401 handles them easily on its own schedule.
Solar lights
Solar lights charge during the day and switch on with a built in light sensor. They do not need a smart plug.
Smart lights and plugs
If you use Apple Home, the Kasa EP40A and meross outdoor plugs support HomeKit. The Kasa EP40M supports Matter, which works across Apple, Google and Amazon ecosystems.
Indoor Trees and Mantels
Do not forget the inside of the house. The Kasa Ultra Mini four pack is small enough to sit behind a tree stand without blocking the second outlet, and the Kasa Plug Mini with energy monitoring shows exactly how much power your indoor displays use. Group them in the app as "Indoor Christmas" and you can switch the tree, mantel garland and window candles on with one tap.
Routines Worth Setting Up
Once the plugs are installed, a few routines make the season easier. Set outdoor lights to turn on 15 minutes before sunset and off at 11 pm. Add a "Good morning" routine that turns the tree on while the coffee brews, and use away mode during holiday trips so the house looks occupied with lights switching at slightly different times each night.
Installation and Safety Tips
A safe setup keeps your display running all season.
Measuring Before You Buy
Measure the distance from the outlet to each display zone. Check that your Wi-Fi reaches the outlet by testing with your phone before you buy.
Safe Power Setup
Plug outdoor smart plugs into a GFCI protected outlet. Do not exceed the plug's rated load, and close the weatherproof covers on unused sockets.
Taking Lights Down Without Tangles
Wrap each string around a piece of cardboard or a reel. Label it by zone, and store the smart plugs with their zone labels so next year's setup takes minutes.
Are Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights a Good Holiday Gift?
Yes. A smart plug is a useful and inexpensive gift for anyone who decorates. The best smart plugs for christmas lights keep working all year for patio lights, fountains and lamps.
The top rated smart plugs for christmas lights in our table all cost under $40, which makes them easy stocking stuffers.
Safety Tips Before You Buy
Buy plugs with recognized safety certifications and clear outdoor ratings. Avoid daisy chaining many extension cords, and check cords for damage each year.
Never cover a smart plug with snow or bury it in mulch. Keep it raised and protected from standing water.
If you have several displays, spread them across more than one circuit. That keeps a single tripped breaker from turning off the whole show.
FAQs
Quick answers to common holiday lighting questions.
How many lights do you need for a Christmas tree or house?
A common guideline is about 100 lights per foot of tree height. For a house, measure rooflines and windows and buy a little extra.
Are LED smart plugs for Christmas lights safe to leave on overnight?
LED lights on a quality outdoor plug use little power, but a schedule that turns them off overnight is safer and saves energy.
Can smart plugs for Christmas lights be used outdoors in snow and rain?
Yes, if they are outdoor rated (IP44 or IP64) and the covers are closed. Keep them off the ground.
How do you hang smart plugs for Christmas lights without damaging gutters?
Use plastic gutter clips for the lights, and mount the plug at the outlet with the cord secured by a hook or stake.
When should you buy smart plugs for Christmas lights for Christmas?
Buy in early November so the plugs are set up before Thanksgiving, when many people start decorating.
Final Thoughts
The best smart plugs for christmas lights make holiday displays effortless. The Kasa EP40 is our top pick, the Kasa KP401 is the best value and the Wyze Plug Outdoor is the premium choice with energy monitoring. Compare current prices in the product table above, and see our guide to the best smart christmas lights for app controlled strings. If you want a wider list, our partner site has a full guide to the best outdoor Christmas decorations.
