Windows and fences give a lit property its outline at eye level. They are also where lights most often go up crooked, because trim and rails expose every uneven gap. Good results come from choosing the right attachment for the surface, measuring before cutting or buying, and planning how the power reaches each run.
Outlining windows
Measure the perimeter
Measure the top, sides and sill of the trim you want to outline. A window 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall has a perimeter of 16 feet. Decide whether to outline all four sides or only the top and sides, which leaves the sill clear and hides the lead wire running down to the outlet.
Choose minis or C9
Mini lights suit most windows because they follow narrow trim closely. 4 inch spacing minis give a crisp line on small windows; one 25 foot strand outlines a typical window with enough spare to reach down the wall. On large picture windows or tall two-story windows seen from the street, C9 bulbs on socket wire read better and match a C9 roofline above.
Attach without damaging the trim
Avoid nails, staples and adhesive hooks on painted trim: they chip paint, and adhesive can lift it when removed in cold weather. Instead, use clips that grip an edge. All in One clips hold mini light wire or C9 sockets and grip the edge of trim or siding. On vinyl or aluminum siding, the clip slides under the lip of the siding course next to the window. On metal window frames or steel doors, magnet clips hold C7 and C9 sockets without any fasteners at all.
Set the corners first. Put a clip at each corner, then fill in the straight sections at even intervals. Pull the strand snug around each corner so it turns sharply instead of rounding off.
Route the lead wire
Start the strand at the bottom corner nearest the outlet so the plug end drops straight down. Run the lead along the edge of the trim, then down the corner of the wall, not across the siding where it is visible.
Interior window lights plugged into an indoor outlet avoid outdoor wiring entirely, but they reflect in the glass and are hidden by curtains. For a crisp outline seen from the street, mount the lights on the exterior trim.
Lighting fences
Split-rail and ranch fences
Long horizontal rails are made for C9 socket wire. Run a single line along the top rail with 15 inch spacing socket wire or, for fences seen from far away, 24 inch spacing wire. Secure the wire to the rail every few feet with zip ties or clips so it does not droop between posts. Cut the wire to length for each section so there is no excess coiled at the ends.
Picket fences
Run mini lights along the horizontal back rail so the bulbs peek through the gaps between pickets, or weave a strand in and out along the tops of the pickets for a scalloped line. 6 inch spacing minis work well because the spacing is close to a typical picket gap. On a white picket fence, white wire variants hide the wire.
Posts
Fence posts can be wrapped in a tight spiral of minis, the same technique used on tree trunks. Wrapping every second or third post, or only the gate posts, adds rhythm to a long fence without running a strand up every post. The tree wrap guide has the math for estimating length.
Wrought iron and metal fences
Metal railings and gates take magnet clips for C9 sockets, or zip ties for mini light wire. Avoid wrapping wire tightly around sharp finials or cut edges.
Crossing gates and driveways
Never run wire across a gate opening or a driveway at ground level. End the run on one gate post and start a fresh run on the other. The second run can be fed from its own outlet, or connected by a jumper made from SPT-1 lamp cord with male and female slide plugs, taken overhead along an arbor or laid in a shallow channel under a path. For a driveway, a separate cord from a second outlet is almost always cleaner than a crossing.
Planning the power
- Fences are often far from the house. Measure the distance to the nearest outdoor GFCI outlet before you buy, and size the feed cord to reach without joining several cords.
- Keep every connection off the ground: tape it to a post or tuck it under the top rail.
- Put fence runs on their own timer or their own timer outlet so a problem on the fence line does not take down the windows or trees.
Common questions
How do I hang lights around a window without nails or adhesive?
Use clips that grip the trim or the siding edge, or tension the strand between two anchor points at the corners. Clips hold the wire from the side so nothing is driven into the frame, and they come off cleanly after the season.
Should I use mini lights or C9 bulbs on a fence?
Mini lights suit picket fences and decorative ironwork viewed up close. C9 bulbs on socket wire suit long split-rail or ranch fences seen from the road, where the larger bulb and wider spacing read more clearly.
How do I get lights across a gate?
Do not run wire across the gate opening. End one run at the gate post and start a new run on the far post, fed from its own cord or connected with a lamp cord jumper buried in a shallow channel or run overhead along an arbor.
Where to buy the supplies
Every item named on this site is stocked at Christmas Light Supplier, the store we link to for parts. Orders ship the same day they are placed, shipping is free on every order, and there is no order minimum and no added fees, so a single pack of replacement sockets costs the same to ship as a full install kit: nothing.
- Free shipping on every order
- Ships same day
- No minimum
- No fees