For a backyard party or BBQ, layer your lighting: solar string lights overhead for ambiance, solar flame torches to line the path and patio edges, and a few hanging solar lanterns for warm accents. Add RGB strip lights under a covered bar or tent for a pop of color. Charge everything the day before.

Good lighting turns a dark yard into a place people actually want to linger long after the sun goes down. The trick is to layer a few light sources at different heights instead of leaning on one harsh floodlight. Below are five lights that work well for backyard parties and BBQs — four solar and one corded — plus a simple charging habit that keeps the solar ones glowing all evening.

What lights do you need for a backyard party?

Think in three layers. Overhead light — string lights run across the yard or over the patio — sets the mood and gives the whole space a warm glow. Perimeter and path light, like staked flame torches, marks edges and walkways so guests can move around safely after dark. Accent light — hanging or tabletop lanterns — adds cozy pools of light on tables, fences, and tree branches. If you have a covered bar, tent, or gazebo, add a fourth layer of colored light there with an RGB strip.

5 lights for a backyard party or BBQ

1. Solar string lights with remote — overhead ambiance

These are the workhorse of any backyard party. The solar string lights with remote come in 27, 48, and 104 ft lengths (the 27 ft strand carries 12 Edison-style LED bulbs) and run on a 4W solar panel for up to 10 hours on a full charge. The remote switches between three brightness levels — soft, bright, and extra — so you can turn them up for the party and down for winding down. A dusk-to-dawn sensor switches them on automatically, and the bulbs are shatter-resistant, which is reassuring with a crowd around. $24.99.

2. Solar flame torch lights — line the path and patio

Staked along a walkway or clustered at the edge of the patio, the solar flame torch lights give that flickering-flame look with no real fire, fuel, or heat. Each torch stands 42.9" tall, is IP67 waterproof, and runs up to 12 hours in summer (closer to 5 hours in winter) on its 2200mAh battery after a 6 to 8 hour charge. They come in packs of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 10, so it’s easy to line a whole path. One honest note: the flame is a decorative LED effect — it will not repel bugs. From $9.99.

3. Flickering flame solar lantern — warm table and hook accents

For softer accent light, set a few flickering flame solar lanterns on tables and steps, or hang them from shepherd’s hooks and fence posts. Like the torches, they use a solar-charged LED flame effect — warm, moving light with no open flame — so they’re safe around kids and food. Because they run on solar, how long they glow depends on how much sun they soaked up that day, so give them an open, sunny spot to charge.

4. RGB LED strip lights — color for a covered bar or tent

Want to turn a bar cart, drinks tent, or gazebo a party color? The RGB LED strip lights come in 50, 100, 150, and 200 ft rolls with a peel-and-stick backing and a remote that fades, jumps, or holds a static color and adjusts brightness. Two honest points: these are corded and electric, not solar, so they need a power outlet nearby, and they’re rated for indoor and covered outdoor use — keep them under a roof, tent, or awning, out of the rain. They cut at marked points if you need a shorter run. $24.99.

5. Solar hot air balloon lantern — a hanging focal point

Every party space needs one eye-catching piece, and the solar hot air balloon lantern is a fun one to hang from a tree branch, pergola, or arbor. It’s solar-powered garden decor with a warm flame-effect glow inside the balloon — charming over a dessert table or at the entry. As with the other solar pieces, it charges by day and lights up in the evening, so hang it somewhere it can catch the sun.

How long will solar party lights last at night?

It depends on the charge. The string lights run up to 10 hours and the flame torches up to 12 hours in summer, but every solar light runs shorter in winter, on cloudy days, or in shade — the torches, for example, drop to around 5 hours in winter. If your party runs late, prioritize a full day of direct sun beforehand and place panels where nothing shades them. For all-night task areas like the grill, keep a plug-in light or the covered RGB strip as backup.

Tips for the best backyard party lighting

Charge solar lights the day before. This is the single best habit for an evening party: set your solar lights out in direct sun the full day before (and the morning of) so their batteries are topped off and ready to run their longest that night. A panel that only caught a few cloudy hours will fade early.

• Layer the heights. Combine overhead string lights, ground-level torches, and mid-height hanging lanterns so light comes from several directions instead of one flat glare.
• Keep panels in the sun. Solar panels tucked under the table or in a shrub’s shadow won’t charge fully — give each one an open view of the sky.
• Light the walkways. Line paths, steps, and the route to the restroom so guests move safely after dark.
• Plan color for covered areas. Save the corded RGB strip for a tent, bar, or gazebo where there’s an outlet and a roof.

More guides

• Best solar lights for weddings & parties
• Best solar lights for a patio
• How to hang solar string lights

Specifications are current as of publication and may change. See product pages for details.