How To Hang Christmas Lights Outdoors Without Nails, Staples Or Screws
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It’s one of the most exciting times of the year for lots of families - and with good reason! Bringing those holiday lights out of storage, and getting them ready to shine brightly on the outside of your home throughout those long, dark winter evenings is a common tradition for many households.
But then, as you start to get the lights out of the box, you pause for a second. Ah - it isn’t just as straightforward as taking the Christmas lights and swiftly hanging them on the outside of your home in a couple of minutes, is it? You think back to last year, when you tried (in vain) to wrap them neatly using a mixture of screws, staples and nails. Aside from the lights looking decidedly uneven, this risks causing damage to your property and can also be unsafe.
Thankfully, there are effective, no-damage alternatives available to solve this issue. This article will walk you through various options to ensure you can hang your holiday lights outside for a professional look - without using nails or other equipment that could cause damage.
Why should you avoid nails and staples when hanging outdoor lights?
The primary reason for avoiding using items like nails or staples when hanging lights outdoors is that it can cause damage to your property and/or trees. Once removed, a nail, staple or screw will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on a siding, brickwork, fence, or other material. Furthermore, they can cause irreparable damage to tree trunks that can lead to fungal damage or structural issues. When you consider that hanging outdoor lights is something that is done at least once per year during the festive period (not accounting for other holidays or special occasions, like Fourth of July celebrations), this damage can accumulate over the course of several years.
Using nails or staples can also mean that your lights may not be fastened securely, as strong winds or driving rain could loosen the lights from the way you have installed them. Staples or nails that are not removed will rust over time, which can look unsightly. Additionally, if you rent your home, it might also invalidate or void the terms of your lease agreement, which may mean you have to pay for repairs when you move out of the property.
4 Nail-Free Methods To Hang Christmas Lights Outdoors
Now that we’ve established that nails aren’t a great idea for hanging Christmas lights outdoors - what are your alternatives? We’ve outlined some options below, with some pros and cons for each.
Gutter or shingle clips
How they work
Plastic clips snap onto gutters or slide under shingles to hold light strands in place along the roofline.
Pros
- Inexpensive and widely available
- No damage to gutters or roofing
- Easy to install and remove after the holidays
- Great for clean, uniform lines
Cons
- Limited to areas with gutters or shingle access
- Can become brittle in extreme cold
- Not suitable for tree trunks or fences
Adhesive hooks or light clips
How they work
Stick-on hooks or clips use a peel-and-stick adhesive backing to attach to smooth outdoor surfaces like siding, windows, or columns.
Pros
- No tools required
- Ideal for mounting lights to siding, doors, or posts
- Easy to place precisely where needed
Cons
- May not adhere well in cold or wet weather
- Adhesive can leave residue or damage finishes if not removed correctly
- Not reusable
Zip ties and twist ties
How they work
Plastic zip ties or coated twist ties secure light strands to railings, fences, tree branches, or posts by wrapping and tightening around the object.
Pros
- Affordable and readily available
- Very secure hold
- Great for uneven surfaces and organic shapes like trees
Cons
- Not always reusable (unless using twist ties)
- Can damage surfaces or bark if overtightened
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Requires scissors or a knife to remove
Light-hanging poles or extension tools
How they work
Telescoping poles with hook or clip attachments allow you to hang lights on tall trees, rooflines, or other high areas without a ladder.
Pros
- Increased safety — no ladder needed
- Allows light placement in hard-to-reach spots
- Speeds up hanging process for tall features
Cons
- May require some dexterity or practice
- Bulky to store
- Doesn’t actually secure lights — you’ll still need clips or ties
How TreE-Z Wrap simplifies hanging string lights outside
If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward solution for hanging Christmas lights (or indeed, string lights for any occasion or holiday) outside your home, TreE-Z Wrap is an excellent solution that doesn’t require any nails, screws, staples or other hardware. It is also a reusable solution that saves you time putting up and taking down outdoor lights, while also reducing the time taking down lights after the festivities are over.
Designed to be affixed securely to outdoor trees, columns, posts, or railings, TreE-Z Wrap provides strong support for string lights without causing any damage to your property. The product features integrated hooks that hold lights in place evenly—no drilling, hammering, or sticky residue required. Because it’s adjustable and flexible, TreE-Z Wrap works on a variety of surfaces and shapes, making it perfect for holiday lighting.
Whether you're decorating a tree trunk or wrapping lights around a porch post, using TreE-Z Wrap makes it fast, clean, and damage-free - with a professional finish.
Designed to hold lights securely around outdoor trees, columns, posts, or railings, TreE-Z Wrap provides strong support for string lights without causing any damage to your property. The wrap features integrated hooks that hold lights in place evenly—no drilling, hammering, or sticky residue required. Because it’s adjustable and flexible, TreE-Z Wrap works on a variety of surfaces and shapes, making it perfect for holiday lighting. Whether you're decorating a tree trunk or wrapping lights around a porch post, using TreE-Z Wrap makes it fast, clean and easy - without causing any damage to your property.