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Best Wind Chimes

Updated March 2024
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Woodstock Chimes Amazing Grace
Woodstock Chimes
Amazing Grace
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Classic Elegance
Bottom Line

These chimes look great and beautifully evoke a beloved classic song that is instantly recognizable.

Pros

Well-made, with a classic look and pleasant sound. The chimes are in tune for "Amazing Grace" and echo notes in the song. The tubes are durable even in higher winds.

Cons

Wooden disc on top is prone to cracking according to some users.

Best Bang for the Buck
Monster QE Wind Chimes
Monsiter QE
Wind Chimes
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Beautiful Design
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Elegantly designed with blue dragonflies this chime makes a fun addition to anyone’s garden.

Pros

Built with 4 durable pipes and 6 bells that easily blow in the wind without getting twisted while making pleasant, soothing sounds.

Cons

Quite a bit smaller than most buyers anticipated.

Bursvik 37-Inch Aluminium Wind Chimes
Bursvik
37-Inch Aluminium Wind Chimes
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A lovely addition to any backyard, this large set is perfect for those looking for a classic design.

Pros

Wood pieces are made of pine and the pipes are 13mm thick aluminium tubes. The wooden hanger and aluminum tubes come together to make a beautiful, soulful sound.

Cons

Some felt these were smaller than expected as they are 37 inches from hook to flapper.

UpBlend Outdoors Wind Chimes
UpBlend Outdoors
Wind Chimes
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Variety of Colors
Bottom Line

A medium-sized wind chime that creates a gentle and relaxing tune for you to enjoy.

Pros

Beautifully designed and crafted with high-quality materials. The medium size is just big enough to make soothing sounds without being overly loud in large wind gusts.

Cons

Not activated by gentle breezes.

Bay Isle Home Decoteau Bamboo Wind Chime
Bay Isle Home
Decoteau Bamboo Wind Chime
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Unique Look
Bottom Line

These wooden wind chimes make a soothing addition to any outdoor area.

Pros

The lovely sound of these bamboo wind chimes will instantly relax you in your outdoor space. No assembly is required and these measure 31 inches from hook to hanger.

Cons

Some buyers noted these did not hold up over time.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

57
Models
Considered
116
Consumers
Consulted
18
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best wind chimes

Wind chimes turn the breeze into music. Perhaps this is why people have been enjoying their melodic sounds since ancient times. In fact, the remains of wind chimes made from bone, shells, bamboo, and wood dating back to 3000 BC have been found in Asia.

While those ancient wind chimes had spiritual significance, today, most people just like to hear the pleasant tinkle, ring, or gong of the wind playing through the chimes. But which ones produce the best sound? Which sets are worth hanging in your yard, and which are better left on the store shelf?

If you’re ready to hang a set of wind chimes in your backyard and enjoy the sound, check out our five recommendations. If you’d like to learn more about wind chimes in general, including how to pick the best set for you, read the shopping guide.

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Many wind chime makers can engrave the sail to your specifications, making the wind chimes a lovely gift for a wedding, birthday, or other special occasion.

Wind chime parts

Wind chimes are percussion instruments that make sounds when moved by the breeze. When discussing wind chimes, it helps to know their parts.

  • The metal or knotted string loop at the top is for hanging the chimes.

  • The suspension cords stretch from the hanging loop to the suspension platform. They can be synthetic cord or thick string.

  • The suspension platform is usually round. It can be made of wood, plastic, ceramic, or metal.

  • The tubes hang from the suspension platform. They produce the sound and can be metal, glass, seashell, bamboo, or other materials. Their material, width, length, and number determine the types of sounds produced.

  • The clapper, or striker, is suspended in the middle of the tubes. As the wind blows through the chimes, it causes the clapper to strike the tubes, creating the sounds.

  • The sail dangles from the clapper on a thick cord and hangs below the tubes. It helps catch the wind and provide momentum to swing the clapper back and forth. It can be made of wood, bamboo, ceramic, glass, shell, or plastic. The larger the sail, the stronger the wind needed to move it.
     

When purchasing wind chimes, keep in mind that the stated length is usually the total distance from the top of the hanging loop to the bottom of the sail, not just the length of the tubes.

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Expert Tip
If you live in an apartment or have neighbors nearby, be sure your chimes aren’t going to bother other people. Some apartment complexes forbid outdoor wind chimes altogether, so check with management before hanging them.
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Wind chime tube materials

You’ll find wind chime tubes made from a variety of materials.

Metal

Metal is the most popular and the most musical. You’ll find metal chimes made of copper, aluminum, and steel. High-quality, artisanal wind chimes are often tuned to specific notes or tones and sometimes designed to play the notes found in popular songs or hymns. Metal is the most durable material.

Bamboo

Bamboo wind chimes are also popular, especially if you like Asian or natural themes. Lightweight bamboo tubes produce a soothing, natural sound somewhat reminiscent of running water or rain, but they can’t be tuned the way metal tubes can. Bamboo is not as durable as metal, and the tubes may eventually crack if hung outdoors.

Capiz shell

Capiz shell wind chimes are not really musical; their sound is more of a gentle clatter. They are colorful and add a tropical touch to your yard. They are not nearly as durable as metal or bamboo chimes, so they should be hung in a protected location.

Glass or ceramic

Glass or ceramic wind chimes produce a lovely and soothing sound like the sound you hear when gently tapping a fork against a metal glass, but they aren’t really musical. These wind chimes are delicate, so they aren’t for use in any location subject to strong winds.

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Did you know?
Most artisanal or high-quality wind chimes begin ringing when wind speed is over six miles per hour.
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Wind chime sounds

Do you like a pleasant tinkling sound, or do you prefer church bells or gongs? The size of the tubes – both diameter and length – determines the type of sound the wind chimes produce. This is the most pronounced with metal tubes, but you’ll also notice the effect with bamboo chimes.

For the highest tones, look for wind chimes that are less than a foot to two feet long (from the top of the hanging ring to the bottom of the sail). Their sound is more of a ringing tinkle than a deep bell.

For sounds in the middle range, look for wind chimes that are two or three feet long. These chimes often have more tubes than longer wind chimes and so produce a wider variety of tones.

For the deepest sounds, you’ll want wind chime tubes that are four feet or more in length. These chimes produce low, long-lasting baritone, tenor, or bass tones reminiscent of a church bell. You’ll need a high hanging spot to showcase these chimes.

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Did you know?
In quality wind chimes, the placement of the clapper is carefully calibrated to produce the best sound.
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Tips

  • Hang the wind chimes directly from their hanging ring. Adding extra cord can alter the tone and allow the whole wind-chime assembly to sway rather than just the clapper and sail.

  • Hang your wind chimes in a spot where you can enjoy them, such as near a patio seating area, the front or back door, or on a balcony.

  • Hang your wind chimes high enough so you won’t accidentally walk into them.

  • Hang your wind chimes in an open area where breezes from various directions can reach them to produce the best sound. Try to hang them where walls, trees, screens, and other objects don’t block the airflow.

  • Hang your wind chimes in a protected spot. Intense heat and sun can weaken the wood and hanging cords.

  • Take down your wind chimes if the wind is exceptionally strong.

  • It’s best to take down your wind chimes in very cold weather to prevent damage.

"While glass or ceramic wind chimes create interesting sounds, and bamboo wind chimes can be soothing, metal wind chimes produce the purest, most musical tones."
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Wind chime prices

Wind chimes vary widely in price, depending on materials and quality.

  • For $10 or less, you’ll find inexpensively made wind chimes designed for appearance only.

  • For $20 to $50, you’ll find small, decent-quality wind chimes that look and sound good.

  • For $50 and more, you can buy large, good-quality wind chimes.

  • For $100 and more, you can find artisanal wind chimes tuned to specific tones or music.

Don’t forget appearance when shopping for wind chimes. While sound is the most important factor, you also want chimes that look good and add a decorative element to your garden or patio.

FAQ

Q. Can I hang wind chimes indoors?
A.
Absolutely! While it’s true you won’t get much of a breeze indoors, a small set of wind chimes near a window will provide a pleasant sound.

Q. How should I take care of my wind chimes?
A.
A quality set of wind chimes can be quite expensive. Take care of your investment by applying wood oil to any wooden parts each year. Wipe down the cords and tubes with a gentle dish detergent on a wet rag every few months to remove dust, bird droppings, or cobwebs.

Q. Does it matter how many tubes my wind chimes have?
A.
Yes, the more tubes, the more tones the wind chimes can produce. You’ll generally find that medium-length wind chimes have the most tubes and longer wind chimes have the fewest.

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