Buying guide for Best Christmas light projectors
It’s time to get festive! If you’re looking for a fun new way to decorate the outside of your home for the holidays, it may be time to try out a Christmas light projector.
A device that you put in your yard, Christmas light projectors have ultra-bright LEDs or low-power lasers for displaying colorful patterns and lights against the side or front of the house. Some projectors have remote controls and options galore, while others project just one design, like giant snowflakes that move randomly across your house.
Most Christmas light projectors come with a stake that goes into the ground. You simply position the projector in the yard, plug it in (or insert the batteries), and turn it on. Voilà! Instant Christmas decorations.
Key considerations
Projection area
A Christmas light projector is easy to install and remove. However, you need to consider just how much real estate you have to cover.
Use a tape measure or measuring wheel to determine how long your house is. Then, measure how tall it is from the ground to the roof. A standard ranch-style house is 65 to 70 feet long and 8 to 9 feet high to the gutters. That would be 520 to 630 square feet. Read the description carefully to ensure the projector will cover the surface from end to end, top to bottom.
The roof will add more square footage to that, but the slant of the roof will distort the shapes or patterns. The steeper the roof is, the less distortion there will be. The flatter the roof, the more the pattern will be distorted.
Cord or battery
Lithium batteries have come a long way, and many of them can power a projector all night, but in the morning, the batteries will have to be recharged. A projector that runs off an A/C outlet doesn’t suffer from that requirement, but you will have to run an extension cord out across the yard to it. Some people don’t like cords snaking back and forth across the grass, so this is a matter of personal taste. You’ll want to give some thought to which style you prefer.
Laser safety
The lights in many of these projectors are low-power lasers. They won’t injure anyone, but they can dazzle a person’s eyes for a few seconds if they look directly into them. For this reason, you need to make sure that you only aim them at your house, not at the road where drivers could be momentarily blinded by them and have an accident.
It’s also a fact that low-power lasers have a range that is measured in the tens of miles. If your projector is aimed too high, the lights could miss the top of your roof and continue up into the sky to airline jets and other aircraft. When those lights hit the windows of the cockpit, they can create a smear of light that obscures the pilot’s vision until they get out of the laser’s path.
The FAA takes a dim view of people who interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft, so make sure that your projector doesn’t go past your roofline when you’re setting it up.
Features
Waterproof
Christmas light projectors are meant to be used outdoors; you’ll see an international “IP” code on the box or in the description. The "IP" will be followed by two numbers. That code informs you if the device in question has been tested for solid objection penetration (the first number) and moisture penetration (the second number). An X in the place of either number means the manufacturer didn’t test it.
The first number refers to anything from being able to stick a finger in a device to it being airtight against microscopic particles of dust. The range is from 0 to 6, with 0 being no protection and 6 being the greatest possible protection.
The second number refers to the ability of any kind of moisture to penetrate the device. The range is from 0 to 9, with 0 being no protection and 9 being total protection against complete submersion for extended periods and against pressurized steam.
For example, a code of IP65 would mean the device is completely protected from dust getting into it (6) and from rain splashing against it from any direction (5). A code of IPX5 would mean the manufacturer didn’t test the device for solid object penetration but did test it against moisture exposure from multiple directions.
Expert tip
Make sure that extension cords or projector cords do not lay in puddles. They are designed to be water resistant, not water submersible.
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Cord length
The length of the cord is important. Most of these devices have an optimal distance they need to be set back from the projection area in order to create a good image. If the projector has to be 25 feet from your house for best results but the power cord is only eight feet long, you’re going to need an extension cord.
Color options
Green, red, and white are popular color options for Christmas light projectors. Blue is also common. Some offer other colors, as well; a few offer a full spectrum of colors so they can be used for holidays other than Christmas. If you’re thinking about using a light projector for several holidays, it might be worth it to purchase a pricier projector with more colors available.
Pattern options
Some projectors have light programs built in; others use slides with pictures on them.
Programmed light projectors come with patterns of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, or other designs built into them. The patterns can’t be changed, so these projectors are for Christmas only.
Projectors that use slides are a bit more versatile. Depending on the manufacturer, they may offer slides for holidays like the 4th of July, Easter, Veteran’s Day, and so on.
Moving vs. stationary
Do you want moving lights or stationary ones? (Note that stationary lights that don’t move may still blink.) There’s no right or wrong answer to this question; it’s a matter of personal preference.
Temperature range
Christmas light projectors can be located inside your home or outside, but since they were originally intended for cooler temperatures outside, some have upper limits as to the temperature they can withstand. If the temperature inside (or outside in the summer) exceeds that limit, the projector could sustain some damage.
Remote control
If there are multiple options on your light projector, you probably don’t want to have to run outside to select them. Some Christmas light projectors come with remote controls for convenience. It adds a few dollars to the price, but many find the expenditure to be worth it.
Expert tip
If cords are laying across the walkway, consider placing a thin doormat over them to prevent a trip hazard.
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Christmas light projector prices
Inexpensive
The low price range for Christmas light projectors is from $6 to $20. These projectors will have limited colors or slides available on them.
Mid-range
The medium price range is from $20 to $40. This is where you’ll find the greatest range of options for color, pattern, cord length, projection area, and remote controls.
Expensive
The high price range runs from $40 to over $90. The main difference in product here: you get extended controls and movements along with extra sharpness in the projected images.
Tips
- Christmas light projectors can be placed in trees as well as on the ground. This is helpful if you’ve got a lot of concrete, hard clay, or gravel in your yard and find it difficult to anchor a projector in the soil.
- Keep the curtains closed when your light projector is on. Otherwise, you could end up with a laser poking you in the eyes.
- If you happen to look into one of the LEDs or lasers on these lights, the effect is similar to the afterimages you see when a flashbulb goes off in your face. It’s dazzling for a moment, but that’s it.
FAQ
Q. How powerful are the lasers in these projectors?
A. Actually, they’re not all lasers; some are LEDs. However, they are typically classified as Class 2 lasers or lower, meaning they are safe for general use in public.
Expert tip
If your projector does not come with an
on/off timer, consider adding one.
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Q. How far out in the yard should Christmas light projectors be placed?
A. It depends on the manufacturer, but 20 to 30 feet seems to be the average.
Q. Are Christmas light projectors waterproof?
A. Very few of them are actually waterproof, but many have a rating of at least IPX5, which means they can resist rain splashing on them from above, below, and the sides.
