October 22, 2026

How many string lights do I need? A simple length guide

Quick answer: measure the route you want the cable to follow — not the straight-line distance — then add 10% for corners, drops and tie-offs. A typical patio span needs 8–12 m; a hedge run 10–20 m; a tree wrap 15–30 m.

Measure the route, not the room

String lights follow the cable path: up a post, across a beam, down another post, with a loop or two. Multiply the straight distance by about 1.3 for a typical pergola, and by 1.6 for a tree where the cable spirals.

Metres to feet, quickly

Metres	Feet	Typical use
5 m	16 ft	Balcony rail, small window
10 m	33 ft	Single pergola span, hedge run
20 m	66 ft	Wide patio, fence line
30 m	98 ft	Large garden perimeter, marquee

Spacing matters more than total length

A 10 m run with globes every 50 cm looks sparse on a big pergola; the same length with a tighter spacing reads full. Decide the look first: festoon (wide spacing, larger globes), fairy (tight spacing, tiny points), or curtain (vertical drops).

Festoon: Globe Festoon, 5 cm. Fairy: Everglow fairy lights. Curtain: Christmas Charm curtain lights.

Working out a hedge or a shrub

For a hedge, measure length × height and double it — you want light on the front face and a little on top. A 4 m hedge at 1.2 m high needs roughly 10 m of strand. Net lights do the same job faster: Starmesh net light.

Working out a tree

Wrap from the base upward, spiralling. A tree with a 30 cm trunk and a 2 m wrap height needs about 8–10 m; a 4 m tree with branching needs 20 m or more. Two shorter runs hide joins better than one long one.

Power limits

Every run has a maximum number of linked metres. If your measured length exceeds one run, either buy the longer version or plan a second power point — do not assume you can chain indefinitely.