Best Outdoor Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights (Matter, Alexa & Google)
The best outdoor smart plugs for Christmas lights: weatherproof plugs that switch lights on at sunset, compared for Alexa, Google and Apple Home.
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In this article
- Compared at a glance
- The picks
- How to choose an outdoor smart plug for Christmas lights
- FAQ
- Can I use an indoor smart plug outside?
- Do outdoor smart plugs need a hub?
- Can I set lights to come on 30 minutes after sunset?
- Do smart plugs work with LED and incandescent Christmas lights?
- Will my lights turn on if the internet goes down?
An outdoor smart plug is the easiest upgrade for holiday lights: the lights come on at sunset, switch off at bedtime and you never go out in the cold to unplug them. You can also turn them on from your phone or with “Alexa, turn on the Christmas lights.”
Quick answer: for most homes, get the Kasa EP40M. It has two separately controlled outlets, an IP64 weather rating and Matter support, so it works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home. If your outlet gets hit by rain or sprinklers, choose the IP65-rated Tapo P400M. If you don’t want Wi-Fi at all, a BN-LINK dusk-to-dawn timer does the basic job – our guide to putting Christmas lights on a timer compares all three approaches.
We chose these by comparing manufacturer specifications, smart home compatibility and owner feedback. We haven’t lab-tested them, and specs below come from each brand’s listing.
Compared at a glance
| Product | Weather rating | Outlets | Works with | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for most peopleKasa EP40MCheck price | IP64 | 2, separately controlled | Matter: Alexa, Google, Apple Home, SmartThings | Matter + Kasa app |
| Most weather-resistantTapo P400MCheck price | IP65 | 2, together or separately | Matter: Alexa, Google, Apple Home | Up to 300 ft range (open space) |
| Dusk-to-dawn sensorWyze Plug OutdoorCheck price | IP64 | 2, separately controlled | Alexa, Google Assistant | Built-in light sensor, energy monitoring |
| Native HomeKitmeross MSS620Check price | IP44 | 2, separately controlled | Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings | HomeKit without Matter |
| No Wi-Fi neededBN-LINK photocell timerCheck price | Weatherproof | 2 grounded | No app | On at dusk, off after 2/4/6/8 h |
The picks
Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug (EP40M)
The safest all-round choice. Matter support means it isn’t tied to one voice assistant, so it keeps working if you switch from Alexa to Apple Home later. With two independently controlled outlets you can run the roofline lights and the yard decorations on different schedules from one plug.
- Pro: Two outlets you can schedule separately
- Pro: Matter: works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and SmartThings
- Pro: Rated IP64 and −4°F to 122°F
- Con: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
- Con: Covers must be closed on unused outlets to stay weather-resistant
Tapo Matter Outdoor Smart Plug (P400M)
If your outdoor outlet isn’t covered – near a sprinkler, or on an exposed wall – the extra protection of IP65 is worth having. TP-Link quotes a Wi-Fi range of up to 300 ft in open space, which helps when the outlet is far from your router.
- Pro: IP65 rating – protected against water jets
- Pro: Rated −4°F to 122°F
- Pro: Matter: works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home
- Con: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
Wyze Plug Outdoor
Its built-in ambient light sensor turns lights on when it actually gets dark, rather than at a fixed time. Energy monitoring lets you see how much your display really uses, which is handy if you run a big setup.
- Pro: Built-in light sensor switches at dusk and dawn
- Pro: Energy monitoring for each outlet
- Pro: IP64, two outlets, 15A
- Con: No Apple Home support
- Con: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
meross Smart Outdoor Plug (MSS620)
A long-standing favorite with iPhone users because it supports HomeKit directly, so you can add it to the Home app and use Siri without any extra setup. Its IP44 rating is lower than the others, so mount it somewhere sheltered.
- Pro: Works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings
- Pro: Two independently controlled sockets
- Con: IP44 – best under an eave or porch roof, not in open rain
BN-LINK Outdoor Light Timer with Dusk-to-Dawn Sensor
If you just want lights on every evening and off a few hours later, a photocell timer is simple and reliable. It’s also a good choice where your Wi-Fi doesn’t reach the yard.
- Pro: No app, account or Wi-Fi
- Pro: Turns on at dusk; off at dawn or after 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours
- Pro: Two grounded outlets, 15A
- Con: No phone or voice control
- Con: The light sensor must be able to see daylight
How to choose an outdoor smart plug for Christmas lights
- Weather rating: IP64 handles splashing rain; IP65 also resists water jets. IP44 suits covered spots. Whatever you buy, plug it into a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet and close the covers on unused sockets.
- Your assistant: Matter plugs (Kasa EP40M, Tapo P400M) work with all the major ecosystems. Matter needs a compatible hub, such as a recent Echo, a Google Nest speaker or display, or an Apple TV or HomePod; otherwise just use the brand’s app.
- Wi-Fi: most smart plugs only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Check that the signal reaches your outlet before you buy; a plug with a long quoted range helps. If the outlet is on a detached garage, see our guide to Wi-Fi for a detached garage.
- Load limit: these plugs are rated around 15A / 1,800W. LED light strings use very little power, so you can run a lot of them. Older incandescent strings use far more, so add up the wattage. See our guide to putting Christmas lights on a timer for the math.
- Schedules: set lights to come on at sunset rather than at a fixed time. Most brand apps support sunset schedules, so they adjust automatically as the days change.
FAQ
Can I use an indoor smart plug outside?
No. Indoor plugs aren’t sealed against rain, snow or condensation. Use an outdoor-rated plug and a weatherproof outlet cover.
Do outdoor smart plugs need a hub?
Not for the brand’s own app – they connect straight to your Wi-Fi. To control a Matter plug in Apple Home, Alexa or Google Home, you need a Matter-compatible controller, which many recent smart speakers and streaming boxes already are.
Can I set lights to come on 30 minutes after sunset?
Yes. Most outdoor smart plug apps let you add an offset to a sunset schedule, for example “sunset + 30 minutes”, so lights don’t switch on while it’s still bright. The Wyze Plug Outdoor can also use its built-in light sensor instead.
Do smart plugs work with LED and incandescent Christmas lights?
Yes. A smart plug simply switches power on and off, so it works with any plug-in light string within its rating – check the total wattage first.
Will my lights turn on if the internet goes down?
Schedules are usually stored on the plug, so they typically keep running during an internet outage. Remote and voice control return once you’re back online.
New to smart plugs? Our step-by-step guide to making outdoor Christmas lights smart walks through setup, and our Alexa and Google Home routines for Christmas lights cover sunset and bedtime schedules.
Decorating inside too? See our pick of the best smart plug for a Christmas tree. Shopping for gifts as well? See our holiday gift guide and browse more smart home guides.
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