Why Smart Plugs Are the Best Outdoor Light Timers and How to Use Them

Smart plugs are more versatile than manual timers and cost about the same

By Daniel Wroclawski
Senior Home & Appliances Writer

Updated October 4, 2023

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

a house at night during winter with holiday lights turned on — Smart plugs offer a whole new level of control for holiday light displays.

Maybe you love displaying giant inflatable ghosts, strings of spooky lights, fog machines, or strobe lights at this time of year. But programming light timers to turn everything on and off each night? Not so much.

A smart plug can help. Plug one into an outlet, plug your lights into it, and program them from your smartphone so that they turn on at dusk and switch off at midnight—or dawn, if you want to keep the Halloween fun going all night long.

We’ve tested 15 smart plugs, including both indoor and outdoor models. The outdoor models in particular are very handy for Halloween light displays. Prices start at just $8 for indoor models and $18 for outdoor models, with options available from Amazon, GE Lighting, Leviton, TP-Link, Wemo, Wyze, and other brands.

Many outdoor smart plugs, including this TP-Link model, turn one outlet into two that you can control independently.

How to Use a Smart Plug as an Outdoor Light Timer

Here’s how to set up your smart plug as an outdoor light timer in three simple steps. Once you’ve set it up, you can keep the plug handy for your other outdoor holiday decorations. You can also use it anytime for controlling household items like fans, lamps, and heaters. (For more ideas on how to use smart devices to make your home more convenient, efficient, and fun, see our smart home toolkit.)

Step 1: Pick a Plug

If you’re using an indoor outlet in, say, a garage, any smart plug will do. Outdoor outlets require an outdoor smart plug. These tend to cost a bit more than indoor models and are becoming more widely available in stores. And if you need an extension cord, make sure it’s rated for outdoor use.

If you need to power a particularly elaborate light display, consider a multi-outlet outdoor smart plug with a yard stake. These plugs typically have three to six outlets and a 6-foot power cord. They aren’t as widely available, though, and are made only by a few lesser-known brands, such as Enbrighten, Feit Electric, and WiOn.

Whichever smart plug you get, make sure it has sunrise and sunset automation and uses WiFi. Models from Amazon, Feit Electric, GE Cync, Leviton, Meross, TP-Link, and Wemo have both. If you buy a plug that doesn’t use WiFi, you may have to buy an additional hub to connect it to the internet. For example, Lutron smart plugs require an $80 bridge, while Ring smart plugs require a $50 bridge. (Ring company offers the plug and bridge in a $50 bundle to get you started.)

If you buy a plug that lacks sunrise and sunset automation, your only other option is to connect it to a compatible smart home control app (Amazon Alexa, Apple Home/Siri, Google Home/Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings) and use the app’s sunrise/sunset automations.

Based on our lab tests of 15 smart plugs, we recommend going with the GE Cync Indoor Smart Plug CPLGSTDBL, $15, for indoors and the Amazon Basics Outdoor Smart Plug HPPA52CWBAMZ, $24, for outdoors. If you want to buy both indoor and outdoor smart plugs from the same brand, you could also consider the GE Cync Outdoor Smart Plug CPLGOD2BLG1, $30, so that you can control all of your plugs from the same app. For more options, see our review of the best smart plugs.

Shop smart plugs: Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Walmart

Step 2: Set Up the Smart Plug

Insert the smart plug into the outlet you want to use, download its smartphone app, and set up your account. Add the plug to your account and enter your WiFi credentials so that the plug can join your WiFi network.

The app may ask for your address or access to your smartphone’s location, which you’ll need to provide in order for the plug to look up your local sunrise and sunset times. If your plug offers two-factor authentication, be sure to enable it for added security against hackers. (For more digital security tips, see our guide to locking down smart home devices.)

Step 3: Program the Plug

Look for the Rules or Scheduling settings in the app. (It may also be called Routines, Automations, or something similar.) You can choose sunset as the time for the plug to turn on, if you want holiday decorations to come on when it gets dark. Next, set the plug to turn off at midnight, sunrise, or another time of your choosing.

Then sit back and bask in the glow of some low-maintenance Halloween fun!

Daniel Wroclawski

Dan Wroclawski is a home and appliances writer at Consumer Reports, covering products ranging from refrigerators and coffee makers to cutting-edge smart home devices. Before joining CR in 2017, he was an editor at USA Today’s Reviewed, and launched the site’s smart home section. In his spare time, you can find him tinkering with one of the over 70 connected devices in his house. Follow Dan on Facebook and X: @danwroc.