What fairy wire is
Fairy wire (also called fairy lights or dew drop lights) is a strand of tiny warm-white LEDs spaced along a hair-thin, bendable copper wire. The wire holds whatever shape you give it — coil it, weave it, wrap it — and the LEDs give off a soft firefly glow with no discernible heat. Every strand we sell runs on batteries, so there is no cord and no outlet to hide. That one fact is what makes it so useful for decorating and crafting: if you can put a small battery pack there, you can put light there.
The lineup — which strand for which job
| Product | Length | LEDs | Power | Pack waterproof? | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REP10Short — Short Wire Fairy Lights | 20 in | 10 (2" spacing) | 2× CR2032 coin cells | No | Pint jars, small crafts, single ornaments | $1.82 |
| REP10 — 39 Inch Fairy Wire | 39 in | 10 (4" spacing) | 2× CR2032 coin cells | No | Mason jars, wreaths, centerpieces | $1.82 |
| CRFW — Warm White Fairy Wire Lights | 39 in | 10 or 20 (your choice) | 2× CR2032 coin cells | No | Centerpieces, floral work, costumes | $1.82 (20-LED +$1.00) |
| CRFW20LONG — 78 Inch Fairy Wire | 78 in (6.5 ft) | 20 (4" spacing) | 2× CR2032 coin cells | No | Full wreath wraps, garlands, headboards | $2.92 |
| WINE — Wine Bottle Fairy Lights | 20 in | 10 | 3× AG13 (cork-shaped pack) | No | Wine bottle decor, hostess gifts | $2.20 |
| RA36 — 6 Ft Remote Fairy Wire | 6 ft | 36 (2" spacing) | 3× AA | Yes | Mantels, porch decor, outdoor wreaths | $9.90 |
| RA100 — 16.5 Ft Remote Fairy Wire | 16.5 ft | 100 (2" spacing) | 3× AA | Yes | Christmas trees, big garlands, outdoor displays | $13.20 |
Coin cell vs. remote models — the short version. The coin-cell strands (Fairy Lights: Small (Coin Cell)) are the light, cheap, hide-anywhere option: the battery pack is only about 2" × 0.8", runs about 60 hours, and the batteries are replaceable. The remote models (Fairy Lights: Remote Controlled) are the workhorses: a bigger AA battery box that is waterproof, a remote with 7 flashing modes plus steady-on, a dimmer, and a 6-hour timer that repeats daily (6 hours on, 18 hours off).
Holiday decorating
Christmas trees. Fairy wire is an accent light, not a replacement for your main tree lights — think fireflies drifting through the branches. One RA100 (16.5 ft, 100 LEDs) woven through a 5–6 ft tree gives a light accent; use two for denser coverage. Push the wire deep toward the trunk as well as out to the branch tips — the depth is what makes it look magical instead of dotted. The AA pack is waterproof, so the same strand works on a porch tree.
Wreaths. A standard 24" wreath takes one 78" CRFW20LONG for a full wrap with lights all the way around. A 39" strand (REP10 or CRFW) covers a smaller wreath or a half-wrap accent. Tuck the battery pack behind the wreath at the bottom, where the door hanger or a bow hides it. Putting the wreath on a porch or front door? Use the RA36 instead — its battery box is waterproof, the coin-cell packs are not.
Garlands and mantels. The RA36 is exactly 6 ft, made for a standard mantel garland — weave it in and out of the greenery rather than laying it on top. For a long staircase garland or a double-swag look, the RA100's 16.5 ft gives you length to spare. Set the remote timer once and it will light every evening and shut itself off — no reaching behind the garland every night.
Mason jars and bottles. The classic: coil one 39" strand (REP10 or CRFW, 10 or 20 LEDs) loosely inside a quart mason jar and set the battery pack just under the lid, or tape it to the back of the jar for a floating look. Pint jars and small bottles take the 20" REP10Short. For wine bottles, skip the coiling — the WINE strand's battery pack is shaped like a cork and sits right in the bottle neck. A row of lit bottles down a holiday table looks like you spent far more than $2.20 a bottle.
Centerpieces and tablescapes. The wire strand itself is waterproof, so you can submerge it in a vase of water with floating ornaments or cranberries for a glowing centerpiece — just keep the coin-cell battery pack dry and outside the water. Weave strands through table greenery, around candle holders (the LEDs make no heat, so they're safe next to real candles and dried decorations), or under a glass cloche.
Outdoors. Only the RA36 and RA100 have waterproof battery boxes — those are your outdoor strands (porch wreaths, railing garland, mailbox swags). The coin-cell strands' wire can get wet, but the battery pack cannot, so keep coin-cell displays under cover with the pack sheltered.
Crafting with fairy wire
It's safe on delicate materials. These LEDs produce no discernible heat, so fairy wire can touch paper, cardstock, fabric, foam, dried flowers, and natural fibers without scorching or melting anything. That opens up projects plug-in lights can't do: light-up paper lanterns, illuminated fabric wreaths, glowing floral arrangements that stay lit after the flowers dry.
The wire is the structure. Because the wire holds its shape, it doubles as an armature: bend it into stars, hearts, words, or tiny trees and the lights follow the form. For shadow boxes, dioramas, and model scenes, the 20" REP10Short puts 10 lights into a small space with a battery pack compact enough (2" × 1" × 0.5") to hide behind the frame.
Jars, terrariums, and resin. Coil a strand inside terrariums, fairy gardens, and glass ornaments. Crafters also embed fairy wire in resin pieces — if you try it, do a small test pour first, keep the battery pack outside the resin, and plan your battery changes before you seal anything up.
Costumes and wearables. The coin-cell strands weigh almost nothing and the pack is small enough to pin inside a hem or pocket. CRFW strands are a longtime favorite for light-up costumes, tutus, and hats — no heat against skin or fabric, and no cord to a wall pack.
Two hard rules for crafters:
- Don't cut the wire. These strands are wired as one circuit — cutting it kills the lights past the cut. If a strand is too long, coil or double-back the extra; don't trim it.
- Strands don't connect end-to-end. Each strand runs on its own battery pack. For a longer run, use a longer strand (up to the RA100's 16.5 ft) or overlap two strands so the light looks continuous.
Planning your project
Battery math (coin-cell strands). A fresh set of CR2032s runs about 60 hours total, at full brightness for roughly the first 15 hours, then gradually dimming. At 6 hours an evening, that's about 10 evenings per set. Practical tip: if you're decorating for one big night — a party, a wedding, Christmas Eve — put fresh batteries in that day and save the half-used sets for everyday glow. Batteries are replaceable on every coin-cell strand we sell; extras are cheap insurance.
Use the timer on remote models. The RA36 and RA100 timer runs 6 hours on / 18 hours off, repeating daily. Set it at dusk on day one and your display keeps your schedule all season — and your AA batteries last far longer than leaving strands on around the clock.
How much wire do I need? Quick starting points:
- Quart mason jar: one 39" strand
- 24" wreath: one 78" strand
- 6 ft mantel garland: one RA36, or one RA100 for a double swag
- 5–6 ft Christmas tree (accent): one to two RA100 strands
- Wine bottle: one WINE strand
Care and safety
- Storage: coil strands loosely around a card or your hand — sharp kinks shorten wire life. Pull the batteries out before storing for the season so a leaking cell can't corrode the pack.
- Button battery warning: coin-cell strands use CR2032 batteries, which are a serious swallowing hazard for small children and pets. Keep battery packs and spare batteries out of reach, and keep strands away from children under 3. (This warning is printed on every product page, and it matters.)
- Water: wire strands can be submerged; coin-cell battery packs cannot. Only the RA36/RA100 AA boxes are waterproof.
FAQ
How long do fairy lights stay lit on one set of batteries?
Coin-cell strands run about 60 hours total — brightest for the first ~15 hours, then gradually dimmer. At 6 hours an evening, plan on roughly 10 evenings, then swap in fresh CR2032s (the batteries are replaceable on all our coin-cell strands).
Can fairy wire get wet?
The wire and LEDs can — crafters submerge them in vases. The battery pack is the limit: coin-cell packs must stay dry. For fully outdoor use, the RA36 and RA100 have waterproof AA battery boxes.
Can I cut fairy wire to length?
No. Each strand is a single circuit; cutting it disables the lights beyond the cut. Coil the extra instead, or size down to a shorter strand.
Which fairy wire is best for a Christmas tree?
The RA100 — 16.5 ft and 100 LEDs with a remote and timer. One strand accents a 5–6 ft tree; two give fuller coverage. Its battery box is waterproof, so it also works on outdoor trees.
Are fairy lights safe around paper, fabric, and dried flowers?
Yes — the LEDs produce no discernible heat, which is exactly why crafters use them in paper lanterns, fabric wreaths, and dried arrangements where plug-in lights would be a risk.
What's the difference between the coin-cell and remote fairy wire?
Coin-cell strands are smaller, lighter, and cheaper — made to hide in jars, centerpieces, and crafts, with a simple on/off switch. Remote strands (RA36, RA100) are longer, run on AA batteries in a waterproof box, and add a remote with flashing modes, a dimmer, and a repeating 6-hour timer for displays you set up once and run all season.