Electric window candles bring warm, steady light to window sills without the mess or safety worries of open flames. Whether you’re decorating for the holidays or adding a welcoming glow year-round, these compact lights are easy to set up and maintain. Many homes opt for electric window lights to uplift curb appeal and create a gentle indoor ambiance in the evening. Today’s options include the classic LED window candle, prized for long life and low energy use. Styles range from traditional brass-look bases to modern, minimalist designs, featuring automatic timers, dusk-to-dawn sensors, and adjustable brightness for both front-facing and room-facing sides. You’ll also find models suited to different power preferences and room layouts, from cords to cordless setups. Together, these choices allow you to match your décor, manage placement across multiple rooms, and maintain a consistent nighttime glow that feels welcoming from the street and calming inside your home.
What Are Electric Window Candles?
Electric window candles are small, decorative lights designed to sit on interior sills and shine outward, mimicking the charm of taper candles while eliminating the risk of open flames. Traditional electric window candles operated with incandescent bulbs. Many new offerings on the market now feature energy-efficient LED bulbs. While both offer a flameless candle option the new LED offerings provide a plug-in window candle that won’t get hot to the touch and a more energy efficient operation.
History & Tradition of Window Candles
Window candles trace back to colonial America and parts of Ireland, where a single taper in a window symbolized hospitality and safe passage. In the 18th and 19th centuries, households placed candles to guide travelers, honor holidays, or signal a warm welcome to friends returning home. Irish tradition also used the window light during winter to represent hope and shelter. Modern practice keeps that spirit alive with safer technology. For flame-free peace of mind, the flameless candle design is now standard, offering consistent brightness through long evenings. Collectively, these updates preserve a beloved symbol while fitting neatly into contemporary home life.
Why Use Electric Window Candles?
A warm windowsill glow does more than decorate. It adds to the curb appeal, guides guests after dark, and provides calming indoor window lighting without soot or wax. 612 Vermont focuses on practical details -steady and flickering LEDs, dependable timers and sensors, as well as a simple setup across multi-window installations-ideal for everyday evenings and holiday displays alike.
Flameless Safety
December is peak candle-fire month, with Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day as the highest highlights of holiday risk mitigation using electric candles. Choose 612 Vermont’s flameless LEDs instead.
Energy Efficiency
612 Vermont uses efficient LEDs that consume less power compared to old incandescent bulbs. Lower watt draw means cooler operation, longer runtimes, and reduced replacement cycles. Across a whole-home setup, efficient LEDs translate into considerable savings if used year round.
Convenience & Longevity
Set-and-forget matters when you’re lighting many windows. 612 Vermont’s timer and sensor options remove daily on/off chores, while long-life LEDs minimize bulb changes. Weighted, stable bases keep candles upright, and consistent color temperature maintains a uniform street-facing look, even after months of nightly use during fall and winter seasons.
Types of Electric Window Candles
Different homes need different lighting options. 612 Vermont offers electric window candles that operate on sensors, timers and an in-line flip switch model. If you’ve seen terms like Luminara window candle, Celebright window candles, or Xodus Innovations candle, 612 Vermont offers comparable warmth and reliability while keeping the focus on practical features and value.
Electric Window Candles with On/Off Switch
Some users like a candle that stays on for 24-hours a day, or they want to use their own timer, such as a Wemo switch. A candle with only an on/off switch allows the user to set up their desired third party timer in their wall outlet and then plug the on/off switch candles into that timer.
Electric Window Candles with Sensor Dusk to Dawn
For the simplicity of set it and forget it there are sensor based electric window candles that come on at dusk and off at dawn. As the sun sets at different times during the year the candles will adjust accordingly to only come on during dark hours. The one caveat is to make sure your windows have a clear path to the sun’s light. If you have large trees, shrubs or overhanging porches these objects may obstruct the sun’s light enough to affect the dusk to dawn sensor. In this case a timer based model may be a better choice.
Electric Window Candles with Timer
With timer based options the risk of sensor window candles not operating as desired due to inconsistent light to all your windows is eliminated. With timer based electric window candles, simply plug them in when you want them to start their 24-hour timer cycle. They will start in the on setting and go for the stated length of time and then turn off for the balance of the 24-hour cycle.
Key Features to Consider
Before buying, ensure you have outlet access close enough to each window, inspect your window’s light path to ensure light is sufficient if purchasing a dusk to dawn window candle. Light color, the weight of the base and cord length should also be considered.
Dusk-to-Dawn Sensor vs Built-In Timer
Photo sensors allow candles to turn on at dusk and off at dawn. If your windows have a clear path to sunlight that is unobstructed by large shrubs or trees and you don’t have overhanging porches the dusk-to-dawn option will be a good choice to consider. If you have an object that might obstruct light from hitting the window candle’s sensor you should consider an electric window candle with an automatic timer. With these candles the light received by the candle doesn’t matter. Just plug them in when you want them to go on and the 24-hour on/off cycle will start. If you desire to program your own timer cycle, inline on/off switch electric window candles provide a good option. Simply plug your timer into the outlet and then plug the candle into the timer. Just keep in mind some newer LED window candles may not turn all the way off with third party timers if the timer drips a little bit of power through to the candle. LEDs run on such low energy needs that just a little power is enough to dimly light the LED.
Light Color
With traditional incandescent electric window candles a clear light bulb would be around 2700K or a warm-white light. With newer LED electric window candles you can find some variance in light color output. Companies like 612 Vermont offer LED electric window candles with cool-white, warm-white and even amber light options to choose from.
Cord Length to Outlet
One of the critical components of using electric window candles is a nearby outlet. Most electric window candles will come with a cord varying in length from 5 foot to 6 ½ foot. Ensure your windows are close to an outlet to operate electric window candles. If you have some windows that don’t have an outlet nearby you could mix and match battery operated window candles with electric window candles. Keep in mind light color and brightness may vary from a battery operated window candle to an electric window candle. 612 Vermont offers a lot of model series with electric and battery operated window candles, which helps keep the light color consistent from battery to electric versions. However, the light brightness of the electric options will be brighter than the comparable battery version.
Top Electric Window Candles for 2025
This year’s trends favor LED lights vs incandescent lights and plastic bulb shells for better durability.
Best Quality
Look for a metal based electric LED window candle from Celestial lights or 612 Vermont. These candles offer an energy efficient, bright LED light along with a heavy metal base finished in one of many different color finishes including brushed nickel, polished brass, matte onyx and antique bronze.
Best Budget Option
For value, consider 612 Vermont’s VT-1160 and VT-1188 models that feature shatterproof LED bulbs to provide durability and energy efficiency. The VT-1160 model features an inline flip switch and the VT-1188 model features an automatic timer (8 hours on/16 hours off)
Best for Features
If you are looking for more flexibility in light features, consider 612 Vermont’s VT-1670 or VT-1270 model. Both feature flicker, or steady light options and dusk to dawn sensors. For a traditional soft, warm-white light look at the VT-1670 model. If you prefer a crisp bright white light or amber light the VT-1270 offers a dual color option. Each of these models have an internal metal weight to provide additional weight to the base of the product.
Product Choice, Installation & Maintenance Tips
Start by mapping out your windows. Note sill depth, outlet access, and mullions in the windows that might interfere with your candles light depending on their height relative to your window’s mullions. For plug-in models, consider routing cords through clips to hide unsightly wires.
If your windowsills are uneven, or you are worried someone may bump them and tip them over, consider adhesive pads, or some form of tape to secure the candles to the windowsill. Some models will have a weighted base that helps prevent tipping. Others feature a plastic bulb which won’t break easily when it falls. Alternatively, suction cups or suction cups with a bracket can be used to secure the window candles directly to your window.
If you have a few windows that an electric option won’t work in, but you still want to use electric window candles, consider a company like 612 Vermont that makes both battery and electric window candles with the same lighting style and features. Do note that electric options will be brighter than comparable battery operated window candles, so a direct match to brightness will not be able to be achieved.
Look for UL or ETL registered electric window candles for added assurance a candle is safe to operate. Please note that most window candles are only suitable for indoor use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people put electric candles in their windows?
Electric window candles continue a long-standing tradition of welcoming light while eliminating fire risks. They enhance curb appeal, provide evening ambiance, and require minimal effort thanks to timers and sensors.
Are electric window candles safe?
Yes. Electric window candles are significantly safer than wax candles because they use flameless bulbs. LED versions stay cool to the touch and avoid open flames. Choosing UL- or ETL-listed models adds an extra layer of safety.
What are the best electric window candles?
The best electric window candles feature warm-white LEDs, dependable timers or dusk-to-dawn sensors, weighted bases, and durable bulb covers. Well-known options include models from 612 Vermont, Celestial Lights, Xodus Innovations, and Noma/Inliten.
Do electric window candles use a lot of electricity?
No. LED electric window candles consume very little power compared to older incandescent versions. This makes them cost-effective for nightly use across multiple windows.
Are electric window candles indoor or outdoor rated?
Most electric window candles are designed for indoor use only. Always check the manufacturer’s specifications before using them in outdoor or exposed environments.