By Jasmine Harding | Updated Mar 23, 2022 3:54 PM

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Wind chimes aren’t just decorations, they elevate an outdoor space. The best wind chimes are part artwork and part percussive instrument, but they don’t all sound alike. Their melodies can be tranquil and calm, or playful and lively. Either way, wind chimes add a mood-lifting touch to a patio, garden, balcony, or porch.

The best wind chimes have a pleasant sound, an appealing design, and can stand up to the elements. Start the search for this outdoor accessory with the following shopping advice and recommendations as well as some of the top picks currently on the market.

Wind chimes make a great finishing touch to your perfect outdoor space. They produce a wide range of sounds and come in a variety of styles, sizes, designs, and materials. Whether you are looking for a soothing baritone sound or you want to hear “Amazing Grace” on your porch each morning, the best wind chimes for you will be durable, sound pleasant to your ear, look attractive, and suit your style.

The type of wind chime and the materials that go into it affect the way it looks and sounds. Some popular wind chime types include:

The design, shape, size, and material of high-quality wind chimes contribute to their tone. The material is the main factor that affects a wind chime’s sound. Common materials include metal, wood, bamboo, glass, earthenware, seashells, stone, and porcelain. Each wind chime material has a unique tone.

A wind chime’s material and size can also affect its sound clarity and volume. Metal produces a sharp, crisp tone. Some metal wind chimes may also play specific musical notes. Wood, bamboo, and glass, on the other hand, create subtler tones. Bamboo and wood, in particular, make a dull sound.

Hollow chimes produce a sound that carries further than that of solid chimes. That’s because hollow tubing allows for more vibration, which emits a louder and longer sound. Metal or bamboo tubes are often louder than styles that use flat shapes.

Chime duration depends on both the material and design of the wind chimes. The longer the material vibrates, the longer the sound will last. Wooden and bamboo wind chimes often make a brief noise. Metal chimes, especially hollow metal chimes, vibrate easily and create a longer sound.

The weight of the sail, the piece that hangs from the chime’s center cord, can also affect chime duration. Sensitive wind chimes with a light sail will jingle in the slightest breeze. It only takes a little movement in the air to get these chimes going…and going. A heavier sail makes for less sensitive wind chimes. Because these wind chimes take more wind to get moving, they will be quieter on calm days.

Metal wind chimes can produce specific musical notes. Some are tuned to play known songs. The more tubes on a wind chime, the more notes it can play. More tubes also provide more spots for the clapper (the piece that hits the chimes) to strike. That results in greater variation in sounds. Tube size also affects the note and the tone of the wind chimes. Longer tubes have a lower pitch and fuller tones. Shorter tubes have a higher pitch and sharper tones.

Wind chimes are decorative. You can find a variety of creative and unique designs to match your garden and patio decor. You can also find chimes made from recycled materials like wine bottles, which have a unique look and sound. Glass and crystal chimes are popular decorations because they reflect sunlight. Celebration and memorial wind chimes can often be customized with engravings. This adds a meaningful, personal touch to your wind chime.

Wind chimes are made to withstand the weather.  Of course, they will still deteriorate over time, so it’s important to choose durable materials. Some are available in rust- and rot-proof metal and wood. Monofilament, nylon, and braided strings can withstand some heavy weather too.

Placement is also key to protecting your wind chimes from the elements. A covered porch will offer protection from rain or possible color fading from direct sunlight, but it’s best to take your chimes inside during heavy storms and below-freezing winters. Properly-treated metal, bamboo, and wooden chimes can last a long time. Chimes made from glass or seashells may be more fragile; they can break in extreme winds but won’t rust or rot.

Wind chimes can transform your outdoor space with their lovely melody. They contribute both a design and sound element to your decor. The best wind chimes are aesthetically pleasing, lovely to listen to, and durable enough to withstand the outdoors.

Woodstock Chimes creates high-quality, musically tuned wind chimes. This wind chime has a classic look. The top is made of ash wood with a cherry finish. The six silver aluminum tubes are hand tuned to the opening notes of “Amazing Grace.” This wind chime produces a clear and light sound that is uplifting and pleasant.

Woodstock Chimes are made from weather- and rust-resistant materials. These Woodstock chimes hang at 63.5 centimeters. A unique feature is the wooden sail, which can be removed to engrave or customize.

You can enjoy the Kearui Solar Wind Chimes day and night. This unique chime has eight tubes: four made of aluminum and four made of durable plastic. Solar-powered LED lights inside the plastic tubes alternate between red, green, blue, orange, purple, and yellow.

The solar panel charges during the day, and the lights come on automatically at dark. They last 12 to 15 hours on a full charge. This rain- and moisture-proof wind chime is strung with durable nylon string. It hangs 28 inches long.

If you have a small porch or space to put a wind chime on, it can be hard to find a petite option to fit your needs. The Jamarion Painted Solar Mobile Wind Chime can satisfy that need as it is just small enough to fit above a ledge on your balcony or porch at 26.5 inches in height.

These beautiful wind chimes are made with durable acrylic and metal for a twinkling sound every time the wind blows. Plus, the hummingbird-shaped pendants have solar-powered LED illumination to glow throughout the night, providing a subtle green and red glow to your outdoor space.

At 48 inches long, these larger chimes sound deeper, richer, and more resonant than shorter chimes. This chime is tuned to the E pentatonic scale for a gentle melodic sound. The weather-resistant finish will stand up to very windy weather in your outdoor space.

The metal five-tube design makes this wind chime an option for cultivating good feng shui. You can use wind chimes for feng shui adjustments to shift energy and bring the metal element into the home. Five-tube wind chimes can represent the five elements that are important to feng shui: earth, metal, wood, fire, and water.

Nalulu’s classic wind chime is handcrafted from sustainable bamboo. Sales help support local artisans in Indonesia. The classic wind chime shape and dark wood color make this a subtle choice that will fit in with many different types of decor. This chime has a soothing and gentle tone that is ideal for relaxing.

Each wind chime has six bamboo tubes. The sail hangs 88.9 centimeters. The nylon string and varnished bamboo can withstand outdoor conditions. Bamboo is an easy-to-produce, renewable resource. Nalulu sources sustainable bamboo to create these eco-friendly chimes.

The rainbow-coloured capiz seashells in this chime sound as delicate as they look. Each Bellaa Rainbow wind chime is handmade with eco-friendly seashells and a bamboo base. This chime creates a light, tinkling sound that is quieter than most metal or bamboo chimes. The tone is relaxing and airy. Each seashell is held with a thin string to create the illusion of floating. The rainbow colors and subtle look make it a pretty decoration for indoor and outdoor spaces. It hangs 68.5 centimeters.

Constructed like a winding staircase, the Epartswide Wind Chimes are beautiful to look at and hear as they are expertly-tuned and their metal chime tone is light and airy. Made with 18 aluminum alloy tubes of varying sizes, sturdy string, and a weather-resistant wood top plate, this option is 36 inches in length making it perfect for most indoor and outdoor spaces.

For ease of use, this pick also comes with 3 stainless steel multi-use hooks of various sizes to position this chime at just the right height. Plus, these hooks provide this unit with 360-degree rotation.

Very few wind chimes on the market offer dual functionality. But, the WOODMUSIC 35” Bamboo Wood Chime offers two big essentials that every yard should have: a birdhouse and a wind chime. Due to its lightweight construction, it can be hung on your porch or even from a tree and hangs at 14.8 inches long.

Unlike some other wind chimes, this model is made with naturally weather- and insect-resistant bamboo, provides a light, soothing chime when the wind blows, and has a small birdhouse on top. It also comes with a hanging hook and nylon strings for ample durability.

Selected for its weather and rust resistance, ash wood and aluminum construction, and its ability to play “Amazing Grace” due to fine-tuning, we selected the Woodstock Chimes as our top pick. Made for those looking for sturdy, classic construction, this is an ideal chime for most houses and preferences. Taking advantage of solar-powered LED illumination, with all of the hanging hardware included and waterproof capabilities, we recommend the Kearui chimes for dual functionality as a nighttime porch light and wind chime.

Adding a soft tune to your front porch, lawn space, or porch can provide calm and ambience, day or night. Many of the wind chimes in our top picks are made with different sound preferences in mind with the added benefit of strong construction, different aesthetic styles, and weather-resistant capabilities.

Some of the featured chimes are made with aluminum or wood that can withstand high winds, rain, and light abrasions with ease while also creating your choice of soothing sounds or tunes. Some of these picks also have light seashell construction or are made with sustainable bamboo for the eco-conscious consumer.

Finally, some of the above options come with hanging hardware included or additional attachments like birdhouses. However, please be conscious of the length and weight that some of these chimes are when hung, as some reach up to 48 inches long and over 6 pounds in weight.

The best wind chimes are a simple and unique decoration, easy to install and use. The most difficult part may be choosing one. Below are some questions to consider when choosing a wind chime.

The most important factor to consider when choosing wind chimes is that they sound pleasant to you. Next, consider the style and durability.

Wind chimes can scare birds away. But over time, birds may become used to the chimes and return to your garden.

The number of chimes can vary. Fewer chimes can result in a simple melody, while more chimes create a more complex sound.

Hang wind chimes wherever there is a gentle breeze. Experiment with different areas to find a spot that’s not too still but not too windy.

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