Christmas Lights Installation Cost Factors
Several factors can affect the total cost of your Christmas light installation project. These include the square footage of your lights, your home’s size, the size of your roof, and more.
Square Foot
You’ll pay anywhere from $2.50 to $7 per linear foot to have a professional install Christmas lights on your property. This total accounts for the materials, which cost around $0.50 to $2 per linear foot, and the installation itself, which ranges from $2 to $5 per linear foot.
Home Size
A small, one-story home will cost far less than a multi-story home due to the size difference. Here is a breakdown of different home sizes and estimated Christmas light costs:
| Home Size and Square Footage | Low Price | High Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 – 2,000 sq. ft. One-story | $250 | $600 |
| 2,000 – 3,500 sq. ft. One-story | $300 | $750 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 sq. ft. Two-story | $400 | $1,000 |
| 2,500 – 3,500 sq. ft. Two-story | $500 | $1,200 |
| 2,500 – 4,000 sq. ft. Three-story | $700 | $1,800 |
| 4,000+ sq. ft. Multi-story | $500 | $1,800 |
Roofs
Installing Christmas lights onto your roof can cost between $150 and $1,200. Costs can increase by 20% for more dangerous jobs because they require special equipment such as an extended-height ladder or scaffolding.
Driveways
You’ll pay around $60 to $180 to install lights around your driveway. Adding lights to a driveway is a subtle but effective way to enhance your pathway without breaking the budget.
Trees
The cost to wrap lights around a tree is between $75 and $1,500 per tree on average. Small trees tend to cost up to $200, while trees that are 30 feet or more in height could cost upwards of $1,500. If you’re hiring a pro to install lights on multiple trees, multiply this number accordingly.
Electrical Wiring
If your home needs new electrical wiring before you can install lights, you’ll spend around $50 to $100 per hour to hire a local electrician to do the job. This service is unlikely to come included in your Christmas light installer’s services, as most installers aren’t qualified to do electrical work. However, your pro may provide you with extension cords if needed.
Permanent Installation
For a permanent Christmas light installation, expect to pay around $3,500. This high upfront price could save you money in the long run—especially if you typically hire a professional installer to set it up, remove, and store your Christmas lights every year. Permanent lights use LED bulbs and can last six to 10 years.
Labor
Typically, professional contractors charge between $2 and $5 per linear foot, not including the lights. This price range covers the installation, removal, and sometimes maintenance during the agreed-upon time frame they are on display.
Your contractor will determine the cost of your project by measuring and estimating the linear footage of your home, accounting for rooftops, roof edges, trees, yards, and extra features. Contractors may charge more or less per foot depending on how difficult the area is to access.
Christmas Lights Removal Costs
While the cost to remove holiday lights is often part of the installation package, the cost to only have someone remove lights falls between $100 and $400 on average or approximately $0.50 per linear foot.
Christmas Light Rental Costs
Some homeowners detest storing Christmas lights or don’t have the space for them once the holiday season is over. One way you can avoid ever touching the lights is to rent lights from the installation company. Christmas light rental costs range from $250 to $600 on average, though your home may cost higher than this if it’s larger than average.
Christmas Lights Prices
Christmas lights can cost between $5 and $70 per 25-foot strand if you buy them yourself, and $0.40 to $2 per linear foot if you purchase them through an installation company. The types of lights you choose may impact the overall cost of your project. There are four major types of lights available for professional Christmas light installations.
Incandescent Lighting
Incandescent Christmas lighting averages $5 to $30 per strand. These lights are a traditional type of lighting that may bring back nostalgic memories of white or cream-colored hues. They cost the least upfront but use more energy, and you may find they burn out more quickly than more expensive and higher-quality options.
LED Lighting
LED Christmas lights cost an average of $13 to $20 per strand. LED lighting is brighter, more eco-friendly, and more long-lasting than incandescent lighting. While the lights have a higher upfront cost, you’ll save money in the long run with these energy-efficient bulbs.
Dome Lighting
Dome Christmas lights cost between $6 and $15 per strand. These charming lights are smaller and rounder than other types, creating a softer, illuminated look. Some people opt for these for landscape lighting and illumination in other large areas.
C9 Lighting
C9 lighting ranges from $15 to $70 per strand. The “C” in C9 light bulbs stands for “cone,” and is a popular bulb choice for holiday lighting. This type of lighting comes in incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), or LED lighting and has fewer total bulbs on a strand, meaning you may need more to cover a large area. Available in bright and vibrant colors, C9 lighting is a fan favorite for a traditional and well-lit installation.
Additional Lights Cost Factors
If you want to deck out your yard this Christmas, common add-ons to your installation could increase the total cost of your project. Here are some additional Christmas light features to consider.
Timers
Installing a light timer adds anywhere from $10 to $50 per timer. Your installer may not charge extra to add the timer to the installation. Oftentimes, however, you can do the installation yourself.
Smart Lights
Smart lights cost between $35 and $50 per 25 linear feet. The type of bulb shape you choose impacts the total cost, and bundling a higher number of lights per package can lower the price per foot toward the lower end of this price range. Smart lights are perfect for homeowners who want to customize the colors, effects, and brightness of their Christmas lights with the simple press of a button on their smartphones.
How Much Does It Cost to Install Holiday Lights Near You?
Regions may vary across the country regarding the costs of hanging holiday lights through a professional Christmas decoration service. This is because wages can differ across states, impacting labor costs and affecting your total installation cost. In addition, material costs can be different depending on your location.
| Region | Cost |
|---|---|
| Midwest (i.e., Cincinnati, Ohio) | $515 |
| Northeast (i.e., New York City) | $650 |
| Northwest (i.e., Portland, Oregon) | $350 |
| Southwest (i.e., Phoenix, Arizona) | $400 |
| Southeast (i.e., Miami, Florida) | $750 |
Comparing quotes across multiple companies in your area can help to gauge a fair, average rate for your specific city.
Hanging Holiday Lights DIY
This is one project you may love to DIY if hanging holiday lights is something you enjoy and safely know how to do, but it may not be a good idea depending on your physical abilities and the structure of your home. In addition, it can cost money to purchase specialized supplies necessary for this job that you may not find economical to own and store throughout the rest of the year, such as an extendable height ladder.
Cost to DIY Christmas Lights
The cost to install Christmas lights yourself is simply the time and cost of the lights themselves—as well as the light clips. In addition, a tall ladder can start at around $250 and cost up to $800. Note that these light strand costs will also impact you if you decide to use a professional decorator who asks that you purchase the lights yourself.
You may also consider the potential costs of having a local electrician set up the necessary electrical wires, and adding extension cords and stakes if needed. Electricians can cost between $50 to $100 per hour, and the total cost will depend on the extent of the work required to power your outdoor lights from a safe source. While this might be a cost you only need the first year, if you are going to DIY your holiday lights every year afterward, you may not need to pay for it each additional year.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you decide to DIY your Christmas light installation, you’ll save $2 to $5 per linear foot. Expect to pay around $0.50 to $2 per linear foot for the materials. If you need to install lights more than 30 feet tall, you should hire a local Christmas light installer to do the job.
Professional installers know how to safely install Christmas lights so that you don’t injure yourself in the process. They also have the experience necessary for giving your yard the most festive and polished lights on the block.
