How Much Does Professional Christmas Light Installation Cost in Chicago? [2026 Data]

The holiday season in Chicago, Illinois, is a magical time, with neighborhoods transforming into twinkling wonderlands that bring joy to families and communities alike. But behind every dazzling display is a practical question: How much does it really cost to have Christmas lights professionally installed in the Windy City? Homeowners can expect to pay an average of $600, with typical costs ranging from $264 to $937. Whether you’re considering a traditional roofline outline or a festive extravaganza, understanding the costs is essential to making your home shine bright—without any post-holiday sticker shock.

Christmas Light Installation Cost Factors 

Chicago homeowners should expect the project cost to be split across three buckets: materials, labor, and add‑ons. Additional factors, such as home size and project scope, can affect the final bill.

Home Size

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.

Project Scope

Weatherproofing and heavier‑duty components are common local upgrades, and neighborhoods with tight street access or permit rules can add time and fees to an installer’s quote. Look up electricians near Chicago, Illinois, to discuss your visions of sugar plums and holiday lights.

Roofs

Installing Christmas lights on 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 average cost to wrap lights around a tree is between $75 and $1,500 per tree. Small trees cost up to $200, while trees that are 30 feet or more in height could cost upward of $1,500.

Shrubs and Bushes

You can expect to pay between $10 and $20 to wrap each shrub or bush in your yard. You’ll need five to 10 strands of lights per bush. With shrubs and bushes, you can choose small, cone lights or larger, brighter bulbs—whatever fits your overall design aesthetic.  

Christmas Light Type

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. There are four major types of lights available for professional Christmas light installations.

Christmas Light Installation Add-ons

Don’t forget to budget for additional holiday set-ups, such as house projections or inflatables.

Projections

Christmas light projectors range from $15 to $150, depending on the intricacy of the display—some cover a portion of the home, while others showcase a whole-home LED snowscape display. 

Additional Outdoor Decorations

Light-up novelty decor has always been a favorite for the Christmas season, and you can expect to pay between $20 and $300 for festive lawn decorations, with an additional $35 per piece installation cost. 

Timers

Installing a light timer costs between $10 and $50. Your installer may not charge extra to add the timer to the installation, but you can often 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.

Permanent Installation 

Expect to pay around $3,500 for a permanent Christmas light installation. This high up-front price could save you money in the long run, especially if you typically hire a professional installer to set up, remove, and store your Christmas lights every year. Permanent lights use LED bulbs and can last six to 10 years. If you go for a temporary installation instead, it’s helpful to know how to install Christmas lights on gutters.

Christmas Lights Removal Costs

While removing holiday lights is often part of the installation package, the cost for removal alone falls between $100 and $400 on average, or $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 ends. One way to avoid untangling strands is to rent lights from the installation company. On average, Christmas light rental costs range from $250 to $600.

Christmas Light Installation Pro Costs

Here's a breakdown of the key factors involved in professional Christmas decorating service costs, including labor, specialized electrical work, and customary tipping. 

Labor

Professional contractors charge between $2 and $5 per linear foot for Christmas light installation, not including materials. This price range covers removal and, in some cases, maintenance during the agreed-upon display timeframe.

If you’re curious how to hire someone to decorate your home for Christmas, your contractor will determine the cost of your project by measuring and estimating the linear footage of your home, taking into account rooftops, roof edges, trees, yards, and any additional features. Contractors may charge more or less per foot, depending on the difficulty of accessing the area. 

Electrical Wiring

If your home needs new electrical wiring before you can install lights, you’ll spend around $160 to $505 to hire a local electrician to do the job. This service is unlikely to be 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.

Tipping

You might be wondering, do you tip Christmas light installers? The answer is yes, it’s customary to tip holiday light installers for a job well done. If you’re happy with the service and love your professional Christmas light installation, tipping between 10% and 20% of the total bill is appropriate.

Does Christmas Light Installation Increase Home Value?

Installed seasonal lighting is unlikely to significantly affect the formal home appraisal value in Chicago, but it does boost curb appeal and perceived maintenance during the holidays—especially in neighborhoods known for their festive displays.

Practical ROI comes from safety and efficiency enhancements: professionally installed, weatherproof LED systems consume far less power, lower fire risk compared to DIY setups, and protect siding and gutters by using proper fasteners. For homeowners who plan to reinstall annually, permanent or semi-permanent systems can offer lower recurring costs and greater daily convenience.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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