Get matched with top holiday decorators in Pelham, MA

While DIY Christmas light hanging is possible, there are a few reasons why outsourcing this project is in your best interest. First and foremost, your safety is essential. People who are physically unable to hang outdoor lights should consider hiring a pro for this job. Also, homes that pose a safety hazard, like multiple stories, should have a professional tackle the lighting project.

Additionally, hiring a professional holiday lighting expert is a great idea when you won't be able to maintain your holiday lights throughout the season, as many pros include repairs as part of their rates and packages.

Christmas light cords are long, thin, and flexible—which makes them exceptionally prone to tangling. As you try to untangle the very merry mess, the light bulbs and sockets may catch on the cords, making it even harder to pull cords through the knots.

You can take a few steps to prolong the life of your holiday lights. Make sure to replace burnt-out bulbs as quickly as possible to avoid overloading the rest of the circuit and knocking out more lights. Before packing them up each year, plug each strand into the wall to confirm everything is still working. Wrap the lights carefully back into their original packaging or something similar—winding a strand tightly together or leaving it to hang loose in a storage bin can lead to frayed or damaged wiring. 

Outdoor Christmas lights cost between $80 to $300 on average without installation. This comes out to about $4 to $50 per strand. You can get a box of outdoor Christmas lights for as little as $20, if you just want to decorate a small area, like a doorway. If you want to go all out and cover your entire home, you'll need between 10 to 20 strands of 100 to 200 bulbs each.