Get matched with top holiday decorators in Lockwood, MO

The average cost to have a professional install Christmas lights on a roof is about $420, with most homeowners spending between $220 and $650. Some companies may charge between $1.25 and $3 per square foot, excluding the cost of the lights. For extensive or complex jobs, the cost can exceed $1,000. While doing it yourself can save money, it is only recommended if you are comfortable working at heights.

Decorating a tree yourself will only take between one and two hours, but a professional designer may take more time to create their vision. When hiring a pro, assume the work will take a minimum of three to four hours.

Cold weather can cause older incandescent Christmas lights to fail by causing cracks in the finish or the glass itself. Modern LED lights are affected in the opposite way and perform even better as the temperature drops. 

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.