How Much Does Professional Christmas Light Installation Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $219 - $686
Professional Christmas light installation costs $443, but it can range between $219 and $686, depending on your home’s size and the type of lights you choose.
Professional Christmas light installation costs $443 on average. Smaller light installation projects may cost as low as $219 while a larger installation could cost $686 or more. Professional holiday lighting can turn your humble yard into a winter wonderland fit for a fairytale. Before you get started, you’ll want to get an idea of how much your light decoration project will cost.
- Average
- $443
- Low end
- $100
- high end
- $1,300
Christmas Lights Cost by Size
Several factors can affect the total cost of your Christmas light installation project.
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 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 |
Christmas Light Installation Cost by Project
Check out the estimated cost of holiday lighting by the type of project.
| Project Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Roof lighting | $150–$2,000 |
| Driveway lighting | $60–$180 |
| Tree lighting | $75–$1,500 per tree |
| Shrub and bush lighting | $10–$20 per bush or shrub |
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.
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.
Additional Lighting Costs
Don’t forget to budget for additional holiday set-ups, such as house projections or inflatables.
Projections
Christmas light projectors run the gamut from $15 to $150, depending on the intricacy of the display—some covering a portion of the home, and others showcasing 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. These include:
| Type of Outdoor Decor | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Plug-In Inflatables | $10–$600 |
| Lawn Ornaments | $10–$2,000 |
| Light-Up Reindeer | $50–$300+ |
| LED Nativity Scene | $100–$550 |
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.
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.
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.
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. There are four major types of lights available for professional Christmas light installations.
| Holiday Lights By Type | Average Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dome | $6–$15 | Small, round lights ideal for landscape lighting |
| LED | $13–$20 | Brighter light and more sustainable option |
| Incandescent | $5–$39 | Less expensive but use more energy and burn out quickly |
| C9 | $15–70 | Fewer bulbs on a strand |
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.
| 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 |
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.
Consider the costs of hiring a local electrician to 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.
Cost to Run Christmas Lights During the Holiday Season
You can expect to pay an additional $5 to $75 per month on your electric bill to run Christmas lights during the holiday season, which typically runs for 45 days. Your overall cost will depend on the number of lights and the type of lights you choose. LED lights are much more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs.
How to Save Money on Holiday Light Installation Costs
When having your Christmas lights professionally installed, there are many ways to save money, including:
Shop for Christmas lights during the off-season for a better deal.
Fix Christmas lights instead of replacing the entire string.
Put lights on a timer so they don’t stay on through the night.
Get at least three quotes from professional light installers.
Plan ahead and book early—you can even try to request early-booking discounts.
Instead of going for elaborate decor, focus on highlighting one focal point on the outside of your home.
Halloween Lights Costs
These days, many households go all out on Halloween lighting along with professional Christmas light installation. So, you can expect to pay between $100 and $300 for an average-sized home or $1,000 or more for a large property with elaborate lighting and numerous outdoor Halloween decorations.
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’ve surveyed thousands of 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.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
People who are physically unable to hang their own lights due to injury or potential safety hazards might be better off leaving this task to a Christmas light installer near you, especially if you hope to light up high places such as the roof. In addition, those who are unsure of their ability to assess their electrical system properly might want to have a professional check it to ensure safety. Finally, if you will not be able to repair or maintain your holiday lighting through the season, some professionals include this type of repair as part of their rates and packages.
If you only need strands in safe and easy-to-reach locations and are sure of your electrical system, you can probably purchase and install lights yourself. To do this, carefully test your outlets to ensure there aren’t any sparks or other concerning issues. Your budget might also influence this decision, as going the DIY route can be significantly cheaper.
This is based on personal preference, budget, and the vibe you are going for with your holiday lighting. If you are looking for the cheapest option, incandescent lights are a budget-friendly choice. You can also opt for sheets of lights that cover areas such as trees and bushes for easier installation.
Ensure you have a safe environment for them to work on, and there aren’t items such as logs, build-up of yard materials, missing or damaged shingles, and weak areas on the roof. Communicate any known electrical issues with contractors at the beginning of the project, and consider hiring an electrician to fix those. Finally, if you are attempting the project yourself, do so when there isn’t any rain, and you can safely get your footing on the roof using proper equipment, such as an extension ladder. Don’t attempt this alone, and have a helper nearby to assist.