If you want to illuminate your home for the holidays, but you’re not feeling too jolly about climbing up on the roof, why not learn how to hang Christmas lights on fascia? Fascia boards—the outward-facing horizontal boards that run below your roofline—are a great place to hang lights when you can’t (or don’t want to) hang them from the gutters. Lights are also easy to install with special clips made just for the job; no tool boxes required. Here’s how to light up your fascia for the holidays.
Angi Tip
Attempting tasks that require ladders in snowy conditions poses a significant safety risk due to slippery surfaces and reduced visibility. It's safer and wiser to hire a snow removal professional who is equipped to handle these challeneges safely and effectively.
When you’re hanging holiday lights, don’t forget to plug them in beforehand to make sure they work. The last thing you want is a couple of bothersome dead bulbs, or worse, a dead string altogether. While you’re at it, double-check that all your light strings and extension cords are rated for outdoor use.
Along with that, you’ll also want a hands-free way of holding the clips while you’re on the ladder. This could be a fanny pack, tool belt, or just a pocket.
Purchase Fascia Light Clips
You should always avoid hanging Christmas lights with nails or staples, as these cause permanent damage that could lead to leaks and other problems down the line. Luckily, you can hang Christmas lights on fascia with special fascia light clips (you can find these online or at your local hardware store). You’ll need around one clip for every 12 to 18 inches of string lights.
Set Up Your Ladder
Photo: amyinlondon / Adobe Stock
Once you’ve picked up your light clips and ensured your lights are in working order, set up your ladder near one end of the fascia boards. Be sure to place your ladder on flat, sturdy ground, and never climb it if you’re feeling unwell or if there’s wind and rain in the immediate forecast. It’s wise to bring a buddy along to spot you, while you work on the ladder.
Bring the Plug End of Your Lights Near the Outlet
When hanging Christmas lights, it’s always wise to start with the plug end of the light string within reach of the nearest outlet. For safety reasons, don’t leave the lights plugged in while you’re hanging them, but do make sure the plug can comfortably reach the outlet.
Install Your First Hook
Next, climb your ladder and install your first clip by pushing it onto the fascia board. Make sure the hook is facing outward. You can either place all your hooks at once, then move on to hanging the lights—or you can install a hook, then a light, then a hook, then a light, and so forth.
Begin Hanging Christmas Lights on Eaves
If you’ve opted to hang the hooks and lights at the same time, you can now start hanging your lights and adding more hooks as you go. You should need one hook for every 12 to 18 inches of lights, but feel free to experiment and find what looks best to you.
Consider Adding Soffit Christmas Light Clips
For a multi-dimensional display, consider adding lights to your soffits in addition to your fascia. As with hanging Christmas lights on fascia, there are special outdoor Christmas light holders designed to slip into your soffits without damaging them.
DIY Hanging Christmas Lights on Fascia vs. Hiring a Pro
Hanging Christmas lights on fascia, or anywhere else around your home’s exterior, can be a tricky feat. You’re also limited to your own devices, which might not always align with your festive vision. If you’re having trouble achieving your desired effect, or if you’re pressed for time, consider investing in a professional holiday light hanger. Hiring a professional Christmas light installer costs$430 on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost to hire a holiday light hanger ranges from about $220 to $650, depending on the size of your home and the complexity of your designs. That price includes the cost of the outdoor light strands and bulbs. Typically, outdoor Christmas lights themselves cost between $80 to $300 on average, without professional installation. You can get a box of lights for as low as $20, though most Christmas lights run between $4 to $50 per strand.
Soffits and fascias serve both practical and aesthetic purposes for your home and roof. While often mistaken for one another, they both have specific jobs.
Fascia boards are the long, outward-facing horizontal boards placed where the roof meets the home’s outdoor wall. These run the length of the roof, supporting the gutters and the bottom row of roof tiles. They create a neat finishing trim while also providing protection from moisture damage.
Soffits are the boards beneath the rafters that run perpendicular to the fascia boards. These protect the roof’s rafters from the elements and provide a finished look to the underside of the roof.
There aren’t many alternative methods to hanging Christmas lights on fascia without using clips. But if you don’t have fascia clips to hang your Christmas lights, you can use clothespins in a pinch. To do this, hold the strand of lights in place and clip it in place with the clothespin. Using nails or staples is never a good idea, as they can damage your fascia.
Yes, if your roof is in stable condition, you should be able to hang Christmas lights from the eaves. Hang Christmas light directly from the eaves for best results, using light clips or an alternative type of adhesive. When installing lights on your eaves, be sure to work carefully and avoid adding too much weight or pressure to them.
Yes, you can hang Christmas lights from the soffit of your roof, but it requires a bit more effort than hanging from the gutters or eaves. You’ll need to add an adhesive hook or tie to the underside of the soffit to keep the lights in place. Consider adding a soffit hook every 12 to 18 inches for best visual results.
