‘Tis the season to be joyful—and safe
The holiday season is rolling in, and for many homeowners, that means it’s time to learn how to hang Christmas lights on your roof without a ladder. One simple solution is to use a light-hanging pole that only requires attaching the lights to the pole’s clip and using its extended arm to hook the clip over your gutters.
Whether you're looking to hang holiday lights on your roof or gutters, we've got some helpful tips on how to put Christmas lights on a roof without a ladder—and do it safely.
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.
Save yourself time before you start by deciding where you’ll hang Christmas lights on your roof. What’s your layout going to look like this year? Perhaps you want to stick to decorating the gutters or eaves, which are much easier to reach than the peak of your roof. You can still frame your home with lights by hanging them low on your roof, which you can do without a ladder.
Ask yourself questions like:
How many lights do you have to hang?
What's your budget for lights and tools (if you're shopping for new ones)?
How many fasteners/clips will you need?
Draw a diagram or bullet points of what you need to do, so you can determine which materials you may need later.
Before you begin hanging Christmas lights, you’ll need to find your power source and run extension cords. Testing your Christmas lights to ensure they work is also a good idea. If some lights aren’t working, you can learn how to fix Christmas lights before you hang them.
Next, you’ll want to lay out your lights on the ground in front of your roof. Since there are many types of Christmas lights, you might need help laying out the correct pattern. Make sure you have a trusted friend or neighbor as a spotter. Your spotter can ensure you hang the Christmas lights properly and with the right amount of space between each light.
A telescoping pole is a safe and effective alternative to a ladder. This pole extends 11 feet, allowing you to reach your roof without the hassle of a ladder. Some telescoping pole kits come with clips. If not, you’ll need to purchase them separately—and you may need more depending on how many lights you need to hang.
Here’s how to use the telescoping pole:
Insert the clip on the pincher at the end of the pole.
Place the light string onto the clip.
Extend the pole.
Push the clip down gently onto gutters, shingles, or eaves.
Release the clip. Depending on the model, most telescoping poles have a finger trigger to release the fasteners.
Hang the last light.
Repeat these steps for each light in-between, making sure to space each light 18 to 24 inches apart. This step is where your spotter’s eye and measuring tape can come in handy.
Don’t worry too much about hanging lights all over the outside of your house or trying to “balance out” your yard-to-house light ratio, either.
Other tips to hang lights without using a ladder include:
Lining the sidewalk or walkways with lights.
Adding lights to railings or light fixtures in your yard.
Invest in a big inflatable snowman or winter decoration.
Spacing out big objects in your yard.
This will help take the focus away from your house and still bring festivity to your home. Do less with more!
But perhaps the best and easiest way to hang lights on a roof without a ladder is to hire someone to do it for you. More and more, professional Christmas light installation specialists are making that obtainable for those who don’t have time or ways to hang their lights.
Depending on the specialist, you can explain exactly how you’d like them to set up your holiday lights. Some may even have templates you can choose from, making the project completely hands-off for you. Professional Christmas light installation costs $220 to $650 on average, depending on the size of the area and the number of lights or decorations you intend to hang. There are many decisions this time of year, but figuring out how to get on your roof to hang lights doesn't have to be one of them!
If you’re handy and can lift a telescoping pole, you can tackle hanging Christmas lights on the roof without a ladder yourself. You’ll need to pay for the telescoping pole (around $50), Christmas lights, clips, and outdoor extension cords.
Otherwise, you can hire a Christmas light installer near you. You’ll pay an average price of $426, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing a professional is safely hanging your lights. Best of all, you won’t need to consider using a ladder to hang or take down your Christmas lights.
The easiest way to hang Christmas lights on your roof is to attach them to your gutters, but there are plenty of user-friendly methods to try. You can use light clips to easily hook Christmas lights to your shingles, eaves, gutters, or soffit. However, using a telescoping pole is a surefire way to ensure your safety while hanging Christmas lights because it doesn’t require using a ladder or climbing onto the roof.
No gutters? No problem. Hang your Christmas lights on a roof without gutters by using roof clips that can attach to your shingles or fascia. If your roof doesn’t have either of those features, consider using parrot clips to hang lights from tiles or the edges of the rooftop. Consult a professional Christmas light installer for special decorating cases to find the best option for your home.
