Guide
Christmas light installation: DIY vs hiring a pro
Hanging lights yourself costs a fraction of a professional install, but pros bring the ladder work, design, takedown and storage. Here's how the costs compare and how to decide.
Updated October 6, 2026 · By the Trade Pricing Control team · Where our prices come from
Cost comparison: DIY vs professional
| Roofline length | DIY lights (first year) | Professional install |
|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | $25 – $100 | $250 – $600 |
| 100 ft | $50 – $200 | $500 – $1,200 |
| 150 ft | $75 – $300 | $750 – $1,800 |
| 200 ft | $100 – $400 | $1,000 – $2,400 |
| 300 ft | $150 – $600 | $1,500 – $3,600 |
DIY figures are for lights only at $0.50 to $2 per foot. Add $10 to $50 for an outdoor timer, plus clips and outdoor-rated extension cords. Professional prices are HomeGuide's 2026 ranges at $5 to $12 per foot, including lights and labor. Some smaller companies quote less, especially if you supply the lights. HomeAdvisor reports labor alone at about $2 to $5 per foot.
What a professional install includes
- Commercial-grade lights, often leased for the season, so you don't buy or store them
- Design and measuring: roofline, windows, trees, bushes and walkways
- All the ladder and roof work, plus clips, cords and timers
- Repairs during the season if a strand or bulb goes out (ask whether this is included)
- Takedown and storage in January. When it isn't bundled, removal alone costs about $100 to $400.
Professional cost by home size
| Home / package | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Single-story home | $250 – $2,400 |
| Two-story home | $500 – $3,600 |
| Three-story home | $750 – $5,000 |
| Basic roofline only | $250 – $1,500 |
| Full package (roofline, trees, bushes) | $750 – $5,000 |
| Wrapping a small tree | $75 – $200 |
| Removal only | $100 – $400 |
When DIY makes sense
- You have a single-story home with a low, easy-to-reach roofline
- You already own a sturdy ladder and have someone to hold it
- You want to reuse the same lights for several years. LED strings last many seasons and use far less electricity than incandescent.
- You enjoy the project and don't mind taking everything down in January
When to hire a pro
- Two- or three-story homes, steep roofs or hard-to-reach peaks
- Large displays with trees, bushes and walkways
- You don't want to store, test and untangle lights every year
- Safety: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission counted about 15,000 holiday decorating injuries treated in emergency departments in a single November–December season, and 34% were falls.
How to hang Christmas lights safely yourself
- Measure your roofline and every other area you want to light, then buy about 10% extra.
- Buy outdoor-rated lights and cords. LED C9 or mini lights are the most common for rooflines.
- Test every strand on the ground before you climb up.
- Use plastic light clips, not nails or staples, so you don't damage gutters or shingles.
- Plug into an outdoor GFCI outlet and don't overload a circuit or chain more strands than the box allows.
- Follow ladder basics: set it on firm, level ground, keep three points of contact, have someone hold it, and skip windy, wet or icy days.
- Add a timer so the lights come on at dusk and go off at bedtime.
What about permanent lights?
Permanent LED systems are mounted under the roofline year-round and controlled from an app, with colors for every holiday. They cost about $20 to $40 per foot, or roughly $2,000 to $8,000 for 100 to 200 ft. They can beat paying for installation every year if you'd otherwise hire a pro for several seasons, but they cost far more upfront than DIY.
When to book an installer
Book in October or early November. Installers often fill their schedules before Thanksgiving, and installing earlier usually means more choice of dates. Ask for a written quote that says whether lights, takedown and repairs are included.
Run a lighting business, or adding it to window or gutter cleaning? Read how much to charge for Christmas light installation. The Christmas light calculator builds a quote by the foot with a minimum charge and shows what each job pays per hour.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have Christmas lights put up?
Most installers charge $5 to $12 per linear foot including lights and labor, so a 150 ft roofline costs about $750 to $1,800. Minimums of around $250 are common, and takedown is often included or costs $100 to $400.
Is it cheaper to put up Christmas lights yourself?
Yes. Lights cost about $0.50 to $2 per foot, so a 150 ft roofline is roughly $75 to $300 in lights plus a timer and clips, and you can reuse them for years. You do the ladder work, takedown and storage yourself.
Do Christmas light installers take the lights down?
Most include takedown and storage in their price, usually in January. If it isn't included, removal alone costs about $100 to $400.
When should I book Christmas light installation?
October or early November. Many installers fill their schedules before Thanksgiving.
Are permanent Christmas lights worth it?
They can be if you'd otherwise pay for professional installation every year. Permanent systems cost about $20 to $40 per foot, roughly $2,000 to $8,000 for 100 to 200 ft, and stay up year-round.