Professional christmas light installation cost in 2026 runs about $5–$9 per linear foot of roofline, installed, with around $7 per foot the most common rate. For a typical single-story home, that works out to roughly $700–$1,200 for the season. A two-story home usually lands at $1,200–$2,000, and large homes run $2,000–$3,500 or more.
The rest of this guide explains what’s inside that number: what the per-foot rate covers, what pushes a quote up, what takedown and add-ons cost, and how multi-year contracts lower the price after year one. If you’d rather just run your own numbers, use the calculator.
Estimate your home in 30 seconds. Try the free christmas light installation cost calculator. Enter your roofline footage and add-ons and get a realistic 2026 price range.
Christmas light installation cost at a glance
| Job type | Typical roofline | 2026 price range |
|---|---|---|
| Small single-story home | ~100–150 ft | $700–$1,200 |
| Average two-story home | ~150–250 ft | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Large / luxury home | ~250–400+ ft | $2,000–$3,500+ |
| Per linear foot (installed) | — | $5–$9 / ft (about $7 typical) |
| Per linear foot (install only, your lights) | — | $2–$5 / ft |
These are season prices for residential holiday lighting that goes up in the fall and comes down after the holidays. Permanent christmas lights are a different product and cost considerably more per foot.
What the per-foot price includes
Almost every professional installer prices the same way: a per-foot rate for the roofline, plus line items for everything else. The per-foot rate is “all-in.” It usually bundles:
- Commercial-grade lights. Typically LED C9 bulbs on wire cut to the exact length of your roofline, not store-bought strands that come in fixed lengths.
- Clips and hardware. Clips that attach to gutters and shingles without nails or staples.
- Labor and the install. A crew, ladders, safety gear, and the time on your roof.
- Design. Deciding what gets lit so the house looks balanced from the street.
Many installers also include a service guarantee: if a section goes dark in December, they come back and fix it.
What raises (or lowers) your quote
Two homes with the same footage can get very different quotes. The biggest factors:
- Roof height and pitch. Two-story rooflines and steep roofs take longer and carry more risk, so the rate climbs. Some installers add a percentage premium for steep pitches.
- Complexity. Lots of peaks, dormers, and short runs mean more cuts and more time than one long straight eave.
- Who supplies the lights. Installer-provided commercial-grade LEDs cost more up front than reusing your own strands, but they last years and fit your roofline exactly.
- Your market. Labor rates and demand vary by region. Quotes in November, when calendars are full, are rarely cheaper than quotes in September or October.
- Add-ons. Anything beyond the roofline is quoted on top (see below).
Add-ons: trees, columns, wreaths, and takedown
Most quotes list these separately from the roofline. Common 2026 pricing:
- Wrapped trees or columns: around $95 each, more for large trees
- Wreaths and garland: around $60 per piece
- Takedown and storage: often a flat add-on of around $150, or bundled into the price
Takedown is the line to check. Some installers include January removal and off-season storage; others don’t mention it at all. Make sure your quote says who takes the lights down, when, and what it costs. (Installers: our guide to christmas light takedown covers how the pros schedule it.)
A worked example
Here’s a realistic quote for a 150-foot single-story home:
| Line item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Roofline | 150 ft × $7/ft | $1,050 |
| Two wrapped columns | 2 × $95 | $190 |
| Takedown and storage | Flat | $150 |
| Season total | $1,390 | |
| With a 3-year contract | 10% off per year | about $1,251/yr |
Change any of those numbers in the calculator to see how your home compares. Not sure of your footage? Here’s how to measure your roofline for christmas lights.
Why year two can cost less
Many installers offer multi-year contracts: sign for two or three seasons and get a discount each year, commonly around 5% off for a 2-year agreement and 10% off for 3 years. You lock in your spot on a calendar that fills up by November; the installer gets predictable work. In the example above, the 3-year option saves about $139 a year.
If the installer owns and stores the lights between seasons, you also aren’t buying new lights every year. That’s why returning customers of a good installer often pay the same or less in year two than in year one.
Getting a quote: what to ask
Two or three quotes is normal, and the cheapest isn’t always the best. Before you sign, ask:
- Are the lights included, and are they commercial-grade?
- Is takedown and storage included, and when does it happen?
- What happens if a section goes out in December?
- Can I see a mockup of my house before I commit?
A professional installer should be able to measure your roofline and send a visual mockup of your actual home, often the same day and without a site visit, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
If you’re the installer
This page is written for homeowners, but installers ask the same question from the other side: what should I charge? The ranges above are what the market pays. How you get to your own number (materials, labor, overhead, and margin) is a separate exercise. Two guides cover it:
- How to price christmas light installation jobs: the pricing formula with a full worked example
- Christmas light installation pricing guide: rates, packages, and how to stay competitive
When you’re ready to turn a price into a quote, LightQuoter measures the roofline from satellite (no ladder, no site visit), applies your per-foot rates, adds a Street View mockup of the lit-up house, and sends a branded quote the homeowner can sign and pay online, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year contract options built in. It’s free to start.
Quote a whole house before you leave the driveway. Start free on LightQuoter →
FAQ
How much does christmas light installation cost?
Most professional installers charge $5–$9 per linear foot of roofline, installed, with about $7 a common rate. That puts a small single-story home at roughly $700–$1,200 for the season, an average two-story home at $1,200–$2,000, and large homes at $2,000–$3,500 or more. Takedown and storage are often a flat add-on of around $150, and wrapped trees, columns, and wreaths are priced separately.
What does christmas light installation cost per foot?
An all-in installed rate, where the installer supplies commercial-grade lights, clips, labor, and the install, commonly runs $5–$9 per linear foot in 2026. If you supply your own lights and only pay for labor, install-only rates are lower, usually $2–$5 per foot. Steep roofs, two-story rooflines, and hard-to-reach peaks push the rate toward the top of the range.
Does christmas light installation include takedown?
Often, but not always, so ask. Many installers bundle January takedown and off-season storage into the price; others list it as a flat add-on, commonly around $150. A quote that doesn’t mention takedown at all should be clarified before you sign.
Is christmas light installation cheaper the second year?
It can be. Many installers offer multi-year agreements, commonly around 5% off per year for a 2-year contract and 10% off for 3 years, in exchange for locking in your spot. If the installer owns and stores the lights (a leasing model), you’re also not buying new lights each season.
Is professional christmas light installation worth it?
It’s worth it if you value the time and the ladder risk more than the cost. A professional install means commercial-grade lights cut to fit your roofline, clips that don’t damage gutters or shingles, mid-season fixes for burned-out sections, and January takedown. The best way to judge it is to get a quote with a visual mockup of your actual home, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.