How Much Does Professional Christmas Light Installation Cost in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

Professional Christmas light installation costs $0 on average for exterior holiday lighting, with a typical range between $0 and $0. The light strands cost between $8 and $30 each, while installation adds another $120 to $500 to your budget. The minimum cost for this service is $0, while the maximum is $0.

For multi-story residential projects, the total price can go up to $1,300. Hiring a Christmas light installation pro can turn your property into a showcase for the entire neighborhood while making sure the wiring and installation are safely handled.

Most professional lighting installations range between $300 and $800 for labor alone. You can hire an individual installer at an hourly rate of $60 to $100. Larger companies that supply their own lights offer packages ranging from $400 to $1,800, which include the lights, installation, and takedown. Be sure to ask your installer what services are included in their pricing, so you know exactly what to expect.

Price of Professional Christmas Light Hanging per Foot

Typically, professional contractors charge between $2.50 and $7 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. Be sure to clarify with your installer what services are included in the per-foot rate. A handyperson costs slightly less than a professional installer, but they don’t specialize in the process.

If you don't own your own holiday lighting, add another $0.50 to $2 per foot to that cost depending on the type of bulb you purchase. Clarify whether the per-foot quote includes takedown after the season as it’s sometimes an extra charge.

Hanging on a High Roof

You can expect to pay $150 to $1,200, or about 20% above regular installation prices if you have a difficult-to-reach roof and eaves. The special equipment needed to reach your roof and eaves—like extended height ladders and scaffolding—increases the price. The initial quote should include any cost increase.

Holiday Lights Wiring

If you need new electrical wiring for your holiday lights, expect to pay around $50 to $100 per hour to hire an electrician. Most Christmas light installers aren't qualified to handle electrical work, so this service likely won't be included. However, your installer may provide extension cords and stakes to keep your lighting safely in place.

You may choose to use timers for your holiday lights, which cost $10 to $50 per timer. Some wreaths come with small battery packs to keep them illuminated without a cord to trip over. Some lighting may also work with battery power. Discuss options with your pro.

Permanent Christmas Light Installation Cost

If you're considering a permanent Christmas light installation, you can expect to pay around $3,500. You may save if you wrap the price into your outdoor lighting costs during an exterior living upgrade. In exchange, you get decorations that last for years.

The only additional price will be replacing your LED bulbs every four to six years. Permanent LED lights can last six to ten years, providing years of holiday cheer without the annual hassle. Keep in mind that installing permanent lights may require adding an exterior electrical outlet, which isn't included in the installation price.

Christmas Lights Price List

Most Christmas lights now are LEDs, which cost only slightly more than incandescents, but are far more cost-effective to run each month. Christmas light prices run $0.50 to $2 per linear foot when purchased as part of the installation, or between $4 and $30 per strand when you buy them at a holiday decoration or home improvement store.

• Most strands feature 100 to 200 bulbs.

• Expect to use 10 to 20 strands to cover an average-sized home between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet.

Lighting options range from standard lights to LED lighting, dome bulbs, and incandescent C bulb alternatives.

Incandescent Lighting

Expect to pay between $5 and $39 per incandescent strand. This is the traditional but less common choice with the growing popularity of LED lighting. Incandescent bulbs cost about $5 to $75 per month to run with a large display. They cost the least up front, but significantly more to run than LEDs. They also burn out quickly.

LED Lighting

LED bulbs average $13 to $20 per 25-foot strand. They typically last longer than other types and are brighter. They also use less electricity, making them more energy efficient. However, LEDs are more expensive and will raise your installation costs.

Dome Lighting

Dome bulbs are smaller and round, ranging from $6 to $15 per 25-foot strand. They give off a soft, widespread light and come in a variety of colors. Use them for landscape lighting and other spaces in which the focus is on brightening a larger area.

Traditional Christmas Light Installation Cost

Smart lights cost between $35 and $50 per 25 linear feet. The type of bulb shape you choose impacts the total cost, and buying in bundles can lower the price per foot. 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.

Commercial-Grade Light Installation

For commercial-grade Christmas light installation, including the cost of the lights themselves, expect to pay between $2 and $5 per linear foot. This includes the light installation fee of $1.50 to $3 per linear foot and the cost of the lights, at $0.50 to $2 per linear foot. If you already have the lights, you'll only pay the installation fee.

Note that it's important to establish whether this fee includes the takedown costs at the end of the festive season or if you'll need to pay another $0.50 to $1 per linear foot for removal.

Average Cost of Christmas Light Rental and Installation

If you prefer not to purchase and store your own holiday lights, renting them from your installer is a convenient option. Christmas light rental packages typically cost between $250 and $600, including installation and takedown for a basic setup. Larger homes may cost more. In this scenario, the pro supplies the lights, installs them, and removes them after the season, saving you storage space and hassle.

Christmas Light Installation Costs Near You

Where you live has a big impact on how much you'll pay for Christmas light installation. The cost of living and the demand for services influences how much local Christmas light installers cost in a given area.

Christmas Light Removal Cost

Removing Christmas lights is usually wrapped into the total project cost for installation. However, if you’ve put them up and want someone else to take them down, you’ll pay $100 to $400 or roughly $0.50 per linear foot.

Additional Cost Factors

The price range of hanging lights most changes based on the amount you choose, but your location and what you want done. However, adding trees (especially tall ones), timers, and smart lights will affect your cost.

Wrapping Trees

A small tree might cost $75 to $200. The size often plays the largest part, but intricate designs can also increase the cost. Larger trees can hit $1,500 or more, once they exceed the height of a standard ladder, or about 30 feet.

Timers and Smart Lights

Smart lights and timers might add 50% to 150% to the price of the lights, but the labor rates won't change. The actual hanging process isn't any different than a traditional string of lights. Smart lights add the ability to change the colors, timing, and even the patterns through the use of an app.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

While decorating your own home can save money, hiring a professional for your Christmas light installation offers significant benefits:

• Expert design to maximize the impact of your holiday display

• Safe installation that accounts for snow, ice, and water exposure

• Time-saving setup and takedown, so you can focus on enjoying the season

Professional installers have the experience and equipment to bring your holiday vision to life safely and efficiently. Consider reaching out to local Christmas light installers to get quotes and discuss your ideas. With their help, your home can be the standout of the neighborhood this holiday season.

DIY Costs to Install Christmas Lights

The DIY costs of installing Christmas lights are the lights themselves and your time. You can save up to $3 per linear foot on the cost of labor. You'll need plenty of time and your mobility and balance need to be good enough to safely climb on a ladder to hang lights high up.

How to Save Money Installing Christmas Lights

To save money on Christmas light installation, consider the following tips:

• Shop during the off-season: Purchase Christmas lights when they're on sale, typically during Black Friday or after the holiday season.

• Repair instead of replace: Fix broken lights rather than replacing entire strands to save money.

• Use timers: Install timers so your lights automatically turn off during daylight hours, reducing electricity costs.

• Get multiple quotes: Obtain at least three quotes from professional light installers to ensure you're getting the best price.

• Book early: Schedule your installation early to potentially secure early-booking discounts.

• Focus on key areas: Highlight one focal point on your home's exterior instead of decorating every area to save on costs.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real 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.