Last updated: November 4, 2026
Quick answer: The cost to have Christmas lights installed depends on your home and your design, not a single national price. Installers look at the length and height of your roofline, how many trees and shrubs you want lit, the type of lights, and whether design, in-season maintenance, removal and storage are included. A written quote for your own home is the reliable number.
If you have started pricing Christmas light installation, you have probably noticed that published averages disagree. That is because the price follows your home and your design. This guide from Gleam Electrical and Lighting Design, a licensed electrical contractor with award-winning lighting design in the Indianapolis metro, explains how installers price a display, what raises or lowers a quote, and what a complete quote should include.
How Christmas light installation is priced
Christmas light installation is the professional design, hanging, upkeep and removal of exterior holiday lights, and it is usually priced in one of three ways:
- By the linear foot. The installer measures the roofline and features to be lit and prices per linear foot of lights; Angi’s 2026 cost guide says most installers charge this way.
- By the project or package. Full-service companies often quote one price for a design that bundles the lights, installation, maintenance, removal and storage.
- By the hour. Handypersons who hang lights you already own often charge an hourly rate, as Family Handyman’s cost guide describes.
The method matters less than what the price covers. A lower number that leaves out removal or storage can cost more by the end of the season.
What affects the cost of Christmas light installation
Six things shape almost every quote.
Size of your home and linear feet of lights
The more roofline, peaks and features you light, the more lights and labor the display needs. A single-story home with one simple roofline needs far fewer linear feet than a two-story home with several gables.
Number of stories and roof access
Height adds time and care. Second- and third-story rooflines, steep pitches and hard-to-reach eaves call for taller ladders and more safety precautions, which adds labor to the quote.
Design complexity: rooflines, trees and shrubs
A clean roofline outline is the simplest design. Wrapping trees and shrubs, lighting columns and railings, or adding wreaths takes more lights and more hands-on time. Family Handyman notes that intricate tree wraps are both labor- and material-intensive.
Type of lights and who supplies them
LED lights cost more up front than incandescent strands but use far less electricity. Some installers supply their own commercial-grade lights as part of the service; others hang lights you already own. Ask which model a quote uses, because it changes both the price and who is responsible when a strand fails.
Maintenance, removal and storage
Some quotes include maintenance during the season, removal after the holidays and storage until next year. Others price each one separately or leave them to you. HomeAdvisor advises confirming whether a quote includes take-down after the season, because it is sometimes an extra charge.
Outdoor power and electrical needs
Every display needs safe power: outdoor-rated extension cords and connections, and GFCI-protected outdoor outlets. If your home has no outdoor outlet where the lights need one, or the display is large enough that its load should be spread across circuits, that electrical work belongs in the plan. HomeAdvisor’s 2026 cost guide notes that new outdoor wiring calls for a licensed electrician and that most light installers are not certified for electrical work. Gleam is a licensed electrical contractor, so outdoor power is part of the same conversation as the design. For more on loads and outlets, read how much power holiday lights use.
Why national cost averages vary so much
Search for the cost of Christmas light installation and you will find averages from Angi, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor and others that do not agree with each other. Each guide draws on its own national sample of projects and its own idea of a standard display; some include removal and storage, some do not. None of them has measured your roofline. Use national averages as background, and rely on a written quote for your own home.
What a complete quote should include
A clear quote lets you compare installers fairly. Look for:
- The design: which rooflines, trees, shrubs and features will be lit.
- The lights: who supplies them, and whether they are LED or incandescent.
- Installation, including how the display will be powered.
- Maintenance during the season, and how to request it.
- Removal after the holidays, and roughly when it happens.
- Storage until next year.
- Proof of insurance, and a licensed electrician for any electrical work.
HomeGuide’s guide to getting estimates recommends asking for a detailed breakdown of labor, materials, removal and extras for the same reason.
Running costs: what the lights add to your electric bill
The quote covers installation, but the lights also use electricity while they are on. According to Angi’s 2026 cost guide, a large incandescent display can add $30 to $75 a month to an electric bill, while an equivalent LED setup might add $5 to $20. A timer keeps the lights on only during the hours you choose. Our LED and incandescent comparison explains the difference in more detail.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Compare complete services, not installation prices alone.
- Ask how problems during the season are handled.
- Confirm the installer is licensed and insured, and who handles outlets or circuits if the display needs them.
- Weigh the design and the service as well as the total. Our guide to professional installation compared with hanging lights yourself covers what that difference is worth.
How Gleam prices Christmas light installation
A Gleam quote starts with a conversation about your home and what you would like to highlight. Gleam recommends a design and sends a clear quote to review, with no pressure to decide on the spot. Gleam’s holiday lighting service covers design, installation, maintenance during the season, removal and storage, so the quote reflects the whole season rather than installation day alone. For what each of those steps involves, see what a Christmas light hanging service includes.
To see what that looks like for your home, learn more about our Christmas light installation or call 317-561-0955.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to have Christmas lights installed?
It depends on your home and your design. The main factors are the length and height of your roofline, how many trees and shrubs you want lit, the type of lights, and whether maintenance, removal and storage are included. National cost guides publish averages, but they vary widely from one guide to the next, so a written quote for your own home is the reliable number.
Is removal included in the price of Christmas light installation?
It depends on the company. Some quotes include removal after the season and storage until next year; others charge for them separately or leave take-down to you. Ask before you book, and when you compare quotes, check that removal, storage and in-season maintenance are listed. Gleam’s holiday lighting service includes removal and storage.
How many feet of Christmas lights does a house need?
It depends on your roofline and what you want lit. A simple roofline outline on a single-story home needs far fewer feet than a two-story home with gables, trees and shrubs. A professional installer measures your home during the design visit, so the quote reflects the actual length of lights your display needs rather than an estimate.
Do LED Christmas lights cost much to run?
Much less than incandescent lights. LEDs draw far less power, so a display adds less to your electric bill, and a timer limits the hours the lights run each night. Lower power draw also makes it easier to keep a display within what your outdoor circuits can comfortably carry, which is one reason professional displays favor LEDs.
Why do Christmas light installation quotes vary so much between companies?
Because they often include different things. One quote may cover design, commercial-grade lights, maintenance, removal and storage, while another covers only hanging lights you already own. Height, roof access and the number of trees and shrubs also change the labor involved. Compare what each quote includes before you compare the totals.
