2026 US rates · every formula shown · book Sept–Oct before the spike
What should Christmas light installation cost? The honest 2026 band.
Professional install runs $2.50–7 per linear foot — national average ≈ $432 per job. Measure your roofline, pick your stories and complexity, and get the price band before any installer visit. Plus the permanent-lights 10-year math and the DIY ladder calculator.
ft
Tape measure or Maps
sqft
Price band
$300–840
120 ft · 1 story · simple
Most quotes land near
$510
mid-band ($4.25/ft)
National average job
≈ $432
$219–673 (typical home)
Book September–October: December prices run +20–50% and calendars fill. Confirm takedown (January window) in writing — it's the trade's most common no-show.
2026 US rates: $2.50–7.00/linear ft installed (standard LEDs included). Story multiplier: 2-story ×1.3, 3-story ×1.6. Complexity covers peaks, dormers and wrap-arounds.
All 7 holiday lighting calculators
For homeowners budgeting the season — and installers pricing theirs.
Holiday Lighting Calculators
View category →Christmas Light Installation Cost Calculator
Roofline length, stories and complexity in — get the install price band instantly.
Cost Per Linear Foot
The per-foot deep dive: what $2.50 vs $7 buys, and how many feet your house needs.
Permanent Christmas Lights Cost
Year-round track lighting: whole-home cost, 10-year amortization, and when it beats seasonal.
DIY vs Professional Christmas Lights
The ladder math: DIY savings priced against hours, height risk, and mid-December failures.
Christmas Light Removal Cost
Takedown pricing ($1–2.50/ft), bundle savings, and the January no-show problem.
Christmas Lights Electricity Cost
What your display costs to run: incandescent vs LED, per night and per season.
Guides
How Much Does It Cost
The 2026 answer: averages, bands by home size, and what moves quotes apart.
When to Book Installation
The booking calendar: September savings, November rush, December premium — and the takedown lock.
Permanent vs Temporary Lights
The 10-year math: track systems vs annual installs, including the everyday-use case.
Start a Christmas Light Business
The 8-week season business: startup costs, pricing, and the September booking playbook.
Christmas Light Ideas
Design patterns that pros install — roofline, trees, columns — with per-element price context.
What this site does — and what it does not
It does
- Price holiday lighting by roofline length, stories and complexity — with every multiplier visible.
- Run the permanent-lights 10-year amortization against what you'd spend on seasonal installs.
- Keep every calculation in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent.
It does not
- Replace an on-site quote — roof pitch, outlet access and tree conditions move real numbers.
- Cover commercial displays and municipal installs — those are engineered bids.
- Book the job — estimates for budgeting; the contract comes from your installer.