Christmas light installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What christmas light installation is

Christmas light installation hangs seasonal lights on rooflines, trees, shrubs and railings with clips and timers, then takes them down and stores them after the season. People call when they want a clean, even display without climbing a ladder, or when the lights they own need to be put up and taken down safely each year.

Signs you need it

  • A roofline or gutter edge that is hard to reach safely from a ladder, especially on a two-story or steep home
  • Tall trees or shrubs that need lights wrapped in an even pattern from the top down
  • A display that has to be hung and taken down each year on a set schedule
  • Lights that were hung in the past but leave gaps, sag or drop on one side of the house
  • Railings, posts and entry features that need a tidy, even line of lights

What the pro does

  • Review the layout with the homeowner and mark the rooflines, trees and railings that will get lights
  • Test each light string and extension cord before it goes up, replacing any strings with dead sockets
  • Attach the lights with clips made for the gutter or roof edge, keeping strings spaced evenly and clear of the shingles
  • Connect the lights to outdoor-rated cords and a timer on an exterior outlet, and check that the power draw suits the circuit
  • Take the lights down after the season, coil them, and store them labeled by section so they are easier to hang next year

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of roofline and the number of rooflines, trees and railings to be lit
  • Height and pitch of the roof, and whether a lift or extension tool is needed
  • Number of light strings, timers, clips and extension cords used
  • Whether the homeowner's own lights are used or new lights are supplied
  • Tree and shrub size, and whether the lights wrap the full height
  • Take-down and storage, which can be a separate visit or part of the same job
  • Any repairs needed to failed strings, sockets or outdoor outlets

What a written quote should spell out

  • Areas to be lit, listed by name, such as roofline, trees, shrubs and railings
  • Light type, number of strings, and whether they are the homeowner's lights or new ones
  • Clips, hooks and stakes used, and how they attach to gutters and roof edges
  • Timer type and where it is set, with the outdoor outlet used
  • Take-down date and storage method, and whether the lights are labeled
  • Any string or cord repairs found during testing, listed separately

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you attach the lights to my gutters and roof edge without damaging the shingles?
  • Will you test each string before it goes up, and what happens to the bad ones?
  • Which outdoor outlet will the lights use, and is it protected by a GFCI?
  • Do you take the lights down and store them after the season?
  • How do you reach the upper roofline, and what safety equipment does the crew use?
  • Can you show me a finished display on a home with a layout like mine?
  • Does your insurance cover work on a ladder at my roof height?

Red flags

  • Clips driven into the shingles or fascia, which leaks and rots the roof edge
  • Lights plugged into a cord that is not rated for outdoor use, or daisy-chained beyond the rating
  • Strings hung with no test before they go up, so dead sockets show up after the install
  • Work done from a ladder onto a steep roof without fall protection
  • Pressure to sign for the install with the take-down left out of the quote

What you can do yourself

You can safely plan the layout, test each light string on a table indoors before hanging it, and hang lights on shrubs and railings you can reach from the ground with clips or stakes. Use outdoor-rated cords on a GFCI-protected outlet, and never use cords or lights that are cracked, frayed or hot. Do not climb a ladder onto a steep roof or stand on a ladder near power lines, and call a pro for rooflines, tall trees, and any work near wiring or electrical boxes.

Licenses and permits

Holiday light installation is commonly offered by general home service and exterior companies, and licensing rules vary by place. Check with your state and local licensing agency, and use a licensed electrician for any wiring to an outdoor circuit or fixed electrical box.

Christmas light installation questions

Do the clips damage gutters or shingles?

They can, if they are the wrong type or if they are forced. Ask the installer what clips they use for your gutter and roof edge, and how they attach them without piercing the shingles.

Can I hang lights on a tall tree myself?

Not safely from a ladder in most cases. A pro can use a lift or a pole to wrap a tall tree from the ground, which is safer for you and the tree.

How many outlets and timers do I need?

It depends on the total light load, the length of the strings and the outlets you have. A pro should check the load against the outlet and the circuit before connecting anything.

Can I keep the lights up all year?

That is a different job. Permanent lighting uses a fixed track or channel and wiring. Ask about a permanent holiday lighting install if you want lights up year-round.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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