Free Christmas Light Installation Pricing Calculator
How much does Christmas light installation cost? Most homeowners pay about $250 to $650 for professional installation, or roughly $2 to $5 per linear foot of roofline for labor and lights, according to Fixr (Thumbtack reports $260 to $661). Hanging lights you already own runs about $1.25 to $3 per foot, high or multi-story roofs $3.50 to $6 per foot, and permanent track lighting $18 to $35 per foot installed. This calculator prices your house line by line from its measurements and gives a low, typical, and high range.
Homeowners get a fair-price check before hiring. Installers get the same quote plus crew hours, materials at cost vs. lease price, margin per job, and a November to January season plan.
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See what a fair price looks like before you hire, with every line item explained.
The house and the job
Defaults describe a typical two-story home. The quote updates as you type.
Full-service lease
What this should cost
- Typical total
- $1,442
- Likely range
- $1,081 - $1,802
- Per lit roofline foot
- $7.59
Per-foot price divides the whole job by 190 ft of roofline and ridge, so trees and bushes raise it. Range uses Bob Vila: $3-$5 per foot. Fixr: $2-$5 per foot for materials and labor.
Line-item quote
| Item | Qty | Rate | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofline and gutters, C9 LED lights supplied | 150 ft | $3 | $450.00 |
| Ridge line, lights supplied | 40 ft | $3.50 | $140.00 |
| Peaks and gables | 2 each | $25 | $50.00 |
| Multi-story adder (2 stories, +40% of roof labor) | 1 job | $180.00 | |
| Medium pitch adder (+10% of roof labor) | 1 job | $45.00 | |
| Tree, 10 ft, trunk and branches | 1 tree | $120 | $120.00 |
| Medium bushes, net lights | 4 bushes | $37.50 | $150.00 |
| Takedown in January30% of install labor | 1 job | $256.50 | |
| Storage until next season | 1 job | $50.00 | |
| Typical total | $1,441.50 | ||
Estimate only, not a guaranteed quote. Local labor rates, insurance, roof access, HOA rules, and electrical capacity (outlets, GFCI, circuit loads) change the price. Price data last reviewed: November 2026.
How to price a Christmas light installation in 4 steps
Step 1
Measure the lit footage
Add up each roofline and gutter run you want lit, plus gable rakes and the ridge. Measure each straight section separately instead of pacing the whole perimeter, then count peaks, trees, bushes, stake-light feet, and windows.
Step 2
Pick the service model
Labor only means the customer owns the lights. A full-service lease adds commercial LEDs, January takedown, and storage. High or complex roofs get a premium rate, and permanent track lighting is a one-time install priced per foot.
Step 3
Apply per-foot rates and adders
Multiply each run by its per-foot rate, price trees by height and wrap style and bushes by size, then add multi-story and steep-pitch adders, any lift rental, takedown, and storage.
Step 4
Check the minimum and the margin
If the total falls below your minimum job charge, raise it to the minimum. Installers should then compare the quote with crew hours, materials, and overhead to confirm the job clears a healthy margin.
Christmas light installation cost per foot
Published per-foot ranges by service model. Multi-story homes, steep roofs, trees, and bushes add to these. Price data last reviewed: November 2026.
| Service model | Cost per foot | What's included | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor only | $1.25-$3 | The installer hangs lights you already own. Takedown is optional. | Thumbtack: $1.25-$3 per foot when you own the lights. |
| Full-service lease | $3-$5 | The installer supplies commercial LEDs, installs, takes down, and stores them. | Bob Vila: $3-$5 per foot. Fixr: $2-$5 per foot for materials and labor. |
| Premium / multi-story | $3.50-$6 | High or complex rooflines at a high-roof rate, with lights, takedown, and storage. | Fixr: $3.50-$6 per foot for high or challenging roofs, before lights. |
| Permanent track | $18-$35 | App-controlled LED track that stays up all year. No yearly install or takedown. | Trimlight: $18-$35 per linear foot installed. |
| Takedown (if separate) | $0.50-$0.65 | Removal in January, or $125-$350 per project. | Fixr |
How much to charge as an installer
Price from crew hours, not just feet
Per-foot rates are how customers compare quotes, but your cost is crew time. A two-person crew that installs 100 feet an hour on a one-story roof will be slower on a second story or steep pitch, so the story and pitch adders should cover that extra time.
Set a minimum job charge
Every job has the same drive, ladder setup, outlet check, and testing time. A minimum (this calculator defaults to $250, the low end of Fixr's national range) keeps small jobs from losing money.
Lease vs. labor-only
Labor-only jobs are cheaper for the customer but you earn only on time. A lease adds a per-foot charge for commercial LEDs you buy once and reuse for several seasons, so the lights pay for themselves and then add margin each year.
Charge for takedown and storage
Takedown is a second trip in January. Either include it in the lease price or list it as a line item, and put the takedown window in your contract so weather delays don't turn into free labor.
Starting a Christmas light installation business
A short practical checklist before you take your first paid job.
- General liability insurance before your first roof, plus workers' compensation if you hire a crew. Many homeowners and HOAs ask for a certificate.
- Ladder safety and fall protection: stabilizers, a spotter, three points of contact, and harnesses or a lift for steep and multi-story roofs.
- Commercial-grade LED C7 or C9 bulbs on custom-cut wire. They draw far less power and survive several seasons of reuse.
- A written contract with install date, takedown window, what happens to customer-owned lights, payment terms, and a damage clause.
- Labeled storage bins for each lease customer, kept dry until next season.
- Electrical checks on every job: plug into GFCI-protected outdoor outlets, stay under each circuit's load, and use timers. Call an electrician for new outlets.
- Check HOA rules and local permits for commercial or very large displays before you quote.
- Book early: Christmas Decor says commercial customers book by late summer or early fall, and residential calendars fill in November.
Christmas light installation pricing FAQ
How much does Christmas light installation cost per foot?
Most published guides put professional Christmas light installation at about $2 to $5 per linear foot for labor and lights (Fixr) or $3 to $5 per foot (Bob Vila). Hanging lights you already own runs about $1.25 to $3 per foot (Thumbtack), high or challenging roofs about $3.50 to $6 per foot (Fixr), and permanent track lighting $18 to $35 per foot installed (Trimlight).
How much should I charge for Christmas light installation?
Start from your measured footage and a per-foot rate for your service model, add adders for second stories, steep roofs, and lifts, then add takedown and storage. Set a minimum job charge so small jobs still cover drive time, ladder setup, and insurance. Finally check crew hours and materials so each job keeps a margin you are comfortable with. Local competitors' prices matter more than any national average.
Is takedown included in Christmas light installation?
It depends on the installer. Full-service lease packages usually include January takedown and storage. Labor-only jobs often charge removal separately: Fixr lists $0.50 to $0.65 per foot or $125 to $350 per project, and Thumbtack says removal usually costs about half of the install. Ask for the takedown date and fee in writing.
Are permanent Christmas lights worth it compared with seasonal installation?
Permanent track lighting costs far more upfront, about $18 to $35 per foot installed according to Trimlight, but there is no yearly install, takedown, or storage. If you would otherwise lease the same roofline every year, the upfront cost usually catches up after several seasons. The calculator shows the break-even year for your house.
Is Christmas light installation a profitable side business?
It can be, because the work is concentrated in a short season and full-service lease customers often renew. Profit depends on your local prices, crew efficiency, insurance, and how many jobs you can book and take down in time. Use the installer view to test your own numbers; it is a planning estimate, not an earnings promise.
Sources for the default rates
Price data last reviewed: November 2026. Rates without a published figure are labeled Assumption in the Adjust rates panel and can be edited.
- Fixr: Cost to Install Christmas Lights | Christmas Light Installation Prices
$2-$5 per foot for materials and labor; labor $1.50-$3.50 per foot and strands $0.50-$1.50 per foot; national range $250-$650; high or challenging roofs $3.50-$6 per foot; removal $0.50-$0.65 per foot or $125-$350 per project; trees 12-18 ft $125-$250; a lift for the largest trees $400-$700 a day; a 1,500 sq ft home needs about 125-175 linear feet and costs $275-$475 (one story), $425-$630 (two stories), $525-$750 (three stories).
- Bob Vila: How Much Does Christmas Light Installation Cost?
$218-$663 typical, $437 average; $3-$5 per linear foot; adding the lights adds $0.50-$2 per foot; hard-to-reach areas cost about 20% more; a large multistory home can reach $1,800.
- Thumbtack: Christmas Light Installation Cost 2026
$260-$661 national average; $1.25-$3 per linear foot to hang lights you already own; installer-supplied strands add $0.50-$2 per foot; hard-to-reach roofs add about 20%; removal typically costs about half of the install.
- Trimlight: How Many Christmas Lights Do I Need? Footage Calculator by Roofline
Permanent Trimlight systems typically cost $18-$35 per linear foot, installed; measure eaves plus gable rakes and dormers separately.
- Trimlight: Are Permanent Christmas Lights Worth It? Cost-Per-Year Breakdown 2026
Permanent lighting runs $18-$35 per linear foot upfront; a 150 ft roofline at $25 per foot is about $3,750; spread over about 25 years of use.
- Christmas Decor: Holiday Lighting FAQs: Residential to Franchising
Professional crews use commercial-grade LEDs, remove and store lights after the season, and finish most homes in a few hours to a full day; the core season runs roughly October through January.
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