Professional Christmas light installation is the one home service with a hard deadline: the lights have to be up before Christmas, and the good crews are gone by mid-November. This guide covers what it typically costs in 2026, when to book, and how to tell a good installer from a risky one.
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Published US cost guides agree closely. Angi (October 2026) reports a national average of $444 from 2,242 verified projects, with most jobs between $220 and $684. HomeAdvisor's June 2026 figure is the same $444 average and $220-$684 range. Per linear foot, labour runs $2-$5, or $2.50-$7 with the lights included. Small one-story homes average around $250; two-story homes around $450; three-story homes around $900. These are national figures — big-city prices run higher, and steep or hard-to-reach roofs add about 20%.
A full-service install normally includes the lights, clips, installation, takedown after the season and storage. Ask for each one in writing: takedown alone runs $100-$400 when it is not included. Some installers lease the lights (they keep them after the season); others sell them to you. Leased commercial-grade LEDs usually look better and last longer than store-bought strings.
Early November — installers start in late October and most are fully booked by mid-November. Booking in October is often cheaper than booking in December, when only the most expensive slots are left. If you want a custom design (roofline plus trees, windows and shrubs), book even earlier: those jobs take a design visit first.
Check four things before you pay a deposit. First, insurance: roof work without it is your liability. Second, whether the lights are commercial-grade LEDs or retail strings. Third, what takedown, storage and in-season repairs cost — a bulb that dies on December 20 should be fixed free. Fourth, references with photos of finished jobs in your neighbourhood, not just a price per foot.
Never let an installer use nails or staples through shingles, and never run extension cords through windows that cannot close. A reputable installer uses plastic clips, outdoor-rated cords and a timer — and takes everything down without leaving holes in your roof.
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small one-story home | $200-$450 | 100-150 linear feet |
| Two-story home | $450 | Average, 2026 |
| Typical job, national | $220-$684 | Average $444 (Angi, Oct 2026) |
| Per linear foot, labour only | $2-$5 | Your own lights |
| Per linear foot, lights included | $2.50-$7 | Install + takedown + storage |
| Takedown only | $100-$400 | When not included in the install |
Typical US ranges from published cost guides, checked November 2026. Your city and home size will move the price.
Labour only runs $2-$5 per linear foot. With the installer's lights included, the published range is $2.50-$7 per foot (HomeAdvisor) to $5-$12 (HomeGuide).
Most professional installers do — usually commercial-grade C9 LEDs, either leased or sold. Ask whether the quoted price includes them, and who keeps them after the season.
In most full-service quotes, yes. When it is not, national cost guides put removal at $100-$400 per job. Get it in writing before the install.
Most crews are fully booked by mid-November and stop hanging lights in the first week of December. Early November is the safe window.