Decorative lights bring magic to the winter holiday season, but putting them in place is hard work. Hiring a professional to handle your holiday light installation saves you time and labor. Read on to learn how much that convenience costs.
Cost factors
The cost for professional holiday light installation depends on how many strands of lights you need, the complexity of your home’s design, the quality of lights used and the number of stories your home has.
Total costs for professional holiday light installation typically range from $1.50 to $5 per linear foot of lights. Labor costs vary around the country, but expect to pay around $75 per hour. The total cost for holiday light installation on an average home ranges from $300 to $650.
Many installers will offer a discount if you have the lights installed early, say October, and taken down the second week of January or later. Some installers are home maintenance contractors and will offer you a discount on other services, such as gutter cleaning or window or power washing, that they can perform while they are at your home installing lights.
Lighting used
You can save about 40 percent by paying for holiday light installation but supplying your own lights rather than renting the installer’s lighting. Remember, though, that you must still factor in the cost of purchasing lights. And keep in mind that the professional installer’s lights are usually higher-quality LED lights than the consumer grade. LED lighting uses about one-tenth the electricity that incandescent lights do, so using LED lights will reduce your energy costs. Renting lights also means you won’t have to store them in your attic or basement during the year.
The types of lighting available range from mini lights to the larger C7 and C9 bulbs, which are used to light rooflines. White lights, colored lights, blinking or steady — you have plenty of choices with professional holiday light installation.
Scale and complexity of holiday light installation
The larger your home, the pricier the holiday light installation job. Two- and three-story homes require the installer to be cautious and use safety equipment, which means extra time.
If you want the installer to set up yard decorations, that will add about $1 per linear foot. Wrapping trees is more complex than setting up yard decorations and can cost anywhere between $20 for a small tree and hundreds for a densely lit large tree.
Services provided
The installer can design a holiday lighting plan for you or you can design your own. The price of professional holiday light installation includes taking the lights down at the end of the season, typically after New Year’s Day. Maintenance is part of the package; your installer will replace burned-out bulbs or malfunctioning decorations.
For your protection, ask to see the installer’s liability insurance certificate so you can be sure he has adequate coverage.
Related – Is It Time to Toss the Old Outdoor Christmas Lights?
