How Much to Charge for Christmas Light Installation
Christmas light installation typically runs $2–$5 per linear foot of roofline, or $300–$800 flat for an average home. Takedown is usually priced separately and lower — often 40–50% of the install price, since there's no design decision-making, just removal. Off-season storage and bulb repair during the season are common add-ons that turn a one-time install into a recurring seasonal customer.
Base pricing: per linear foot of roofline
$2–$5 per linear foot, translating to roughly $300–$800 for an average home’s roofline, is the standard range. Complexity — multiple roof peaks, dormers, or a layout that needs more ladder repositioning — moves you toward the top of that range.
Takedown is a separate, lower-priced visit
Takedown is real labor but not the same job as install — there’s no design planning, no untangling brand-new strands, no deciding where each run goes. Price it at roughly 40–50% of the install cost, as its own line item agreed to up front, not an afterthought billed in January.
The add-ons that build a repeat customer
- Bulb and strand repair mid-season. A quick, billable service call when a section goes out.
- Off-season storage. Holding, labeling, and maintaining the customer’s lights between seasons — a real value-add worth charging for.
- Design consultation. For a customer who wants a specific look (icicle lights, color-changing, a particular roofline pattern), a design step before the quote is reasonable to price in.
This trade rewards a seasonal contract mindset
Unlike a one-off job, Christmas lights are inherently a recurring, once-a-year relationship — the same customer calling back every November. Price the full arc (install, mid-season repair, takedown, storage) as a package once you’ve done a season or two, rather than re-quoting from scratch every year.
Keep install and takedown on separate invoices
Since they happen weeks or months apart, invoice them separately rather than waiting to bill takedown alongside next year’s install — that’s a long time to carry unbilled work on the books.
Frequently asked questions
Should takedown be included in the install price?
No, price it separately. Takedown is faster than install — no design decisions, no untangling new strands — so bundling it in at the same rate overcharges for the second visit or underprices the first.
Do I charge extra for repairs during the season?
Yes, as a service call. A strand going out mid-December is common, and a quick repair visit is worth billing for — many operators offer it free once per season to protect the customer relationship, then charge for additional visits.
Should I offer off-season storage?
It's a strong add-on and a reason for the same customer to rebook every year — charge for it, since it means holding and maintaining their lights for eleven months.