Every October the same question comes up: should I hang the lights myself again, pay someone to do it, or go with the permanent lights I keep seeing on neighbors' houses? Here's what each option really costs in Eden and Rockingham County, NC, and how to tell which one fits your home.
What Professional Christmas Light Installation Costs
Most installers price by the linear foot of roofline, because that's what drives the time, the materials, and the ladder work. Here's our pricing for C9 roofline lights:
- $6.75 per foot on single-story rooflines
- $8.75 per foot on second-story rooflines, peaks, and dormers
- $395 minimum per home
That covers the C9 LED bulbs, wire cut to fit each run, clips, a timer, installation, January takedown, and storage. No rental fee and no separate charge to take them down.
Why Year Two Costs Half
The first year carries the cost of the lights and the time spent measuring and cutting wire to the exact length of every run on your house. After that, the set already fits. We label it, store it, and put it right back up the next season, so you only pay half. If you ever stop service, the lights are yours.
Doing It Yourself
DIY looks cheapest on paper, but the real cost is everything that isn't on the receipt:
- Buying lights, clips, cords, and a timer, and replacing the strands that die each year
- A full weekend on a ladder in cold weather, plus another weekend taking it down
- The ladder risk. Falls are the reason a lot of homeowners finally hand this job off, especially on two-story rooflines
- Sagging, uneven lines from store-bought strands that weren't made for your roof
If your house is a short single-story run and you enjoy doing it, DIY is a fine choice. Once there's a second story, peaks, or a steep pitch involved, it stops being worth the risk for most people.
Permanent LED Lights
Permanent LED lighting mounts in a low-profile track along your roofline and stays up all year. You control colors, patterns, and schedules from your phone, so it works for Christmas, the Fourth of July, game days, and everyday accent lighting.
The trade-off is the up-front cost. Permanent systems cost a good deal more than a season of installed C9s, so they take several Christmases to pay for themselves. They make the most sense if you:
- Plan to stay in the home for years
- Want lighting for more than just Christmas
- Like the idea of never thinking about holiday lights again
Which One Is Right For You?
Go with seasonal installation if you want that classic big-bulb Christmas look, don't want a big up-front bill, or aren't sure how long you'll be in the house. You get a professional result for a fraction of a permanent system, and it gets cheaper every year.
Go with permanent lights if you want year-round, app-controlled lighting and you're planning to stay put.
When To Book in North Carolina
Book in October or early November. Install dates go first come, first served, and calendars fill up before Thanksgiving. Most people want their lights on the weekend after Thanksgiving, and those are the first dates to go. We take a 50% deposit to hold your date.
Quick Answers
How much does it cost to have Christmas lights put up?
At New Home Glow, C9 roofline installation is $6.75 per foot on single-story rooflines and $8.75 per foot on second-story rooflines, peaks, and dormers, with a $395 minimum. Lights, clips, timer, install, January takedown, and storage are included.
Is professional Christmas light installation worth it?
For most homeowners, yes. You skip the ladder, the tangled strands, and the takedown, and with our reuse program year two costs half as much.
Are permanent Christmas lights cheaper in the long run?
Permanent lights cost much more up front, so they take several seasons to pay off. They make the most sense if you'll stay in the home for years and want lighting for more than Christmas.
Ready to skip the ladder this year? See everything included on our Christmas light installation page.