Find top rated christmas light installation pros in your area

Most Christmas light installers' costs rely on hourly and per-foot rates, which is why they tend to be similar. Cutting corners can lead to hastily installed lighting that doesn't look consistent or beautiful. Worse, bad wiring can endanger people and property.

A few tips can help you save in good conscience:

• Choose accent areas rather than covering your entire home with lights.

• Check with your installation pro on whether you can purchase your own lights.

• Install timers that turn on lights only during evening hours.

You have a few options to consider when you’re trying to save money on your Christmas lights. Some things to consider include the following:

• Buy your lights right after the season is over. Stores sell their excess inventory around January and February. You can save up to 80% on regular prices once the new year starts.

• Purchase directly from installers after the season is over and work begins to slow down for them.

• Check online sources for competitive prices, but remember that shipping delays are common around the holiday season.

Some installation experts are available year-round. They get busiest in October and November, when most homeowners are looking forward to Christmas. Business starts to slow down in December, before January gets busy with takedown work. Between February and September, you might get lower rates. You can also hire a local handyperson out of season or have your lights installed permanently. 

How many light strands you need depends on your home's size and your decorating needs. Roughly, you can plan with 10 to 20 strands for a basic decoration on the exterior. Start with 100 lights for your eaves, then add 10 to 20 additional bulbs for each awning you want to cover. Each tree or large shrub will take between five and 10 strands.

You can definitely tip your Christmas light installer although they don’t expect you to do it. But if you do, you’ll want to fall in the 10% to 20% range. It might not be a bad idea to tip them early in the season if you expect them to come back to remove them later on, especially if you want it done quickly. However, the installers charge a fair price for their work, so never feel obligated to tip them.