How Much Does It Cost To Have Outdoor Christmas Lights Installed?

If you have ever stood in your driveway staring at tangled light strands and a frosty ladder, wondering what it would cost to have someone else handle it, you are not alone.

We talk to Twin Cities homeowners every season who are ready for a bright, beautiful display but do not want the risk, hassle, or guesswork. In this guide, we will walk through what professional outdoor Christmas light installation typically costs, what drives the price up or down, and how to know if the investment is worth it for your home.

If you are in Plymouth, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, or the greater Minneapolis area and thinking about hiring a pro, this will give you a clear, realistic picture of what to expect before you book.

What Professional Outdoor Christmas Light Installation Typically Costs

Quick Guide: What We Will Cover

• What Professional Outdoor Christmas Light Installation Typically Costs
• Key Factors That Affect Outdoor Christmas Light Installation Cost
• Typical Price Examples For Different Types Of Homes
• Why Professional Christmas Light Installation Is Worth The Cost
• How To Get An Accurate Quote For Your Outdoor Christmas Lights
• Ready To Enjoy Professional Outdoor Christmas Lights This Season?

At Showcase Services / Christmas Decor of the Twin Cities, part of the team at ShowcaseServicesMN.com, we work on homes across Plymouth, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Edina, and beyond. Pricing varies by project, but there are some reliable ranges that help set expectations.

Average Price Range For Professional Holiday Lighting

For most Twin Cities homes, professional outdoor Christmas light installation typically lands in these ballparks:

• Smaller townhomes and compact single family homes: roughly $600 to $1,200 for a clean, classic display
• Average suburban single family homes: roughly $1,000 to $2,000 depending on roofline length and design
• Larger custom homes or extensive displays: often $2,000 to $4,000+ when we add multiple rooflines, trees, and architectural accents

These estimates assume professional grade materials, design, installation, and removal. If you are looking for more detail on cost ranges, we also break this down in our pricing guide here: How much does it cost to put up Christmas lights.

What Is Usually Included In The Installation Price

A true professional Christmas light service is more than just someone hanging lights for a few hours. Our pricing generally includes:

• Design consultation to plan a display that fits your home, neighborhood, and budget
• Commercial grade LED lights and materials sized specifically to your rooflines and features
• Professional installation with trained crews, safety equipment, and proper clips and fasteners
• Seasonal maintenance if something goes out, we come back and fix it
• Removal and neatly packed storage at the end of the season, so you do not have to touch a single strand

We price projects as a complete service package so you know exactly what you are getting and are not surprised by add ons for removal or mid season repairs.

Key Factors That Affect Outdoor Christmas Light Installation Cost

Every home is different, which is why two houses on the same block can have very different quotes. Here is what actually drives the cost.

Size And Layout Of Your Home Or Property

The first big factor is how much space we are lighting.

• Longer rooflines mean more lights and more installation time
• Complex layouts with peaks, gables, and dormers require more labor
• Extra features like detached garages, fences, and long driveways add footage

On a simple one story rambler, we might only need one crew and a few hours. On a large two story with multiple peaks, we may need more installers and more setup time.

Type And Quality Of Holiday Lights And Materials

Professional grade lights are a different world from retail lights you grab off a shelf. We typically use custom cut LED strands that fit your roofline exactly.

Higher quality materials cost more upfront, but they:

• Look brighter and more uniform
• Last longer across multiple seasons
• Are more energy efficient

If you are wondering whether the higher quality is worth the price, we break this down in Are professional Christmas lights worth it.

Roof Height, Access, And Overall Complexity

The more difficult your home is to safely access, the more labor and equipment we need.

• Two and three story homes take more setup and safety precautions
• Steep or tricky roofs mean our team works slower and more carefully
• Tight access, slopes, or landscaping can add time for ladder and lift placement

All of that shows up in the labor portion of your quote.

Timing, Availability, And Peak Season Pricing

Holiday lighting is highly seasonal. Installers across Minneapolis and the suburbs book up quickly once October hits.

• Early season installations (October to early November) often have more flexible scheduling
• Peak dates closer to Thanksgiving and early December tend to fill fast
• Last minute bookings, when we can fit them in, may cost more because we are squeezing them into an already tight calendar

Booking early does not just secure your preferred date, it can help you avoid paying a premium when the schedule is packed.

Labor, Insurance, And Safety Considerations

There is a real cost to doing this work safely and professionally:

• Hiring and training qualified crew members
• Carrying full liability and workers compensation insurance
• Using professional grade ladders, lifts, and fall protection

When you compare quotes, a significantly lower price is often missing something important, like insurance, quality materials, or post installation support. At Christmas Decor of the Twin Cities, safety and reliability are built into every project we take on.

Typical Price Examples For Different Types Of Homes

To make this more concrete, here is how pricing often looks for different types of homes around the Twin Cities. These are examples, not guaranteed numbers, but they should help you ballpark where your home might land.

Small Homes, Townhomes, And Condos

For compact homes with a simple roofline, a classic display might include:

• Front roofline outline
• A few porch or column accents
• Maybe one small tree or shrub grouping

These projects often run in the $600 to $1,200 range depending on length of roofline and how much greenery we are dressing.

Medium Single Family Homes

This is where many Plymouth and Maple Grove homes fall. A typical setup might include:

• Full front roofline outline
• Peaks and gables highlighted
• Garage doors outlined
• Front entry and select shrubs or small trees

Projects like this often fall in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Homes near Lake Minnetonka or in established neighborhoods sometimes opt for a bit more depth with tree wraps or walkway lighting, which pushes the price toward the higher end.

For homeowners who want to better understand their options before committing, we also share practical examples in Why hire a professional for holiday light installation.

Large Homes And Custom Displays

If you have a large two story home, custom architecture, or want a truly standout display, we start talking about:

• Multiple rooflines, peaks, and dormers
• Large tree wraps, branch outlines, or canopy lighting
• Wreaths, garland, and lit features on balconies or railings
• Color changing or programmed effects

Custom projects for larger homes typically start around $2,000 and can climb past $4,000 depending on complexity and the number of features.

If you manage a commercial property or HOA, our dedicated commercial holiday lighting services follow similar pricing logic but are scaled for larger buildings, parking lots, and shared spaces.

Add Ons: Trees, Pathways, Rooflines, And Special Features

Beyond the basic roofline, many of our clients love adding details that really make the property glow:

• Tree wraps: Trunks, branches, or full canopy wraps
• Walkways and driveways: Ground stakes, pathway lights, and entry accents
• Porch and railings: Garland, wreaths, and column wraps
• Yard features: Pergolas, fences, and special architectural elements

Each add on is priced by the amount of material and time required. Sometimes a few extra trees or a lit pathway only add a few hundred dollars but completely transform the look of the property.

For more inspiration and real world examples, our photo gallery at Our Gallery is a helpful place to start.

Why Professional Christmas Light Installation Is Worth The Cost

We talk to a lot of homeowners who have tried to install their own lights in the past. By the time they call us, the pattern is familiar: lost weekends, frustrating trips to buy missing clips, and a few close calls on icy ladders. Here is why many of them decide the professional route is worth every dollar.

Safety Compared To Climbing Ladders And Roofs Yourself

Climbing ladders in December around Minneapolis is no small thing. Snow, ice, and wind all raise the risk.

When you hire a professional holiday lighting team, you are paying for:

• Crews who are used to working at height in cold weather
• Proper ladders, lifts, and fall protection
• Safety training and insurance that protects you and your property

Instead of worrying about a slip on the roof, you can watch from inside with a cup of coffee.

Design Expertise And Custom Holiday Lighting Plans

Not everyone wants the brightest house on the block. Most of our clients want something tasteful, warm, and welcoming that fits their home.

We bring:

• Design experience from hundreds of projects across the Twin Cities
• Knowledge of what works on different architectural styles
• The ability to blend rooflines, trees, and entry features into one cohesive look

If you would like ideas before your consultation, our article on different types of outdoor landscape lighting is a good place to explore how lighting can shape the feel of a property.

Quality Materials, Maintenance, And Storage

One of the biggest differences between DIY and professional holiday lighting is what happens after the installation.

With our service:

• We use commercial grade LED lights built to last across seasons
• If a bulb goes out or a strand has an issue, we handle the repair
• After removal, we store the materials so you do not need to find space in the garage or basement

You are not just paying for the lights on the house, you are paying for peace of mind if something goes wrong mid season.

For a deeper jump into why professional installation is a smart choice, we have detailed guides like 10 reasons to hire a professional for your holiday light installation.

Time Savings And A Stress Free Holiday Season

Finally, there is the one resource none of us can get back: time.

The average homeowner can easily lose an entire weekend or more trying to:

• Sort, untangle, and test old light strands
• Run to the store for missing clips, timers, or extension cords
• Climb up and down the ladder until everything looks right

When we handle your outdoor Christmas light installation, you get that time back for what actually matters during the holidays: family, friends, and rest.

How To Get An Accurate Quote For Your Outdoor Christmas Lights

If you are ready to get real numbers for your home, here is what helps us provide clear, accurate pricing right from the start.

Information Installers Need To Provide Transparent Pricing

When you reach out for a quote, it is helpful to have a few details ready:

• Your address and city so we can look at the home on mapping tools
• Approximate square footage or a general description of the size
• Photos of the front of the home and any key features you want lit
• Whether you are interested in rooflines only or also trees, shrubs, and walkways
• Any past displays you liked or disliked, even if they were from a different house

With that information, we can usually give a solid ballpark quickly, then refine it during a short design conversation.

If you are comparing more than one provider, you might find our article Is concrete landscape curbing worth it helpful for understanding how to evaluate long term exterior investments in general. The logic is similar: quality upfront often saves money and stress later.

Questions To Ask About Warranties, Maintenance, And Removal

Price alone does not tell the whole story. To make sure you are comparing apples to apples, ask:

• Is the price all inclusive? Does it cover design, installation, upkeep, removal, and storage?
• What happens if a strand goes out? Is there a warranty or service included during the season?
• What quality of lights are used? Are they commercial grade LEDs cut to fit your roofline?
• Are you insured? Ask about liability and workers compensation coverage.
• How long have you been installing holiday lights? Experience matters when it comes to both safety and design.

At Showcase Services, we are always happy to walk through these details. A transparent quote and a clear scope of work give you confidence before the first light goes up.

If you want to talk specifics for your home in Plymouth, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, or the surrounding suburbs, you can start by requesting a consultation through our contact page.

Ready To Enjoy Professional Outdoor Christmas Lights This Season?

If you are picturing your home glowing for the holidays and wondering what it would really cost, the next step is simple: let us take a look and put real numbers to your vision.

Professional outdoor Christmas light installation is an investment in safety, time savings, and the kind of curb appeal that makes coming home in December feel special. Whether you are in Plymouth, Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, or another Twin Cities suburb, our outdoor Christmas light installation in MN services are designed to be turn key and stress free.

If you are still in research mode and want to explore more, you can browse our latest posts on the holiday lighting blog or learn more about our full holiday lighting services. When you are ready, reach out for a customized quote and we will help you bring your holiday display to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to have outdoor Christmas lights installed on a typical home?

For most Twin Cities homes, outdoor Christmas light installation cost usually ranges from about $600 to $2,000. Smaller townhomes and compact homes often fall between $600 and $1,200, while average suburban single-family homes typically run $1,000 to $2,000 depending on roofline length, layout, and design.

What is usually included in the price for professional outdoor Christmas light installation?

Most professional Christmas light installation packages include design consultation, commercial-grade LED lights and materials, full installation by trained crews, in-season maintenance if something goes out, and post-season removal and neatly packed storage. You are paying for a complete, turnkey service rather than just labor to hang your existing lights.

What factors affect how much it costs to have outdoor Christmas lights installed?

Key cost drivers include the size and layout of your home, roof height and complexity, the quality and type of lights used, additional features like trees and walkways, and timing. Peak-season installations near Thanksgiving or early December may cost more, while simpler one-story homes are usually on the lower end.

Is professional Christmas light installation worth the cost compared to DIY?

Many homeowners find professional outdoor Christmas light installation worth it for safety, time savings, and reliability. Pros bring proper ladders, lifts, and insurance, use commercial-grade LEDs, handle maintenance and storage, and design a cohesive display—eliminating ladder risks, repeated store trips, and weekend-long installation projects.

How can I get an accurate quote for outdoor Christmas light installation in the Twin Cities?

To get a precise quote, be ready to share your address, rough home size, clear photos of the front and any key features, and whether you want rooflines only or also trees, shrubs, and walkways. Ask if the price includes design, installation, maintenance, removal, storage, and what type of lights they use.