How to hire a Christmas light installer

12 questions to ask a Christmas light installer

1. Are you insured? Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance. Your installer is on a ladder at your roofline; if something goes wrong, you want it to be their insurer's problem, not yours.
2. Can I have the quote in writing, itemized? A good quote lists the footage, the bulb type, and each extra – trees, bushes, wreaths, garland – as its own line. That is also how you compare quotes fairly.
3. Do I own the lights, or are they leased? Many installers supply lights on a lease: they own, store and replace them and you pay each season. If you buy, ask what happens to the lights at takedown.
4. What is included in the price? Design, installation, service calls, takedown and storage are the usual pieces. Ask which are in the price and which are extra.
5. How will you attach the lights? The answer should be clips on the gutters and shingles. Nails or staples in your roof or trim are a red flag.
6. When will you put them up, and when will you take them down? Get both dates in writing. HomeGuide notes most professionals recommend removing holiday lights by mid-January.
7. What happens if a strand goes out? Ask whether service calls are included during the season and how quickly they come out. Leased commercial-grade lights with replaceable bulbs are quicker to fix.
8. Where will everything plug in? Outdoor outlets should be GFCI protected. Ask how many circuits the display needs, and whether you get a timer or photocell so the lights run on their own.
9. Are the lights rated for outdoor use? Look for outdoor-rated lights and cords certified by a testing laboratory such as UL or ETL.
10. Who designs the display? Some installers send a photo mock-up. If you have something specific in mind – warm white only, no colour, trees but not bushes – say so before the quote.
11. What is the deposit and when is the rest due? A deposit to hold your install date is common. Get the payment schedule in writing, and be wary of paying everything before any work is done.
12. Do I need anyone's approval? If you have an HOA, check its rules on exterior lighting before you sign. Businesses may need landlord or property-manager sign-off.

Red flags

• No written quote, or a single price with nothing itemized.
• No proof of insurance.
• Nails or staples into shingles, gutters or trim.
• Full payment up front, especially cash only.
• No takedown date, or takedown “when we get to it”.

Comparing quotes

Divide each quote by the feet of roofline it covers and compare like with like: the same bulbs, the same extras, the same service. National figures run from $2 to $5 a foot (Angi) up to $5 to $12 (HomeGuide) – the cost guide explains why. If one quote is far below the others, check what it leaves out.

Where to find installers

This directory lists 1210 installers in 49 states, each checked on its own website and shown alphabetically – not ranked. Pick your state on the map, then your city. Businesses and HOAs can go straight to commercial installers. Unfamiliar terms in a quote? Try the glossary.

Sources

• HomeGuide – Christmas light installation cost – updated October 1, 2025; read September 22, 2026
• Angi – How much does Christmas light installation cost? – updated May 3, 2026; read September 22, 2026
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – Holiday safety – read September 22, 2026