How Much Does Christmas Light Installation Cost in Chicago?

Why there's no single price

If you ask a few installers what Christmas lights cost, you'll usually hear "it depends," and that's honest rather than evasive. A display is priced around your specific house: how much roofline there is, how high it sits, what else you want lit, and how much of the work the installer takes off your hands.

A small ranch with a single straight gutter line and a two-story home with several peaks, dormers and a long driveway are very different jobs, even if both owners just say they want "lights on the house." That's why most professional installers, including us, quote after looking at the home rather than from a price list.

What has the biggest effect on cost

Roofline length. Most roofline work is measured by the linear foot, so the total length of gutters, eaves and peaks you want outlined is usually the largest single factor.

Height and roof pitch. A first-story gutter line can be done from a ladder. Second-story rooflines, steep roofs and peaks take more time, more safety equipment and sometimes a second crew member, which adds labor.

Bulbs and materials. Professional installs typically use commercial-grade LED C7 or C9 bulbs on strands cut to fit each section of roofline. Larger bulbs, closer spacing and specialty colors all change the material cost.

Everything beyond the roofline. Wrapping tree trunks and branches, lighting bushes, outlining windows and walkways, and adding wreaths or garland each add to the total. Tree wrapping in particular is slow, careful work, so a big tree can be a meaningful part of a quote.

What a full-service install should include

When comparing quotes, make sure you're comparing the same thing. A full-service holiday lighting job generally covers design, installation, a safe electrical setup and removal after the season. Some quotes leave out takedown or charge it separately, which can make a lower number look better than it is.

Our Christmas lights installation includes custom design, installation, a secure electrical setup, timer configuration, maintenance during the season if a strand or bulb goes out, and post-holiday removal. We also offer storage between seasons, so the lights don't end up tangled in your garage.

Ask, too, whether the lights are yours to keep or provided for the season, whether service calls during December are included, and how power will be run to the display. A neat, safe connection to outdoor outlets and timers matters as much as how straight the bulbs look.

Things that can add to a quote

Clogged or loose gutters. Clips usually attach to the gutter edge, so gutters full of wet leaves or pulling away from the fascia need attention first. If your gutters haven't been cleaned this fall, it can make sense to book both on the same visit.

Limited outdoor power. Homes with one outdoor outlet, or outlets on the wrong side of the house, may need more planning to run power safely to every part of the display.

Late booking. Installation calendars fill quickly from late October through Thanksgiving. Booking early doesn't change the work involved, but it gives you more choice of install date.

DIY vs. hiring a pro: the real trade-off

Doing it yourself is cheaper in cash if you already own lights and a sturdy ladder. The trade-off is time, a few cold afternoons on a ladder in November, and the same work in reverse in January. Many homeowners are fine on a single-story roofline and draw the line at second-story peaks.

Hiring a pro buys you the safety and the finish: evenly clipped bulbs, strands cut to length, a tidy power setup and someone else handling repairs and takedown. If you'd rather never do the roofline again, permanent app-controlled lighting is another option to ask about. It costs more up front, but there's no yearly install.

Get a free quote for your home

Our holiday lighting service starts at $299, and your final price depends on your roofline, height and what you'd like lit. We'll walk the property, suggest a design that fits the house and give you a clear number before any work begins. First-time customers get 25% off their first service.

EcoTouch Service installs holiday lighting across Chicago and the suburbs, from our Crystal Lake base in McHenry County to the North Shore and western suburbs. Request a free quote soon to get the install date you want.