Festivals bring joy, excitement, and cozy nights, making the celebrations enjoyable. To make the celebration more enjoyable, colorful, and memorable, it's a beautiful duty to add decorative elements. One of the decorative elements is lights. Holiday lightings easily increase the visual appeal of seasonal decorations for events like Halloween, Christmas, and many more. With a wide variety of designs, costs also differ. To manage the cost of holiday lighting with all other decorative items, it is important to know how much a light installation costs. In this blog, we have covered various factors, installation costs, and features of holiday lights.
Factors Affecting Light Installation Cost
Here are several factors that can affect the total cost of the light installation project:
Cost by Size
To install a professional Christmas light, the cost would be $2.5 to $7 per linear foot. This is the total amount that includes materials (costing $0.50 to $2 per linear foot) along with installation costs ($2 to $5 per linear foot.
Here is a tabular form to understand the cost range better:
| Home Size and Square Footage | Low Price | High Price |
| 1,000 - 2,000 sq. ft. - One Story | $250 | $600 |
| 2,000 - 3,500 sq. ft. - One Story | $300 | $750 |
| 1,500 - 2,000 sq. ft. - Two Story | $400 | $1,000 |
| 2,500 - 3,500 sq. ft. - Two Story | $500 | $1,200 |
| 2,500 - 4,000 sq. ft. - Two Story | $700 | $1,800 |
| 4,00+ sq. ft. - Two Story | $500 | $1,800 |
Cost by Project
Here is an estimated cost in tabular form and detailed cost of holiday lighting installation, depending on the type of project.
| Project Type | Cost Range |
| Roof Lighting | $150 - $2,000 |
| Driveway Lighting | $60 - $180 |
| Tree Lighting | $75 - $1,500 per tree |
| Shrub and Bush Lighting | $10 - $20 per bush or shrub |
Roof Lighting Cost: The cost to install lights on the roof lies in the range of $150 - $1,200. Cost may increase by 20% in case of a complex job requiring special equipment like an extended-height ladder or scaffolding.
Driveway Lighting Cost: Installation of light around the driveways ranges from $60 to $80. This is a great way to increase the aesthetics and functionality of the pathway without disturbing the budget.
Trees Lighting Cost: Wrapping the light around the trees can cost between $75 and $1,500 per tree. The cost varies depending on the height of the trees. Small trees can cost up to $200; on the other hand, trees that reach or exceed 30 feet could cost upwards of $1,500. Ensure to multiply these numbers effectively if hiring a professional to install the lights.
Shrubs and Bushes Lighting Cost: Each bush requires 5 to 10 strands of light, which may cost you around $10 to $20 to wrap these strands of light in a shrub or bush. There are other options of lights available, like small and cone lights or larger and brighter lights. You can choose the style according to your preference.
Types of Light, Their Cost, and Features
Here is a list of a wide variety of holiday lighting, their cost, and features:
| Type of Lights | Standard price per string | Shape & size of bulb | Level of energy efficiency | Durability | Brightness | Features |
| Dome Lights | $10 - $30 | Round & Small | High | 50,000 hours | Moderate | Suitable for wreaths and trees due to its gentle radiance |
| LED String lights | $5 - $35 | Miniature & standard | Very High | 50,000 hours | Bright | Power efficient, durable and vibrant color choices |
| Incandescent lights | $5 - $20 | Several sizes | Low | 1,500 - 2,000 hours | Warm, soft | Budget-friendly, classic emit of brightness, expensive consumption |
| C3 lights | $5 - $25 | Small, cone-shaped | Moderate | 3,000 hours | Bright | Can be hanged indoor and outdoor, cozy environment |
| C5 lights | $5 - $30 | Medium, cone-shaped | Moderate | 3,000 hours | Bright | Known for outdoor lighting and huge trees |
| C6 lights | $15 - $30 | Larger, cone-shaped | Moderate | 50,000 hours | Very bright | Perfect for larger outdoor exhibits |
| C7 lights | $10 - $40 | Classic large bulb | Moderate | 50,000 hours | Very bright | Unique shape, ideal for roofline and big spaces |
| C9 lights | $10 - $50 | Oversized classic | Moderate | 50,000 hours | Extremely bright | Known for outlining homes and huge exhibits |
| Twinkle lights | $5 - $25 | Miniature bulbs | High | 20,000 hours | Moderate | Provides a charming outlook, best for trees or decoration |
| Net lights | $15 - $45 | Mesh of small lights | High | 20,000 hours | Bright | Best to cover bushes and hedges |
| Icicle lights | $10 - $40 | Hanging strand bulbs | High | 20,000 hours | Bright | Perfect for eaves, fences and roof edges |
Additional Costs
Here is a tabular list of additional costs:
| Additional Requirements | Costs |
| Timer | $10- $50 per timer |
| Smart lights | $35 - $50 per linear foot |
| Electrical Wiring | $50 - $100 per hour |
| Permanent Installation | $3,500 |
| Labor | $2 - $5/ linear feet |
| Tipping | 10% - 20% of total bill |
Conclusion
Holiday lights add warmth and a pop of fun to any festival. There are different lighting options for different festivals, like dome lights, string lights, etc.; all you have to do is make the right selection. However, keep in mind the installation cost of all the lights and also check if it includes the labor cost and other miscellaneous costs.
