Professional Christmas light installation costs most American homeowners $220 to $684, with a national average around $444, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data. Most installers — in Des Moines and everywhere else — price by the linear foot of lit roofline: Angi puts the typical range at $2 to $5 per foot, while HomeAdvisor reports $2.50 to $7 per foot depending on height and complexity. Most companies also carry a job minimum, commonly $150 to $300.
That’s the national picture. Here’s how to read it for a Des Moines metro home, what actually moves the number, and the questions that separate a good quote from an expensive surprise. (We’re EverGlow Exteriors — we install Christmas lights across the Des Moines metro, and we quote every house individually, free.)
What decides the price of a Christmas light install?
- Feet of lit roofline. The single biggest factor. A 120-foot ranch roofline and a 300-foot two-story with peaks are completely different jobs, which is why per-foot pricing is the industry standard.
- Height and pitch. Second-story rooflines and steep gables take taller ladders, more repositioning, and more time — the top of HomeAdvisor’s per-foot range is mostly a height story.
- Design complexity. A clean roofline outline is the base. Peaks, dormers, columns, bush nets, and tree trunk wraps each add labor — mature-tree wraps are the most labor-intensive item on most quotes.
- Whose lights. Supplied commercial-grade lights cost more up front but are built to survive Iowa winters; hanging strands you already own is cheaper if they’re in good shape. A good installer quotes both and tells you the trade-offs.
What should be INCLUDED in the price (this is where quotes differ)
Two quotes for the same dollar amount can be very different deals. Before you book anyone in the metro, ask three questions:
- Is January takedown included? Some companies charge separately for removal — which means the real price is higher than the quote. Takedown (and proper labeled storage boxing) should be part of the number.
- Are mid-season fixes included? A section going dark on December 20th is normal; a company that charges a service-call fee to fix its own install is not. Fixes should be free.
- Clips or staples? Staples punch holes in shingles and gutters and leave rust marks. Roofline clips cost the installer nothing extra and protect your roof — treat staples as a dealbreaker.
Why hire it out at all?
The honest math: your own lights and a free Saturday cost less than any installer — right up until something goes wrong. Emergency rooms treat thousands of holiday-decorating falls every year, almost all of them homeowners on ladders they use once annually. A professional crew works at height every week, carries insurance, and turns a risky weekend into an afternoon you didn’t spend on a frozen ladder. That’s what the $220–$684 actually buys.
How much do permanent christmas lights cost?
Permanent systems — app-controlled LEDs in a color-matched channel that stays on your roofline year-round — are also priced per linear foot, but as a one-time installation rather than a yearly service. The upfront cost runs several times a seasonal install, and in exchange there is nothing to hang, fix, or take down ever again, plus year-round accent lighting the other ten months. Most families think of it as several seasons of install and takedown paid once. The full breakdown is on our permanent christmas lights page, and we quote permanent and seasonal side by side so you can compare real numbers for your actual roofline.
How to get a real number for your house
National averages can’t see your roofline. Text your address to (515) 642-1986 with a sentence about what you’re picturing, and we’ll measure and send a firm, free quote — usually the same day. Every EverGlow install includes January takedown, mid-season fixes, and clips (never staples), across Urbandale, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and the rest of the metro. Booking with a fall gutter cleaning puts both jobs in one visit.
Sources: Angi “How Much Does Christmas Light Installation Cost?” (2026 data); HomeAdvisor “Holiday Lighting Installation Cost.” National figures — your quote depends on your roofline. Last updated: September 2026.
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