Christmas Light Installation Quote Calculator

Enter the roofline footage for each story and your rates. You get the material list, labor hours, and a price you can send the customer.

How the numbers work

Total lit footage is the first and second story runs plus gable peaks, increased by your extra percentage. Bulbs equal footage times 12 divided by spacing in inches. Clips match bulbs. Labor uses the common pro estimate of about 0.01 hours per foot of C9 wire for a crew that already has the gear staged, and the calculator doubles that for second story work.

Price is each story's footage times its rate. Peaks are charged at the second story rate because they need the tallest ladder. If the total comes in under your minimum, the minimum applies. The margin line subtracts your light cost so you can see what you keep.

Picking your rates

Published 2026 guides put full service installs, where the installer supplies leased lights, at roughly $5 to $8 per foot and premium or multi story work at $7 to $12. Mountain homes with steep pitches and snow usually sit at the upper end. Price the job, not the hour: customers compare totals.

Questions

How do you price Christmas light installation?

Most installers price by the linear foot of roofline, with a higher rate for second stories, plus a job minimum. Published 2026 ranges run about $2 to $5 per foot for labor only and $5 to $8 per foot when the installer supplies the lights.

How many C9 bulbs do I need per foot?

At the common 12 inch spacing, one C9 bulb per foot. Add about 10 percent for corners, peaks and the run down to the outlet.

How many clips do I need?

One clip per C9 bulb on the gutter line. Use shingle tabs on sloped gable edges.

Should I charge a minimum?

Yes. Small porch jobs take nearly as long to set up as a full roofline. Many installers set a minimum between $500 and $700.