If you’ve started searching for professional Christmas light installation in the Triangle, you’ve probably noticed most companies are pretty vague about pricing. We get it — every home is different, and a one-size-fits-all number isn’t very useful. But “it depends” doesn’t help you plan a budget.
So here’s an honest breakdown of what goes into your Christmas light installation cost, with real starting prices for each component, so you can get a feel for what your project might run before you even request a quote.
What Affects Your Christmas Light Installation Cost?
Your total price comes down to a handful of factors:
- Linear footage of roofline, gutters, or eaves you want lit
- Number and size of wreaths for windows, doors, or garage
- Trees and shrubs you want wrapped, and their size
- Ground or pathway lighting if you want lights along walkways, beds, or driveways
- Design complexity — straight roofline runs are simpler than detailed trim work around dormers, peaks, and architectural features
Most homeowners in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary, and the surrounding Triangle area mix and match these elements into a package that fits their home and budget. Here’s roughly what each piece starts at.
Roofline Lighting: Starting at $500
Roofline (or eave) lighting is the foundation of most displays — it’s what gives a home that classic, lit-up-for-the-holidays look from the street. Pricing starts around $500 for a standard single-story home with a straightforward roofline. Larger homes, two-story layouts, steep pitches, or homes with a lot of dormers and architectural detail will run higher, since they take more time and more material to do safely and look right.
Wreaths: Starting at $200
Lit wreaths on garage doors, front entry doors, or windows add a polished, finished look. Pricing starts around $200 and depends on the size of the wreath — a larger statement wreath for a garage door costs more than a smaller one for a window.
Tree & Shrub Lighting: Starting at $100
Wrapping trees and shrubs in lights is one of the most popular upgrades, and it’s also where pricing varies the most. A small ornamental tree or shrub starts around $100, while larger trees — especially mature trees with a lot of canopy — take significantly more time, lights, and labor, so the price scales up with the size of the tree.
Ground & Pathway Lighting: Starting at $150
Ground lighting along a walkway, driveway, or garden bed adds depth to your display and looks great from the street at night. This typically starts around $150 depending on the length of the area you want lit.
Putting It Together: Package Pricing
Most of our customers don’t book just one element — they choose a package that combines roofline lighting with a wreath or two, maybe some tree wrapping, for a complete look. Because every home and every wishlist is different, we build custom packages rather than forcing everyone into the same box.
The best way to get an accurate number for your home is a free, no-pressure quote. We’ll walk your property, talk through what you’re picturing, and give you a written price based on your actual roofline footage, the trees and shrubs you want lit, and any extras like wreaths or ground lighting — not a generic estimate.
What’s Included
Every Distinct Holiday Lighting installation includes design, installation, maintenance throughout the season, takedown, and storage. You don’t have to think about your lights again until next year.
Book Early — Slots Fill Up Fast
Fall installation slots throughout the Triangle fill up quickly, and the earlier you book, the more flexibility you’ll have on scheduling. A 50% deposit secures your spot, with the remaining 50% due on installation day.
Ready to get a real number for your home? Call us at (984) 254-3906 or fill out our online form for a free quote — we’ll come out, design your display, and give you a written estimate with no pressure and no obligation.
Distinct Holiday Lighting proudly serves Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Youngsville, and Franklinton, NC.