Permanent Christmas Lights: What They Cost, the Pros and Cons, and Whether They're Worth It
Quick answer
Permanent Christmas lights cost from $3,000 installed, or $900 + $99/mo on our managed plan. They're worth it if you'll decorate this house for 3+ more years.
Get a Free Site Visit →Every November, the same thing happens: ladders come out, someone untangles last year's lights, and the roofline gets finished just in time to take it all down again in January. Permanent Christmas lights end that routine.
They go up once, stay up, and turn on from your phone for Christmas, the Fourth of July, game days, or just a warm white glow on a Tuesday night.
But they aren't the right fit for every home. Below, we break down what they are, what they cost in Virginia, how they compare to a yearly seasonal install, and a simple way to decide.
In this guide (tap to open)
What Are Permanent Christmas Lights?
Permanent Christmas lights are LED lights mounted in a slim track along your roofline and left in place all year.
Instead of a strand of bulbs hanging from clips, the lights sit inside a low-profile aluminum channel that's color-matched to your trim. During the day, it reads as part of the house.
At night, you control them from a smartphone app: pick a color, a holiday scene, a slow fade, or a chase pattern, and set it on a schedule.
Our permanent roofline lighting uses individually addressable RGBW LED modules. In plain terms, every light can be its own color. That's how you get red and green for Christmas, orange and purple for Halloween, and a clean warm white the rest of the year from the same system.
How Much Do Permanent Christmas Lights Cost?
Cost depends mostly on how many feet of roofline you want covered and how many corners, peaks, and levels the crew has to work around.
Managed plan
$900 + $99/moupfront + monthly
- We run it
- Scenes change on their own
- Maintenance + service calls
The year-round lighting program covers installation, quarterly programming updates, maintenance, and service calls, so there's nothing for you to think about.
Every quote starts with a free site visit, where we measure the roofline and give you an exact number. Commercial properties are quoted the same way, with liability coverage included.
Permanent vs. Seasonal Christmas Lights
- Upfront
- From $3,000 (or $900 + $99/mo managed)
- Each year
- No fee if you own it; $1,188/yr on the managed plan
- Colors
- Millions of colors, patterns and scenes
- Holidays
- All of them, all year
- Takedown
- None needed
- By day
- Slim track, color-matched to trim
- Best for
- Staying 3+ years and decorating every year
- Upfront
- From $940 to $3,200 per season
- Each year
- Same price again each season
- Colors
- Usually one look per season
- Holidays
- Christmas season only
- Takedown
- Included with us, every January
- By day
- Nothing up after takedown
- Best for
- Renters, first-timers, or a classic look with no long-term commitment
Not sure which seasonal size you'd need? Our Christmas light installation packages run from the Elf Package (up to 75 ft, from $940) to the North Pole Package (up to 400 ft, from $3,200), and every one includes takedown and storage.
Are Permanent Christmas Lights Worth It?
For most homeowners, it comes down to one question: how many more seasons will you decorate this house?
Break-even at a glance
Example: a Rudolph-size roofline at about $1,700 a season vs. a permanent system you own from $3,000.
Say your roofline fits our Rudolph Package at about $1,700 a season. A permanent system starting at $3,000 covers roughly the same cost in two seasons. From season three on, you're ahead, and you've had every other holiday lit up along the way.
Permanent lights are usually worth it if you:
- Plan to stay 3+ years
- Have a two-story home or steep roof
- Already pay a pro every year
- Want lights for many holidays
- Run a business or storefront
Seasonal lights are usually the smarter pick if you rent, may move soon, only decorate for Christmas, or love the look of classic C9 bulbs.
You can also get color without going permanent: our color-changing C9 roof lights start at $1,750 for up to 100 ft and run on an app, but come down after the season.
Pros and Cons of Permanent Holiday Lighting
Pros (5)
- No more ladders. Once it's installed, you never climb to decorate again.
- Every holiday, one system. Swap scenes from your phone in seconds.
- Barely visible by day. The track is color-matched to your trim.
- Energy-efficient. LEDs use far less power than older incandescent strands (more below).
- Room to grow. Add patio, accent, or landscape lighting to the same system later.
Cons & how we handle them (3)
- Higher upfront cost. That's why we offer the managed plan at $900 upfront. We'll also walk you through a break-even estimate during your free site visit.
- HOA rules. Some neighborhoods limit year-round lights. Our modules can be aimed outward or downward, and we recommend checking with your HOA before you book.
- It's a commitment to one house. If you move in a year, you're leaving the lights behind (though many buyers see them as a plus).
Are Permanent Lights Safe and Energy-Efficient?
LED vs. incandescent figures: U.S. Department of Energy.
LEDs are the reason permanent lighting makes sense at all. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, residential LEDs use at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 30 times longer. They also give off very little heat, which matters when lights sit against your fascia and gutters all year.
Safety is the other big reason people switch. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns never to string together more than three sets of incandescent lights or overload outlets, which is exactly what happens when strands get added year after year.
And OSHA notes that falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. With permanent lights, nobody in your family has to climb the roof again. Our crews are equipped and insured for work at height, so the only ladder trip happens on install day.
Thinking about it for your home?
We'll measure your roofline and price it free.
Book My Free Site VisitPermanent Lighting for Businesses
Storefronts, restaurants, offices, and HOA entrances use commercial permanent lighting to stay visible every season, not just December. The same system can run brand colors, holiday scenes, and a steady white for security lighting. For bigger displays, pair it with LED light bars, RGB cubes, or RGB globes and spheres.
Chick-fil-A · RichmondStorefront roofline & wreath
Tap YardRestaurant & bar roofline
Light bars, RGB cubes & globesSee all commercial permanent lighting →
Swipe to see more →
We install commercial permanent lighting across Richmond, Charlottesville, and Northern Virginia.
Where We Install Permanent Lights in Virginia
Lights Around installs permanent holiday lighting across Central and Northern Virginia. Unlike seasonal lights, permanent systems can go in any time of year, weather permitting, so you don't have to wait for the fall rush.
- Fredericksburg
- Richmond
- Fairfax
- Loudoun
- Culpeper
- Lynchburg
- Woodbridge
- Charlottesville
- All service areas →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do permanent Christmas lights cost?
At Lights Around, permanent roofline lighting starts at $3,000 installed if you buy it outright, or $900 upfront plus $99 a month on our fully managed plan. Your exact price depends on roofline length and layout, which we measure during a free site visit.
Can you see permanent Christmas lights during the day?
Barely. The lights sit in a slim aluminum track that's color-matched to your trim, so from the street it reads as part of the roofline.
Do permanent lights only work for Christmas?
No. They're color-changing, so you can set scenes for any holiday, event, or team, or use a simple warm white as everyday accent lighting.
Can I add more lighting later?
Yes. Systems can be expanded with permanent patio lighting, accent lighting, and landscape features.
Should I still hire someone for seasonal lights?
If permanent isn't the right fit yet, a seasonal install is still the easiest way to a finished holiday look. Here are five reasons to hire a professional and how to choose the right installer.
Stop climbing ladders.
Book a free site visit. We'll measure your roofline, show you what the lights look like, and compare permanent vs. seasonal for your home.
Get My Free Quote(703) 634-6008 office@LightsAround.com
