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Start Here: Christmas Light Guides by Job
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The short answer: Start with the calculator to see how many strands and clips you need, then open the guide for your surface. Use outdoor-rated lights and cords, and follow ladder safety.
Open the Christmas light calculator
Plan and buy
- Christmas Light Calculator
Free Christmas light calculator. Enter your roofline, windows, trees and bushes to see how many strands, clips, cords and timers you need. - Lights for a Christmas tree
Retailer's rule per foot, LED versus incandescent, strands by height - Outdoor Christmas lights
Types, ratings, strand length and what to check - LED vs incandescent
DOE and ENERGY STAR numbers on energy, cost and heat - Cost to run Christmas lights
DOE and ENERGY STAR numbers plus a watts-hours-rate worked example - Solar Christmas lights
Charge and run times, cloudy days, where they fit - Permanent vs seasonal lights
Sourced prices, our break-even math, what to ask - Installer vs DIY
Sourced price ranges, DIY costs, questions to ask - Last-minute Christmas lights
USPS send-by dates plus a use-what-you-have plan
Hang lights outside
- How to hang Christmas lights
Plan, measure, test, clip, power: the full routine - Lights outside
Outdoor-rated gear, GFCI power, timers and weather - Lights on a house
Gutters, shingles, trim, brick, stucco: what attaches where - Lights on gutters
Clips, spacing, vinyl vs metal, fixes for sagging - Lights without gutters
Shingle clips, fascia, trim and ground-level options - Lights with gutter guards
Mesh guards, shingle clips and the pole method - Lights on a metal roof
Magnetic clips, no holes, no adhesive, snow guards - Lights on vinyl siding
Siding hooks, J-channel, suction cups, no holes - Lights on stucco
Adhesive clips, roofline options and EIFS cautions - Lights on brick
Brick clips, adhesive, and which brick to skip - Lights around windows
How much string, clips for trim, hooks for glass - Lights on outdoor trees
Which branches, evergreens and why lights come off before spring - Lights on a railing or fence
Zip ties, no staples, cords and outlets - Lights outside without nails
Clips and adhesives for gutters, shingles, trim and masonry - Patio string lights
Level supports, a taut wire, upward-facing hooks and outdoor-rated power
Hang lights inside, in apartments
- Lights inside
Walls, mantels, trees and cords, without damage - Lights on a ceiling
Removable fasteners, light strands and ladder tips - Apartment and balcony lights
Removable hooks, wind, exits and building rules for renters
Safety, power and fixes
- Ladder and electrical safety
Outdoor-rated, GFCI, strand limits, ladder angle, power lines - Timers and extension cords
Cord gauge and length table, W rating, timers - Christmas lights not working
Outlet, fuse, bulbs, sockets, testers, and when to replace - Taking down and storing lights
Dry, wrap, label and recycle; ladder tips on the way down
Yard decor
- Outdoor Christmas decor
Wreaths, garland and yard decor: outdoor-rated and flame-resistant - Christmas inflatables
Stakes, tethers, weights, wind, and GFCI power
Sources
- This page only lists our guides. Each guide ends with the sources it uses.