How Much Do People Charge to Put Up and Take Down Christmas Lights?

What Do Installers Charge Nationwide?

National cost data gives you a useful starting point. Industry surveys for 2026 put the average professional install in the $440 to $550 range, with most homeowners spending between $220 and $700 for a standard display. Installers price the work per linear foot in most markets, and the going rate lands between $2 and $7 per foot depending on what the price includes.

Here is the catch with those averages. The low numbers cover labor only. You supply the lights, you replace dead strands, and you pay again in January when someone comes back to pull everything down. The high numbers cover turnkey service where the company supplies the lights and handles the full season. Those are two different products, and comparing them by the sticker price alone leads people to bad decisions.

What Drives the Price Up or Down?

Two houses on the same street can get quotes hundreds of dollars apart. These are the factors that move the number:

• Roofline length and height. A single-story ranch with 120 feet of roofline costs far less than a two-story home with peaks, dormers, and gables. Multi-story homes in neighborhoods like Prestwick in Frankfort take more time, more equipment, and more light.
• Light quality. Commercial-grade C9 LEDs cost more than box-store strands, and they earn it. They shine brighter, survive Illinois winters, and last for seasons instead of weeks.
• Scope beyond the roofline. Wrapped trees, lit bushes, columns, and yard displays each add material and labor.
• What happens after install. Maintenance visits, takedown, and storage either come bundled or show up as separate bills. Ask every company you quote.
• Timing. Crews booked solid in November charge peak rates. Homeowners who book in late summer get first pick of dates.

How Much Does Takedown Cost on Its Own?

Takedown as a standalone service runs $100 to $400 for a typical home. That January bill surprises a lot of people who hired a labor-only installer in November. The lights come down, they go into boxes, and the boxes go back into your garage until next year, when the cycle starts over.

This is why the put-up and take-down question belongs together. A company that quotes one price for the full season, removal included, saves you from a second invoice and a garage full of tangled strands. When you compare quotes, ask each company one question: does this price include taking everything down in January? If the answer takes more than one sentence, keep asking.

Why Do All-Inclusive Packages Cost More Upfront?

Our packages start at $749, which sits above the bare national average. Here is the honest math on why, and why the total cost of ownership often favors the package.

A labor-only install at $350 sounds cheaper until you add the rest. Quality LED lights for an average roofline cost $200 to $400 to buy. A strand fails in December and the service call costs $75 to $150. Takedown adds another $100 to $400. Storage means your garage, your boxes, and your January afternoon in the cold. Add it up and the "cheap" route lands in the same range or higher, with more hassle at every step.

An all-inclusive package flips that. One price in the fall covers the lights, the install, the auto timer, every repair visit through New Year's, the takedown, and storage at our facility. Next season you make one phone call and your display goes back up. You can see the full breakdown of what comes with every install at www.greenprochristmaslights.com.

What Does $749 Get You in Kankakee and Will County?

Every Green Pro Christmas Lights package includes:

• Commercial-grade LED lights custom cut to your exact roofline
• Professional installation by a local, insured crew
• An auto timer that runs your display sunset to sunrise
• Maintenance visits all season at no extra charge
• Full takedown in January
• Storage at our facility until next season

We serve Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Manteno, Frankfort, New Lenox, Mokena, and the surrounding Kankakee County and Will County towns. We live here and work here, and we back every install as part of Green Pro Services of Kankakee. You can read reviews and see recent installs on our Google Business Profile.

Is DIY Cheaper?

On paper, yes. In practice, count everything. Lights, clips, extension cords, and timers cost $150 to $400 for a modest display, and box-store strands rarely survive more than a season or two of Illinois weather. Then count your time: an afternoon up a ladder in November, troubleshooting dead strands in December, and another cold afternoon pulling everything down in January.

Then count the risk. Falls from ladders send tens of thousands of people to emergency rooms every holiday season, and icy Midwest rooflines make it worse. One ER visit erases a decade of DIY savings. If your home is a single story with a simple roofline and you enjoy the project, DIY can make sense. For two-story homes, steep pitches, or anyone who wants their weekends back, professional installation earns its price.

When Should You Book?

Book by September. Our preferred install dates across Kankakee and Will County fill by mid-October every year, and returning customers rebook in summer to lock their slot. Booking early gets you the widest choice of dates and gets your quote settled before the seasonal rush. Call (815) 605-6962 or request a free quote right here on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions