If you searched permanent Christmas lights cost and landed here, you probably wanted a number. We are not going to post one, and we want to be upfront about why.
Any price you see online for “permanent lights” is a guess about a house that isn’t yours. It might be a DIY kit priced by the box, a national average, or a teaser number that grows once someone actually looks at your roofline. None of that helps you plan.
What we can do is show you the things that actually move a quote up or down, so you know what you are asking for and can compare companies fairly. LightXP is an Authorized Gemstone Dealer · Cincinnati/Dayton area, based in Maineville, and this is how we look at a house.
1. How much roofline you want lit
The biggest single factor is length. Permanent lighting is mounted in track along the trim, so the more linear feet of soffit, fascia, and gable line you want covered, the more track, lights, and install time the job takes.
A compact ranch with one long front eave and a sprawling home with wings, a three-car garage, and several rooflines are very different projects, even on the same street.
2. Front only, or more of the house
This is the factor you control the most. Many homeowners start with the front elevation, the side neighbors and guests actually see from the street. Others want the sides, the back deck, or the whole house.
Front-only is not a lesser version of the product. It is the same Gemstone track, the same app, and the same warranty, just on fewer runs. If you are weighing coverage, ask us to show you what front-only looks like on your house before you decide.
3. How tall and steep the house is
A one-story home with an easy reach to the eaves is a different day for the crew than a two-story with steep pitches or tall gables. Height and pitch affect the equipment, safety setup, and time it takes to mount track cleanly.
That is real labor, and it is part of what you are paying a professional crew to handle, so you are not the one on the roof. We cover the labor side in more detail in what you’re actually paying for.
4. How complex the roofline is
Two houses can have the same total footage and still be very different jobs. Every peak, valley, inside corner, and change in direction is a spot where the run has to be planned and finished so the line looks continuous.
A simple straight eave is quick. A front with several gables, dormers, or a turret takes more design and more careful mounting. That design work is what makes the finished lighting look like part of the architecture instead of something tacked on.
5. Where the power and controller go
Every system needs power and a controller, and where those can go on your house matters. Sometimes there is an easy spot near an outlet in the garage or by the soffit. Sometimes runs have to be planned around where power is available.
We look at this during the proposal so there are no surprises on install day.
6. The trim and surfaces we are mounting to
Track mounts along your trim, so the material and condition of your soffit and fascia matter. Most homes are straightforward. Occasionally an older or unusual surface needs a different approach. We would rather point that out up front than discover it with the crew on the ladder.
7. What is included, not just what is installed
When you compare quotes, make sure they cover the same things. A LightXP install includes the custom design, the Gemstone track and lights, our local crew, app setup with you before we leave, Gemstone’s lifetime manufacturer product warranty (manufacturer terms apply), and a 1-year LightXP labor warranty. The full list is in what’s included in a LightXP install.
A lower number that leaves out the labor warranty, the app setup, or a local team to call is not the same quote. And a “permanent” kit that clips or sticks on is a different product altogether; see permanent Christmas lights vs Govee.
What does not belong in a quote
A few things should not be part of how anyone prices your house:
- Countdown pressure. “Only three slots left at this price” is a sales tactic, not a factor. We will tell you the real next install date we can keep; see calendar honesty.
- A number before anyone has seen the house. A real proposal comes after looking at your elevation, even if that starts with photos.
- Vague coverage. The proposal should say which parts of the house are lit. If it doesn’t, ask.
How to get an accurate quote faster
You can speed things up by sending a few things when you reach out:
- Your city or neighborhood, so we can confirm you are in our usual area (who LightXP serves).
- A clear photo of the front of your house, taken from the street.
- Which sides you are thinking about: front only, front and sides, or the whole house.
- Anything you already know you want, like warm white every night with Halloween and Christmas scenes saved in the app.
From there we can talk through what fits your house and put together a custom proposal.
Why this matters right now
Fall is our busy season. Permanent lights stay up for Halloween, Christmas, game days, and warm white every normal night in between, so a lot of homeowners decide in October. If you want lights on before the holidays, ask sooner rather than later, and we will tell you honestly where the calendar stands.
Next step
- Request a custom proposal through the proposal form, or
- Text a front-of-house photo to (513) 480-8377, or call.
We will walk through the factors above for your house and show you exactly what is included.
Authorized Gemstone Dealer · Cincinnati/Dayton area.
FAQ
How much do permanent Christmas lights cost in Cincinnati?
It depends on your house: how much roofline you want lit, front only or more sides, how tall and steep the house is, how complex the roofline is, and where power can go. We give you a custom proposal instead of a chart that doesn’t fit your home. Text or call (513) 480-8377 to start.
Why won’t you post a price online?
Because any number we posted would be wrong for most houses. A small one-story front and a large two-story whole-house install are different jobs. We would rather give you a real proposal than a teaser.
What is the biggest factor in the cost of permanent lights?
Usually how many linear feet of roofline you want covered, followed by height and roofline complexity. Choosing front-only versus more of the house is the factor you control most.
Is front-only permanent lighting worth it?
For many homes, yes. Front-only uses the same Gemstone track, app, and warranty on the side people actually see. Ask us to show you what it covers on your house.
Does the quote include the warranty and app setup?
Yes. Every LightXP install includes app setup with you, Gemstone’s lifetime manufacturer product warranty on the lights (manufacturer terms apply), and a 1-year LightXP labor warranty on our install.
Can I get a quote from photos?
Photos are a great start. Text a clear front-of-house photo to (513) 480-8377 with your city and which sides you are thinking about, and we will take it from there.
