Short answer: re-installing lights we already stored for you costs $350 to $1,500, depending on the size of the display. A first-year professional install runs $10 to $15 per linear foot, installed. For a returning client, the re-install is the cheaper path in most cases, because the lights are already bought and the design is already worked out. Both figures come from our price list.
The two prices side by side
| Option | What you pay | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| First-year install | $10 to $15 per linear foot | Lights, clean hanging, timers, takedown |
| Re-install of stored lights | $350 to $1,500 | We reinstall your stored lighting each season |
Example: a 150 ft roofline at $10 to $15 per foot is 150 ft × $10 = $1,500 up to 150 ft × $15 = $2,250 for the first year. That same display, re-installed from storage, falls inside the $350 to $1,500 re-install range.
Why the re-install costs less
- No new design. We already know the house, the roofline and what was lit last year.
- Your lights already exist. The first-year price covers the lights themselves. In later years you are paying for labor and care, not hardware.
- Storage keeps them organized. Lights stored by the same crew that hung them come back out in a known layout, so there is less guessing on the ladder.
Where re-installing does not win
We would be misleading you if we said it always wins. A few cases where starting over makes sense:
- You want a bigger or different display, such as adding trees or another roofline.
- Your old lights have failed or gone dim, and fixing strings piecemeal costs more than replacing them.
- You changed the house, for example a new roof or new gutters, and the layout needs to be redone.
In those cases we talk it through and give you a firm number, and you decide.
What to do with lights you own yourself
If you bought lights on your own and want them hung professionally, call us and we will look at them. Whether they suit a professional install depends on the type and condition, and we will tell you honestly if they are worth hanging. Cheap strings that fail halfway through the season are not worth the ladder time.
What to ask on any quote, either way
- Does the price include takedown?
- Who stores the lights, and where?
- What happens if a section goes dark mid-season?
- Is the number firm, or an estimate that can climb?
How to decide in two minutes
- Did we install and store your lights last year? If yes, ask for the re-install price first.
- Do you want the display to look the same? If yes, re-install usually wins.
- Do you want to change it? If yes, we price the additions per foot on top of the re-install.
When to call us
Call in October if you are a returning client and want your lights back up, or if you are thinking about switching from DIY to a clean professional install. The estimate is free. We serve North Atlanta and the Gwinnett towns to the northeast. See our holiday lighting page and pricing.
A note on storage
Lights hold up better when they are put away properly. Tangled, crushed or damp strings are the main reason a display looks worse the second year. That is part of why we store lights for returning clients rather than sending them home in a bin. If you store your own, label each string by location and keep them dry, away from the heat of a hot attic if you can.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to re-install the same Christmas lights each year? For returning clients, usually yes. A re-install of stored lights costs $350 to $1,500, while a first-year install is $10 to $15 per linear foot.
Do you store the lights for me? Yes. For returning clients, we reinstall your stored lighting each season.
What if I want to add more lights? Additions are priced per foot on top of the re-install. We give you a firm number before any work begins.
Does the re-install include takedown? Professional holiday lighting installed by us comes with takedown. Confirm it on any quote.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026.