For most homeowners in Baton Rouge, the cost to have someone professionally hang Christmas lights will fall between $250 and $650 for a typical season. However, this simple price range hides the most important factor in your decision: choosing between an all-inclusive “rental” service that handles everything, or buying your own lights and hiring a “labor-only” installer. The path you choose will dramatically impact your budget, convenience, and the quality of your display for years to come.
The holiday season in Baton Rouge is a special time. From the twinkling lights over the LSU Lakes to the festive displays in neighborhoods from the Garden District to Shenandoah, there’s a unique magic in the air. As local homeowners, we all want to be part of that magic, but the thought of untangling old lights, climbing icy ladders, and troubleshooting faulty bulbs can quickly turn holiday cheer into a frustrating chore. That’s why many turn to a professional holiday lighting company.
At Hernandez Lawnscape, with over 15 years of experience creating stunning seasonal displays across East Baton Rouge Parish, we’ve helped hundreds of families navigate this decision. Our goal isn’t just to hang lights; it’s to provide clarity. The key to a confident decision and a beautiful home exterior lighting for the holidays in Baton Rouge is understanding the two fundamental service models available. This guide will break down the costs, benefits, and long-term implications of each, empowering you to choose the perfect solution for your home and budget.
Deconstructing the ‘All-Inclusive’ Package: The Ultimate Convenience
When you see breathtaking, magazine-quality holiday displays on homes in Prairieville or Gonzales, they are often the result of an all-inclusive Christmas light installation and removal service. This premium option is a complete, hands-off solution designed for maximum impact and zero hassle. While the annual cost is higher, it buys you far more than just light installation.
So, what’s included in a Christmas light installation package of this caliber? All-inclusive Christmas light installation services typically include the lights, supplies, professional installation, proactive maintenance during the season, and takedown and storage after the holidays. Let’s break that down:
- Custom Design: This process starts with a consultation. A professional from a holiday lighting company in Baton Rouge LA will work with you to create a custom Christmas light design that complements your home’s architecture, highlights your landscape holiday lighting, and fits your vision.
- Commercial-Grade Light Rental: You aren’t buying the lights. Instead, you are renting premium, commercial-grade LED lights. Professional installers typically use commercial-grade Christmas lights, which are noted to be more durable, longer-lasting, and safer than standard store-bought lights. This means brighter colors, superior weather resistance against Louisiana’s unpredictable winter weather, and consistent performance.
- Professional & Safe Installation: Licensed and insured Christmas light installers have the training and equipment to do the job safely and efficiently. They use property-friendly clips and techniques to protect your roofline, gutters, and siding. This is a critical peace-of-mind factor.
- In-Season Maintenance: If a bulb goes out or a storm knocks a strand loose, a full-service holiday lighting company in Baton Rouge will come back and fix it, usually within 24-48 hours, at no extra charge. This proactive Christmas lighting maintenance service is a key differentiator.
- Timely Takedown & Storage: Once the season ends, the crew returns to carefully remove the entire display. They then label and store everything in their climate-controlled facility, ensuring the lights are pristine and ready for next year. You don’t have to sacrifice a corner of your garage.
This model is the definition of “done for you.” As one of our clients noted, “After talking with him for just a minute, I felt confident that his business was right for me… I could not be more pleased with Hernandez Lawnscape. Excellent service all around…5 stars!” This confidence comes from knowing every detail is managed by experts.
The Labor-Only Alternative: A Lower Seasonal Cost with a Catch
For homeowners who are more budget-focused or prefer to own their materials, the “labor-only” model is a popular alternative. With this approach, you are responsible for purchasing, owning, and storing the lights. You then hire someone to put up Christmas lights near you—be it a local handyman, a service like Taskrabbit, or a professional company that offers this option.
The primary appeal is the lower seasonal cost. Since you’re only paying for the installation labor, the annual fee is significantly less than an all-inclusive package. However, this model introduces new responsibilities and costs:
- Upfront Investment: You must purchase all the lights, extension cords, timers, and clips yourself. For customers who choose to purchase their own lights, the average cost for 200 feet of C9 Christmas lights is between $100 and $300. This cost can easily climb for larger homes or more complex designs.
- You Are the Manager: You are responsible for ensuring you have the right number of strands, that they all work, and that they are the correct color and style. After the holidays, you must untangle, pack, and store them yourself.
- No Included Maintenance: If a string of your lights goes out in mid-December, you’ll either have to fix it yourself or pay your installer an additional service fee to come back out.
- Quality Control: The durability and look of your display are entirely dependent on the quality of the retail lights you purchase. These often don’t have the same brightness or longevity as their commercial-grade counterparts.
This can be a great option, but it requires more hands-on effort. How much does it cost to hire someone to put up Christmas lights this way? Labor costs often range from $2 to $5 per linear foot, so for a 150-foot roofline, you might pay a local holiday lighting professional between $300 and $750 for just the installation and takedown service.
A 3-Year Cost Comparison for a Baton Rouge Home
To truly understand the financial implications, let’s analyze the cost over three years for a typical two-story home in Baton Rouge (e.g., in the 70809 zip code) requiring about 150 linear feet of roofline lighting. Key factors that impact the total price of installation include the size of the home, the complexity of the design, and the type of lights being used.
| Cost Factor | All-Inclusive “Rental” Service | Labor-Only (with Owned Lights) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Light Purchase | $0 | $250 (one-time cost for quality lights) |
| Year 1 Total Cost | $600 (includes all services) | $600 ($250 for lights + $350 labor) |
| Year 2 Total Cost | $600 (includes all services) | $350 (labor only) |
| Year 3 Total Cost | $600 (includes all services) | $350 (labor only) |
| Total 3-Year Investment | $1,800 | $1,300 |
As the table shows, the labor-only model has a lower total cost over three years. The breakeven point happens after the first year. However, this financial calculation doesn’t account for the value of your time spent storing lights, the cost of replacing burnt-out strands you own, or the convenience of included professional maintenance.
Making the Right Choice for Your Needs
So, are professional Christmas lights worth the cost? The answer depends entirely on your priorities. There is no single “best” option, only the right option for your specific situation. Here’s how to decide which model fits you.
For the ‘Done-for-You’ Delegator
If you value your time, want a flawless, worry-free holiday experience, and desire a high-end, custom look, the all-inclusive service is undoubtedly the right choice. You are paying a premium for convenience and peace of mind. This is for the busy professional or family who wants to simply flip a switch and enjoy a stunning display without ever touching a ladder or a tangled light strand.
For the Long-Term Investor
If you plan on living in your home for many years and want to lower your annual holiday decorating costs, the labor-only model with owned lights makes financial sense. You accept a higher upfront investment to purchase quality lights and are willing to manage the storage yourself in exchange for a significantly lower seasonal installation fee. This approach offers a great return on investment after the first two seasons.
For the Budget-Conscious First-Timer
If your primary goal is to minimize this year’s expense and you’re just trying out professional installation for the first time, the labor-only service is your best starting point. You can use your existing lights or purchase inexpensive ones to keep the initial cost as low as possible. This allows you to experience the benefits of professional installation without committing to a premium package, giving you a baseline for future holiday decisions.
At Hernandez Lawnscape, we understand that every homeowner in Baton Rouge has different needs. Our philosophy is built on providing tailored solutions, not one-size-fits-all packages. As one of our long-time customers put it, “They always go a step beyond what I expect and consistently provide excellent service. Mr. Hernandez is honest and trustworthy and provides strong leadership for his company.” We believe in being that honest and trustworthy partner, whether you need a comprehensive, all-inclusive display or simply a reliable, insured team for a labor-only installation.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your budget, desire for convenience, and long-term decorating plans. If you’re ready to make your home shine this holiday season, contact our expert team at Hernandez Lawnscape. We’ll provide a transparent, personalized assessment of your property and a free quote for hanging Christmas lights, helping you find the perfect solution for your Baton Rouge home.