Illustration for Permanent Roofline Lights vs a Yearly Installer

This is the homeowner’s side of the question. For seasonal prices, trees and takedown, see our Christmas light installation cost guide.

What permanent lights cost

Permanent systems are LED lights in a track that stays up all year. One multi-state installer says its track goes along and below the roofline. A Texas installer sells its controller with app access. Prices are per linear foot of roofline, plus a controller.

Provider (market) Published price per foot Controller Warranty (as published)
Astoria Lighting Co (Atlanta, Texas metros, Utah) $18–$24 $250–$450 extra Lifetime on bulbs, 10 years on parts, 3 years on labor
Aurora Lights (Texas) From $28 installed $550 Lifetime on bulbs; 5 years on parts and labor
JellyFish Lighting (maker; dealer installs) About $25–$35 installed One included; extras $650–$850 Terms not listed
Trimlight (maker; dealer installs) $18–$35 Not listed separately Lifetime product warranty; dealer labor at least 1 year

Here’s what those rates come to for 150 feet:

  • The multi-state installer: $2,700 to $3,600, or $2,950 to $4,050 with the controller.
  • The Texas installer: $4,200, or $4,750 with its controller.
  • One light maker: $3,750 to $5,250.
  • The other maker: $2,700 to $5,250.

The first maker says most of its homeowners spend $3,000 to $6,000 on street-facing sides. The average is about $4,600.

What you pay each year now

One Central Florida installer rents out its lights. It prices roofline at about $7 a foot, with a $1,000 minimum. That price covers the lights, install, fixes during the season, takedown and storage. For 150 feet, that’s $1,050 a year. The permanent-light installer above says hanging services in its markets charge $500 to $1,500 a season. But it sells the alternative, so treat that range as a sales claim.

The break-even math

Divide the permanent price by your yearly fee. Then round up to whole seasons.

  • At $1,050 a year: $2,700 ÷ $1,050 = 2.6, so the third season. $5,250 ÷ $1,050 = 5.0, so the fifth season.
  • At $500 a year: $2,700 ÷ $500 = 5.4, so the sixth season. $5,250 ÷ $500 = 10.5, so the eleventh.
  • At $1,500 a year: $2,700 ÷ $1,500 = 1.8, so the second season. $5,250 ÷ $1,500 = 3.5, so the fourth.

Three things change the answer:

  • Labor warranties can be shorter than the payback. One light maker requires its dealers to cover labor for at least 1 year. The multi-state installer covers 3 years, and the Texas installer 5. A paid service call after that comes out of your savings.
  • Trees and bushes aren’t included. A permanent track lights the roofline. If you also pay to wrap trees, you’ll keep paying for that each year.
  • You may hang your own lights. One consumer brand prices DIY permanent kits from $2.99 to $5.30 a foot, lights only. That’s $449 to $795 for 150 feet, before any electrician or ladder time. If your seasonal cost is your own Saturday, a $3,000-plus install takes a long time to pay off.

Check the roof and gutters first

Ask how the track attaches. One shingle maker’s standard warranty excludes damage from changes made after the roof goes on. That includes equipment installation. It also won’t pay to remove and replace rooftop equipment. Ask for a fascia or soffit mount, not fasteners through shingles. Read your own roof warranty. Ask the installer who pays to take the track down and put it back if the roof is ever replaced.

Clean first. The track sits along the roofline, close to the gutters. If your gutters have tiger stripes or oxidation, get them cleaned before the track goes up. Before your next house wash, ask the installer for its cleaning instructions.

Check HOA rules. If you have an HOA, ask whether a permanent track needs architectural approval. Do this before you pay a deposit.

Time it. The multi-state installer says fall is its busiest season. It points buyers to late winter, spring or summer for the best rates. The Texas installer says it offers lower rates outside the holidays.

Bought a house that has them?

In a September 2026 homeowners thread, a new owner couldn’t find any switch for the built-in lights. Replies said these systems usually run from a phone app, with a control box in the attic or garage. Others said a hard reset clears the previous owner’s Wi-Fi. Ask the seller for the brand, the app account and the warranty papers at closing.

Exterior companies are adding this work too. In an August 2025 thread, a new gutter company planned to add both leased seasonal lights and permanent lighting for winter. For that side, see adding Christmas light installation to a pressure washing business. Our methodology page explains how we gather prices.

Sources

Based on 12 sources · How we price