Cost guide
What Christmas Light Installation Costs
Installs start at $500 and a $100 deposit holds your date. Here is what changes the price and what you get for it, from Topeka to Kansas City.
Ballpark it
What would my house cost?
Put in rough numbers and the estimate fills in as you go. These are Ray's real rates. Your actual quote comes after he measures the roof from satellite.
How much roofline?
Feet of gutter and roof edge you want lit. A guess is fine. Ray measures the real number from satellite before you get a quote.
Bushes and shrubs
About $100 each.
Lit wreaths
Any bulb color you want.
Estimate
RM Lighting Solutions
All calculator prices are estimates only. Final pricing depends on our measurements, accessibility, roofline complexity, materials, and selected package. Bulb color never changes the price.
Or call (785) 554-8293
Where the price starts
Roofline runs $6 a foot, and $6 to $7 a foot on steep roofs and second stories. Bushes are about $100 each. Lit wreaths are $300 for a 4 foot, $450 for a 5 foot and $700 for a 6 foot. The average job comes in around $900. Run your own numbers in the calculator above.
Every install starts at $500. That is the floor, not a package. The number for your house comes from measuring your roofline, and the proposal shows it three ways, as Good, Better and Best, on a mockup of your own home. Pick one and a $100 deposit puts your install on the calendar. The balance is spelled out on the proposal.
We take bank transfer through a secure payment link, and we take checks.
What makes it cost more or less
Three things set the price. The first is how much roofline you want lit. The front of the house is the Good package. Sides, peaks and the back move you to Better.
Second is the roof itself. A steep or tall roof takes longer and needs more gear. Ray has been roofing for nine years, so he prices pitch and height right the first time instead of finding out on the ladder.
Third is what you add. Wrapped trees and bushes, wreaths, garland and the entry are what take a house from Better to Best.
Where you live does not change it. Topeka, Lawrence, Emporia and the Kansas City side all get quoted the same way, from the same satellite measurements.
What the price covers
Most of our customers are on the seasonal lease, and on the lease the price is the whole job. We design it with you, supply commercial-grade C9 LEDs cut to your roofline, install them with pro clips and set the timer. If a bulb goes out during the season we fix it within 24 hours. After the holidays we take everything down at a scheduled time, label it and store it, so next year the same set goes back up. There are no separate charges for maintenance, takedown or storage.
You never buy the lights on the lease. RM Lighting Solutions owns them, which also means you never replace a dead strand out of pocket.
Leasing, buying, or doing it yourself
Doing it yourself looks cheaper until you add it up. You buy the strands and the clips, you lose a weekend to the ladder, and then you take it all down in January and find somewhere to keep it. Ray told the Emporia Gazette that good commercial lighting can last up to ten seasons with care, while big-box sets often fail after a year or two.
The bigger cost is the roof. Steep roofs, tall ladders and frost in late November are how people get hurt putting up lights. "Let the professionals get on the roof," Ray said. "If it costs a little money, it costs a little money. It's a luxury service, and it's safer."
If you want lights you never think about again, permanent year-round lighting is the other route. You buy it once, it stays on the house, and it is quoted on its own proposal.
How to get your number
Send us your address and the bulb color you like. We measure your roofline from satellite imagery, so there is no visit to schedule, and you get a proposal back with all three packages shown on your house. Installs start October 1, and dates fill as the weather turns, so the earlier you ask the more dates there are to pick from.
Rather talk it through? Topeka is (785) 554-8293 and Kansas City is (816) 938-9249. See the work first on our projects page, or read about residential and commercial installs.
Word for word from Google
What Customers Say About the Price
Straight from our Google reviews.
Rashaad Marshall
“RM Lighting Solutions did our Christmas lights before the business grew to what it is now. The owner has great communication skills, hardworking, and provides the lights, which comes in the bid. Compared price…”
Jane Linhart
“Ray and crew are a delight to work with. Who else shows up in a Santa hat to spread holiday cheer through exceptional lighting? Ray provides quick quotes with multiple options to meet any budget and his modes…”
Dennis Eisenbarth
“They were on time and very professional. Took them less than 2 hours what would have taken me 4 hours and follow-up has been amazing.”
Common Questions
Cost questions
Is there a minimum price for Christmas light installation?
Yes. Installs start at $500. A small front roofline lands near the minimum, and the price goes up with how much of the house you light and what you add in the yard.
Do you charge to measure my house or make the mockup?
No. We measure from satellite imagery, so nobody has to come out, and the mockup of your house comes with the proposal at no charge. You only pay once you pick a package and put down the $100 deposit.
Do bulb fixes during the season cost extra?
Not on the seasonal lease. If a bulb goes out or a strand acts up, call and we fix it within 24 hours. Maintenance, takedown and storage are part of the package.
Can you hang lights I already own?
We have done it. One customer had a set a previous contractor left behind when they went out of business, and we installed those. Tell us what you have when you send the address and we will quote it.
"Ray and crew are a delight to work with. Who else shows up in a Santa hat to spread holiday cheer through exceptional lighting? Ray provides quick quotes with multiple options to meet any budget and his modes of communication made the process easy for busy people like me! He is prompt, polite and delivers a quality product. Will definitely use Ray and crew again for any future holiday lighting needs!"
Jessica Kieffer
"Ray was easy to work with and his team was prompt and professional. We love coming home and seeing the lights from the street,…"
Lisa Bassett
"RM lighting solutions did a great job and were very professional and friendly. Ray was very timely in his responses to any…"
Kylie Richardson
"Would recommend RM Lighting Solutions for any holiday lighting! Easy process and they’ll come within 24 hours if anything goes…"
Seth Cable
"They did a fantastic job with the Christmas lights. Came out promptly and installed some of the best looking lights we have had.…"
Merlin Wheeler
"Ray was very responsive to our request to install Christmas lights. Did an excellent quick install using lights a previous…"
Dale Cox
"Ray came by and installed my lights. Very professional, did a great job! Very impressed. And even patched and repaired my roof.…"
Rashaad Marshall
"RM Lighting Solutions did our Christmas lights before the business grew to what it is now. The owner has great communication…"
Vanessa Whalen
"Professional, reliable, and affordable. They definitely went the extra mile for us. We look for award to seeing our beautiful…"
Heather Newell
"Absolutely love my lights, great communication and efficient service. The house lights complemented my yard decorations…"
Dennis Eisenbarth
"They were on time and very professional. Took them less than 2 hours what would have taken me 4 hours and follow-up has been…"
Ali Geitz
"RM Lighting Solutions is a remarkable company. They are very professional and offer all the services and aspects of a top rate…"
TheRighteous Path
"Ray and his crew accommodated me all the way in Shawnee, KS. I definitely recommend him if you are looking for a good holiday…"
Tereza Robinson
"Very pleased with the work that was done. Not only was he professional, showed up on time, responded to texts and questions…"
Syneva Mullins
"Ray and his employee did a fantastic job! Ray is very personable and easy to work with. We highly recommend him and his company!!"
Jessica Kieffer
"Ray was easy to work with and his team was prompt and professional. We love coming home and seeing the lights from the street,…"
Lisa Bassett
"RM lighting solutions did a great job and were very professional and friendly. Ray was very timely in his responses to any…"
Kylie Richardson
"Would recommend RM Lighting Solutions for any holiday lighting! Easy process and they’ll come within 24 hours if anything goes…"
Seth Cable
"They did a fantastic job with the Christmas lights. Came out promptly and installed some of the best looking lights we have had.…"
Merlin Wheeler
"Ray was very responsive to our request to install Christmas lights. Did an excellent quick install using lights a previous…"
Dale Cox
"Ray came by and installed my lights. Very professional, did a great job! Very impressed. And even patched and repaired my roof.…"
Rashaad Marshall
"RM Lighting Solutions did our Christmas lights before the business grew to what it is now. The owner has great communication…"
Vanessa Whalen
"Professional, reliable, and affordable. They definitely went the extra mile for us. We look for award to seeing our beautiful…"
Heather Newell
"Absolutely love my lights, great communication and efficient service. The house lights complemented my yard decorations…"
Dennis Eisenbarth
"They were on time and very professional. Took them less than 2 hours what would have taken me 4 hours and follow-up has been…"
Ali Geitz
"RM Lighting Solutions is a remarkable company. They are very professional and offer all the services and aspects of a top rate…"
TheRighteous Path
"Ray and his crew accommodated me all the way in Shawnee, KS. I definitely recommend him if you are looking for a good holiday…"
Tereza Robinson
"Very pleased with the work that was done. Not only was he professional, showed up on time, responded to texts and questions…"
Syneva Mullins
"Ray and his employee did a fantastic job! Ray is very personable and easy to work with. We highly recommend him and his company!!"
Get the number for your house
Send the address and a bulb color. The proposal shows Good, Better and Best on a mockup of your own home.