Professional Christmas Light Installation vs. DIY in Denver
Oct 5, 2026 · @Jared Carr
The Real Cost of Hanging Your Own Christmas Lights in Colorado
Every year, thousands of Denver homeowners dig out the tangled boxes, pull the ladder out of the garage, and lose a weekend to Christmas lights. For some families, that's part of the tradition. For a lot of others, it's a chore they'd happily hand off if they knew what it really cost.
At first glance DIY looks cheaper: a few strands from the hardware store and some clips, and you're done. But once you add up the gear, the hours, the risk of climbing a frosty roof, and what Colorado weather does to a light display, the math looks different.
Here's an honest breakdown from the crew at Mile High Lights, so you can decide what makes sense for your home.
1. The Gear Adds Up Fast
Store-bought light strands are only the start. A display that looks clean from the street usually needs:
Enough lights to cover the full roofline, plus extra for peaks, gutters, and windows
Clips made for your specific gutters or shingles, since the wrong ones sag or damage the roof
Outdoor-rated extension cords and timers, sized so you don't overload a single outlet
A ladder tall enough to reach safely, which many two-story homes don't already have
Replacement bulbs and strands, because consumer-grade lights often fail after a season or two
Retail lights are built to a price point. Professional installers use commercial-grade lights with sturdier wiring and bulbs, and they're measured and cut to fit your home, so there's no bunching at the corners or dangling ends.
2. Your Weekends Are Worth Something
For most homeowners, a full roofline display isn't a one-hour job. Between untangling, testing strands, hunting down the dead bulb, moving the ladder around the house, and running cords, it can easily eat a full Saturday. Then you do it all again in January to take everything down.
And that's if it goes well. One strand that won't light, or a windy afternoon that blows the work loose, and you're back up the ladder.
Our crews do this every day of the season. A typical home is usually done in a few hours, and you don't have to be there to watch.
3. Ladders and Roofs Are the Biggest Risk
This is the cost nobody budgets for. Every holiday season, emergency rooms across the country treat thousands of people hurt while decorating, and falls from ladders and roofs are among the most common causes.
Colorado makes it trickier. Late fall mornings often mean frost on shingles and gutters, and a shaded side of the roof can stay icy all day. Two-story homes and steep pitches are common across the Front Range, and they're not where you want to learn ladder safety.
Professional crews are trained for roof work, use the right ladders and fall protection, and carry insurance. If something goes wrong, it's on us, not your health or your homeowner's policy.
4. Colorado Weather Is Hard on Lights
Denver winters are not gentle on holiday displays. In a single season your lights may face:
Chinook and downslope winds that pull loose clips and whip strands against the gutters
Heavy, wet snow that weighs down lines and buries ground-level lights
Freeze-thaw cycles that let moisture into cheap sockets and connections, causing shorts and dead sections
Intense high-altitude sun that fades and cracks plastic over time
A DIY display that looked great on Thanksgiving weekend can be sagging or half-dark by mid-December. Professional installs are secured for wind, use weather-sealed connections, and come with service calls during the season. If a section goes out, we come fix it.
5. Takedown and Storage: The Part Everyone Forgets
The lights have to come down, usually in January, when it's colder and icier than when they went up. Then they need to be wound, boxed, and stored somewhere for eleven months. For many families, that's a corner of the garage or a shelf they'd rather use for something else.
With a full-service install, takedown is included. Your lights come down on schedule, and you never have to untangle a strand again.
DIY vs. Professional at a Glance
DIY | Mile High Lights | |
Lights | Retail-grade, bought by you | Commercial-grade, cut to fit your home |
Your time | A full weekend up, another down | None; you don't need to be home |
Ladder and roof work | You | Trained, insured crew |
Mid-season problems | Back up the ladder | We come fix it |
Takedown | You, in January | Included |
Design | Whatever the strands allow | Custom plan for your roofline, trees and landscape |
What a Full-Service Install Includes
When you book with Mile High Lights, we handle everything:
Custom design for your roofline, trees, and landscape
Commercial-grade lights measured to fit
Professional installation by a trained, insured crew
In-season service if anything goes out
Takedown after the holidays
We've lit up homes, HOA communities, commercial properties and churches across the Denver metro, and we bring the same care to every project.
Want to skip the ladder for good? Ask us about permanent lighting. It's mounted discreetly along your roofline and controlled from your phone. Set it for Christmas, the Fourth of July, game days, or everyday accent lighting, and never hang a strand again.
Book Before the Calendar Fills
Install dates go quickly, we almost always fill up by mid October. Give us a ring today and let us handle the lights this year, so you can just enjoy them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book Christmas light installation in Denver? As early as possible. September and early October give you the best choice of install dates. By mid October, schedules are often full.
Do I need to be home during installation? No. As long as we can reach the outlets we need, our crew can complete the install while you're at work.
What happens if lights stop working during the season? Call us. Service during the season is part of a full-service install, and we'll come out to fix it.
When do you take the lights down? Takedown typically happens in January, after the holidays.
Can I use my own lights? Unfortunately no, we only use our commercial-grade lights, which hold up better in Colorado weather, stored correctly for fast access and surplus for when things break.
What areas do you serve? We serve the Denver metro area, including Arvada, Broomfield, Superior, Louisville, and Parker
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