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Here's what Christmas tree lights should really cost you

Stay merry, bright, and on budget

Illustration of Christmas lights in the shape of a dollar sign Credit: Reviewed / Tara Jacoby

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Neatly lined up in boxes, Christmas lights are generally indistinguishable on the shelf. Sure there are the basic differences in color and length, but at first glance it’s hard to tell the difference between why one set of lights costs so much more than another set. And how much do Christmas tree lights really cost?

This Christmastime tradition shouldn’t be a headache from the start. There are key things to know going into buying Christmas lights.

Price differences among string lights can be attributed to a variety of factors. Lance Allen, a decorative holiday merchant at The Home Depot, lends his expertise on what to consider before you approach the holiday lights aisle.

“With these different options, it’s best to consider the usage you’re intending for your lights,” he says. “Is it for indoor decorative purposes? Or is it for outdoor ambient lighting? What size bulbs would you like—mini bulbs or C9 bulbs?”

No matter what style of lights you’re looking for, the first question you’ll need to answer is the most important: Incandescent, or LED?

The great debate: Incandescent versus LED

Christmas lights hanging from gutter of a home.
Credit: Getty Images / ArtBoyMB

Regardless of if you’re going for mini or C9 bulbs, basic string lights to fancy icicle style lights, you’ll always encounter the breakdown between incandescent and LED lighting.

Regardless of if you’re going for mini or C9 bulbs, basic string lights to fancy icicle style lights, you’ll always encounter the breakdown between incandescent and LED lighting. These two styles of lighting feature major differences in pricing. Deciding which to purchase is similar to purchasing light bulbs. With the incandescent light bulb ban in place, Christmas lights are exempt from the ban and therefore still available for purchase.

A short answer to how much Christmas tree lights cost is that incandescents are the old-school lighting choice that are typically cheaper by the foot. According to Allen, pricing for incandescent string lights starts at around $.13 per foot.

Meanwhile, LED lights are more expensive on the shelf, but they last longer and will save you loads of money on your energy bill. LED string lights have a more expensive outright cost per foot—around $.24 per foot to start. “[LEDs] provide up to 25,000 hours of use to last through multiple seasons of joy, while the multiple length and style options can easily cover bushes, patios, or front porches,” Allen says.

It’s important to think long-term

It may be tempting to reach for the incandescent lights while you’re standing in the Christmas lights aisle, since they traditionally have a cheaper price tag, be wary that they could cost you more later on, on your energy bill.

Incandescents are nowhere near as energy efficient as LEDs. According to the United States Energy Department, LEDs typically last 25 times longer than incandescents and are 75% more efficient than incandescents. This means if you take care of your lights year to year by storing them properly, you won’t need to re-purchase them as often.

Additionally, while incandescent Christmas lights are not currently banned, they may be in the future.

If you're trying to figure out how much Christmas tree lights cost will cost you, consider first whether or not you want to pay less upfront. Incandescents will be cheaper at checkout, but LEDs will make your electric bill happier.

The cost of adding flair

Beyond the breakdown between the type of bulb you’ll be using, it becomes more difficult to quantify the difference across different types of string lights such as C9 bulbs and icicle lights. If you're focusing on how much Christmas tree lights cost you, it's good to know that as you get into more decorative light designs, the more expensive your Christmas lights will be.

For these more decorative styles, expect incandescent bulbs to start at around $.16 per foot and LEDs to start at approximately $.50 per foot.

If you’re worried about spending too much on Christmas lights, go into your purchase with a general idea of the footage you need to cover your space. This will help you purchase just the right amount of lights so you can stay on budget this holiday season.

Christmas lights to buy

A variety of colored and white Christmas lights against an orange and green background.
Credit: Reviewed / Sylvania / Outlyts / AWQ

These Christmas lights are sure to light up your holiday season without breaking the bank.

1. Outlyts Warm White LED Lights

These Outlyts LED string lights are an unbeatable price at just 18 cents per foot. Coming in long strands of 108 ft. each, you'll have plenty of lights to decorate from your front porch to the roof.

Product image of Outlyts LED String Lights
Outlyts LED String Lights

Outlyts LED string lights come in long strands to decorate your whole house.

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at Amazon

2. AWQ C9 LED Christmas Lights

For that classic, vintage feel you can't deny that C9 bulbs bring some extra festivity. However, these AWQ C9 lights aren't so old school. Powered by LEDs, they won't run up your power bill and feature eight different light modes to create an at-home holiday light show.

Product image of AWQ C9 LED Christmas Lights
AWQ C9 LED Christmas Lights

These decorative bulbs from AWQ are waterproof, perfectly safe for outdoor use.

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at Amazon

3. Toodoor LED Icicle Christmas Lights

Your home will be the neighborhood favorite when it's decked out in these Toodour icicle Christmas lights. The strings of these lights will drape down gracefully from your home for a dreamy look that won't run up your electric bill.

Product image of Toodour LED Icicle Christmas Lights
Toodour LED Icicle Christmas Lights

Toodour's icicle Christmas lights add some festive décor to our home.

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at Amazon

4. Sylvania Mini Incandescent Lights

If you're still a fan of incandescents, these mini lights from Sylvania come in both warm white and multi-colored options. At 64 ft. in length, there are plenty of these lights to wrap around your Christmas tree.

Product image of Sylvania Mini White Incandescent Lights
Sylvania Mini White Incandescent Lights

If you want a classic look, try Sylvania's mini incandescent lights.

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at Amazon
Product image of Sylvania Mini Colored Incandescent Lights
Sylvania Mini Colored Incandescent Lights

Deck the halls with these classic multicolored lights from Sylvania.

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at Amazon

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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