If you want professional Christmas lights on your San Diego home this year, book in September or early October. That's the whole secret. Installers here fill their November calendars by mid-October, and the closer you get to Thanksgiving, the more you'll wait and the less choice you'll have on install dates.
We're Coastal Clarity, a family-owned exterior cleaning and holiday lighting company in La Jolla. Here's how the season actually works, what it costs, and when to move.
What does professional Christmas light installation cost in San Diego?
Our roofline installs start at $8 per linear foot, and that covers the full season: design, custom-fit install, takedown in January, and storage until next year. Most homes land between $1,200 and $2,400 depending on roofline length, peaks, and how far you want to take it. Pathways, palm trees, garland, and wreaths are add-ons we quote per piece.
One thing to ask any installer: does the price include takedown and storage? Some quotes look cheaper until you find out takedown is a second bill.
Why September? The math of the install calendar
A quality install takes a crew most of a day, and there are only so many days between Halloween and the first week of December, when everyone wants their lights on. Installers work that window back to front: the earliest bookings get first pick of dates, and everyone else stacks up behind them. By mid-October, most reputable crews in San Diego are quoting December dates or turning work away.
Booking early doesn't mean your lights go up early. It means you pick the week they do.
What you get with a professional install
- Custom-cut lights that fit your roofline exactly, no sagging strands or orange extension cords
- Clips and wiring handled, timers set so the lights run themselves
- Nobody in your family on a ladder in the dark
- Takedown in January and storage until next season, included with us
Thinking bigger: permanent lighting
If you find yourself booking lights every year, look at permanent LED lighting: color-changing lights installed once, controlled from your phone, holiday colors in December and accent lighting the rest of the year. Installs start at $35 per foot. It's the answer for homeowners who are done with the annual cycle.
Holiday lighting FAQs
When should I book to get lights up before Thanksgiving?
September, or the first days of October. After mid-October we can usually still fit you in, but date choices shrink fast.
Do you use my lights or yours?
Ours. Custom-cut commercial-grade lights fit better, look better, and we stand behind them all season. If a bulb goes out, we come fix it.
What about takedown?
Included. We take everything down in January and store it for next season, so your garage stays clear.
Do you light trees, paths, and railings too?
Yes. Palm wrapping, tree wrapping, pathway lighting, garland, wreaths, and bows are all add-ons we'll quote alongside the roofline.
Want a number for your home? Get a free quote or call (858) 315-1247, and we'll measure your roofline and hold your install week before the calendar fills.