Here's what Christmas tree lights should really cost you

When you’re staring at row after row of Christmas lights, it can feel impossible to spot what actually sets one boxed strand apart from the next. Sure, you’ll notice the colour options and the lengths, but the real reason one set has a higher price tag than another isn’t always obvious. And if you’re wondering what you should expect to spend on Christmas tree lights in general, you’re not alone.

Holiday decorating shouldn’t start with confusion. A few key details can make shopping for lights a lot easier.

According to Lance Allen, a decorative holiday merchant at The Home Depot, the cost of string lights varies for several reasons — and understanding your own needs is the first step.

“Think about how you’re planning to use them,” he explains. “Are they going inside as part of your décor? Or outside for your home’s festive glow? And do you prefer classic mini bulbs or larger C9 bulbs?”

Whatever you’re shopping for, there’s one big decision that guides everything else: choosing between incandescent and LED lights.

The great debate: Incandescent versus LED

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 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

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.

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.

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.

4. BrizLabs Mini Incandescent Lights

If you're still a fan of incandescents, these mini lights from BrizLabs come in both warm white and multi-colored options. At 69.6 ft. in length, there are plenty of these lights to wrap around your Christmas tree.

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