No games, no “call for pricing”
What permanent lighting costs in the Twin Cities
Permanent outdoor lighting costs $34–$36 per linear foot installed in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro. Most homes land between $6,000 and $8,500, because the average home we light has about 215 feet of covered roofline. That price includes the fixtures, the track, the controller, installation, and setup of the app on your phone.
What moves the number
Three things, and that's it
Linear feet
The single biggest factor. We measure every run of roofline you want covered — front only is cheaper than front, sides, and back.
Height and access
A single story off a ladder is faster than a steep two-story where the crew works off a taller ladder or lift.
Roofline complexity
Peaks, dormers, returns, and dentil trim all take longer per foot than one straight run of fascia.
| Home | Coverage | Roofline | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-story rambler | Front elevation and garage side, simple gable | 120–150 ft | $4,100–5,400 |
| Two-story colonial | Front, both returns, one dormer run | 190–230 ft | $6,500–8,300 |
| Larger two-story with complex roofline | Multiple peaks, dormers, wraparound coverage | 280–350 ft | $9,500–12,600 |
These are real ranges, not teasers. Your quote will be based on your actual measured footage — we write the feet and the per-foot rate on the proposal so you can check the math yourself.
About that $2,995 you saw
Why we publish a rate instead of a starting price
A “starting at” price is usually the smallest job the company will take — around 85 to 100 feet, which covers the front of a modest single-story house. It's a real number. It is just rarely *your* number, and you don't find that out until someone is standing in your driveway.
We'd rather you pace off your own roofline, multiply by $34–$36, and know roughly where you'll land before you ever talk to us. If that number doesn't work for you, no hard feelings — better to know now than after an hour at your kitchen table.
What's included
Fixtures, track, controller, install, cleanup, and app setup on your phone before we leave.
What's not
Rare cases needing a new exterior outlet. We flag it at the estimate, never on install day.
Payment
50% at signing to cover materials, balance when it's installed and working.
Financing
Ask us — we can walk you through options if you'd rather spread it out.
Context
How that number sits in the market
Versus other pro brands
Trimlight publishes $18–35/ft nationally; JellyFish and Gemstone publish no pricing at all. Our rate is the market rate for a pro-installed RGBW system in the metro — and it's in writing before anyone visits your home.
Versus DIY kits
Govee kits run $330–860 and you install them yourself — with tape, a 12-month warranty, and your own ladder time. A real option for some homes; see the honest comparison before deciding.
Versus hanging lights yearly
Seasonal install-and-remove runs $800–1,500 every season in the Twin Cities. A permanent system passes it in total cost somewhere between year five and year eight — and works the other eleven months.
Brand claims above come from each manufacturer's published materials — the full six-brand comparison is here.
Pricing questions
Asked and answered
How much does permanent outdoor lighting cost in Minneapolis?
Most Twin Cities homes run $6,000–$8,500 installed, which works out to $34–$36 per linear foot of roofline. The average home we light has about 215 feet of covered roofline. Price moves with three things: how many feet you cover, how many stories the crew has to reach, and how complex the roofline is. A single-story rambler with a simple front gable lands near the bottom of that range. A two-story with dormers, multiple peaks, and a wraparound covers more feet and takes longer, so it lands higher.
Why do some companies advertise permanent lighting starting at $2,995?
A price like that usually buys 85–100 feet — enough for the front of a small single-story home, not a whole house. It is a real number for a small job, but most homes need more than double that footage, so the quote you actually receive is rarely the advertised one. We publish per-foot pricing instead of a starting price so you can measure your own roofline and know roughly where you will land before anyone knocks on your door.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. We collect 50% at signing and the balance when the system is installed and you have seen it working. The deposit covers your materials, which are ordered specifically for your home.
How does your price compare to Trimlight or JellyFish quotes?
Directly, where the other brands let you check: Trimlight publishes $18–35 per foot nationally — a wide range because it varies by dealer and market — and JellyFish publishes no pricing at all (quotes are in-home only). Our $34–$36 per foot is the going rate for a professionally installed RGBW system in the Twin Cities. When you compare quotes, compare two things: the per-foot rate written on the proposal, and what the install includes — surge protection, ice-rated fastening, and who services it are where cheap quotes usually got cheap.
More questions? See how the whole process works.
Free design consultation
Let's see what your house looks like lit
We'll measure your roofline, show you the options, and give you a real number. No pressure, no all-night pitch.