Straight talk on cost
What permanent lighting costs in the Twin Cities
Permanent outdoor lighting is priced per linear foot of roofline, so your total comes down to how much of the house you light and how complex the rooflines are. For context, pro installs in this category run from about $18 to $40 a foot, DIY kits run $330 to $860, and paying a crew to hang traditional lights costs $800 to $1,500 every season (the year-by-year math is on its own page). We don't post a “starting at” teaser — we measure your actual roofline and put the exact number, per foot and in total, in writing at a free visit.
What you're paying for
See it on a real Twin Cities home
Same roofline, lights off and on. Drag to compare.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-story rambler | Front elevation and garage side, simple gable | 120–150 ft |
| Two-story colonial | Front, both returns, one dormer run | 190–230 ft |
| Larger two-story with complex roofline | Multiple peaks, dormers, wraparound coverage | 280–350 ft |
These are typical coverage ranges, not quotes. Your number comes from your actual measured footage — we write the feet and the per-foot rate on the proposal so you can check the math yourself.
About those “starting at” prices
Why we quote per home, not a 'starting at'
A “starting at” price is usually the smallest job the company will take — around 85 to 100 feet, enough for the front of a modest single-story house. It's a real number. It's just rarely *your* number, and you don't find that out until someone is standing in your driveway.
We'd rather measure your actual roofline and hand you a real number — per foot and in total, in writing — than hook you with a teaser that won't match your home. The visit is free, and if the number doesn't work for you, no hard feelings.
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
A deposit at signing covers materials, balance when it's installed and working — both spelled out on your written quote.
Financing
Ask us — we can walk you through options if you'd rather spread it out.
Context
How the number sits in the market
Versus other pro brands
Trimlight publishes $18–35/ft nationally; JellyFish and Gemstone publish no pricing at all. A pro-installed RGBW system in the metro sits in that professional range — and we put your exact number in writing before anyone commits.
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.
Two cost questions come up often enough to have their own pages: how much permanent Christmas lights cost against paying a crew every December, and soffit lighting when the track is going under the overhang rather than along the fascia.
Pricing questions
Asked and answered
How much does permanent outdoor lighting cost in Minneapolis?
Permanent outdoor lighting is priced per linear foot of roofline, so your total depends on how much of the house you light — we measure your actual footage and put the exact number, per foot and in total, in writing at a free visit. 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 sits at the low end. A two-story with dormers, multiple peaks, and a wraparound covers more feet and takes longer, so it costs more.
Why is the advertised 'starting at' price rarely what permanent lighting costs?
A "starting at" price 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. Instead of a teaser, we measure your actual roofline and put a real number in writing at a free visit — so the price you see is the price for your house, not the smallest job we'll take.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. A deposit at signing covers your materials, which are ordered specifically for your home, and the balance is due when the system is installed and you have seen it working. The exact amount is spelled out in your written quote before you sign anything.
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). A professionally installed RGBW system in the Twin Cities sits in that professional range, and we put your exact number in writing on the proposal. 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.
Before you compare quotes
What actually drives the number
Permanent Lighting Warranties: What's Actually Covered
'Lifetime' warranties in permanent lighting have asterisks: daytime-use exclusions, 30-day registration deadlines, and labor that isn't covered. Quoted in full.
6 min read
The Brand On The Box Matters Less Than The Crew On The Ladder
Eighteen months fixing other crews' permanent lighting taught us what actually fails — and why the brand on the box matters less than who hangs it.
8 min read
When to Book Permanent Christmas Lights in Minnesota
August to early October is the right window for a Minnesota install — daylight and dry fascia, not fake urgency. What changes after Thanksgiving.
4 min read
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.