Last updated August 2026 · Stay Off The Roof — Outdoor Lighting Experts · ROC #344820 · Phoenix metro
Temporary Christmas lighting is a recurring cost every single season; permanent trim is paid once. Because seasonal installs are re-billed each year for design, install, takedown, and storage, the running total climbs steadily — while a permanent Gemstone system stops costing after the install. Most homeowners reach the crossover point within several seasons, and everything after that is upside.
How do the two costs actually behave over time?
The shapes are completely different. Seasonal lighting is a flat recurring line — you pay again every November, and the total never stops growing. Permanent trim is a single step — a larger upfront number, then essentially nothing but a few dollars of electricity. Plot them and they cross. Where they cross depends on your home’s size and display, which is why we quote both honestly at the estimate rather than pushing one.
What does each option cost up front?
In Arizona, permanent roofline lighting generally runs about $18–$35 per linear foot installed, putting most homes in the $2,000–$6,000+ range. Seasonal installs are a fraction of that per year — but they repeat. Full detail on the permanent side is in our Arizona cost breakdown.
What about the cost of running them?
Both are cheap to run if they’re LED, and permanent systems are especially efficient — roughly 3–10 watts per fixture, or about $5–$20 a month for a whole home. LEDs use around 85–90% less electricity than old incandescent strings and last far longer, so operating cost barely moves the comparison either way.
What doesn’t show up on the invoice
Two things. First, permanent lighting works every night — warm white architectural curb appeal year-round, not six weeks of red and green. Second, resale: the National Association of Realtors’ Remodeling Impact Report puts outdoor lighting’s return around 50–70% of cost, and the National Association of Home Builders found 41% of buyers call outdoor lighting essential or desirable. A seasonal install returns none of that.
Which one is right for you?
Honestly, it depends on how long you’re staying. Planning to move in a year or two? Seasonal lighting probably makes more sense. Staying put and tired of the December routine? Permanent wins on both math and sanity. Plenty of our clients start seasonal and upgrade later — that’s a perfectly good path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is permanent lighting cheaper than yearly Christmas lights?
Over enough seasons, yes. Seasonal installs re-bill every year while permanent trim is paid once, so the totals cross after several seasons — and permanent keeps working the other eleven months.
How long until permanent lights pay for themselves?
It depends on your home size and how elaborate your seasonal display is. We’ll show you both numbers side by side at your free estimate so you can see your actual crossover point.
Can I switch from seasonal to permanent later?
Absolutely — many homeowners do exactly that after a few seasons of temporary installs.
See both numbers for your home.
Free on-site estimate — seasonal and permanent, priced side by side. We design. You shine.
