Permanent vs seasonal Christmas lights: the five-year math on a real roofline
We sell both. This is the arithmetic on a 150-foot single-story roofline and a 220-foot two-story, using our own published prices.
| Seasonal C9 service (ours) | C9 Classic permanent | Pebble Track permanent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $11/ft year 1 incl. takedown + storage; $6–7/ft re-hang after | $12/ft + $495 system, $1,500 min | $32/ft, controller included, $2,500 min |
| 150 ft, year 1 | $1,650 | $2,295 | $4,800 |
| 150 ft, 5 years | $5,550 (at $6.50 re-hang) | $2,295 | $4,800 |
| 220 ft, year 1 | $2,420 | $3,135 | $7,040 |
| 220 ft, 5 years | $8,140 | $3,135 | $7,040 |
| Nights lit per year | About 45 | 365 | 365 |
| Colors | One | 16 million, scenes, schedules | 16 million, scenes, schedules |
| Visible by day | Strand and clips, Nov–Jan | Green strand and clips, all year | Low-profile channel matched to fascia |
| Ladders | Ours, twice a year | Once | Once |
Our published prices as of September 2026. Seasonal years 2–5 at $6.50/ft. No inflation applied to either side.
Where the lines cross
On the 150-foot ranch, seasonal service passes C9 Classic in year two and passes Pebble Track in year five. On the 220-foot two-story, seasonal passes C9 Classic in year two and Pebble Track in year four. If you'll be in the house five years, permanent is cheaper on both rooflines, and it's lit every night instead of 45.
What the math leaves out
Seasonal lights are a service; when you sell, they're gone. A permanent system is a fixture that shows in dusk listing photos. Seasonal is also one color; if you'd pay a seasonal installer to change colors for Halloween and the Fourth, the permanent system does that for free.
In the other direction, seasonal is $1,650 to try the look on your house this year, and our upgrade credit puts that year-one payment toward a permanent install next year. Nothing is lost by starting seasonal.
Who should stay seasonal
Renters, anyone planning to move within two or three years, and homeowners who want one color for one month and nothing else. Also anyone whose HOA bans year-round exterior lighting outright, which is rare but exists.
Our verdict
Five years or more in the house: permanent. Fewer, or unsure: seasonal now with the upgrade credit, and decide next fall with a year of looking at it.
Packages mentioned: C9 Classic, Pebble Track. Related: Best Time to Install Permanent Lighting: Why Fall Books Out and Spring Is Cheapest · our full price list.