This article was updated on October 14th, 2026
For more than a century, incandescent bulbs defined the look of the holidays. Today LEDs fill the store shelves, and for good reason: they cost a little more up front, but they're cheaper to run, last for years, and stay cool to the touch.
If you're still pulling the same tangled incandescent strands out of the attic every December, here's what switching gets you, plus a few safety habits worth keeping no matter which lights you hang.
Why LED Holiday Lights Are Worth the Switch
- They use far less electricity. ENERGY STAR-certified LED light strings use about 70% less energy than incandescent strands (National Geographic).
- They cost pennies to run. The Alliance to Save Energy estimated the cost of running lights 12 hours a day for a 40-day season (table below). The gap is biggest on the large C-9 bulbs most homes use outdoors (Alliance to Save Energy).
- They last for years. LED strings last up to 10 times longer than incandescents, with a rated life of around 20,000 hours. That's many seasons without hunting for a burned-out bulb (Texas Co-op Power).
- They're tougher. With no glass or filament, LED bulbs hold up to being hung, packed away, and unpacked year after year.
- They run cooler. LEDs give off very little heat, so they're less of a fire risk than incandescents (U.S. Department of Energy, via Michigan EGLE).
- You can connect more strands. Because each strand draws so little power, you can link more of them end to end. Always stay within the maximum printed on the package.
|
Light type |
Est. electricity cost per season |
|---|---|
|
Incandescent C-9 |
$10.00 |
|
LED C-9 |
$0.27 |
|
Incandescent mini-lights |
$2.74 |
|
LED mini-lights |
$0.82 |
LEDs still cost more at the register. But between lower bills and strands you aren't replacing every year or two, they pay for themselves, and the savings grow with the size of your display.
Holiday lighting safety tips
From 2018 to 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 155 home fires a year that started with Christmas trees. Electrical or lighting equipment was involved in 41% of them (NFPA data, via Fire & Safety Journal Americas). A few habits cut that risk:
- Check the label. Use lights rated for where you hang them (indoor, outdoor, or both) and certified by an independent testing lab such as UL or ETL.
- Inspect before you hang. Replace any strand with frayed cords, cracked sockets, or loose bulbs.
- Use outdoor-rated cords. Outside, plug into a GFCI-protected outlet with extension cords rated for outdoor use and the right wire gauge (University of Nebraska–Lincoln).
- Skip the staples and nails. Plastic light clips hold strands securely without damaging wire insulation, gutters, or trim.
- Put lights on a timer. It saves energy and means nothing stays on all night by accident.
- Turn them off when you leave or go to bed, and keep a live tree watered daily.
Let TLC Hang Them for You
Would you rather skip the ladder altogether? TLC's Christmas and holiday lighting service handles it from start to finish, for homes and businesses across Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia:
- Custom design and professional installation with energy-efficient LED lighting
- Every strand tested for safety, with faulty bulbs or wiring serviced during the season
- Takedown at the end of the season and storage until next year
- Licensed, insured, and backed by our satisfaction guarantee
Estimates are free. Call (301) 603-3097, request your estimate online, or see our holiday lighting pricing. Book early to get on the calendar before the season fills up.
Since 1981, TLC Incorporated has designed, installed, and maintained lawn sprinkler and irrigation systems, outdoor and landscape lighting, holiday lighting, and yard drainage for homes and businesses across the Mid-Atlantic. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
