To light up your house for Christmas, pick one focal point (usually the roofline, front door or a tree), use LED lights marked for outdoor use, plug them into a 30mA RCD-protected socket indoors, and put them on a timer. LEDs are cheap to run: at the current UK price cap of 26.32p per kWh, a 50-watt LED display on for six hours a night costs about 8p a night, or under £3 for the whole of December. Start small, add a bit each year, and keep cables and plugs out of the wet.

How do I decorate the outside of my house with Christmas lights?

The houses that look best are rarely the ones with the most lights. They have a clear plan. Here is a simple order of work.

1. Stand across the road and look. Decide what people will see first: the roofline, the front door, a tree in the garden, or a big window.
2. Choose one or two colours. Warm white looks classic and calm. Multicoloured looks cheerful and suits family homes. Mixing both in one area can look messy.
3. Measure before you buy. Measure your roofline, door frame and any trees or railings with a tape measure. Buy sets with a little extra length rather than joining short ones.
4. Find your power point. Work out where the plug will go before you hang anything. More on this in the safety section below.
5. Hang lights in daylight, test them first. Plug each set in on the kitchen table before you climb anywhere.
6. Add a timer. Set it to come on at dusk and go off when you go to bed.

What are the best outdoor Christmas light ideas?

Ideas for a small budget

• Frame the front door. One string of lights around the door frame and a lit wreath makes a house look welcoming from the street.
• Light one tree or shrub. Wrap a single tree, a bay or a large potted plant by the door.
• Use the windows. Light-up stars or curtain lights inside a front window are visible from the road and stay dry.
• Solar or battery lanterns along the path. No cables at all, though solar lights are dim in a UK December.

Ideas for a medium budget

• Roofline or guttering icicle lights. The classic look, and the best value for making the whole house visible.
• Net lights over hedges. Quick to put up and they give an even blanket of light.
• A lit figure or two. A reindeer, a star or a Father Christmas on the lawn gives children something to point at.
• Projectors. A single outdoor projector can cover the front of a house with moving snowflakes or stars. Some families love them; others find them a bit busy.

Ideas for going all out

• Light the whole outline of the house. Roofline, windows, door and corners together look striking from the end of the road.
• Inflatables. Big, bright and loved by small children. They use a fan, so check the wattage on the label.
• Lights set to music. Programmable "pixel" lights can be timed to music. This takes real time to set up, and you should think about your neighbours before you add speakers.
• Raise money. Many of the UK's best-known house displays collect for a local charity. A bucket or a QR code by the gate is enough.

How much does it cost to run outdoor Christmas lights in the UK?

Much less than most people expect, if you use LEDs. The sum is simple:

Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per night × price per kWh = cost per night

For the price, we have used Ofgem's average electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026: 26.32p per kWh for a standard variable tariff paid by Direct Debit, according to Ofgem. Ofgem says this rate does not include VAT, which has been removed from electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Your own rate may differ by region, supplier and tariff, so check your bill. The standing charge is paid whether your lights are on or not, so it is left out.

Each example assumes six hours a night (say 4pm to 10pm) for 36 nights, from 1 December to 5 January:

• One small LED string, 5W: 0.005 kW × 6 hours = 0.03 kWh, × 26.32p = 0.8p a night, about 28p for the season.
• A modest LED display, 50W (a few strings, icicles and a net): 0.05 × 6 = 0.3 kWh, × 26.32p = 7.9p a night, about £2.84 for the season.
• An inflatable labelled 100W: 0.1 × 6 = 0.6 kWh, × 26.32p = 15.8p a night, about £5.69 for the season.
• A big LED display, 300W: 0.3 × 6 = 1.8 kWh, × 26.32p = 47.4p a night, about £17.06 for the season.
• Old incandescent bulbs, 500W: 0.5 × 6 = 3 kWh, × 26.32p = 79p a night, about £28.43 for the season.

The wattage is printed on the box, the plug or the transformer. Add up every set you plug in. One thing to watch: Ofgem sets a new cap from 1 January 2027, so the last few nights of the season may be charged at a different rate.

How can I keep the cost down?

• Switch to LEDs. LEDs use a fraction of the power of old filament bulbs for the same glow, which is why the 500W example above costs the most.
• Use a timer. Six hours instead of all evening and night makes the biggest difference.
• Try a twinkle setting. When Which? tested a set of LED lights in 2023, the twinkling-flashing setting used 64% less energy than steady "on". On a small LED set that is pennies, but across a big display it adds up.
• Reuse. Good-quality LED sets last for years. Store them coiled and dry in January.

How do I put up outdoor Christmas lights safely?

The UK charity Electrical Safety First gives clear advice for outdoor lights. These are the points that matter most.

• Use lights made for outdoors. Look for a water drop symbol or an IP rating. Electrical Safety First says the second number should be three or higher. IP44, which many outdoor sets carry, protects against splashing water from any direction. For exposed spots, a higher rating such as IP65 gives more protection.
• Plug in through a 30mA RCD. An RCD cuts the power in a fraction of a second if something goes wrong. Many modern homes have one in the consumer unit. If yours does not, use a plug-in RCD adaptor.
• Keep plugs and transformers indoors. Even with outdoor lights, the plug and transformer should be inside, for example through a garage or a window, unless you have a properly installed weatherproof outdoor socket.
• Plan cable runs. Run cables along walls and fences, not across paths, where people can trip. Do not trap cables in doors or windows where the insulation can be crushed.
• Avoid relying on extension leads. Electrical Safety First advises not to rely on extension leads or adaptors where you can avoid them. If you must, use one rated for outdoor use and do not overload it.
• Check every set each year. Look for damaged wires, cracked bulbs and loose plugs. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Buy from a reputable seller. Electrical Safety First warns that lights from third-party online sellers may not have passed safety checks. Check its product recall list too.
• Switch off at bedtime. Electrical Safety First's advice is to switch lights off and unplug them before you go to bed or go out. A timer makes this easy.
• Ladders. Have someone hold the ladder, never lean out sideways, and use clips designed for gutters rather than nails or staples.

When should I put my outdoor Christmas lights up?

Most UK households put them up on the last weekend of November or the first weekend of December, and take them down around Twelfth Night, 5 or 6 January. Hanging them earlier in dry, light weather is easier and safer, even if you do not switch them on until December.

Share your display and enter Best Lights Display

Once your lights are up, add your house to the Christmas Time map so families nearby can come and see it. It is free, takes a few minutes, and you choose what to share. Then enter our Best Lights Display competition. There is room for every kind of display, from a beautifully lit front door to the full roof-to-lawn show.

Want ideas from other houses? Have a look at how to find the best Christmas lights near you, then go and see what your neighbours have done.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run Christmas lights for a month?

For a 50W LED display on for six hours a night, about £2.84 for 36 nights at Ofgem's October to December 2026 rate of 26.32p per kWh. A single 5W string costs under 30p.

What IP rating do outdoor Christmas lights need?

Electrical Safety First says outdoor lights should carry a water drop symbol or an IP rating whose second number is three or higher. IP44 is the common minimum for outdoor sets, and higher ratings suit exposed spots.

Do I need an RCD for outdoor Christmas lights?

Yes. Electrical Safety First says any lights plugged in outdoors must be connected through a 30mA RCD-protected socket. Use a plug-in RCD if your home does not have one.

Can I leave outdoor Christmas lights on all night?

It is safer not to. Electrical Safety First advises switching off and unplugging before bed or when you go out. A timer does this for you and saves money.

Can I use indoor Christmas lights outside?

No. Only use lights marked as suitable for outdoor use. Indoor lights are not protected against rain.

How do I hang Christmas lights without damaging the house?

Use plastic gutter and shingle clips, adhesive hooks rated for outdoors, or cable ties on railings. Avoid nails and staples, which can damage the cable and let water in.