When’s the Best Time to Put Up Christmas Lights?
Best Time to Put Up Christmas Lights
The best time to put up Christmas lights is mid-November through early December, when temperatures are safer, demand for installers is still manageable, and your display can shine all season long. Installing Christmas lights early helps homeowners avoid icy conditions, secure better scheduling with professional Christmas light installers, and enjoy holiday lighting from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Let us explain the ideal timing, weather considerations, and expert tips to ensure your Christmas lights are installed safely, efficiently, and at peak visual impact.
Why This Is the Best Time
Indiana weather can change quickly during late fall. By scheduling your Christmas light installation before freezing temperatures, snow, and icy conditions arrive, the installation process is generally safer and more efficient.
Early installation also gives you more flexibility when choosing your preferred design, installation date, and holiday lighting options. Instead of competing for limited appointments during the busiest weeks of the season, you can relax knowing your display is already complete before Thanksgiving.
For homeowners hiring a professional Christmas light installation company, early scheduling often means greater availability and more time to plan a customized holiday lighting display that fits your home.
The end of the year is a busy and exciting time. With various holidays to celebrate, presents to purchase, traditional foods to make and people to visit, you may wonder where decorating for Christmas fits into your full to-do list. You may want to get your decorating done soon so you can focus on other things, or you may be excited to jump right into Christmas as early as possible.
Many homeowners choose to schedule their installation even earlier—often in September or October—to ensure they have the best selection of appointment dates before professional installers become fully booked.
Whether you’re decorating a cozy single-story home or planning a custom holiday lighting display, installing early gives you more flexibility and helps you avoid the rush that typically begins in November.
You don’t have to turn your lights on immediately. Many homeowners install their lights in October and simply use a timer so they illuminate after Thanksgiving.
Is it too early to decorate for Christmas, though? This guide provides tips on the best time to decorate for Christmas so you can get the most out of the holiday season.
Best Time to Book vs. Best Time to Install Christmas Lights
One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is thinking that booking your Christmas light installation and installing your lights happen at the same time.
In reality, they’re two separate steps.
Booking your installation early secures your preferred date before schedules fill up, while the actual installation typically takes place closer to the holiday season when weather conditions are ideal.
| Timeline | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| August–September | Start researching companies and request quotes. |
| Late September–October | Reserve your installation date before schedules become busy. |
| Late October–Mid-November | Ideal time for professional Christmas light installation. |
| Thanksgiving Weekend | Turn your lights on and enjoy the holiday season. |
| January | Schedule professional light removal after the holidays. |
Pro Tip: Many professional Christmas light installation companies reach capacity well before Thanksgiving. Booking early gives you the best chance of getting the installation date and design you want.
How Indiana Weather Affects Christmas Light Installation
Indiana weather plays a major role in determining the best time to install Christmas lights. While beautiful holiday displays can be installed throughout the season, waiting until freezing temperatures, snow, or icy roof surfaces arrive can make installation more difficult and reduce scheduling flexibility.
By installing your lights in late October or early November, professional installers can typically work in milder weather conditions while helping homeowners avoid the rush that often occurs just before Thanksgiving.
Weather conditions that can affect installation include:
- Freezing temperatures
- Snow and ice accumulation
- Wet roof surfaces
- High winds
- Shorter daylight hours
Planning ahead helps ensure your holiday lighting is installed safely and ready to enjoy throughout the Christmas season.
What Happens If You Wait Until December?
Many homeowners wait until December to install Christmas lights, and while it’s certainly possible, there are a few drawbacks to consider.
By December, professional installation schedules are often at their busiest, making it more difficult to secure your preferred appointment date. Indiana weather is also less predictable, with freezing temperatures, snow, and icy roof surfaces creating additional installation challenges.
Waiting until December doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed your opportunity. It simply means you’ll have fewer scheduling options and may spend less time enjoying your holiday display before Christmas arrives.
If you’re hoping to enjoy your lights from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, scheduling your installation in late October or early November remains the ideal choice.
Why Homeowners Schedule Christmas Lights Before Thanksgiving
Installing your Christmas lights before Thanksgiving offers several advantages beyond simply getting your decorating done early.
Benefits include:
- Avoiding freezing temperatures and icy roof conditions
- Greater appointment availability with professional installers
- More time to enjoy your holiday display
- Less stress during the busiest part of the holiday season
- Flexibility to turn your lights on whenever you’re ready using automatic timers
Many homeowners choose to install their lights weeks before Thanksgiving while waiting until the holiday weekend to officially switch them on.
Decorating Your Home for Christmas
The best time to decorate for Christmas depends on a few things. You will need to decide what kind of decorations you want and where to put them. Each type of decoration has a different traditionally appropriate time to be set up, though most depend on your personal preference too.
When Should You Put Up Your Christmas Tree?
You can put your Christmas tree up in November, depending on the tree you want. Fake trees offer more flexibility and longevity, so you can get a head start. Tradition states that the day or weekend after Thanksgiving is appropriate, but you can set your tree up earlier since it will last just fine until Christmas.
Fresh trees last about four weeks with proper care before they dry out. If you would like a fresh tree to enjoy on Christmas Day, you will need to wait to set it up until a weekend or two after Thanksgiving.
When Should You Decorate Indoors?
While tradition states you should start decorating your house for Christmas after Thanksgiving, you can decorate the interior of your home whenever you like. It is your space to enjoy, so it is never too early to decorate for the holidays you love. You may need to place certain decorations at specific times, such as advent calendars that start on December 1 or Christmas cards that arrive at various times. Otherwise, you can decorate whenever you see fit.
If you have a significant number of decorations you would like to set up, decorating early might be a good idea. Doing so will give you a head start on your plans, especially since you’ll want to wait before setting up your outdoor decorations.
If you like to decorate for Thanksgiving, you can easily transition from one holiday to another by swapping out mantel decor or adding red ribbons to simple greenery around your home. If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, you may want to consider waiting to decorate your dining room table for Christmas until your Thanksgiving festivities are over.
When Should You Decorate Your Front Porch?
Depending on your decorations, you can decorate throughout November or December. Wreaths are a fall and winter staple, so you can set up a wreath as early as September or October and then customize it for each season or holiday. You will want to wait to put out Christmas-themed wreaths until after Thanksgiving.
Wait to set up Christmas inflatable or Santa-themed decorations until after Thanksgiving since they are specific to the Christmas holiday. Setting up your blow-up decorations later can be a great way to save money on your electricity bill too.
When Should You Put Up Outdoor Christmas Lights?
Many people leave their Christmas lights up throughout the year, lighting them after Thanksgiving and turning them off after the season, so you can put up your lights as early as you would like. Setting them up early is a great way to beat the cold and snow. If you hang them ahead of time, consider waiting to light them until after Thanksgiving to save energy. If you prefer to put up and take down your lights each Christmas season, we recommend waiting until after Halloween before setting them up.
If you want to make your Christmas to-do list a little simpler, consider hiring a professional like My Guy Services to install your Christmas lights. Our experienced employees undergo 80 hours of training to ensure they provide you with the best Christmas light installation available. We provide the lights, installation and removal so you can have a more relaxing and enjoyable holiday season.
Is It Too Early to Put Up Christmas Decorations?
The traditional day to start decorating for Christmas is the day or weekend after Thanksgiving, though some traditions recommend other days like December 1, the 12 days before Christmas or Christmas Eve. If you would like to abide by decorating traditions, it is best to wait until after your Thanksgiving celebrations.
While tradition has specific times for decorating, it’s okay to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. If preparing for the holiday season brings you joy, you can decorate as early as you like! There are several benefits to decorating early, such as:
- A happier mood
- A simplified holiday to-do list
- More time for other traditions
- More time appreciating decorations
- More time to spend with loved ones
- More time for relaxing and enjoying the season
While decorating early has many benefits, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, you may want to wait to decorate for Christmas. You will already have a holiday to plan and prepare for, so save the decorating for when you have more time to focus on it and enjoy it.
You will also want to be respectful of those around you who may have different beliefs, religions and traditions. You can decorate your home whenever you want, but be considerate of others before decorating public spaces.
What We Recommend for Indianapolis Homeowners
After installing Christmas lights for hundreds of homes throughout Indianapolis and surrounding communities, we’ve found that homeowners who schedule their installation between late October and early November experience the fewest weather delays and have the widest selection of installation dates. This timing also allows families to enjoy a fully decorated home by Thanksgiving without the last-minute rush that typically occurs in late November.
Trust My Guy to Be Your Guy for Christmas Lights
Now that you know when to set up your Christmas decorations, it’s time to plan your holiday preparations. Spend more time enjoying the season with help from My Guy’s Christmas light installation service. You can start decorating for Christmas as early or late as you would like, but we recommend planning as soon as possible.
Thinking ahead? We start installing lights as early as September! Beat the rush and get your quote before our schedule fills up.
