Christmas Lights Shopping List: Tree and Roofline Quantities
A 7½ ft tree at 100 lights per foot takes 750 lights (8 strands of 100), and an 80 ft roofline takes 4 strands of 25 ft with 88 clips. In LED strands the whole display draws only about 60 watts. Here is the full list, including the cord, the timer and what the display costs to run.
The shopping list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Tree lights | 8 strands of 100 | Tree lights calculator: 7½ ft × 100 lights per foot = 750. Longer strands (300 or 400) mean fewer plugs |
| Roofline lights | 4 strands of 25 ft | Outdoor lights calculator: 80 ft plus 10% for corners and spares |
| Light clips | 88 | One for every bulb, designed for gutters, shingles or siding. Never staple or nail through the wire |
| Extension cord (outdoor-rated) | 15 ft | Rated for outdoor use and heavy enough for the load, plugged into a GFCI outlet |
| Outdoor timer | 1 or 2 | Lights on from dusk to bedtime saves energy and lowers the fire risk |
| Spare strands and bulbs | 1 strand of each type | A strand always fails on the coldest night |
| Tree topper, tree stand, tree skirt | As needed | Leave about a foot for the stand and topper below the ceiling |
| Light-hanging pole (optional) | 1 | To place clips and lights from the ground instead of climbing |
Will the circuit cope?
A 15 amp circuit can safely carry about 1,440 watts of lights that stay on for hours (80% of its 1,800 W rating). The 12 LED strands in this plan draw only about 60 W, which is 4% of that. The same display in old-style incandescent strands would draw about 1,020 W, which is 71% of the circuit, and the strands run hot. Check the maximum number of strands that can be connected end to end on the package: it is often only 3 for old incandescent sets. The circuit load calculator checks your own plan.
What it costs to run
At 6 hours a night for 30 nights and 17 cents per kWh, the 12 LED strands use 10.8 kWh, which costs about $1.84 for the season. The same strands in old-style 40 W incandescent mini lights would use 86 kWh and cost about $14.69. Use the energy cost calculator with your own price.
Quantities for other trees and rooflines
| Tree and roofline | Tree lights | Roofline |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft tree + 60 ft roofline | 600 lights (6 strands of 100) | 3 strands of 25 ft, 66 clips |
| 7.5 ft tree + 80 ft roofline | 750 lights (8 strands of 100) | 4 strands of 25 ft, 88 clips |
| 9 ft tree + 100 ft roofline | 900 lights (9 strands of 100) | 5 strands of 25 ft, 110 clips |
| 10 ft tree + 150 ft roofline | 1,000 lights (10 strands of 100) | 7 strands of 25 ft, 165 clips |
Safety checklist
- Use lights rated for where they hang: indoor, outdoor or both, as the tag says.
- Plug outdoor lights into a GFCI outlet, use outdoor-rated cords, and keep connections off the ground and out of puddles and snow.
- Test every strand on the ground before you hang it, and throw away any with cracked sockets or bare wire.
- Water a real tree every day, and turn the lights off when you go to bed or leave the house. A timer makes that automatic.
- Use a stable ladder with a helper, and never work near power lines.
For more on how many lights and why, see the Christmas lights guide. Estimates only: read the packaging of your own lights.
Frequently asked questions
How many Christmas lights do I need for a 7.5 foot tree?
About 750 at the standard 100 per foot, which is 8 strands of 100. For a fuller look use 150 per foot (about 1,125 lights).
How many lights do I need for an 80 foot roofline?
4 strands of 25 ft (with 10% spare), 88 bulbs and 88 clips if the bulbs are 12 inches apart.
How much does it cost to run Christmas lights?
The 12 LED strands of this plan, on 6 hours a night for 30 nights at 17 cents per kWh, cost about $1.84 for the season. The same display in old-style incandescent strands (about 40 W each) would cost about $14.69.
How many strands can I plug into one outlet?
The strand limit is on the package, and the circuit limit is about 1,440 W on a 15 amp circuit. These 12 LED strands draw only about 60 W, but the same plan in old-style strands would draw about 1,020 W.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.