In addition to decking the halls, hanging Christmas lights on your gutters is a great way to make the holiday season jolly. First, plan the layout of your lights and measure the length of your gutters. Then, attach your lights to plastic gutter clips so you can hang them on your gutters.
Plastic gutter clips allow you to hang lights along your gutters without damaging them. In this article, we’ll cover the steps on how to hang Christmas lights on your gutters to add to your home’s holiday cheer.
| Project difficulty: Intermediate Estimated time to complete: 1 to 2 hours Project cost: $80 for all necessary items for 100 Christmas lights; tools used are not included in the cost. |
What You’ll Need
Supplies
- Christmas lights
- Weather-safe extension cords (14- or 16-gauge)
- Plastic gutter clips
- Work gloves
Tools
- Tape measure
- Ladder
- Needle-nose pliers (optional)
- Outdoor timer (optional)
Safety First!
- Wear slip-resistant, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and work gloves.
- Ensure your ladder is stable, undamaged, and has no loose parts.
- Place your ladder on a stable, flat, and dry surface–never on uneven ground.
- Never climb on your ladder when it’s windy, rainy, or snowy outside. It’s much harder to secure your Christmas lights under wet conditions.
- Move your ladder often so you’re not working on more than a 5-foot section at any given time. Never overreach because you can lose your balance.
- Ask a friend or family member to hand you lights and tools and to spot you while you hang your Christmas lights.
Step 1: Clean Your Gutters
First, remove leaves and other debris from your gutters to ensure the gutter clips can be attached to your gutters securely in the later steps. While cleaning your gutters, inspect them and conduct any necessary repairs.
You can schedule your fall gutter cleaning in tandem with the day you plan to hang your Christmas lights. Check the weather forecast and schedule these tasks on a clear, sunny day.
Learn More: How to Clean Gutters in 5 Steps
Step 2: Plan the Layout
Take a look at your home from the sidewalk or street. Picture what you want it to look like after you hang up your lights. Once you have a clear picture of where you want to put your Christmas lights on your gutters, plan the layout by following these steps:
- Locate an electrical outlet where you’ll plug in your lights.
- Sketch the outline of your gutters on paper to help you visualize where you should hang your lights.
“Installing the lights along the gutters is the same procedure we use for all roofs,” says Vladimir Venger from Total Light Design, who has more than 15 years of experience installing Christmas lights. He explains how he designs a lighting installation layout:
“Usually, we suggest starting with outlining the front rooflines along gutters and gables. If the person has dormers, we suggest wrapping them up on the sides as well for a more “in-depth” look at night.
“If the house is facing another street or there is a side of the house that is very visible from the main road, we suggest decorating it as well, since this would be the side that people see first as they drive to the house.”
Step 3: Measure Your Gutters
To determine how many feet of Christmas lights you’ll need, use a tape measure to determine the length of your gutters. Additionally, this will help you identify the number of gutter clips you’ll need in the next step.
- Measure the length of your gutters and eaves using a tape measure to estimate the number of Christmas light strands you need. To ensure you have enough lights, add 10% to the total length.
- Locate your closest electrical outlet to your gutters. If you need an extension cord, measure its length using your tape measure. Then, ensure the plug at the end of the Christmas lights can reach the extension cord.
Step 4: Buy the Christmas Lights and Gutter Clips
Unlike nails and staples, gutter clips allow you to hang Christmas lights without damaging your gutters and the lights. The number of gutter clips you’ll need depends on the type of Christmas lights you’ll install.
There are three common types of Christmas lights you can choose from:
- C7 and C9 (“cone” or “candle”) bulbs: The most widely recognizable Christmas light bulbs. They’re shaped like strawberries and can be seen from afar when lit.
- LED Christmas Lights: They are more energy efficient than incandescent lights. LED lights are recommended if you need a large number of lights. Mini LED Christmas lights are also available.
- Icicle Lights: They feature many strands of small lights that suspend from the roofline to create the effect of bright icicles hanging from the house.
| Type of Christmas Light | Ideal Number of Gutter Clips |
| C7 and C9 Bulbs | One gutter clip per light bulb |
| LED Christmas Lights | One gutter clip for every 12 to 18 inches of lights |
| Icicle Lights | One gutter clip for every 12 to 18 inches of lights |
Step 5: Test Your Lights
Test your Christmas lights before you hang them. Plug the lights into an electrical outlet and check if they’re working properly. This will save you all the headache of taking the lights down and starting over.
- Inspect each light strand for worn and defective wiring. Discard the entire strand to prevent fire and electrical hazards if you see any faulty wires.
- Replace any blown or missing light bulbs. Wear gloves and use needle-nose pliers to pull the mini-lights straight out. Unscrew any C7 or C9 bulbs counterclockwise.
- Once you finish the repairs, plug the lights back in. If the string doesn’t light up, check for a blown fuse. If you have a blown fuse, replace it. However, if the replacement also fails, throw out the entire string.
Check the wattage limit on the packaging of your Christmas lights to avoid overloading your electrical circuit. If you need to use two or more electrical outlets, adjust your layout accordingly.
Step 6: Attach the Gutter Clips and Christmas Lights
Gutter clips have prongs that grip the gutters and a hook that supports the light string, bulb, or extension cord. They can be hung either horizontally or vertically off your gutters, but some can be hung both ways.
If you’re hanging C7 or C9 bulbs, you’ll need to attach the gutter clips to the light bulbs first. Thread a gutter clip onto the socket of the light bulb. Then, screw in the bulb clockwise. Repeat this process for the remaining light bulbs.
- Place your ladder at the corner of your gutters that’s closest to the electric outlet you chose in Step 2.
- Climb the ladder and attach your Christmas lights to the gutter clips.
- For LED and icicle lights, slide the gutter clip onto the front edge of the gutter. Then, attach the light string to the hook.
- For C7 or C9 bulbs, attach the gutter clip to the front edge of the gutter.
- Carefully extend each light strand to ensure it remains taut and straight.
Step 7: Plug the Christmas Lights into the Extension Cord
After you hang up all the lights, plug the end of the light strand into an extension cord. If you have an outdoor timer, program it to automatically turn the lights on at dusk. Now, your home is ready to bring extra holiday cheer to your neighborhood.
| Meet the Expert: Since 2010, Vladimir Venger of Total Light Design has been installing Christmas lights on residential and commercial buildings. He has more than 15 years of experience as a remodeler, general contractor, and home services provider to homeowners and businesses in Washington, Oregon, and South Carolina. |
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What to read next:
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutters with Gutter Guards
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Your Roof
- How Much Does It Cost to Get Your House Ready for Santa?
Main Image: Homeowner on a ladder hanging Christmas lights on a house gutter. Photo Credit: Crystal Madsen / Adobe Stock
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