No gutters to hang Christmas lights on? No problem. You can still brighten up your home by hanging Christmas lights on your roof’s edge or fascia. First, plan your layout and measure the length of your roof line. Then, hang your Christmas lights using light clips.
Whether you’re installing a simple or an elaborate layout, choosing the right light clips for your Christmas lights will help make the process easier. In this article, we’ll cover the steps on how to hang Christmas lights, even without gutters.
| 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
- Ladder
- Tape measure
- Christmas lights
- Light clips (all-in-one light clips, shingle tabs, magnetic light clips, or fascia clips)
- Weather-resistant extension cord
Safety First
- Don’t hang your Christmas lights on a rainy or snowy day. Always hang them on a clear, sunny day.
- Wear work gloves and slip-resistant shoes. Don’t wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Always place your ladder on flat, even ground.
- Ask a friend or family member to hand you your supplies and ensure your ladder is in a safe position while you’re hanging your lights.
- If you can’t reach the area of your roof or fascia you’re working on, always go down your ladder and reposition it to avoid overreaching.
- After testing your Christmas lights, unplug them while you’re hanging them.
Step 1: Plan the Layout
The easiest way to hang Christmas lights on a roof without gutters is to attach light clips to your roof line or fascia board. Whether you’re installing an elaborate or minimal light display, be sure to hang your lights in the areas of your home that are seen from the street or curb.
- Identify the areas of your home’s exterior that are visible from the street to create an eye-catching design. Stand on the curb and walk around the sidewalk to identify these visible areas.
- You can sketch the outline of your roof line to help you visualize your design and include areas on your roof or fascia that you’d like to highlight. If you want to hang lights on your roof’s peak, you’ll find more information in our article about How to Hang Christmas Lights on Your Roof.
- Identify the nearest electrical outlets to your roof line or fascia. You’ll need at least one power source for your lights. Ensure the electrical outlet is working properly and is protected by a weather-resistant safety box.
James Zogran, the co-owner and operator of Dominion Lightworks, has 9 years of experience as a professional Christmas lights installer. He shares how he plans the lighting design for a house with a shingle roof and no gutters:
“To install seasonal lighting along a shingle roof, we’ll use non-invasive attachments like shingle tabs…, depending on the fascia lining (gutters, no gutters, gutters with gutter guards).”
Step 2: Measure Your Roof Line
Next, you’ll need to determine the number of lights and light clips you’ll need. You can get the measurements while on the ground. Feel free to ask a friend or family member to hold one end of your tape measure to make things easier.
- Use a tape measure to measure the path along your roof line or fascia where you’ll hang the Christmas lights.
- Measure the distance from the electrical outlet to your roof line. Even if you’re using an extension cord, it’s better to have extra Christmas lights.
- Add 10% to the total length of your roof line. This will ensure you’ll have enough lights and light clips for your installation.
As a professional, Zogran recommends customizing the layout to complement a home: “For a quality design done right, you’ll want to customize the length of lights, power cords, and electrical layout to your house.”
Step 3: Buy Your Christmas Lights
The type of Christmas lights you’ll install will determine the light clips you’ll use. Here are common Christmas lights you can choose from:
- C7 or C9 Christmas lights: Their recognizable cone-like shape brightens your roof line and can be seen from a distance.
- LED Christmas lights: LED lights are energy-efficient, which makes them ideal for elaborate designs. They also emit less heat, making them the best choice for metal roofs.
- Icicle lights: These have many twinkling lights suspended from their light strings, making them resemble icicles hanging from the edge of your roof.
Step 4: Test Your Christmas Lights
Before hanging your lights, check if they’re working properly to avoid safety hazards. Plug in your Christmas lights for about an hour and check the following:
- Light strings: Exposed, damaged, or cut wiring should be replaced immediately.
- Light bulbs: Replace any cracked, missing, or blown bulbs.
- Maximum wattage: Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the maximum wattage allowed per electrical outlet. If the number of lights you plan to install exceeds this, add electrical outlets to your layout as needed.
Don’t forget to unplug your Christmas lights if you need to repair or replace them.
Step 5: Hang Your Christmas Lights
Light clips enable you to hang Christmas lights on your roof, even without gutters. Some light clips, such as all-in-one light clips, allow you to hang different lights, while most types are only compatible with C7 or C9 lights.
Regardless of the type of light clips you’ll use to hang your Christmas lights, follow these tips to make your installation easier:
- While on the ground, attach the C7 or C9 bulbs first. Insert the socket of the light bulb into the hook of the light clip and screw the light bulb into the socket. Depending on your preference, you can place your C7 or C9 lights upward or downward.
- Position your ladder on the corner of your roof closest to the electrical outlet.
- Keep your Christmas lights unplugged while you’re hanging them.
- Space your light clips 12 to 18 inches apart.
| Type of Light Clip | Comptabile Christmas Lights |
| All-in-One Light Clips | C7, C9, LED, or icicle lights |
| Shingle Tabs | C7 or C9 lights |
| Magnetic Light Clips | LED C7 or C9 lights (not incandescent) |
| Fascia Clips | C7, C9, LED, or icicle lights |
Method 1: All-in-One Light Clips
Best for: Hanging C7, C9, LED, or icicle lights on shingle roofs
Recommended placement: First row of shingles
All-in-one light clips are a versatile way to hang Christmas lights without relying on gutters. You can hang different lights in different orientations onto a shingle roof using these clips.
- Climb your ladder and carefully slide the prongs of your light clip under the edge of one of the shingles. Be careful not to lift the shingles while attaching the light clip.
- While holding the light clip in place with one hand, gently insert the light string of your icicle lights into the hook. If you’re hanging mini LED lights, snap the base of the light into the smaller hook.
- Then, hold the first light clip in place with your free hand while attaching the next light clip to keep the light string taut. Continue this process until you’ve hung your lights.
Method 2: Shingle Tabs
Best for: Hanging C7 or C9 lights on a shingle roof
Recommended placement: First row of shingles
Shingle tabs are a popular choice to hang Christmas lights on shingle roofs without gutters. They’re designed to be easily installed under the edge of your shingles.
- On the first row of shingles, slide a clip under the edge of a shingle. Be careful not to lift the shingles while doing this.
- After attaching the first shingle tab, hold it in place while installing the second shingle tab to ensure your light string is taut and neat.
When installing Christmas lights on a shingle roof that doesn’t have gutters, Zogran recommends using shingle tabs:
“For roof ridgeline lighting (for a 3D outline of the roof, rather than the 2D fascia lighting outline), we’ll use shingle tabs for the light attachments and design a custom electrical layout for the house to ensure the roof lighting is sufficiently powered throughout the holiday season.”
Method 3: Magnetic Light Clips
Best for: Hanging C7 or C9 lights
Recommended placement: The edge of your metal roof
Metal roofs are more prone
- First, check if the magnetic light clips adhere to the surface of your metal roof where you want to install them. Some parts of a metal roof may not be compatible with magnetic light clips.
- Wipe off dust and debris from the magnet on the bottom of your light clip using a dry rag.
- Place the magnetic light clip on the corner of your metal roof that’s closest to the electrical outlet. Ensure that it is securely attached to the surface of your metal roof.
- Hold the first light clip in place as you attach the next light clip. Continue this process until you attach the remaining light clips.
- Be careful not to drag your Christmas lights against the surface of your roof to avoid scratching the metal.
Method 4: Fascia Clips
Best for: C7, C9, LED, or icicle Christmas lights
Recommended placement: At the bottom of your fascia board
- Measure the thickness of your fascia board to ensure your fascia clips can grip it securely.
- Push the fascia clip onto the bottom of your fascia board. The “teeth” of the fascia clip should hug the two sides of your fascia board.
- Hold the bottom of the clip while sliding the light string into the front of the clip. This will ensure the fascia clip stays in place while gripping the light string.
- Continue attaching the remaining fascia clips to your fascia while feeding your light string into them. Place the light clips about 12 to 18 inches apart to ensure your fascia clips can hold the weight of the Christmas lights.
Step 6: Plug In Your Christmas Lights
For the final step, plug in your extension cord into your electrical outlet. Then, plug your Christmas lights into the extension cord. Now, your home is ready to make the season bright and merry.
| Meet the Expert: With over 9 years of experience as the co-owner and operator of Dominion Lightworks, James Zogran handles design consultations and coordination with their customers across Richmond and Central Virginia. |
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What to read next:
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutters
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutters with Gutter Guards
- How Much Does It Cost to Get Your House Ready for Santa?
Main Image: Close-up of a plastic clip holding a Christmas light string onto a shingle roof. Photo Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest / Adobe Stock
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