As you begin to plan your decorations for the holiday season, you may wonder how much it’s going to cost to deck the halls with those beautiful strands of lights. Here’s some good news – not as much as you might think!

One strand of 100 mini-lights costs around $1.50 to run for 10 hours a day, for 30 days. A typical family might use eight of those strands to decorate their home, with a cost around $12.50 if the lights are on for 10 hours a day for 30 days.

If your family goes all out, say like the Griswolds in the movie Christmas Vacation, you’ll spend a bit more. Fifty strands (5,000) lights will cost around $75 if they’re on 10 hours a day for 30 days.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights are much more economical. Using the same examples as above, one strand of 100 mini-LED lights would cost just about a quarter; eight strands would be around $2. The Griswold’s would save even more money – fifty strands would be around $13.

You might see an increase in your utility bill during the holidays because of other factors.  Lower temperatures mean heating systems work harder. Many people entertain and cook more during the holidays, and having friends and family visit could increase your water usage for showers, etc.  All these factors contribute to potentially higher bills for the holiday season. So, enjoy your lights! They aren’t going to break the bank!