When’s the Best Time to Put Up Your Christmas Lights? We Look to a New Survey for Answers.

It’s October 25 and my neighbor’s Christmas lights are up.

Personally, I’m not throwing any shade, but some would say this is too early. Some, even, would get mad about it. Certainly, to those passionate about the subject, Oct. 25 is preferable to the leaving your lights out year-round—a practice not recommended by Christmas Designers if for no other reason than it will cause your lights to wear out more quickly—but I still run into plenty of people with strong opinions about when it’s appropriate to put up your holiday display. I'm sure you’ve even seen heated debates arise from the topic.

But hey, there’s an election coming up; why not put the question to the people? What does the consensus say about whether it's too early to put up your Christmas lights or not?

When Do People Put Up Their Christmas Lights?

The team at Today’s Homeowner surveyed 3,000 Americans to find out. You can read Jonathon Jachura’s article on the survey for a full overview, but stick around for commentary on some key insights. Some are enlightening, some are surprising, and at least one is just plain wild.

69% of Americans plan on putting up a holiday display

Holiday lights have become increasingly ubiquitous since Thomas Edison and his partner Edward H. Johnson displayed the world’s first electrically-illuminated Christmas tree in 1882. Today, with modern advancements that make crafting a stunning display cheaper, more accessible, and easier than ever before, it’s no surprise that they’re more popular than ever. Still, 69% is high! Looking down some ho-hum streets during the holiday season, it’s hard to imagine that more than two-thirds of Americans are showing their festive spirit. Though we’re happy about it!

Most People Put them Up Between Thanksgiving and December 1st

According to the survey, 40% of light decorators plan to put them up in that window, making it the most popular choice. What’s more, 51% of Americans say it’s the “most acceptable” time to decorate. Still, the early birds aren’t far behind, with 34% of respondents saying they plan to put up their display before Thanksgiving.

4% Leave Them Up Year-Round

In a previous version of the survey, 4% of people said they usually left their holiday lights up all year long. Is this laziness? Some may think so. But it certainly is easier, and some displays are better-hidden on the off-months than others.

Again, I’m not throwing any judgement around, but I’d argue that even if you’re okay with leaving the lights up over the off-season, you at least definitely shouldn’t have them actually lit up. We don't recommend using Christmas lights past their seasonal use time (up to 60 days). So if this is your route, consider permanent lighting solutions for your roofline, such as Twinkly Permanent Lights.

Some Decorators Put Up Their Lights on December 25?!

In that earlier survey, a full 3% of respondents said they planned to put up their decorations on Christmas Day itself. Now, I procrastinate as much as (or more than) the next guy, but that does not sound like an ideal holiday to me. I guess better late than never, though!

As for myself, I’ll be following the crowd and scrambling up the ladder shortly after Thanksgiving. But whenever you put up your lights, I recommend watching our tutorials to learn how to do it like a pro!