How early is too early to hang holiday lights? Some believe decorating before Thanksgiving is excessive, while others think waiting until December is too late. To settle this age-old debate, we surveyed 3,000 Americans for the second year in a row about their holiday decorating preferences — and their answers may surprise you. 


    Key Findings  

    According to our survey, 40% of Americans who decorate hang their holiday decorations after Thanksgiving but before December 1. But the right time to hang festive lights isn’t the only thing Americans disagree on. We also asked about their decorating budgets, favorite types of decorations, and when they plan to remove their decorations. Here’s what they said: 

    • Nearly 70% of Americans plan to display outdoor holiday decorations 
    • Of those choosing to decorate, 34% will do so before Thanksgiving, while 18% plan to wait until the first week of December
    • Nearly 60% of Americans decorate with colorful lights, while only 22% prefer white lights 
    • Americans planning to decorate budget an average of $384 for holiday decorations
    • New Hampshire residents spend the most on decorating, with an average budget of $786 
    • On average, men spend just under $490 on holiday lights, while women spend around $292 
    • Of those decorating, 44% will take down their decorations in the first week of January 

    When Do Americans Plan To Decorate for the Holidays?

    Sixty-nine percent of Americans plan on displaying outdoor holiday decorations this year, with the days between Thanksgiving and December 1 being the decorating sweet spot. Forty percent of decorators actually plan to put their lights up that week, and 51% of Americans agree it’s the most acceptable time to decorate. Still, a strong minority favors getting a head start on the holidays: Thirty-four percent of Americans will put up decorations before Thanksgiving. 

    Once the season ends, Americans like to take in the holidays a little longer, with 75% waiting until January to take down their lights. Only 18% take their decorations down at the end of December. 


    When Americans Plan to Hang Their Holiday Lights, By State

    The majority of residents in 37 states plan to decorate after Thanksgiving, with Americans in 13 more states choosing to decorate beforehand. 


    How Much Are Americans Spending on Holiday Lights? 

    All that holiday cheer does come at a price. The average American displaying outdoor holiday decorations will spend just over $384 this year (not to mention the additional utility cost of powering the lights). Men account for much of this expense, budgeting an average of $490 for decorations. That’s compared to just $292 for women. 

    For those watching their wallets this holiday season, DIYing is your best bet. Americans who plan to hire professional decorating services will spend an average of $1,023 — nearly four times as much as those stringing lights themselves. That said, always take proper safety precautions when hanging holiday lights on your gutters or roof. If you have gutter guards, be sure that they are durable enough to withstand the weight of lights otherwise it may cause them to bend. Never climb on a ladder during inclement weather or when no one else is home to help in case of an emergency.


    Holiday Lights Budget by State

    The average holiday decor budget among Americans planning to decorate was $384, and the average amount spent was higher in 21 states. Americans in New Hampshire plan to spend the most, averaging $786 each, while New Mexico residents plan to spend the least, averaging just $131. 


    How Do Americans Like To Decorate?

    Does climbing onto the roof to hang lights get you in the holiday spirit? Turns out you’re not alone. An overwhelming 88% of those decorating plan to DIY their outdoor holiday decorations, with just 4% relying entirely on professional decorating services.

    Colored lights were the clear choice among holiday decorators, with 59% preferring them over white lights. In comparison, only 22% preferred white and 19% didn’t have a preference. 

    Americans from only three states — Iowa, Connecticut, and Rhode Island — preferred white lights to colored ones. 

    Inflatables: Tacky or Festive? 

    Inflatables are a quirky way to liven up your front lawn for the holidays, but 22% of Americans reported not liking them at all. Even among the 77% who say they like inflatables, most prefer to see them on their neighbors’ lawns instead of their own. 

    Inflatable decorations were most divisive between generations: The majority (53%) of millennials plan to decorate their yard with inflatables this year, but just 16% of baby boomers will do the same. Inflatables are also more popular among men, with 36% of men decorating with them compared to 21% of women. 


    Final Thoughts

    Our survey found that most Americans think the days between Thanksgiving and December 1 are the best time to decorate for the holidays. That said, there may never be an official consensus on the best time to hang holiday lights. Americans reported putting up decorations anytime between October and the days leading up to December 25th. 

    Methodology

    Today’s Homeowner surveyed 3,000 Americans using a third-party survey platform to ask their opinions on when it’s too early to hang holiday lights and when they plan to hang them. Alaska was omitted from our data visualizations due to insufficient data. The survey was conducted in October and November of 2023, and we estimate a margin of error of 2% with a confidence level of 95%.

    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Faith Wakefield

    Faith Wakefield

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    Alexis Curls

    Content Marketing Manager

    Alexis Curls is a content strategist on the Today’s Homeowner team. She specializes in home services research. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations.

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