How much do Christmas lights cost to run? Everything you need to know - and how to cut that price in half

You probably don’t need us to tell you that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year… but it’s also one of the most expensive. And if you’re worried about rising household bills, understanding how much Christmas tree lights cost to run can help you budget and save.

Whether you lean more towards the best artificial Christmas trees or are a tree purist and prefer to choose and care for a real Christmas tree, there’s no doubt that the best Christmas lights will add festive cheer to your home. But in a world where everything is getting more expensive and more and more people are trying to save energy at home, it’s important to understand that adding some twinkle to your Christmas tree doesn’t come for free.

So, how much do Christmas tree lights cost to run, really? We’ve done the maths for you, and you’ll be happy to know that it’s not as much as you’d think. You can even slash this price in half, too.

The cost of running Christmas tree lights

Calculating the exact cost of running Christmas tree lights isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, as it ultimately depends on the size of your tree and how many lights you need for your Christmas tree.

However, Ava Pope, an energy-saving expert at Love Energy Savings, says that, on average, most people use two strings of 100 lights for their Christmas tree, adding up to 80 watts of energy. This is under the assumption that you're also using lights without LED bulbs.

Of course, you can find out the exact kWh of your specific set of lights by taking the wattage of each string of lights (typically found on the packaging) and dividing that number by 1000. So, Christmas tree lights that use 80 watts of energy will equate to 0.08kWh.

Then, you need to take into account how long these Christmas tree lights will be on to work out how much they’ll cost you to run per day. If your lights are left on for 6 hours daily, then 0.08kW x 6 hours will mean a 0.48kW output. You still need the current cost of energy to complete the equation, though.

At the time of writing, and according to the October 2024 energy price cap, the cost of electricity is 24.50 pence per kWh - which we will round up to 25p for ease. Then, you can use the following calculation:

• Output (0.48kW) x Cost (0.25) = Cost per day (0.12/12p)

In the grand scheme of things, 12p to run Christmas lights each day isn’t a lot - especially as running them for 30-40 days over the whole festive period will set you back £3.60 - £4.80. But you need to remember that this is normally on top of other Christmas decorations and the cost of keeping your home warm in winter.

It’s also important to note that the cost of electricity will increase from 1st January 2025 as per the new energy price cap. So, if you plan on following tradition and expert advice to take your Christmas tree down on the 'Twelfth Night', just be warned that you’ll be paying extra for those five days under the new price cap.

How to reduce the cost of running Christmas tree lights

We understand that being cost-efficient this festive period is important to many, hence the many budget Christmas decorating ideas we've seen floating around.

So, while the average cost to run Christmas tree lights throughout December and some of January comes out between £3 - £5, you’ll be happy to know there are ways to cut those costs without compromising on the cosy atmosphere that a twinkling tree gives at night.

1. Switch to LED Christmas lights

Nowadays, it’s not hard to find LED lights, but they can make a huge difference to the cost of running Christmas tree lights. James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, explains, ‘Simple changes such as using LED lights instead of non-LED lights can help to reduce your energy usage by 10%, going a long way to reducing costs.’

In fact, switching to LED Christmas lights can cost you as little as around 0.0002p per hour to run, equating to just 1 penny per week when left on for 6 hours a day.

2. Use battery-powered lights

Although battery-powered lights can sometimes struggle outside in winter, they’re ideal for your indoor Christmas tree. They can also cut the cost of how much Christmas tree lights cost to run, too.

Connor Campbell, personal finance expert at NerdWallet recommends opting for battery-powered Christmas lights for those who 'have stashes of batteries hidden in drawers.' If you're looking for a reason to make use of them, there's no greater time than for lighting your tree.

'This means that electricity from the mains power supply isn’t being used, and if you use LED battery-powered lights, they will last longer than incandescent lights, saving you money on batteries in the long run,' he explains.

3. Opt for different settings

Christmas tree lights have come a long way over the years, with many products offering a variety of different features and settings to allow for customisation. But what most people don’t realise is that this customisation can also cut down energy usage.

'The cost of indoor and outdoor lights differs based on the product, but money can be saved by using differing settings on your lights – perhaps opting for an intermittent 'flashing' setting,' suggests James.

It’s also well worth buying Christmas tree lights that come with a timer so you can choose how long you keep them on, too. This will come in handy if you forget to turn them off or if you have a full festive social calendar ahead of you.

This is echoed by Amy Mason, Director of Product at Lights4fun, who says, ‘Choosing Christmas lights with a timer enables you to brighten your home during the afternoon and evening, automatically switching off throughout the night to save electricity and battery life.’

4. Keep usage to a minimum

And of course, more than anything, a certain way to save money is by simply reducing your usage to when it's only necessary.

'Saving money isn't solely down to the product though, with other personal traits also playing a huge part,' explains James. 'Most UK households are likely to add additional lights to their home over the Christmas period, either decoratively or on the tree. You should try to keep this usage to a minimum, switching these off in the daytime light, at bedtime, or when you are out of the house.'

Not only that, but exercising safety with Christmas lights is of paramount importance. Be sure to switch the lights off before you go to bed as the cost could triple if you leave lights on overnight, not to mention the potential fire hazard that could arise from that.

FAQs

Can you leave xmas tree lights on all night?

Although most modern Christmas tree lights are designed with safety in mind, most experts would agree that you shouldn’t leave Christmas tree lights on all night. Doing so can be a fire hazard as some lights (especially older lights) may overheat when left on too long and ignite. This can be extremely dangerous when they’re wrapped around a real or artificial tree.

There’s also no need to keep them on all night as you won’t be able to enjoy them. So, it’s best to either turn them off when you go to bed or set a timer so they turn off even if you’re not at home.

Do Christmas lights get hot enough to start a fire?

Modern Christmas lights probably won’t get hot enough to start a fire, but older ones may do. Not only that but the fire risk is increased if you plug Christmas lights into an extension lead as the circuits may become overloaded.

If you want to minimise the fire risk when using Christmas lights, it’s best to opt for modern LED lights as they do not get as hot as traditional incandescent Christmas lights.

So, is the cost to run Christmas tree lights more or less than you thought?