Pick your Christmas light bundle: 100 ft, 300 ft, or 1,000 ft

Every bundle follows one rule: one bulb and one clip per foot of line. Sockets are 12 inches apart, so 300 ft of line takes 300 bulbs and 300 clips. Each bundle is a set of parts you choose (line, bulbs, clips) at a bundle discount.

Bulb choices in the bundles: C9 LED Shatterproof FlexFilament (Warm White, Red, Green, Multicolor), C9 LED Faceted (Warm White, Red, Green), and C9 LED Retro Opaque ("Charlie Brown" look). Colors in stock change seasonally, so check the bundle page.

Which one? Add up your measured footage (How-to in the next section). Under 100 ft and you don't want to cut wire: get the 100 ft bundle. A typical roofline plus ridges and hips: 300 ft. Outlining everything, like the roofline, ridges, windows, doors, and garage: 1,000 ft.

Want to build it yourself instead? Start with the C9 cord reel (300 ft or 1,000 ft) or C9 25 ft stringers, then add bulbs, clips, and plugs.

How to measure your roofline for Christmas lights

1. Screenshot your house from above. Pull it up on Google Maps and sketch the roofline, ridges, hips, windows, and doors you want to light.
2. Measure on the roof with a tape measure. Online estimates are a starting point, but measuring by hand is the most accurate way to order the right amount of line, bulbs, and clips.
3. Measure each run separately: gutters/roofline, ridges, and hips. Write each length on your sketch.
4. Mark your outlets. Each outlet can run up to 250 ft of line, including jump cords and extension cords. Plan where every run will plug in.
5. Add it up and order a little extra. At 12" spacing, you need one bulb and one clip per foot.

For scale: the full display on our resource page (roofline, ridges, ground lights, windows, and doors) runs on four plugs total.

C9 bulbs: which style?

All of our C9 bulbs are LED, screw into standard C9 (E17) sockets, and fit our reels and stringers.

• C9 LED Shatterproof FlexFilament: our brightest C9. Made to mimic the glow of old incandescent bulbs, with shatterproof construction. This year's multicolor packs are Red, Blue, Green, Gold, and Purple.
• C9 LED Faceted: Each C9 bulb features a diamond-faceted lens and a reflective core that amplifies light output while keeping an energy-efficient footprint.
• C9 LED Retro Opaque ("Charlie Brown"): smooth, opaque lenses for a vintage look. This year's colors are Red, Blue, Amber, Green, and Warm White.

Mixing styles? Keep one bulb type per run so the color stays consistent from the street.

Christmas light clips: which one goes where

• Gutters and shingles (custom screw-in bulbs): C9 Circle Clip V2+. It locks between the socket and the bulb and stays on the strand when you take it down, so next year you just hang and go. (Won't work on gutters with leaf guards.)
• Shingles (C7 or C9 strands): Shingle Tab Clip. The classic, pro-trusted roofline clip. The pronged base slides under shingles with no tools and no damage. Bulbs sit horizontally on shingles. Made from UV-protected polypropylene to withstand sun, wind, and winter.
• Ridges, hips, and peaks: Ridge Clip Pro. Spans over the ridge cap without lifting shingles and holds bulbs upright. This is the clip we prefer for ridges.
• Store-bought strands with fixed bulbs: All-in-One Clip. Fits C6, C7, C9, mini, and mini-icicle sets on gutters or under shingles.
• Metal surfaces (gutters): C9 Socket Magnetic Clips. Test the surface with a household magnet first.

Give every bulb its own clip. That's what keeps the 12" spacing straight.

Power, plugs, and how far you can run

• Max 250 ft per outlet, counting jump cords and extension cords, and stay at or under 2.5 amps per outlet.
• No polarity worries. With our LED lights, slide plugs work no matter how you orient them (not always true of other brands).
• Custom extension cords in minutes. Cut SPT1 zip wire (green, brown, or white) to the exact length, then add a Male Slide Plug and a Female Slide Plug. No stripping, no tape. Step-by-step: How to make a custom Christmas light extension cord.
• Keep a few C9 replacement sockets on hand for quick fixes.

The Ground Game: lighting beds and bushes

Finish the display from top to bottom. Drape 4' × 6' net lights (100 shatterproof 5mm LEDs each) over bushes or lay them flat in beds. Fill the gaps with 5mm 50-count light strings (25 ft, 6" spacing, green wire). Laying nets on the ground in snow country? Wrap the plug connections in electrical tape to keep moisture out. Add 36” Glimmer Sprays to your landscape beds to add another decorative burst of color.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure my roofline for Christmas lights?

Screenshot your house on Google Maps to sketch the layout, then measure the roofline, ridges, and hips by hand with a tape measure. That's the most accurate way to order. At 12-inch spacing, you need one bulb and one clip per foot, so your total footage is also your bulb and clip count. Full walkthrough: DIY Professional Christmas Lights guide.

Which bundle size do I need?

Under 100 ft with no cutting: the 100 ft bundle (pre-wired 25 ft stringers). Most rooflines with ridges and hips: the 300 ft bundle. Whole-house outlines with windows, doors, and the garage: the 1,000 ft bundle.

What are C9 bulbs?

C9s are the larger, classic roofline Christmas bulbs. Ours are LED and screw into standard C9 (E17) sockets on our reels and stringers. Choose FlexFilament (our brightest, shatterproof, incandescent-style glow), Faceted (diamond-faceted lens with a reflective core that amplifies light output), or Retro Opaque for a vintage look.

What spacing should I use?

12 inches. All our reels and stringers have sockets every 12", which reads clean from the street. Clip every bulb to keep it straight.

How many lights can I run on one outlet?

Up to 250 ft per outlet, counting jump and extension cords, and no more than 2.5 amps. Details: How many lights can I string together?

Which clips should I use for gutters, shingles, and ridges?

Circle Clip V2+ for gutters and shingles with our screw-in bulbs. It stays on the strand year to year. Ridge Clip Pro for ridges and hips. All-in-One Clips for store-bought strands. See ridges and hips, rain gutters, and shingles.

Do I need to cut wire or install plugs?

Not with the 100 ft bundle. Its 25 ft stringers come with plugs installed. The 300 ft and 1,000 ft reels are cut to fit, and you finish each run with slide-on plugs. No tools beyond scissors, no stripping, and with our LED lights, polarity doesn't matter.

Can I reuse the lights next year?

Yes. That's the point of a custom system. Circle Clip V2+ clips stay attached to the strand when you take it down, so you store the runs as-is and hang them again next season.

Guides and videos

Shop related