How long do permanent Christmas lights last?

Permanent lights are a one-time purchase, so the fair question is how long "permanent" actually means. Here's what the parts are rated for and what we see in the field.

The LEDs: about 20 years

Commercial-grade LEDs in these systems are rated for 50,000 hours. At six hours a night, every night, that's about 23 years. Most people run them far less than that outside the holidays, which stretches it further. LEDs don't burn out like incandescent bulbs; they slowly dim over decades. Our LEDs carry a lifetime warranty regardless.

The track: as long as your fascia

The channel is powder-coated aluminum. It doesn't rust, doesn't get brittle in cold, and doesn't fade the way plastic clips do. It's the same material as your gutters and will outlast the roof shingles.

The controller: 5-year warranty, usually longer

The controller is the one piece of electronics. It lives in the garage or under a soffit out of the weather and is warrantied for five years. When Wi-Fi standards change in a decade, controllers can be swapped without touching the lights.

What actually fails

In practice, the rare problems are a bulb damaged by a ladder or a tree branch, or a connector that got water in it during a bad install. Both are quick fixes under warranty. Snow load, ice and heat are not issues; the system is rated from −40°F to 140°F.

Compared with strand lights

Store-bought LED strands are rated for a few thousand hours and typically last two to four seasons before sockets corrode and sections go dark. You'll buy them several times over the life of one permanent system.

Questions about warranty terms? See the FAQ or ask for a quote and we'll walk you through it in person.