(855) 619-5483
Free shipping over $349
Sorry, this collection is empty.
Continue shopping
Quick Answer
What are pro LED icicle lights and how do contractors use them? Pro LED icicle lights are eave-hung mini-light strings with vertical drop tendrils hanging from a horizontal lead wire, creating a frozen-icicle effect along rooflines, porches, storefronts, and commercial canopies. Christmas Lights HQ stocks two drop-length options: 3″ (subtle / historic) and 6″ (the residential bestseller). Density tiers: 150-light residential and 300-light commercial. Color options: Warm White 3000K (bestseller), Pure White, Multi-color, and accents. One spec to plan for: icicle strings run on mini-light circuits — if one bulb fails, roughly half the strand goes dark. Stock a spare string per residential install for the swap. The economics: icicle adds $200–$500 per residential install on top of the roofline, and $1,500–$4,000+ per commercial site. UL-listed, freeze-stable, multi-season reuse with proper storage. Coming for the 2026 season — join the Pro Pricing list.
Icicle lights are the closer on the bid call
Hi, I’m Jason Geiman. I scaled my install business from $0 to $1M+ before launching Christmas Lights HQ. Icicle lights close residential bids that the roofline alone wouldn’t close. Carry both C9 roofline and icicle on the truck and you’ll convert more bids. The 6″ drop on a 150-light string is my workhorse residential spec — visible from the street, photographs well at dusk. The 3″ drop is the right pick for historic homes and HOA-restricted neighborhoods.
Need help speccing icicle for a specific property? Message me with the eave length and customer preference (subtle 3″ or standard 6″).
Why pro-grade icicle lights matter
Big-box icicle strings are the most-returned Christmas-lighting category in retail — tangled drops, brittle wire, warped drops by mid-December. Pro-grade strings hold up across seasons. One trade-off applies to every icicle on the market though — pro or retail — and you should know it before you bid.
1
Mini-light circuit — one bulb kills half the strand
Icicle strings are built on mini-light circuits — the same wiring family as the mini lights you wrap around bushes. Drops are part of one continuous string, not parallel-fed independent tendrils. If one bulb fails, roughly half the strand goes dark. C9 socket-wire strings let you swap a single bulb — icicle strings don’t. Plan for it: stock one extra string per residential install and budget the strand swap instead of a per-bulb fix.
2
Cold-flex wire jacket — doesn’t go brittle
Pro icicle uses cold-flex outdoor-rated wire jacket that stays pliable in subzero install conditions. Drops hang straight instead of curling stiff. Big-box icicle uses cheap PVC that goes brittle below 25°F — the drops twist and warp in the first hard freeze.
3
Uniform drop length out of the box
Pro icicle ships with every drop cut to a uniform length — either 3″ or 6″. The run reads clean end-to-end. Big-box icicle ships with variable drop lengths (sold as “naturalistic”) that look messy from the street. The uniform line is the visual signature of a paid install.
4
UL outdoor-listed + multi-season reuse
Pro icicle carries UL outdoor certification — load behavior, weatherproofing, strain relief. Insurance carriers verify on denied-claim reviews. Stored properly (coiled, climate-controlled when possible), pro strings reuse season after season at amortized pennies-per-install. Retail icicle gets replaced annually.
How to install icicle lights along a residential eave (5 steps)
Done right, the drops hang uniform — the photo that closes the next-year contract. Done wrong, the drops tangle and the spacing reads inconsistent. One ground rule: icicle strings come bulbed from the factory and can’t be cut to length. Plan around full-string units.
-
1
Measure the eave + plan string count
Measure the eave (typically front facade plus porch overhang). Check the string length on the product page before ordering — standard icicle strings run from about 8 to 20 ft of lead wire, and that determines how many strings chain to cover the run. Icicle strings screw together at the end connectors. Stay under the manufacturer’s end-to-end connection limit (on the package label).
Tools: Tape measure or pacing estimate, phone notepad
-
2
Untangle the drops at the shop — no pre-bulbing
Icicle strings ship with drops folded against the lead wire for compact packaging — they’ll need untangling. Unlike C9 socket wire, icicle strings come pre-bulbed — there’s no separate bulb-and-clip step at the shop. Roll out the strings, chain them at the screw connectors, comb the drops loose, then coil the run into a labeled garbage can (one per house).
Tools: Workbench, 50-gallon garbage can
-
3
Clip the lead wire to the gutter every 2–3 feet
Run the lead wire along the gutter edge and clip it down every 2–3 feet. The drops hang straight by gravity from there. Gutter-guard houses need a workaround: don’t try to slide a shingle tab under the shingle — the gutter guard pushes the clip out and the lights flip up. Slip a thin wire hook (or the shingle tab itself) through the holes in the gutter guard to anchor the lead wire below the guard. Same technique works on mini lights on gutter-guard houses too.
Tools: Clip every 2–3 ft, wire hooks for gutter-guard houses, ladder, Cougar Paws boots for steep roofs
-
4
Comb the drops with your fingers for uniform hang
Once the lead wire is clipped along the entire eave, walk back along the run with the ladder and comb each drop with your fingers to remove any residual twist. The drops should hang straight down at the spec’d length (3″ or 6″). If a drop is shorter than its neighbors, gently pull it down to length. This is the 5 minutes that separates a pro install from a DIY hang.
Tools: Just your fingers or a gloved hand
-
5
Run separate power + walk-test at dusk
Run the male plug back to the nearest GFCI outlet via outdoor extension cord. The icicle run can’t feed a wreath or garland. If the property has either tied in, run a separate extension cord for them. Match the Kelvin to the roofline (Warm White 3000K is the residential bestseller). Walk back 30–40 ft at dusk and check the run reads as a clean parallel curtain along the eave. If a drop looks wrong, climb back up and re-comb.
Tools: Outdoor-rated extension cord(s), GFCI outlet, phone camera for the customer photo
If you only buy ONE thing on this page
150L 6″-drop Warm White icicle string — the residential bestseller. 150-light density without overwhelming a single-family eave; 6-inch drops are visible from the street but stay within the “clean residential” visual register. The volume order for residential icicle work. (Coming soon — Pro Pricing list)
Christmas Lights HQ icicle light family
Two density tiers and two drop-length options — covering the residential bestseller and the commercial-density upgrade. All UL outdoor-listed, all cold-flex-jacketed, all built for multi-season reuse with proper storage. Coming for the 2026 season — join the Pro Pricing list to lock in early-order pricing.
150L residential strings — the workhorse
150-light icicle strings with vertical drops every few inches across the lead wire. The residential volume order. Available in 3″ and 6″ drop lengths and in Warm White, Pure White, Multi, and accent colors. Strings screw together end-to-end — chain up to the manufacturer’s rated max per circuit (the package label tells you the count).
300L commercial strings — the storefront upgrade
300-light icicle strings — double the LED density of the 150L residential. Used on storefronts, hotel awnings, downtown commercial canopies, and any install where the icicle has to read from sidewalk or parking-lot viewing distance. Available in the same 3″ and 6″ drop lengths and color options.
Drop length is the “intensity dial”
Two drops cover the residential range. 3″: subtle, “line lighting with texture,” right for historic, HOA-restricted, and executive residential where understated wins. 6″: residential bestseller, visible from the street without overdoing it — the default order for most single-family homes. Pick by the customer’s visual preference, not by ceiling height.
Pair with the right roofline lighting
Icicle lights are an add-on, not a roofline replacement — they hang from the gutter line below the roofline runs. Pair with C9 LED bulbs on the shingles above for full residential coverage, or with C7 LED bulbs for smaller-scale porch / eave layered effects. Match the Kelvin to keep the property visually consistent (Warm White 3000K throughout for the bestseller residential look).
Icicles & minis on gutter guards — Jason’s install hack
Most icicle install guides assume a clean shingle line. Real-world residential routes are full of gutter-guard houses where the shingle tab won’t hold — the guard pushes the clip out and the lights flip up. Here’s how Jason installs icicle (and mini lights) on gutter-guard houses without that failure mode.
Icicles and minis on gutter-guards — the wire-hook workaround from Jason’s YouTube channel.
What contractors say about Jason
Jason has trained thousands of contractors at his HQ in Kentucky. These are verified Google reviews from real students:
1-on-1 training, started his own business
Matt Rusu
Verified Google review · 5 stars
“Jason was absolutely amazing! He took the time to train me one-on-one and answered every question I had. When I left, I felt much more confident and prepared to start my own Christmas light business.”
Starting first year in lighting after training
Kerry Bozeman
Verified Google review · 5 stars
“Learned so much knowledge this weekend from your in person training about Christmas lights. The amount of info and hands on training I received can’t be valued in money. Can’t wait to start our first year in the holiday lighting and permanent lights.”
Prepared to grow our business
Connor Lynn
Verified Google review · 5 stars
“Jason and his team did a great job training us on Christmas lights. He answered every question and made sure we are fully prepared to grow our business.”
All reviews verified on our Google Business Profile. Want to be a featured contractor? Send us your install story and we’ll send you a $25 Christmas Lights HQ gift card.
Common install scenarios
Three icicle install scenarios. Drop length and density per property.
Historic or HOA-restricted residential — 150L 3″ drop
HOA neighborhoods, historic-district homes, and executive residential where understated wins. 150L 3″ reads as “textured line lighting” — visible at dusk but not loud. Pair with C9 LED roofline above and run Warm White 3000K throughout. (Coming soon — Pro Pricing list)
Standard single-family residential — 150L 6″ drop
The volume residential spec. 150L 6″ reads clean and visible from the street without going commercial. Default for most front facades and porch overhangs. For gutter-guard houses: use the wire-hook workaround in Jason’s video — don’t try to slide a tab under the shingle. (Coming soon — Pro Pricing list)
Storefront commercial — 300L 6″ drop
Downtown retail, hotel canopies, and any install that needs to read from sidewalk distance. 300L doubles the residential LED density; 6″ keeps drops proportional to typical storefront eaves. Run separate extension cords for any wreaths or garland on the same property. Recurring annual contract is typical. (Coming soon — Pro Pricing list)
Frequently asked questions
Real questions contractors ask about pro LED icicle lights.
What’s the difference between 150L and 300L icicle strings?
150L = 150 LEDs across the entire string (lead wire plus drops). 300L = 300 LEDs in the same string footprint. 300L = double the visual density at the same drop length. 150L is the residential standard — clean and visible without overwhelming a single-family roofline. 300L is the commercial upgrade for storefronts, hotel awnings, and downtown installs where the icicle has to read from sidewalk or parking-lot distance.
Which drop length should I order?
Pick by the visual intensity the customer wants. 3″: subtle, “texture lighting” on a horizontal eave line — right for historic, HOA-restricted, and high-end residential where understated wins. 6″: residential bestseller, visible from the street, the default order for most single-family homes. Christmas Lights HQ carries 3″ and 6″ — those are the two drops that cover the residential and storefront commercial range.
How many icicle strings can I connect end-to-end?
Typically 3–5 strings end-to-end depending on the LED density and the manufacturer’s in-line fuse rating. The package label tells you the maximum — don’t exceed it. For runs needing more connected strings, run a separate extension cord from the GFCI to a fresh chain of 3–5 strings. Overloading the connection limit trips GFCI mid-season and shortens bulb life on the strings closest to the plug.
Will the drops tangle in shipping?
Yes — almost always. Untangle the drops at the shop on a workbench before going to the install, not on a ladder. 5 minutes per string at the bench is much easier than fighting tangles on a roof. Coil the run loosely into a labeled garbage can for transport.
What if one bulb fails mid-season?
Plan for it. Icicle strings (pro or retail) run on mini-light series circuits. One bulb out, half the strand goes dark. Pro workflow: stock one extra full string per residential install as a swap, and budget strand replacement instead of a per-bulb fix.
What color temperature should I order for residential icicle?
Match the roofline. If the property’s C9 roofline is Warm White 3000K (the residential bestseller), order Warm White icicle. If the roofline is Pure White or multi-color, match the icicle palette to that. Mixing Kelvins between roofline and icicle makes the property look visually inconsistent from the street and signals “decorated by two different people.”
Can I mount icicle lights on the same circuit as my C9 roofline?
Usually yes. A typical residential icicle install (3 connected 150L strings) draws about 1–2 amps total. Combined with a C9 roofline at ~6 amps, the total install is well under the 15A GFCI circuit’s 12A continuous capacity. For large commercial installs (300L strings, 30+ ft of icicle, plus extensive roofline lighting), run the icicle on a separate timer-controlled circuit so the customer can turn off icicle independently of the roofline.
How long do pro LED icicle strings last?
Multi-season reuse with proper care. Cold-flex jacket survives subzero install conditions. Each LED is rated for 15,000–25,000 hours — well within the lifespan budget for a 60-day install season. The practical end-of-life trigger isn’t LED burnout though — it’s a single bulb failure on the mini-light circuit that takes out half the strand. Pro fix is a string swap. Most contractors replace strings as they fail rather than on a fixed schedule.
How do I store icicle lights between seasons?
Two rules. (1) Keep the strings connected if possible — coil the entire end-to-end chain into a labeled garbage can without unplugging the connections. Disassembly invites tangles next year. (2) Store in a climate-controlled space if possible — the cold-flex jacket survives outdoor winter exposure during install, but indoor storage extends life because freeze-thaw cycles over the summer age the wire faster than the install season itself does.
Why does my retail icicle string look messy by mid-December?
Two failure modes pro icicle solves, plus one common to the category. (1) Cheap PVC jacket goes brittle below 25°F and the drops curl. Pro cold-flex jacket stays pliable. (2) Variable drop lengths on retail strings read as messy from the street. Pro icicle ships uniform. (3) Mini-light failure — one bulb out kills half the strand — is true of every icicle on the market because the tight drop spacing only works on a series circuit. The fix is carrying a spare string for the swap.
How much should I charge to add icicle lights to a residential bid?
Typical residential add-on pricing: $200–$300 for a single front-facade icicle run (3 connected 150L strings, including the lights, labor, takedown, and storage). $400–$500 for front-facade plus porch overhang (5 connected strings). These numbers assume Warm White Kelvin matched to the roofline. Custom-color and multi-color palettes are typically priced 10–15% higher.
What does commercial icicle add to a hotel or storefront bid?
$1,500–$4,000+ per commercial site for a downtown storefront, hotel canopy, or restaurant entry with 300L strings on a front facade. The double LED density and longer eave runs justify the upcharge over residential pricing. Recurring annual contracts are typical — the same commercial site gets the same install each December, paying full labor while the icicle strings amortize across multiple seasons of reuse.
Can icicle lights power my wreath or garland on the same run?
No. The icicle string feeds icicle drops only. If the property has a wreath above the door, garland on the porch rail, or any other lighting elements, run a separate extension cord from the GFCI to feed those. The icicle string’s end-to-end screw connector is for chaining additional icicle strings, not for tying in wreaths or garland. Plan the power runs at quote time. (Coming soon — Pro Pricing list)
How do I install icicle lights on a house with gutter guards?
Don’t try to slide a shingle tab under the shingle — the gutter guard pushes the clip out and the lights flip up off the roof line. Instead, slip a thin wire hook (or a shingle tab) through the holes in the gutter guard itself to anchor the lead wire below the guard. Jason demos this on the video above. Same technique works on mini lights on gutter-guard houses too. (Coming soon — Pro Pricing list)
Can I cut an icicle string to length?
No. Icicle strings come pre-bulbed from the factory on a mini-light circuit — cutting the string breaks the circuit and the strand goes dark. Plan around full-string units. If a run between connection points is shorter than a full string, accept the extra wire bunched at one end or step down a string in the chain. This is the opposite of C9 socket wire (which you measure-and-cut on the job).
LED icicle light glossary
Pro terms and product-type definitions, in plain English.
- Lead wire
- The horizontal wire that runs along the eave. Carries the AC supply and the connection points for the vertical drops. Mounted to the shingle or gutter edge with standard pro clips (Wedge Tuff Clip or Original Tuff Clip).
- Drop (or drop tendril)
- The vertical light strand hanging below the lead wire. Drops contain the LEDs that create the icicle visual. Pro icicle strings have uniform drop lengths (3″ or 6″ per spec on the Christmas Lights HQ family).
- Drop length
- The vertical extent of each drop. Christmas Lights HQ carries 3″ (subtle, for historic and HOA-restricted residential) and 6″ (the residential bestseller, visible from the street). Drop length is the “intensity dial” for the icicle look.
- 150L vs 300L string
- The total LED count per icicle string. 150L (residential) provides clean visible coverage on single-family eaves. 300L (commercial) doubles the density for storefronts and downtown commercial canopies where the icicle reads from sidewalk distance.
- Mini-light circuit
- The wiring topology icicle strings are built on. Bulbs are wired in series sections along the string so the drops can sit at tight spacing. The trade-off: if one bulb fails, roughly half the strand goes dark. The fix is a string swap, not a per-bulb repair.
- Cold-flex wire jacket
- The outdoor-rated SPT wire insulation that stays pliable down to -20°F. Critical for cold-climate installs where retail PVC jackets crack and the drops warp.
- End-to-end connection limit
- The maximum number of icicle strings you can plug into each other (typically 3–5). Exceeding the limit trips GFCI, blows the in-line fuse, and shortens bulb life on strings closest to the plug.
- UL outdoor certification
- Underwriters Laboratories certification for outdoor seasonal lighting (load behavior, weatherproofing, strain relief). Insurance carriers verify this on denied-claim reviews for non-certified lighting.
- Eave-hung install
- The primary install method for icicle lights — the lead wire mounts to the eave (shingle or gutter edge) and the drops hang vertically by gravity. Distinct from wrap installs used for bushes or trees.
- Drop-comb technique
- The pro install step of running a finger or gloved hand along each drop after mounting the lead wire to remove residual twist and ensure uniform vertical hang. The 5 minutes that separate a pro install from a DIY hang.