Equipment to Rent for Hanging Holiday Lights
The holiday season brings joy for many reasons. It’s a time to reconnect with family, catch up with friends, and indulge in festive parties, gifts, and seasonal treats. Some even cherish the crisp winter air, perfect for outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. However, one thing that dazzles nearly everyone during the holidays is the lights and decorations. While many individuals and families invest in their own decorating routines, hanging holiday lights is big business for those seeking seasonal work in both residential and commercial settings.
If you’re interested in turning holiday light hanging into a profitable venture, having the right equipment is essential. Read on to discover the tools and machinery Equipment Trader recommends for this seasonal side hustle.
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The Equipment
For smaller jobs, you may only need a pickup truck to transport the lights, decorations, ladders, and any pole hangers or string lines for self-standing displays. If you go this route but don’t have a way to transport the equipment, consider renting a utility trailer. Make sure your tow-vehicle can handle the weight of both the trailer and its load. Alternatively, some rental companies may offer delivery for the duration of your project.
For more advanced jobs, especially those involving outdoor trees or buildings beyond ladder height, renting a cherry picker or boom lift is a safe and effective option. Additionally, consider renting the following equipment:
- Scissor Lifts: Ideal for indoor or flat-surface decorating jobs. Average daily rental rates range from $100 to $425.
- Towable Lifts: Easy to transport and perfect for hard-to-reach areas. Average daily rental rates start at $212 for a 30-foot narrow electric model and go up to $1,196 for a 125-foot diesel dual-fuel lift.
- Mini Excavators: Great for digging trenches to run electrical lines for large displays. Average daily rental rates range from $150 to $350.
- Skid Steer Loaders: Useful for moving heavy decorations or clearing snow for installations. Average daily rental rates range from $200 to $450.
- Generator Trailers: Provide reliable power for large-scale lighting displays in areas with limited outlets. Average daily rental rates range from $300 to $500.
These options allow you to take on a wider variety of projects, expanding your business opportunities.
The Decorations
The first things you’ll need are the lights and decorations themselves. If you prefer not to purchase and store these items during the off-season, many event rental companies offer holiday lights and décor for lease. Be sure to stock up on heavy-duty extension cords to connect the lights to their power sources.
For larger displays, you might need help from a licensed electrician to ensure circuits aren’t overloaded when multiple strings of lights or animated decorations are plugged in. Each string of lights has a wattage rating, and the total wattage on one outlet must not exceed its capacity. LED lights may also require transformers to convert the standard voltage supply to the 12-volt or 24-volt needs of the lights.
If weatherproof outdoor outlets are limited, it may be necessary to install a new dedicated line. This could involve cutting a hole in a wall or foundation to add an exterior electrical box. If you don’t already have tools like masonry cutting saws, hole saws, or masonry drills, these can be rented as well.
Start browsing heavy equipment for rent on Equipment Trader now.
Whether you’re taking on holiday light hanging as a one-time project or planning to build a seasonal business, having the right equipment makes all the difference. Equipment Trader is your trusted source for renting or purchasing the tools you need to get the job done.
Barrett Baker