Should you get permanent outdoor lights, and what should you check before buying?

Permanent roofline lights from brands like Govee, Eufy, and Cync install once and stay up all year — measure, check the IP rating, and price clips, power, and installation before you buy.

Short answer: Permanent outdoor lights are worth it if you decorate every year and dread the ladder — they install once under the eaves and switch from holidays to everyday accent lighting from an app. But measure your roofline and total the whole job first, because the lights themselves are often the cheapest part; Wired’s October 15 guide compares systems from brands including Govee, Eufy, and Cync. Unlike string lights you hang and remove each season, permanent systems mount in tracks or clips along the roofline, point down at the house, and stay up year-round — subtle by day, festive on demand.

The buying decision is mostly about fit, weatherproofing, and the true installed cost:1. Measure the roofline. Measure every run in feet, including peaks and corners, and note where your outdoor outlets are — kits are sold by length, and mid-project shortages are common.2.

Check the IP weather rating. Look for IP65 or better on lights and power supplies that will sit in rain and snow, and confirm the rated temperature range for your winters.3. Decide app versus hub control.

Check whether the system works with the smart home you already have, whether it needs its own hub, and whether basic on/off still works if the Wi-Fi drops.4. Price the whole job, not the box. Add mounting clips or tracks, extension cables, extra power supplies, and — for two-story peaks — professional installation.

Ladder falls are the hidden cost of doing this yourself.5. Check the rules before you drill. Many HOAs restrict permanent fixtures, and some towns limit bright, always-on lighting out of respect for neighbors and the night sky.Pro tip: the common mistake is buying by the brightest product photo.

Order one section, mount it temporarily, and look at it from the street at night — spacing and warmth matter more than raw brightness.