Key Takeaways

  • Two ways to measure: a measuring wheel walking the perimeter, or Google Earth from your computer.
  • When you hit a peak, don't measure straight across the bottom. Follow the roofline up the angle, then back down the other side.
  • Always add 10% to your total. If you measure 180 ft, plan for 200 ft. You'll need the extra.
  • Consumer lights come in 100, 150, or 200 ft kits. If you need more than 200, you'll need 2+ systems.
  • Professional grade systems handle up to 250 ft each, even on complicated homes with peaks and direction changes.

Before you buy a single foot of permanent lights, you need to know exactly how much of your house you want to light up, and how many linear feet that is. Most people skip this step. They guess, buy a kit, and end up either short or with way too much.

Here are the two ways I measure houses in Columbus, with the one trick almost everyone misses. (If you're still picking between Govee and professional grade, start with Govee vs Permanent for the full comparison first.)

Step 1: Decide Which Sections to Light

Before measuring, decide what you actually want lit up.

Most homeowners in Columbus do just the front. One Govee kit usually covers it. If your front is really big with a lot of peaks and direction changes, you might need two systems (or a Y-splitter to run lights in two directions from one power source). If you're doing the full perimeter, plan for multiple systems either way.

Method 1: Measuring Wheel

Walk along your roofline in a straight line and measure each section. Very simple. The thing most people get wrong is the peaks.

The peak trick: when you get to a peak (the triangle shape on your roof), do NOT measure straight across the bottom. You need to go up at an angle following the roofline to the top of the peak, then back down the other side.

If both sides of the peak are the same length, you can just measure one side and double it. That's a shortcut I use on symmetric houses.

The 10% rule: always add 10% to your total. If you measure 180 feet, add 18 feet, so your total is about 200. You want that extra because if you've never done it before, you're probably a little off. Better to have 5 feet too much than 5 feet too short.

Method 2: Google Earth

Google Earth is a free tool where you can see any house and get measurements. It's accurate enough for permanent lights, and you don't have to climb a ladder or walk the property.

I recorded a quick walkthrough showing exactly how I measure a house in Google Earth, from satellite view to a final number. Watch it once and you'll be able to do your own:

Same 10% rule applies. Add 10% to whatever Google Earth gives you and that's your buying number.

What to Do With the Number

Now that you know your roofline, you can figure out which kit to buy (if you're going Govee) or how many systems your house needs (if you're going professional grade).

Consumer Lights (Govee)

  • Up to 100 ft: 100 ft kit
  • 100-150 ft: 150 ft kit
  • 150-200 ft: 200 ft kit
  • More than 200 ft: 2+ systems

Professional Grade

  • Up to 250 ft: 1 system
  • 250+ ft: 2 systems
  • Handles peaks and direction changes
  • Sized for your house at the estimate

One thing to know: consumer lights overload if you stretch them past what the power supply is rated for. That's the number one reason Govee installs fail. If you need more than 200 ft you need a second system, not more extension wires. Professional grade systems have stronger power supplies and can handle a longer run.

For exact pricing on professional grade and Govee installs (with real Columbus homes as examples), see 3 Real Columbus Homes: What Permanent Lights Actually Cost.

Why We Measure on Site

For our customers we always come out and measure in person, even if you've already measured with Google Earth. There are too many details that only matter when someone is standing in front of your house: soffit type and no-soffit sections, where the power supply will go, and direction changes.

If a company quotes you from just a Google Earth picture without ever coming out, that's a red flag. Skipping the walkthrough creates unknowns that always cost you later.