Most holiday parties are lit by whatever is already in the room: a ceiling fixture that's too bright, a lamp in the corner, and the tree. Turn the overheads off and the room goes dark everywhere the tree isn't. A few clusters of paper lanterns and one or two runs of warm string lights fix that, and they cost less than most people expect. This guide gives the exact counts for a living room party of 10 to 15 guests, an office party or big house party of 25 to 35, and a rented room of 50 to 75, with what each setup costs using prices from what we have in stock today.
The Short Answer
- 10 to 15 guests, living room: one 29-foot string light set and 6 lanterns in two clusters of 3. $146.08.
- 25 to 35 guests, office or big house party: three string light sets connected end to end and 15 lanterns in three clusters of 5. $396.97.
- 50 to 75 guests, rented room: four string light sets over the main floor and 25 lanterns in five clusters of 5. $585.57.
Every setup includes battery LED lights for the lanterns, a remote and warm white fairy lights for the tables. The full breakdown is below.
Light the Zones, Not the Room
A holiday party happens in three or four places: the food, the drinks, the spot people gather (the tree, the fireplace, the photo corner) and, at bigger parties, the dance floor. Light those and the rest of the room can stay dim. That's what makes it feel like a party instead of a meeting.
- Overhead: warm string lights across the ceiling. This is the general glow that replaces the overhead fixture.
- Zone light: a cluster of paper lanterns over each zone. This is the layer guests notice and photograph.
- Table level: fairy lights woven through garland or down the buffet, so the food and faces stay lit.
How Many String Lights
Run the string lights across the ceiling in parallel lines, one run for every 6 to 8 feet of the room's length, each run spanning the room's width. Let each run dip a few inches between hooks. A gentle swag looks intentional; a tight line looks like an extension cord.
The set we use for this is our 25-socket commercial string light set, $74.70, with a black cord option at the same price. It's 29 feet with a socket every 12 inches, comes with shatterproof G40 LED bulbs, and gives off a warm 2700K glow. It's rated for indoor or outdoor use, and up to 12 sets plug together end to end, so one outlet runs the whole ceiling. Each bulb draws 1 watt, which means a full set of 25 uses about what one old 25-watt bulb did. The sets have no switch, so plug the last one into a switched outlet or a power strip you can reach.
- Living room up to about 12 by 14 feet: two runs across the 12-foot width, about 7 feet apart, with a little swag in each. One set.
- 20 by 30 foot room: four runs across the 20-foot width, about 7 feet apart. Three sets, 87 feet in total.
- Rented room, 50 to 75 guests: don't try to cover the whole ceiling. Put four runs of about 28 feet over the main floor or dance area, where people actually stand. Four sets, one per run.
How Many Lanterns
Hang lanterns in clusters, one cluster per zone. A cluster of 3 is right for a living room. In anything bigger, use clusters of 5 so each one holds its own against the size of the room.
White and gold reads as holiday without committing to a single holiday, which is useful at an office party, and it carries straight through to New Year's Eve.
- Cluster of 3: one 16" white lantern ($1.87) in the middle and two 12" gold lanterns ($2.08) on either side. $6.03.
- Cluster of 5: one 20" white lantern ($3.47) as the anchor, two 16" white and two 12" gold. $11.37.
Hang the lanterns in each cluster at different heights, 6 to 12 inches apart, with the biggest one highest. Put clusters over things people stand beside, like the buffet, the bar or the tree corner, not over places they walk through. Under an 8-foot ceiling, a 20-inch lantern hung close to the ceiling still hangs lower than a tall guest's head. Over a table, aim for the bottom of the lowest lantern to sit about 28 to 36 inches above the tabletop.
Removable adhesive ceiling hooks and clear fishing line are all you need to hang them. Paper lanterns weigh a few ounces each.
Lighting the Lanterns: No Cords Needed
Paper lanterns don't come with a light inside. For a party, the easiest option is a battery LED in each one: no cords hanging down from the ceiling and nothing to plug in. Our warm white Omni360 light is $7.96. It hangs from the lantern's wire frame, lights the whole shade evenly, runs about 12 hours on 3 AAA batteries (not included), and dims or flickers like a candle from a remote.
One remote ($3.76) runs as many Omni360 lights as you have, but its range is about 10 feet. In a big room, walk it over to each cluster, or buy a second remote. For a small party, the Omni360 3-pack ($27.64) includes the remote and costs exactly the same as three singles plus a remote.
Never put a candle inside a paper lantern. LED only.
If you'd rather plug in, hang a row of three lanterns over the buffet from our jute triple-socket pendant cord ($34.95) with three warm white LED bulbs ($1.90 each). With a 16" white lantern and two 12" gold, that's $46.68. Our Thanksgiving table guide covers hang heights for that setup in detail.
On the Tables
Weave 7.5-foot warm white fairy lights ($3.90 a strand) through garland on the buffet, around the drinks, or down the middle of the dining table. Each strand runs on 3 AA batteries (not included) from a small pack you can tuck under the greenery. Plan on two strands for a living room party, four for 25 to 35 guests, and six for a rented room.
What It Costs, by Party Size
| Party | What You Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 15 guests, living room | 1 string light set ($74.70), 2 clusters of 3 lanterns ($12.06), one Omni360 3-pack plus 3 single Omni360 lights ($51.52), 2 fairy light strands ($7.80) | $146.08 |
| 25 to 35 guests, office or big house party | 3 string light sets ($224.10), 3 clusters of 5 lanterns ($34.11), 15 Omni360 lights plus 1 remote ($123.16), 4 fairy light strands ($15.60) | $396.97 |
| 50 to 75 guests, rented room | 4 string light sets ($298.80), 5 clusters of 5 lanterns ($56.85), 25 Omni360 lights plus 2 remotes ($206.52), 6 fairy light strands ($23.40) | $585.57 |
All three clear our free shipping threshold of $99.
Already have string lights, or a ceiling you can't hang from? Leave the string lights off and the lanterns, lights and fairy lights alone come to $71.38 for a living room party and $172.87 for 25 to 35 guests.
Setup Order (About an Hour for a Living Room)
- Put up the ceiling hooks and hang the string lights first, while there's daylight to see the swag.
- Open the lanterns at a table, put the batteries in each Omni360 light and clip one inside each lantern.
- Hang the clusters over each zone, the biggest lantern highest, then stagger the rest.
- Weave the fairy lights through the garland on the tables.
- At dusk, turn off the overheads, switch everything on and look for dark corners. Moving one lantern usually fixes it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many string lights do I need for a holiday party?
One run across the ceiling for every 6 to 8 feet of the room's length, each spanning the room's width. A living room up to 12 by 14 feet takes one 29-foot set. A 20 by 30 foot room takes three sets connected end to end. For 50 or more guests, light just the main floor with four sets.
How many paper lanterns do I need for a holiday party?
One cluster per zone: the food, the drinks and the spot where people gather. A living room party for 10 to 15 guests takes two clusters of 3, so 6 lanterns. A party of 25 to 35 takes three clusters of 5, so 15 lanterns. A party of 50 to 75 takes five clusters of 5, so 25 lanterns.
Can outdoor string lights be used indoors?
Yes. Our 25-socket commercial sets are rated for indoor or outdoor use, use 1-watt shatterproof LED bulbs at a warm 2700K, and up to 12 sets connect end to end.
How do I light paper lanterns at a party without cords?
Put a battery-powered LED inside each lantern. An Omni360 light is $7.96, runs about 12 hours on 3 AAA batteries and works from a remote with about a 10-foot range. Never use a candle inside a paper lantern.
What color paper lanterns work for a holiday party?
White with gold. A white lantern takes on the warm color of the light inside it, and gold reads as festive without being tied to one holiday, so the same setup works for an office party and New Year's Eve.
What does it cost to light a holiday party?
About $146 for a living room party of 10 to 15 guests, $397 for 25 to 35 guests and $586 for 50 to 75 guests, including string lights, lanterns, battery LED lights, remotes and fairy lights.
Shop the Setup
 29 ft String Light Set, $74.70 |
 Warm White Omni360 Light, $7.96 |
 12" Gold Lantern, $2.08 |
For the rest of the house this season, see our holiday window star guide, or browse every size in Paper Lanterns.
Paper Lantern Store has carried the world's largest selection of paper lanterns and lights for 24 years, every order inspected and shipped from our Union City, California warehouse.
