2025 Holiday Safety Guide
At UL Standards & Engagement, we believe safety helps make the holidays truly shine. The 90% of Americans we surveyed for this year’s holiday guide who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving and winter holidays will deck their homes with lights, cook elaborate meals, travel long distances, and fill their carts with gifts.
Those seasonal shifts come with added safety risks — ones that can turn festive moments into emergencies. Our 2025 study uncovered several surprising misconceptions about holiday safety that could put families at risk. The good news? A few simple steps can keep celebrations bright, joyful, and safe — exactly as the season should be.
Decorating
A majority (63%) of Americans will decorate their homes with lights, trees, wreaths, menorahs, or all of the above this holiday season. In their pursuit of holiday glow, they may not make the safest decisions.
By the Numbers
Our survey uncovered lot of good behavior, but some troubling trends as well. Explore survey findings and learn how ULSE standards help keep holiday decor sparkling, not sparking.
UL 2358
Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-Lit Seasonal Decorations
UL 588
Seasonal and Holiday Decor
UL 943
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters
52%
of holiday decorators admit to daisy-chaining power strips or extension cords, which can cause an electrical fire
57%
of holiday decorators check to see if lighted decorations are tested and certified by an accredited organization
83%
of holiday decorators inspect lights for damage and another 84% inspect power cords
81%
of holiday decorators make sure outdoor lighted decorations are plugged into weatherproof outlets
Video
The Danger of Daisy-Chaining
Plugging multiple power strips or extension cords together to connect lighted decorations — a process called “daisy-chaining” — can cause an electrical fire. Here’s what to do instead.
Real Footage: ULSE Holiday Ethnographic Study
© 2025 ULSE / Video footage produced in partnership with Ipsos
Safety Tips
3 Decorating Safety Tips
Follow these three simple tips to help prevent safety incidents.
1. Check for Damage and Overloading
Inspect lights, extension cords, and power strips for visible damage; make sure outlets and cords are not overloaded; and use timers or power off decorations when not at home or asleep.
2. Keep Decorations Away from Heat Sources
Keep trees, garlands, and other décor at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces and candles.
3. Use Decorations that Meets Standards
Use products that conform to safety standards, like artificial trees certified to UL 2358 that have been tested for response to fire.
Gifting
The lure of a good bargain is stronger this season. This year, 58% of gift buyers surveyed said that price mattered to them most in their holiday shopping, up significantly from 49% who said the same last year. As consumers head into stores or buy online, shop cautiously to ensure that good deals don’t bargain away safety.
What’s Under your Tree?
Explore survey findings and learn how ULSE standards help you give safely.
UL 110
Standard for Sustainability for Mobile Phones
UL 2271
Batteries for Use In Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) Applications
UL 8400
Standard for Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality Technology Equipment
UL 696
Standard for Safety for Electric Toys
71%
of gift buyers say they prefer to buy from well-known brands
64%
of gift buyers say they prefer to buy products that meet safety standards
71%
of gift buyers say they prefer to buy from well-known retailers
31%
of gift buyers say they prefer to buy from discount online retailers
Safety Tips
3 Gifting Safety Tips
Follow these three simple tips to help prevent safety incidents.
1. Know the Rechargeable Risks
Buying or receiving a rechargeable gift? Reduce the fire risk by not charging overnight, overcharging, and placing rechargeable devices in areas that block your fire exit.
2. Buy and Replace Wisely
Choosing products that meet safety standards and replacing batteries, charging cables, and other parts from the original manufacturer can reduce your risk of fire or injury.
3. Shop for Children with Safety in Mind
60% of gift givers have children under 12 on their lists. Help protect younger recipients by ensuring their gifts meet standards and taking the time to review manufacturer instructions for safe operation.
Buy from Reputable Retailers
Research the seller to make sure you’re getting the real thing.
Read Reviews
Read reviews—especially lower ratings—to look for red flags.
Holiday Fakes Can Have Real Consequences
An estimated 82.9 million gift buyers have knowingly or unknowingly purchased a counterfeit product as a gift at some point. Despite the prevalence of counterfeits, 73% of holiday shoppers say they have never knowingly bought a counterfeit. But would they really know? Counterfeiters are getting more sophisticated.
DON’t GET DUPED
Purchasing a counterfeit, dupe, or fake product could cost you more than you expect. Hover over to learn important warning signs.
Be Mindful of Prices
Be wary of “deals” that seem too good to be true.
Look for Errors
Watch out for misspellings, blurry photos, or grammatical mistakes.
73%
of holiday shoppers say they have never knowingly bought a counterfeit
36%
of gift buyers said they have likely knowingly or unknowingly purchased a counterfeit product as a gift at some point
70%
of consumers who have purchased a counterfeit gift have bought it through an online source
20%
of consumers who have purchased a counterfeit gift bought an electronic device
Video
Too Good to Be True?
This shopper ended up with more than she bargained for when purchasing a substandard gaming console.
Real Footage: ULSE Holiday Ethnographic Study
© 2025 ULSE / Video footage produced in partnership with Ipsos
Generation Fake?
Gen Z (39%) and Millennials (34%) are more likely to have purchased a counterfeit product from a social media platform as a gift compared to Gen X (26%) or Baby Boomers (15%).
39%
Gen Z
26%
Gen X
34%
Millennials
15%
Baby Boomers
Safety Tips
3 Counterfeit & Dupe Safety Tips
Follow these three simple tips to help prevent safety incidents.
1. Be Cautious of An Unbelievable Deal
Too steep a discount may mean counterfeit. Choose trusted retail websites and dig in on product reviews — especially those lower ratings — if you are not sure it’s a genuine product.
2. Use Scrutiny When Shopping Online
Suspicious URLs, unusual payment options, and checking the product’s details against the manufacturer’s official website to spot inconsistencies can help protect you from dangerous fakes.
3. Prioritize Products That Meet Safety Standards
Look for certification marks that show a product has been tested to safety standards. These products have been through rigorous testing for your protection.
Cooking
More than two-thirds (69%) of Americans plan to make a home-cooked holiday dinner or bake treats in the kitchen this season. Unfortunately, widely celebrated holidays correlate to significant increases in home cooking fires, especially Thanksgiving that results in a 240% increase over the daily average of 430 home cooking fires.
By the Numbers
Explore survey findings and discover ULSE standards help make feasts, not fire.
UL 858
Household Electric Ranges
UL 923
Microwave Cooking Appliances
UL 217
Smoke Alarms
88%
of holiday home cooks have some form of smoke alarm near the kitchen
35%
of holiday home cooks admit to removing or disabling a smoke alarm at some point
53%
of holiday home cooks do not have carbon monoxide alarms in the kitchen area
25%
of holiday home cooks do not have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen area
Video
Preventing False Alarms
Learn about the dangers of disabling a smoke alarm and how alarms certified to UL 217 can help reduce nuisance alarms.
Real Footage: ULSE Holiday Ethnographic Study
© 2025 ULSE / Video footage produced in partnership with Ipsos
Safety Tips
3 Cooking Safety Tips
Follow these three simple tips to prevent safety incidents.
1. Check Your Smoke Alarms
Working smoke alarms certified to UL 217 should be tested monthly and batteries should be checked every six months.
2. Don’t Forget About CO Protection
Carbon monoxide can be found in fumes from stoves and gas ranges, and an alarm is often the first — and sometimes only — indication of a problem. Ensure CO alarms are present, working, regularly tested, and meet safety standards.
3. Have an Extinguisher Ready
Keep your attention on the stove while cooking, and have a fire extinguisher certified to UL 711 handy for small flames. If the fire is too large or growing, get out of the house and call the fire department immediately.
Explore more cooking safety tips from a firefighter and safety expert.
Traveling
Holiday travel offers the chance to reunite with loved ones, escape winter weather, or enjoy festive activities such as skiing or visiting light displays. An estimated 72 million travelers plan to venture from home this season. Staying safe in transit and while you are at your destination will give you lasting memories of your experience that are merry, not scary.
By the Numbers
Explore survey findings and learn how ULSE standards help keep you safe, no matter where you are.
UL 1642
Lithium Batteries
UL 2034 | ULC 538
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
UL 2056
Power Banks
30%
of Americans plan to travel this holiday season
41%
of Americans assume CO protection in hotels and rental properties (not required in most states)
47%
of holiday travelers who are buying gifts are planning to pack their gifts in checked luggage
44%
of holiday travelers who are buying gift are planning on using shipping services to mail gifts
Video
The $30 Item that Can Save Lives
Toothbrush? Check. Grandma’s gift? Check. Passport? Check. But here’s something you may be forgetting to pack — that could help save your life.
Real Footage: ULSE Holiday Ethnographic Study
© 2025 ULSE / Video footage produced in partnership with Ipsos
Safety Tips
3 Travel Safety Tips
Follow these three simple tips to help prevent safety incidents.
1. Keep Batteries Nearby if Flying
Rechargeable devices can pose a fire risk. Keeping rechargeable devices in arm’s reach — and never in checked luggage — to support holiday flights landing safely and on time.
2. Ship Gifts Safely
If gifts rely on rechargeable batteries, pack them carefully, ensure they have a low state of charge (i.e. below 30%), follow all shipper regulations and guidelines, and never pack them in checked luggage.
3. Bring a Portable CO Alarm
Call ahead to hotels or rental properties to determine if alarms are present or consider bringing a portable alarm with you.
Methodology
This UL Standards & Engagement survey measures consumer understanding, behavior, and sentiment across four thematic areas related to the U.S. fall and winter holiday season — seasonal decorations, preparing holiday meals, gifting, and holiday travel.
This nationally representative survey of 2,019 U.S. adults was designed by ULSE and conducted online by BV Insights between September 8-14, 2025. The margin of sampling error for the September survey at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 2.2%. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data.
Additional results on understanding of lithium-ion batteries were taken from a ULSE Insights U.S. consumer survey series of a cumulative 12,080 U.S. adults, conducted between January 2024 and November 2024. The margin of sampling error at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 0.89%. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data.
Additional results on perceptions around CO safety were taken from a ULSE Insights U.S. consumer survey of 2,012 U.S. adults from August 1-6, 2025. The margin of sampling error for the August survey at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 2.2%. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data.
After survey data collection was completed, completed interviews were weighted by five variables: age, sex, geographic region, race, and education to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population, 18 years of age and older.
As with any survey, sampling error is only one source of possible error. While non-sampling error cannot be accurately calculated, precautionary steps were taken in all phases of the survey design and the collection and processing of the data to minimize its influence.
Any population estimates are based on the U.S. online adult population estimated at 240.2 million using two sources of publicly available data: 2020 wave of the U.S. Census for U.S. adult population estimate of 258.3 million, and Pew Research Center’s Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet which estimates 93% of U.S. adults use the internet, as of 2021.