2026 Holiday Safety Guide
At UL Standards & Engagement, we believe safety helps make the holidays truly shine. The 91% 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 2026 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 (62%) 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. The vast majority (81%) of Americans who plan to put up a holiday tree opt for an artificial one. Half (50%) of those with artificial trees didn’t check (32%) or aren’t sure if they checked (18%) to see if the tree had a “Fire-Resistant” label.
By the Numbers
Our survey uncovered lot of good behavior, like making sure outdoor lighted decorations are rated for outdoor use (up to 83% this year over last year’s 75%), 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
46%
of holiday decorators admit to daisy-chaining power strips or extension cords, which can cause an electrical fire
59%
of holiday decorators check to see if lighted decorations are tested and certified by an accredited organization
85%
of holiday decorators inspect lights for damage and another 87% inspect power cords
83%
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. Hover over each card to learn more.
1. Check for Damage and Overloading
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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
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Keep trees, garlands, and other décor at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces and candles.
3. Use Decorations that Meets Standards
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Use products that conform to safety standards, like artificial trees certified to UL 2358 that have been tested for response to fire or outdoor lighted decorations that meet UL 588.
Remember, safe behavior is still important, even when using certified products.
Gifting
The top electronics, appliances, and toys on this year’s wish lists include items that will be carefully considered and researched. For the 69% of Americans who plan to buy gifts this season, that research should include a look at product safety. The lure of a good bargain is stronger this season. This year, 56% of gift buyers surveyed said that price mattered to them most in their holiday shopping. As consumers head into stores or buy online, here are steps to take to help ensure good deals don’t bargain away safety.
Many of the most coveted electronic gifts are powered by lithium-ion batteries, something more than half (57%) of Americans admit to knowing nothing about, which can contribute to dangerous practices that increase fire risk.
What’s Under your Tree?
Explore survey findings and learn how ULSE standards help you give safely.
UL 2056
Standard for Power Banks
UL 1082
Standard for Household Electric Coffee Makers and Brewing-Type Appliances
UL 62368-1
Standard for Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment
UL 1594
Standard for Sewing and Cutting Machines
74%
of gift buyers say they prefer to buy from well-known retailers
18%
of adults are planning on purchasing portable chargers or power banks as gifts this year, up from 13% in 2025
70%
of gift buyers say they prefer to buy from well-known brands
32%
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. Hover over each card to learn more.
1. Know the Rechargeable Risks
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Avoid charging overnight, keeping products on chargers once they’re fully charged, and placing rechargeable devices — particularly large products like e-bikes and power tools — in areas that block your exit in the event of fire.
2. Buy and Replace Wisely
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Choosing products and batteries 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
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With a total of 51% of gift-givers likely buying for children, it’s important to consider safety.
In addition to choosing rechargeable products that meet safety standards, like hoverboards and VR devices, consumers should also read manufacturer instructions for important tips on safe operation.
Top Rechargeable Gifts
Smartphone
Wireless or Bluetooth Headphones
Tablet
Electronic Toys
Laptop
Personal care and wellness products
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
Nearly one-third (31%) of gift buyers said they have likely knowingly or unknowingly purchased a counterfeit product as a gift at some point, translating to an estimated 69.9 million gift buyers.
Many consumers are more hesitant to purchase counterfeits than dupes. Of gifters who were asked about counterfeits, 72% will take time to do more research to ensure product authenticity. Counterfeits are products that are passed off as the “real thing,” while dupes may look or function like a specific brand’s product without claiming to be it. However, counterfeit or dupe products that contain batteries, chargers, and power cords may not meet safety standards and can increase the risk of overheating, thermal runaway or fire.
At the same time, counterfeits are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Advances in AI-generated content and imagery are making it more difficult for consumers to distinguish counterfeit products from legitimate ones, increasing the risk of unknowingly purchasing unsafe items.
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.
74%
of holiday shoppers say they have never knowingly bought a counterfeit
31%
of gift buyers said they have likely knowingly or unknowingly purchased a counterfeit product as a gift at some point
74%
of consumers who have purchased a counterfeit gift have bought it through an online source
76%
of consumers say they plan to take extra precautions to avoid purchasing counterfeit items
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 (35%) are more likely to have purchased a counterfeit product from a social media platform as a gift compared to Gen X (23%) or Baby Boomers (7%, down from 15% in 2025).
39%
Gen Z
23%
Gen X
35%
Millennials
7%
Baby Boomers
Safety Tips
3 Counterfeit & Dupe Safety Tips
Follow these three simple tips to help prevent safety incidents. Hover over each card to learn more.
1. Be Cautious of An Unbelievable Deal
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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
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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
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Look for certification marks that show a product has been tested to safety standards. These products have been through rigorous testing to help protect the safety of your home and family.
Shopping on Black Friday? Don’t fall for fakes. Learn how to avoid counterfeit gifts.
Cooking
More than two-thirds (72%) 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. Thanksgiving shows the highest rate of increase, with 240% above the daily average of 430 home cooking fires. Christmas Eve is second at 72% higher than the daily average, closely followed by Christmas Day at 71% above average. Stay safer in the kitchen by having working safety equipment in place.
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
87%
of holiday home cooks have some form of smoke alarm near the kitchen
31%
of holiday home cooks removed or disabled one of their smoke alarms; of those, 11% never reinstalled it
54%
of holiday home cooks do not have carbon monoxide alarms in the kitchen area
17%
of holiday cooks admit to removing or disabling a smoke alarm due to frequent false alarms at some point
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. Hover over each card to learn more.
1. Check Your Smoke Alarms
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7% admit to not testing or not knowing how to test their smoke alarm. To test smoke alarms, press and hold the test button. If a loud, piercing sound does not follow, that can indicate the alarm is not working.
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
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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
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24% of holiday cooks say they do not have a fire extinguisher in or near their kitchens. 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. Regardless of the reason for travel, 31% of U.S. adults (equivalent to an estimated 74 million people) say they plan to venture away from home this season. While most travelers will hit the road, 28% of travelers will go by plane to visit friends and family, and another 22% will fly to go on vacation this season. Staying safe in transit, and while you are at your destination, will help give you lasting memories of your experience that are merry, not scary.
It’s not just people traveling this holiday season. Gifts are also logging miles, whether on Santa’s sleigh or a delivery truck. Holiday travelers are planning on a wide array of approaches to get gifts to their recipients: ordering online for direct delivery (55%); packing them in carry-on (44%) or checked (43%) luggage; using shipping services (45%); and even shopping when they arrive (43%)
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
31%
of Americans plan to travel this holiday season
53%
of Americans assume CO protection upscale hotel chains (not required in most states)
43%
of holiday travelers who are buying gifts are planning to pack their gifts in checked luggage
45%
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. Hover over each card to learn more.
1. Keep Batteries Nearby if Flying
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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
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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
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Call ahead to hotels or rental properties to determine if alarms are present or consider bringing a portable alarm with you.
Also know the warning signs of CO poisoning: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. If you suspect you have been exposed, exit the building and seek medical attention immediately.
Explore more travel safety tips from a fire safety educator.
Through the Years…
Learn about our 120+ years of impact, and how we’re using this experience to drive change today.
1918
Toy Testing
UL first began testing and listing electric toys in 1918, with the first products being electric transformers — most notably those used to drive toy trains. A transformer manufactured for the Lionel Company was first listed in 1921, followed by American Flyer in 1924. Many children were overjoyed to receive these trains as holiday gifts, and we at ULSE are likewise heartened to know that we’ve been making children’s holidays safe and special for more than 100 years.
1921
Safety for Holiday Decor
In 1921, UL published the first edition of UL 588, the Standard for Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products, which covered light strands for Christmas trees and similar holiday decorations. In that same year, First Lady Florence Harding announced she would have live flame candles placed in the windows of the White House for the holidays, reviving an old New England and family tradition. However, the First Lady and President Warren Harding canceled those plans at the urging of UL General Agent George Muldaur, who feared not only the fire risk posed to the White House, but also the example it would set for the nation who might do the same and spark house fires.
1942
Publishing Pamphlets
In 1942, UL published UL 696, the Standard for Electric Toys. In the following years, UL began publishing pamphlets each year with holiday safety tips that still ring true today. These publications advise keeping real trees watered and away from sources of heat, not operating toy trains near real trees, checking lights for frayed wires and broken sockets, keeping metallic tinsel away from electrical connections, not smoking near trees, and making sure toys and decorations meet UL standards for safety.
Have a Happy & Safe Holiday Season!
At UL Standards & Engagement, we are always working for a safer world — during the holidays and all year long.
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 n=2,008 U.S. adults was designed by ULSE and conducted online by BV Insights between August 25-September 1, 2026. The margin of sampling error for the survey at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 2.2%. Additional results on understanding of lithium-ion batteries were taken from a ULSE Insights U.S. consumer survey series of a cumulative n=6,046 U.S. adults, conducted between January 2026 and August 2026. The margin of sampling error at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 1.26%. 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.