I am a new quilter and looking for some guidelines about what it costs to get quilt tops quilted. I just can't get all done I set out to do for Christmas this year.

It will depend on the LAQ and pattern you choose. I've seen prices between 1 and 3 cents a square inch. Some LAQ will do a flat fee based on size of the quilt instead of charging per square inch.

Here is a list of longarm quilters on the board. If you find someone you are interested in, you could pm them with your questions.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-62268-1.htm

Whatever you decide, make sure you check for availability. There is at least one long arm quilter in my area that won't accept any Christmas work after November 1st.

check with your local quilt shops, and a guild if there is one in your area- they will know who is available in your area- then you can contact them and ask- location matters- skill, back-log, lots of things- so start with talking to the people in your area and looking at their work- there is also a list of us here on the board= check that to see if any are near you-
if you can not find someone in your area- then look again at the board list- and start checking the pictures of their quilting- when you see some that fits into what you think you would want then contact that person and ask your questions-
being (quilting season) and with the holidays coming up be prepared though-
i do not accept work after November 15 with a guarantee for Christmas- i have to have a cut off with customers so i can get some of my own sewing done for the holidays-
most of my regular customers start bringing me their holiday quilts in August and September;even though i have a 2 week turn around. sometimes January- March is my busiest time == my quilters bring me their quilts they plan to give the following holidays- because they do not sew in the summer time-too busy gardening-- (not to say i haven't on occassion taken a last minute quilt- i really encourage people to plan ahead when having to depend on someone else to get your holiday stuff quilted)
there may be a few out there who will accept work right into December- but the later it gets the harder it will be to find someone.

As a longarmer, I strongly encourage you to examine the quilter's work. I've heard of unhappy customers who got a surprize when they picked up their quilt. Sometimes because of price, sometimes the quality of quilting. Charisma on this board gets rave revues, by the way. If they don't have a waiting list, you might not want them.

LAQ is pricey, but well worth it especially if you have made a special top with quality fabric. Some more utilitarian tops I just tie or do SID.