Lighting Installation Cost by Fixture Type

Fixture type is the most significant factor for the material cost of lighting installation. Simple fixtures cost less than $100, while expensive fixtures like recessed lighting and intricate can cost up to $1,000. The space that a fixture requires varies greatly, so you should check these measurements before making any purchases. An electrician should also ensure that the fixture’s electrical requirements are compatible with the power available at that location.

Cost to Install Ceiling Lights

Installing ceiling lights typically requires an hour or two per fixture, regardless of the fixture type. The installation cost therefore depends on the electrician’s hourly rate, resulting in a total installation cost between $90 and $230.

Ceiling lights are the most common type of lighting fixture, especially for older homes. These lights mount to a metal or plastic box that’s secured to overhead studs or joists. This box is then connected to in-house wiring, which may also include a switch. Traditional mountings for ceiling lights include half domes and chandeliers, which may attach to ceilings fans. Ceiling lights aren’t typically recessed.

Recessed Lights

The labor cost of installing recessed lights, also known as can lights or pot lights, ranges from $125 to $230 and averages about three hours per fixture to complete. These lights aren’t part of a room's décor and serve to provide targeted or general lighting without changing the ceiling lines. Recessed lighting is more expensive to install than mounted lighting. This is largely because the contractor must also cut and finish drywall in addition to installing a junction box for each system.

Cost to Install Pendant Lights

Pendant lights take one to three hours to install, for a cost between $95 and $250. Installing a separate switch adds another hour to the cost of installation.

These lights are so-named because they hang from their mounts on the ceiling like a pendant on a necklace. Restaurant originally used pendants to create ambience with a low-level of lighting, but homeowners often use them for the same purpose. Pendant lights are generally easy to install due to their light weight.

Chandelier Installation Cost

Electricians charge between $100 and $200 to replace an existing chandelier with a new one. However, it costs $300 to $2,000 to install a chandelier in a location that doesn’t already have one, since they can be quite heavy. These prices don’t include the cost of the chandelier itself.

Cost to Install Track Lighting

It costs between $100 and $250 to install track lighting in a room and requires about three hours. This cost assumes the room already has overhead lighting fixtures, allowing electricians to tap into existing wiring. It also includes the cost of securing the lights to the ceiling.

Wall Mounted Light Costs

Wall-mounted lights take about three hours to install, with a cost between $90 and $250. The process is generally the same as for ceiling-mounted lights since they both require access to an electrical box that connects the lights to the existing house wiring. Wall-mounted lights typically provide targeted lighting where walking in the dark is particularly dangerous, including hallways, stairwells and bathrooms.

Fluorescent Light Costs

The labor cost of installing fluorescent light fixtures in a room ranges from $85 to $217 and requires one to three hours, depending on the wiring configuration. Fluorescent fixtures are well-standardized at 48 inches with sockets for two bulbs. These bulbs are most common in work areas requiring more lighting, but their low-energy usage also makes them popular among homeowners.

Light Bar Installation Cost

The cost to install light bars under cabinets ranges from $330 to $400 under favorable conditions. This includes mounting the fixtures, adding a low-voltage transformer and routing cable from the transformer to the lights. The electrician also needs to install a branch circuit receptacle for the transformer.

LED Light Installation Cost

The cost of installing a single LED light strip depends on the LED installers in your area. It typically requires one hour for an average cost of $125, assuming you have a complete kit with transformer and wiring. Each strip covers about 10 linear feet.

Cost to Install Bathroom Light Fixtures

A single sconce of new bathroom lights costs between $50 and $250 to install, but multi-light fixtures can cost as much as $400 to $500. The cost can be even higher for fixtures made of high-end materials like gold and silver. The large number of lighting and plumbing fixtures in a bathroom also makes the installation more complex, increasing the installation cost.

Lighting Cost Per Square Foot

The installation cost of lighting per square foot depends on factors such as the amount of lighting required, type of fixture and the electrician’s hourly rate. For example, a living room requires one recessed light for every 4 to 6 square feet of ceiling. Assuming a typical installation cost of $200 for a recessed lighting fixture and a fixture for every 5 square feet, recessed lighting would cost about $40 per square foot.

Labor Costs to Install a Light

The labor cost of an light fixture installer in your area typically ranges from $70 to $200 and primarily depends on the hourly rate and work site. The major tasks of this procedure include installing the fixture and wiring, which is faster when the location already has wiring. Installing a light also requires planning, setup and cleanup.

Electrician Charge to Install a Light

The cost of hiring an electrician could range from about $35 to over $100 per hour. The average time need to install a light fixture is about 2 hours, so the total labor cost to install a fixture is between $70 and $200.

Handyman Charge to Install a Light

The cost of hiring a handyman to install a light is also highly dependent on location, with a national average of about $80 per hour. A time of 2 hours means the total installation cost for a lighting fixture would be $160. General contractors may not need a license as electricians do, so it’s more important to determine a contractor’s experience in a particular task.

Light Installation Cost Factors

The most significant cost factor for installing lighting in a new house is that the electrician needs to install junction boxes, wiring and switches from scratch. Older houses have other cost considerations such as worn wiring or wiring that can’t handle the load of the additional lighting. In these cases, the electrician may need to replace all of the wiring, which would also require cutting and patching drywall.

DIY Light Installation vs. Hire a Pro

An experienced DIYer should be able to complete simple projects that involve physically attaching the fixture to a surface and plugging it into an existing outlet. However, you should hire a lighting contractor in your area if the project requires the installation of any wiring, especially high-voltage lines.

FAQs

Do I need an electrician to install a light fixture?

Some fixture installations legally require a licensed electrician to ensure the work complies with local building codes. While this is generally true of many home improvement projects, working with electricity is particularly dangerous.

How much does it cost to remove a light fixture?

Removing a light fixture could be quick and easy, but for more challenging fixtures or layouts, it may require up to 2.5 hours. This timing includes the disposal of the fixture and removal or capping of the disconnected wiring. At an average cost of $80 per hour, a complex removal project costs about $200.