How much does it cost to install light fixtures?

Installing lighting seems so simple you may try to do it yourself. But unless you're simply plugging a lamp into a wall, amateurs shouldn't muck around with electrical jobs. Doing it wrong can be dangerous.

Fortunately, an installation service can help ensure you're installing your lighting safely and successfully. Full-service companies sell lighting fixtures and offer installation services, but you can also buy light fixtures from any retailer.

Before you hire a lighting installer, get an idea of how much it will cost to install new lighting in your home with this guide.

Most lighting installation services will charge an hourly rate of $90, on average, nationwide.

Some charge flat fees for small jobs like installing ceiling fans, installing light fixtures, or adding outlets and switches.

The type of lighting fixtures (recessed lighting, wall-mounted light, etc.) will impact both installation costs and the price of the light itself.

You can get simple, low-end, ceiling lights for as little as $35, or go full luxe with elaborate chandeliers that costs thousands of dollars. Pick a fixture that fills your lighting needs and will fit on the ceiling or wall. And be sure the fixture is rated for the electricity available to the spot you plan to install it. 

Cost to install ceiling lights: $90 to $185.

Ceiling mounted lights are the most common, especially in older homes. The fixture is mounted to a metal box that's attached to overhead joists or studs. The house's electrical wiring connects to the box and to a wall-mounted switch.

Traditional ceiling lights range from half dome flush mounts to ceiling fans with lighting kits or small chandeliers. The prices for this type of fixture vary, but the installation costs are low because it only takes an hour or two.

Cost to install wall light fixtures: $90 to $200.

Wall-mounted lights are similar to ceiling mounts, but the metal electric box is attached to a wall stud instead of the ceiling. Fixture shapes include sconces, wall lamps, LED lights, and swing arm lamps. Installation also takes just a few hours.

Cost to install fluorescent lights: $90 to $215.

Fluorescent lights are about function, not aesthetics. Use them in garages, studios, offices, and workshops where you need bright light at a low cost. Most fluorescent lights are a pair of 36-inch long bulb holders that mount to the ceiling with studs. Depending on the electrical wiring available in the room, installation takes one to three hours.

Cost to install pendant lights: $95 to $250.

Pendant lights hang from ceiling mounts. This style is popular in kitchens, providing overhead light for eat-in counters, breakfast nooks, and kitchen islands. Pendant lights are lightweight and can be anchored into the ceiling with drywall screws.

Because they're low voltage, pendant lights can be attached to an existing junction box for a larger light already in the room. You won't need a new box for them. They will need their own switch, however, which adds to labor costs. Installation takes one to three hours.

Cost to install track lighting: $100 to $250.

Track lights provide targeted light and are popular in kitchens where you need to customize lighting to fit the workflow and space. You can point a track light at the kitchen island where you do food prep so you don't cut your finger chopping onions in dim light.

Installing track lights in a room that already has overhead lights is simple because the pro can tap into the existing wires and switches. He or she will then need to attach the lights to the ceiling with drywall or stud screws. Installing track lighting takes about three hours.

Cost to install recessed lighting: $175 to $225.

Also called "can lights" or "pot lights," recessed lights are placed in the ceiling to provide targeted light in a room. They don't jut into the room, as the bottom of the light is flush with the ceiling, so the fixture isn't part of the room's décor. Recessed lighting is a complex installation job because the professional must cut the ceiling drywall around each inset can light, and then finish the edges of the cut when done.

The pro must also install a junction box to power each can light, and if the recessed light is rated non-ic, (non-insulation contact) they'll need to remove some of the ceiling insulation from around the fixture. Installation takes about three hours.

Cost to install holiday lights: $175-$350.

On average, people spend an average of $250 on holiday lighting, like Christmas lights. Learn more about Christmas lighting installation costs.

The biggest cost factors in installing new lighting are the number and types of lighting fixtures you choose and the condition of your home's wiring.

Number of lights.

Some companies charge by the light. For recessed lighting, the per-light charge includes the light housing, wiring, lamp and trim, LED bulb, and labor for installation.

For rooms with existing lighting, one Thumbtack Pro and lighting installation specialist in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, charges $65–$85 per recessed light, including materials and labor. The company charges an additional $100–$125 per room, for rooms without an existing electrical source. Price variations reflect the height of the ceiling.

Existing wiring.

All light fixtures need wiring, junction boxes and switches. If you're replacing one with a new light fixture that's the same style, you probably have the necessary wiring and power supply. If you're building new or changing to a different type of fixture–say from a sconce to recessed lighting — the electrician will need to add wiring, a box and a switch as well as cut into the drywall, adding to labor costs.

The cheapest option is to simply replace an old lighting fixture with a new one in the same place. Moving fixtures is pricey.

The typical cost for additional lighting installation electrical work:

• Add a dimmer switch or regular switch: $104
• Add a ceiling junction box: $75 to $250
• Pull out old wire: $2.65 per square foot

Age of home.

If your home is more than 35 years old, your electrical wiring, panels, outlets and amperage may need to be updated before you can install that new chandelier that uses 1,000 watts of bulbs in the foyer.

In older homes, you might need to fix one of these common electrical problems:

Insufficient power supply: $1,300-$3,000.

Modern homes need a lot more juice than older ones. Before the 1970s, homes had 60 amps of power, total. In the 21^st century, the typical home has 200 amps, more than 3x the amount of power that old houses do.

Upgrading your power will make your home safer as well as more convenient. Increasing the amperage will require changing out the electrical panel and rewiring the home.

Outdated wiring: $1,500-$10,000.

Rewiring a home costs $1,500-$10,000, depending on how big the house and whether you need to replace the panel as well.

Knob and tube wiring, used in homes built between the 1880s to the 1930s, is a system that dates to Edison's day. It can only handle 60 amps of power for a house, so the system is easy to overload. Suffice it to say knob-and-tube wiring is not safe or up to modern codes. You'll need to completely rewire the house and install a new panel.

Aluminum wiring, used on house in the 1960s and 1970s, is straight-up dangerous. Homes with aluminum wiring are 55x more likely to have “fire hazard conditions" than houses with copper, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. It also wears out at the connections, so if you can't rewire the entire house, at least get your electrician to add a short section of copper wire to the end of each aluminum wire.

Permits

Costs for permits vary by location but typically range from $20 to over $100. Installing a light fixture won't require a permit, but if you end up having to alter the wiring in a structure to accommodate the new lighting you may need a permit for the project.

Before you get started remodeling your kitchen with brand new recessed lighting or swapping out your old sconce for a new, more modern one, make sure you're hiring the right pro for the job:

• Look for licenses and credentials. Don't let your brother-in-law install a light fixture, no matter how handy he is. An incorrectly installed light can be a fire hazard. Find top-rated professionals in your zip code on Thumbtack.
• Check the company's past work. Read reviews on Thumbtack to see what other homeowners have to say about working with a particular electrical company before you hire them.
• Get free estimates from multiple lighting installation pros and ask exactly what's included in the quote. Will they charge you extra to remove the old fixture? Will they need to add a junction box or switch, or cut holes in the drywall? If they need to open a wall or ceiling to run wire, will they patch it up or will you need to call in a drywall specialist?
• Bundle multiple projects together. It's more cost-effective to have multiple electrical projects, like adding a new outlet and lighting, done at the same time.