How Much Does It Cost to Install Recessed Lighting?
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Recessed lighting offers major benefits to living spaces. But just how much do recessed ceiling lights cost? On average, the cost to install recessed lighting is $330 per light, falling within a range of $100 to $500.
- Typical Range: $100 to $500
- National Average: $330
Recessed lighting is a great way to illuminate a room and make it feel more spacious. It can also be used to provide task lighting for specific areas and draw the eye to focal points. How much does recessed lighting cost, though, and is it worth the investment?
According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, homeowners can expect to pay between $100 and $500 per light for recessed lighting, with the average cost to install recessed lighting in a typical-size room coming in around $330 per light. The price can vary depending on the housing type used for the light, the current status of electrical power to the room, and how accessible the area above each light is.
Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding on how to calculate the cost to install recessed lighting, the benefits of this type of lighting, and how to save money on an install.
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How to Calculate the Cost to Install Recessed Lighting
Before beginning, there are a few variables a homeowner needs to determine. Once these variables are addressed, they can be plugged into an equation to help determine the cost to install recessed lighting.
First, calculate the number of lights needed in the installation space (X) using the formula below. Then, determine the estimated cost per light (Y). This includes the housing, trim, bulb, and labor. Next, multiply the first number by the second number. This equation is as follows:
Room square footage × 1.5 = Total wattage ÷ 60 (or whichever wattage preferred) = X
1 housing + 1 trim + 1 bulb + labor = Y
X × Y = Z
Here’s an example for a 100-square-foot room, where each light costs approximately $300.
100 × 1.5 = 150 ÷ 60 = 2.5 (when the answer is less than a whole number, round up; in this case, it would be 3)
Materials and labor for 1 light = $300
3 × $300 = $900
Factors in Calculating the Cost to Install Recessed Lighting
The cost of installing recessed lighting can widely vary. Coming up with an estimate depends on the type of light housing, the type of trim, the location of the light, and whether any wiring and electrical work needs to occur. The cost will also be determined by how many lights are needed and whether the install is taking place in a new or existing home.
The average install cost for recessed lights is $330 per fixture. Homeowners can use the following list of cost-influencing factors to help determine the cost of their own recessed lighting project.
Housing Type
While all recessed lights are different in features, advantages, and limitations, they all have one distinct element in common. They sit inside a can, and the can is recessed into a ceiling.
A ceiling’s architecture and layout determine what type of housing, or can, a recessed light can sit in. The different price ranges, descriptions, and benefits are broken down in detail below. For now, homeowners should know that different housing types for recessed lights have a price range of $10 to $160 per light.
Housing types can be mixed within a room, but for consistency, style, and simplicity, most recessed lighting installations feature the same housing type throughout a single space. It’s not uncommon, however, to find different housing types throughout a home. For example, canless recessed lighting styles can be found in hallways, while vaulted ceiling cans are ideal for sloped ceilings. Wet-rated housings are required in bathrooms and are ideal for outdoor spaces. One of the first steps to estimating the cost of a recessed lighting installation is to decide which housing type is either required or desired.
Trim Type
The trim is the piece of recessed lighting that covers the hole holding the housing. Sometimes when the hole for the light is cut, there can be jagged cuts or edges. Trim gives the area around a recessed light a clean and polished look.
The type of trim a homeowner chooses can significantly change the appearance of a recessed light, as well as the price. For example, a baffle trim has a ribbed interior housing that casts a wide beam of light. It creates a softer glow by reducing glare and is ideal for living rooms, hallways, and entryways. A recessed light with baffle trim costs between $5 and $80.
An eyeball trim is adjustable and can swivel to direct light to a specific area in a room. It features a rounded bulb casing that protrudes from the ceiling, making it the perfect choice for accent or task lighting. A recessed light with eyeball trim costs between $15 and $30.
Gimbal is another type of trim, and it ranges in price from $15 to $90. It’s also an adjustable trim option, and it tilts and rotates. It features a flat bulb that remains flush with the ceiling and is designed for accent walls or sloped ceilings.
A reflector trim costs between $10 and $60. A recessed light with reflector trim offers a polished finish and is ideal for kitchens and high ceilings. A wall wash trim includes a shield that covers half the bulb. This directs the light to a specific spot in a room, so it’s perfect for highlighting artwork or displayed heirlooms. A recessed light with wall wash costs between $10 and $100.
A recessed light with shower trim is best for bathrooms. This trim forms a watertight seal and is covered with a tempered glass lens for safety in wet spaces, including bathrooms and saunas. A light with a shower trim costs between $10 and $50.
Additional trims each have their own price range, as follows:
- Open trim: $5 to $80
- Slot trim: $10 to $50
- Surface-adjustable trim: $10 to $60
- Pinhole trim: $15 to $80
- Lensed trim: $15 to $150
- Decorative trim: $15 to $150
Finish Type
Many homeowners choose a traditional white finish for their recessed lighting. Since most ceilings are white, a white finish is a tasteful choice that blends well. But there are other finish shades and colors that can complement a design when paired with a wall color, farmhouse feel, or rustic ambience. Every option has its own price range for homeowners to consider against their budget.
Simple and common, white trim is the most affordable trim finish at $10 to $25 per piece. Gold is another affordable and stylish choice, costing between $10 and $45. Nickel and chrome finishes are similar in price, with ranges between $15 and $80 and $15 and $90, respectively.
Copper is a finish type that’s quickly gaining popularity in rustic homes. It’s a bit more expensive, coming in between $25 and $60. Black trim finish for recessed lighting has a cost range of $25 to $80, while bronze ranges between $30 to $60 per piece.
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Bulb Type
Most types of recessed lighting housing can utilize a number of different bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs are a common choice, and each bulb costs between $2 and $15. This type of bulb ranges in brightness and color, so it’s easy to find a combination that works best for a space’s unique lighting needs. Fluorescent bulbs also last for a long time, though they need to be disposed of safely since they contain mercury.
Halogen lights cost between $3 and $12 per bulb. They’re filled with halogen gas that burns brighter and lasts longer than standard bulbs. For areas that can benefit from extra bright light, halogen is a great option. Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, cost between $3 and $15 per bulb. They’re on the smaller side so they’re great for smaller recessed lights that still need to light up a large space.
Low-voltage bulbs cost between $5 and $15 per bulb. Not all types of recessed lights can use these bulbs. Incandescent can lights cost between $3 and $40 a bulb. They’re an uncommon choice, however, because they’re not very efficient and burn out easily. Finally, LED bulbs are the most common type of recessed light bulb. They cost between $5 and $50 and come in a wide variety of both warm and cool colors. LED recessed ceiling lights are very energy efficient, making this bulb type a great value choice for recessed lighting.
Wiring and Electrical Work
Recessed lighting installation requires wiring and electrical work. The extent of the work can greatly affect the installation cost. Most houses are wired with either copper or aluminum wire; the two cannot be mixed, so what exists in a home determines what is used during a lighting install.
Newer homes tend to have aluminum, as it’s less expensive. When adding recessed lighting during a new build, aluminum wiring costs between $0.26 and $0.59 per linear foot (for material only). Older homes tend to have copper wiring, which is quite a bit more expensive at $0.52 to $1.25 per linear foot of material.
When simply extending wiring from an existing switch, the cost for the wiring itself is minimal. However, if a home needs to be completely rewired during a remodel, homeowners can expect to pay somewhere between $4,000 and $10,000 to complete the project.
Light Location
The location in which the recessed lights are to be installed can also affect the cost. For example, homeowners often add recessed lighting to their living rooms to brighten up the space, make it feel more modern, and create illuminated focal points for design. On average, the cost to install recessed lighting in a living room averages between $200 to $300 per light in a new build or $450 to $650 per light in an existing home.
The kitchen is another popular space to add recessed lighting, as it pairs well with other types of kitchen lighting like chandeliers and tube lights. When adding recessed lighting to a kitchen in a new build, homeowners can expect to pay between $200 and $300 per light. Adding recessed lighting to an existing kitchen costs between $450 and $650 per light.
Adding recessed lighting to basements costs the same as adding lighting to a living room or kitchen. Closet recessed lighting costs between $250 and $350 per light in a new build and between $500 and $700 per light for existing spaces.
Bathroom lighting is a bit more expensive because wet-rated lights are required. This increases the range for lighting in new construction to between $275 and $375 per light, while adding recessed lighting to an existing bathroom can cost as much as $725 per light. The cost to install recessed lighting in a bedroom is the same price as it would be for a bathroom.
Ceiling Material
Ceiling material can be a factor when determining the installation cost of recessed can lights. However, homeowners should keep in mind that what’s more influential is whether or not a ceiling is present at all. New-construction installs will always cost less than installations in an existing home.
With that being said, different ceiling materials can cause fluctuations in installation cost. Ceilings made out of drywall are easy to cut into and easy to repair if needed. Ceilings made of wood, especially hardwoods, can be more difficult to work with and incur a higher labor cost.
Ceilings with detailed textures or designs, such as shiplap or tray ceilings, will take a bit more planning and finesse to execute a proper recessed lighting layout. This can boost the final installation cost as well.
Labor
Labor costs can vary depending on the difficulty of the installation. It should be noted that installing recessed lights is easiest during new construction and less likely to incur high labor costs.
Under typical conditions, labor costs involve cutting a mounting hole, adding or modifying wire from an existing switch (after safe amperage has been verified), connecting the light fixture, securing the wiring, and placing the trim. Hiring an electrician to install recessed lights will cost between $85 and $105 per hour, and it typically takes about 2.5 hours to install each fixture.
Additional Costs and Considerations
No two recessed lighting installations are the same. Besides the more common cost-influencing factors listed above, there are additional costs and considerations homeowners should consider.
When it comes to recessed lighting installation, the following can be major contributors to fluctuating costs.
Existing Home vs. New Construction
Installing can lights during an initial build is easier for contractors. This automatically makes new-construction installations more affordable than existing-home installs.
In fact, recessed lighting can cost 40 percent to 50 percent less during new construction than it would for an existing home. This is because the ceiling is still open and contractors don’t have to worry about cutting into drywall or making sure there’s enough space to access the install site from above. Additionally, since rewiring or updating circuit breakers isn’t part of a new-construction job, the cost will be less.
While adding recessed lighting to an existing home can look great in the end, this type of install tends to be messier, more difficult, and more expensive compared to what it would cost with new construction.
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Indoor vs. Outdoor
It’s more common to have recessed lighting indoors than outdoors. This is because recessed lights are only installed in ceilings. When it comes to the cost of installing indoor recessed lighting, the price is affected by housing type, trim type, color, and where the lighting is being installed in the home’s layout.
But when it comes to comparing indoor and outdoor recessed lighting, homeowners should know that the cost can be a bit more expensive for outdoor lighting. There are fewer ideal locations for outdoor recessed lighting, but common areas include porch ceilings or beneath an overhang. Recessed lights are also sometimes installed around the top of a home or even on one or both sides of a window.
Wet-rated recessed lighting is the safest option. Per can, outdoor recessed lighting costs between $305 and $550. The good news is that in most cases, fewer lights are needed outdoors. Therefore, the overall cost of the job can be quite affordable while offering a strong boost in curb appeal.
Permits
A permit won’t be required if an old fixture is being replaced with a recessed light. But if a new circuit is being installed, a permit is required since this involves changing the house’s wiring.
Permits can cost between $50 and $500; the price is determined by the local municipality and the scope of the project. Assuming they’re registered with the city, a hired electrician can typically tell during a quick survey of the jobsite whether a permit will be required or not.
Drywall Repair
Drywall repair is common in existing-home installs. It’s less likely to be an issue when there’s enough space above an install site, such as a second floor or attic, but it can still affect the overall installation price. When electricians need to cut into ceilings or walls to run wiring through, homeowners can expect to pay between $50 and $300 for drywall repair.
If drywall does need to be repaired, it’s likely that a paint touch-up will be required as well. If this is the case, homeowners can expect to pay between $1 to $3 per square foot to touch up walls and ceilings after a recessed lighting installation.
Customizations
When homeowners are installing recessed lighting, there are several ways to customize the lights, though this can add to the overall cost of the project. Dimmer switches are a great customization option. By controlling the intensity of recessed lights, homeowners can completely change the function and feeling of a room. They can brightly light up spaces to improve safety, soften the lighting for a relaxing evening with a book, or dim the lights almost entirely for just a bit of ambience during movie night. Adding dimmer switches adds approximately $125 to the project total. Keep in mind that in order to take advantage of a dimmer switch, dimmer bulbs need to be used.
Wall panels are another customization option homeowners can consider. They can include a dimmer switch and standard switches. Depending on how many switches are wired, a wall panel costs between $50 and $100.
Lighting designers can help homeowners create a truly customized look by offering expertise in planning a recessed lighting layout. These pros can help determine how many recessed lights a room needs, how far apart to space th