Outdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your home and fulfills different functional requirements. Proper outdoor lighting can enhance any area, whether providing safety lights on walkways, accenting garden elements, or setting an attractive mood for nighttime functions. Knowing the prices will enable you to organize your outdoor lighting project better.
The price of outdoor lighting installation varies with location, whether new wiring is required, the quality of lights you want, and if you pay a professional. Installing outdoor lights may cost between $2,000 and $4,000. For instance, it may cost you approximately $3,000 to install eight LED step lights and 12 hardscape lights around a pool. If you want something less expensive, front and back porch lighting could cost around $300. Alternatively, specialized lighting features such as motion detectors can drive costs up to $5,000.
In this article, we’ll break down the costs, explore factors influencing pricing, and help you understand what to expect from your outdoor lighting project.
Why Should You Install Outdoor Lighting?
Before jumping into the costs, let’s understand why outdoor lighting is essential.
- Enhanced Safety: Outdoor lighting enables individuals to see more clearly at night and minimizes the risk of accidents or falls.
- Increased Curb Appeal: Strategically positioned lights can make your house appear more attractive. It can emphasize your garden, walkway, or house details.
- Security: Well-lit outdoor spaces can help keep intruders away. Motion sensing lights are often used for security purposes.
- Ambiance: Lighting provides an atmosphere for your backyard gatherings. Whether it’s a warm evening on the porch or a large gathering in the backyard, lighting establishes the ambiance.
Pricing for Outdoor Landscape Lighting
Outdoor lighting installation costs range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Let’s know the average cost.
| National average cost | $3,000 |
| Average range | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Low-end | $300 |
| High-end | $5,500 |
What Affects the Cost of Outdoor Lighting?
Various circumstances can influence outdoor lighting installation costs. They include:
- Type of Lights: The type of light fixtures you select dramatically influences the cost. Designer lights, for instance, will be more expensive than necessary LED lights.
- Size of the Area: The more extensive your property, the more lights you will require. You must pay extra if you wish to illuminate your entire yard or garden.
- Electrical Work: You will pay more if you require new wiring or a transformer. This is particularly so if the place where you would like to put up lights lacks electrical outlets.
- Location: Installation costs may differ based on where you are. The labor cost is higher in certain places than in others.
Cost Breakdown by Location
The cost of outdoor lighting installation depends primarily on location. Some areas require more materials and labor compared to others. Given below is a breakdown of the expenses by location:
| Location | Cost per Light (Installed) |
| Pathway | $50 – $150 |
| Driveway | $50 – $150 |
| Patio | $50 – $200 |
| Pergola | $50 – $400 |
| Garage | $60 – $150 |
| Porch | $65 – $250 |
| Deck | $75 – $150 |
| Tree | $100 – $400 |
| Gazebo | $200 – $500 |
| Pool |
$300 – $500 |
1. Pathway Lighting
Each pathway light costs between $50 and $150. These luminescent devices, commonly known as “mushroom lights,” function throughout pathways and garden paths. They provide safe nighttime movement for everyone.
2. Driveway Lighting
Driveway lights cost $50 to $150 for each fixture. Installed along the pathway, driveway illumination works as an accident-prevention measure and a safety feature that highlights driveway edges at night.
3. Patio Lighting
The patio illumination costs between $50 and $200 for each light. Lighting your patio will make it an ideal spot for nighttime dinner gatherings and entertainment parties. The selection includes wall-mounted together with post lights for your lighting needs.
4. Pergola Lighting
Pergolas have experienced extensive popularity growth in recent times. Each light installed on a pergola requires an investment between $50 and $400. People tend to use string lights together with LED lights as their primary patio illumination. The combination of indoor and outdoor space creates a comfortable environment that works well for relaxing in the evening and enjoying dinner outdoors.
5. Garage Lighting
The total cost of installing garage lighting ranges between $60 and $150 per light fixture. Traditional fixtures and security floodlights are the options for garage illumination systems. Additional wiring expenses might be necessary if electrical wiring does not yet exist at the installation site.
6. Porch Lighting
The installation prices for porch lights start at $65 and extend to $250. The functional aspect of porch lighting creates beautiful aesthetics that improve your home’s exterior appeal. Adding porch lighting provides an attractive illumination that creates a welcoming ambiance for your home entrance.
7. Deck Lighting
The addition of deck lighting will cost between $75 and $150 per light fixture. Walking lights for stairs and railing attachments, as well as post illumination, fall within this price range. Your deck lighting provides decorative value while creating safe conditions in your outdoor environment for all gatherings throughout the night.
8. Tree Lighting
Tree lights cost between $100 to $400 for each light. Uplights are popular for trees. The lighting produces enchanting results while it displays parts of both branches and leaves. Installing lights in your yard brings an attractive touch to its appearance.
9. Gazebo Lighting
Each Gazebo light costs from $200 to $500. Gazebos’ solid roofs require additional lighting because they eliminate natural illumination. Proper lighting should be provided for safe nighttime enjoyment.
10. Pool Lighting
The pool area illumination costs range from $300 to $500 for each light. Because pool lights are exposed to water in the outdoor environment, they must be waterproof. Safe pools that glow at night become even more beautiful, thus improving swimming as a nighttime activity.
Cost Breakdown by Type of Fixture
Outdoor lighting fixtures exist in numerous configurations and at various pricing points. The price of outdoor fixtures depends on the lighting type selection and the chosen manufacturer. These are the fixed costs for different outdoor lighting equipment:
- String Lights: A 50-foot strand of string lights costs between $50 and $200. Paper-based outdoor lights function efficiently for simple installation and create enjoyable festive moods in external surroundings. The fixtures can be installed above patios, over decks, or pergolas.
- Flush Mount Lights: Flush-mount lights cost from $50 to $250. Wall—and ceiling-mounted fixtures do not need any intervening elements for installation. Flush-mount lights work perfectly on porches and entryways outside the front door.
- Outdoor Wall Lights: Each outdoor wall light fixture costs between $50 and $250. Most homeowners install these fixtures near entranceways or on home eaves. These fixtures generate a directed beam of light, which helps illuminate hallways and paths.
- Flood lights: Each floodlight fixture costs between $75 and $250. Floodlights’ large lighting area extends to cover yards, gardens, and driveways. These illumination fixtures serve security functions by emitting broad and strong light beams.
- Uplighting: Uplights cost $100 to $400 per light. When placed under walls, structures, or trees, they create an eye-catching effect through upward light projection.
- Down lights: Downlights cost $100 to $400 each. The lights receive installation at increased heights, such as in trees or roofs. Uplights reproduce moonlight at night through their soft beams, illuminating the floor.
- In-Ground Landscape Lights: Each fixture of in-ground lights costs between $125 and $400. Installing buried lights in the ground reveals elements such as trees or shrubs and garden features. These lights possess durability and resistance to water, which enables them to thrive under outdoor conditions.
- Pot Lights: Pot lights, or recessed lighting, cost $305 to $550. Installed into walls or ceilings, they have a quiet light effect and are suitable for gazebos or patios.
- Bollard Lights: Bollard lights range from $400 to $1,000 per light. They are tall, thin lights commonly utilized for driveways or walkways. They have a sleek, contemporary appearance and are typically LED lights.
- Lamp Posts: Lamp posts cost $400 to $1,000. These tall lights are often placed along driveways or near entryways. They add a classic, elegant touch to your yard or garden.
Cost of Landscape Lighting Installation Based on Power Source
The price of installing landscape lighting varies with the power source, between $100 and $300 per light. It has three familiar power sources: solar, battery, and hardwired. Each also has advantages and disadvantages:
- Solar lights are in demand because they don’t use electricity, are simple to install, conserve energy, and can be installed in numerous locations.
- Battery-operated lights are helpful if you don’t mind not wiring your lights or if they’re in awkward spots.
- Hardwired lighting is ideal for spaces such as porches or garages, but hard wiring costs between $300 and $500 to install.
Pricing for Outdoor Landscape Lighting by Material
Landscape lighting tools vary in cost based on material. Material influences durability and how it looks on your lights. Breakdown below:
- Plastic Lights: constructed from plastics such as acrylic or polycarbonate, making it possible to have variations in durability and transparency. Prices range from $75 to $300.
- Aluminum Lights: They are corrosion-proof and lightweight, with a price tag of between $100 and $300.
- Stainless Steel Lights: Dainty but less suitable for rooms with sand, dirt, or salt. The cost will be around $100 to $300.
- Copper/Brass Lighting: Copper and brass lighting for a country or sophisticated look costs between $100 and $500.
Cost of Exterior Light by Type of Bulb
Bulbs constitute a large percentage of the overall cost of outdoor lighting. Bulb costs depend on the type, energy efficiency, and lifespan.
- LED Bulbs: The most energy-efficient, costing between $0.70 and $8 per unit.
- Halogen Bulbs: Pricier and less energy-efficient, $2 to $5 per bulb.
- Fluorescent Lights: Conserving energy but expensive to replace, $2 to $11 per item.
Labor Cost to Install Landscape Lighting
The outdoor lighting installation usually involves a professional electrician to perform, particularly for hardwired lighting. What you need to anticipate are:
- Hourly Wage: Electricians pay between $40 and $100 for labor. Installing wiring and one light will take 3 to 5 hours, costing $350 to $600 in labor.
- Simple Fixture Replacement: Replacing an existing fixture is less involved and usually runs electricians between $50 and $100 per hour and handymen between $40 and $50 per hour.
Cost to Replace Outdoor Light Fixture
If you replace your outdoor light fixture and avoid updating the electrical system, the price and work hours may decrease. The cost of purchasing a new outdoor fixture depends on its type and quality status and may vary between $30 and $500.
How Many Landscape Lights Do I Need?
The lighting requirements depend on the size of your illumination area.
Size of Area (sq. ft.) |
Number of Lights |
Price Range |
| 500 sq.ft. | 10 | $400 – $1,000 |
| 825 sq.ft. | 15 | $600 – $1,500 |
| 1,200 sq.ft. | 20 | $800 – $2,000 |
| 1,500 sq.ft. | 25 | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| 2,000 sq.ft. | 30 | $1,200 – $3,000 |
Additional Considerations and Costs
Other products and expenses to consider when designing your landscape lighting installation:
- Permits: Yard lighting installations may be subject to a license, mainly where new wiring or extensive electrical work is necessary. Replacing a fixture will typically not involve a license, but new installations generally do so. Consult local ordinances and budget for the cost of the permit if required.
- Color Lighting: Warm, white hues are commonly used in traditional landscape lighting for a timeless appearance, but color lights create dynamic effects on holidays or themed occasions. While changing the color of lights is more costly and complicated, professionals tend to suggest using neutral colors for a contemporary appearance.
- DIY vs. Professional Installation: DIY lighting is cheap but not advisable for electrical installation. Outdoor light contains wiring and safety issues. Employ a licensed electrician to prevent harm such as electrocution or fire.
- Cost of Electricity: You will pay more for electricity if you install outdoor lights, but the amount depends on the bulbs you use. LED bulbs save between 83% and incandescent lighting, while halogen bulbs and fluorescent bulbs save 28% and 75%, respectively, though they are not as energy-saving as LEDs.
- GFCI Outlet Installation: GFCI outlets, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, are indispensable in any outdoor electrical installation, particularly in wet locations, because they serve to protect against electrocution. A GFCI outlet installation would take $250 to $400. If you reside in an older house that needs to be rewired or a new electrical panel installed, the installation would range up to $1,000 to $1,400.
Conclusion
Installation of outdoor lighting is expensive, and the rates are largely dependent on the type of luminaires, surface area, and complexity of electrification required. The expenses for outdoor lights usually range from $300 to $5,000.
Budgeting is done in various stages, including breaking down the needed lighting fixtures, the number of items, and their allocation within a site. Light is for a reason called the line of defense to the house and ensures other aesthetic and functional operations within are at ease. In most cases, fitting outdoor lighting from a single spot, like a path light, onto an outdoor configuration is an enormous expenditure for years for the owners and involves consistent maintenance. From start to finish, installation takes place.
Begin the installation process by procuring quotes from different service providers. Remember—it’s better to ask several providers.
FAQS
Q1. How much does professional outdoor lighting cost?
The cost of professional outdoor lighting usually ranges from $2,000 to $4,500. The pricing may vary depending on the design and setting of the light topography.
Q2. Is outdoor lighting challenging to install?
Upon installation, outdoor lighting can be a hassle and should always be undertaken only by a professional to ensure the proper security and safety.
Q3. How much does site lighting cost?
These lighting types usually cost between $500 and $2,500, depending on the size and type of light being installed.
Q4. How much do you charge to install outdoor lighting?
Professional fees can range between $50 and $150 per hour, while others charge a flat rate.
