Lighting installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What lighting installation is

Lighting installation adds or replaces fixtures, including ceiling lights, under-cabinet and task lighting, recessed cans, landscape lights and new switches or dimmers. The electrician runs the cable, sets the box, mounts the fixture and wires the controls so each light works as intended. People call when they need a light where there is none, or when an old fixture is unsafe, dated or hard to use.

Signs you need it

  • A room is dark where you need light for work, cooking or reading, and you have no fixture there
  • An old fixture is loose, flickers, or the cover has heat discoloration
  • A switch controls the wrong light, or several lights must be turned on at one switch you cannot reach
  • You want dimming, a three-way switch or a motion sensor in a room that has only a basic switch
  • Under-cabinet, landscape or path lighting would improve use of a space, and there is no power where you need it
  • The fixture is a type that does not suit the ceiling, such as an old box that cannot hold the new load

What the pro does

  • Check the existing box, its support and its fill, and confirm the box is rated for the fixture
  • Run cable from the switch or source, and protect it where it passes through framing
  • Mount the fixture box or fixture brace securely to framing, not just to drywall
  • Connect hot, neutral and ground to the correct terminals, and install the switch or dimmer with a matching load rating
  • Test each fixture, switch and dimmer under normal use, and confirm the circuit's load is within its rating
  • Label the circuit at the panel and clean up the box so no wire is pinched behind the trim

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of fixtures and switches, and whether one switch controls several lights
  • Whether a new switch, dimmer or three-way run needs new cable through finished walls
  • Whether the ceiling or wall is finished, which affects access and patching
  • Fixture weight and whether the box or the framing must be reinforced to hold it
  • Whether outdoor fixtures need weather-rated boxes, cable and connectors
  • Whether the circuit has enough capacity for the new lights, or needs a new circuit

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each fixture, switch or dimmer, with its location and its load rating
  • Whether new cable is run, and where it connects to the source
  • Box or brace work needed to support each fixture
  • Patching and paint responsibility for any opened ceiling or wall
  • Testing performed and circuit labeling at the panel

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is the existing box rated for this fixture, or does it need to be replaced?
  • Will the new switch or dimmer work with the type of bulbs and fixtures I plan to use?
  • How will you run the new cable without tearing out the whole ceiling?
  • Does the circuit have room for these lights, or do you need a new circuit?
  • What is included for patching and paint after the work?
  • How do you handle outdoor fixtures for wet locations?

Red flags

  • Hangs a heavy fixture from a box that is not rated for it
  • Connects a dimmer to a load it is not rated for, such as LED drivers without checking compatibility
  • Leaves splices outside a box or in the ceiling cavity without a proper junction
  • Uses outdoor fixtures in a damp or exposed location without a weather-rated box
  • Does not test the switches and dimmers under load before leaving

What you can do yourself

Choosing fixtures, mounting a plug-in lamp, and changing a bulb with the power off are safe. Swapping a fixture, adding a switch, or installing a dimmer involves live wires and box support, so it needs the power off at the panel and a licensed electrician. Never hang a heavy fixture from a box that is not rated for it.

Licenses and permits

Lighting installation is commonly done by licensed electrical contractors, and new circuits or new cable runs often need a permit. Check with your state or local licensing agency or building department to confirm what your project requires.

Lighting installation questions

Can I put a heavy chandelier on the existing ceiling box?

Only if the box is rated for the fixture weight and is secured to framing or a brace. Many older boxes are not. An electrician checks the box before the fixture goes up.

Why does my new dimmer buzz or flicker with some bulbs?

Dimmers and some LED bulbs are not always compatible. The dimmer must be rated for the load and the bulb type. An electrician can match the dimmer and bulbs to avoid the problem.

Can one switch control lights in two rooms?

Yes, but the switch must be wired to the correct circuit and the wiring plan must support it. Ask the electrician how the lights will be controlled before any cable is run.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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