Lighting is the most visible upgrade an electrician can make, and the most common reason homeowners call one.
Popular projects
- Recessed (can) lighting: today usually thin LED "wafer" fixtures that need far less ceiling space than old cans. Use IC-rated fixtures where insulation contacts them, and airtight ones in ceilings below an attic.
- Ceiling fans where a light fixture exists. The ceiling box must be rated to support a fan.
- Chandeliers and pendants over stairs and islands, often needing scaffolding or a tall ladder.
- Under-cabinet lighting in kitchens, low-voltage or line-voltage.
- Exterior and landscape lighting: wet-rated fixtures, photocells, and motion sensors.
- Dimmers and smart switches. Many smart switches need a neutral wire that older boxes may not have.
Price drivers
Attic access above the ceiling, the number of fixtures, ceiling height, plaster vs. drywall ceilings (plaster is slower to cut and patch), and whether a new circuit is needed. Drywall or plaster patching after the electrician cuts in is often not included; ask.
Questions about lighting installation
How many recessed lights do I need?
A common rule of thumb is spacing fixtures roughly half the ceiling height apart (about 4 feet on an 8-foot ceiling), adjusted for the room's use and fixture beam angle. Your electrician or a lighting plan can refine it.