Recessed & LED Lighting Installation
Recessed cans, wafer LEDs, under-cabinet strips, landscape and security lighting laid out for usable light rather than a grid of glare.
Typical national range $150 – $900 · usually 3 hours - 2 days
- Permits pulled where the job requires one, so the work is inspected and documented for resale.
- 24/7 availability for genuine emergencies — burning smells, sparks, water damage and total power loss.
- Licensed electricians only — ask for the licence number and confirm it before work begins.
- Local crews who know your area’s permit office, inspection timelines and housing stock.
- Free phone triage: describe the symptom and find out whether it is urgent or can wait.
When you need this
- A dark kitchen, hallway or basement that never had enough fixtures
- Old incandescent cans that run hot and burn through bulbs
- Adding a home office, gym, bar or finished basement lighting plan
- Outdoor, security or landscape lighting that needs wiring
- Dimming that flickers because the fixtures and dimmer disagree
Any single item above is a reason to get the circuit inspected. If you are seeing more than one, treat it as a pattern rather than a coincidence.
What recessed lighting installation costs in 2026
| Work | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recessed LED fixture install (per light, open access) | $125 – $300 | Attic access, existing circuit |
| Recessed fixture install, finished ceiling | $175 – $400 | Cutting, fishing and patching |
| Under-cabinet LED strip lighting | $350 – $900 | Run length and switching drive cost |
| New dimmer and switch leg | $150 – $400 | Per control location |
| Outdoor, security or landscape lighting run | $400 – $1,500 | Trenching and transformers excluded |
Why the price varies
Layout and access set the price: open ceiling joists make this fast, while a finished ceiling with insulation, plaster and no attic access turns each fixture into its own small project.
Smart dimmers and LED drivers have to be matched. Mixing fixture brands on one dimmer is the most common cause of call-backs and flicker complaints.
What a proper job includes
- Fixture layout planned around countertops, task areas and shadowing
- IC-rated or airtight fixtures where insulation is present
- New switch legs, dimmers and multi-location control wiring
- Trimming, patching and finish work around each opening
- Colour temperature consistency across every fixture in the room
Timing and urgency
Usually scheduled within days. Typical duration on site: 3 hours - 2 days. The single biggest timing factor is whether the work is permitted — a permit adds an inspection visit after the work, usually within a few days.
Choose your state
Pricing, permit rules and licensing all vary by state. Each page below covers this service in that state with the cities and ZIP codes where it is most requested.
- Lighting Install in California
- Lighting Install in Texas
- Lighting Install in Pennsylvania
- Lighting Install in New York
- Lighting Install in Florida
- Lighting Install in New Jersey
- Lighting Install in Massachusetts
- Lighting Install in Illinois
- Lighting Install in Ohio
- Lighting Install in North Carolina
- Lighting Install in Washington
- Lighting Install in Iowa
- Lighting Install in Georgia
- Lighting Install in Maryland
- Lighting Install in Indiana
- Lighting Install in Minnesota
- Lighting Install in Connecticut
- Lighting Install in Michigan
- Lighting Install in Louisiana
- Lighting Install in Alabama
- Lighting Install in Colorado
- Lighting Install in Kentucky
- Lighting Install in Arizona
- Lighting Install in Oklahoma
- Lighting Install in Virginia
- Lighting Install in Missouri
- Lighting Install in South Carolina
- Lighting Install in Tennessee
- Lighting Install in Arkansas
- Lighting Install in Oregon
- Lighting Install in Wisconsin
- Lighting Install in Utah
- Lighting Install in Kansas
- Lighting Install in Idaho
- Lighting Install in West Virginia
- Lighting Install in Nebraska
- Lighting Install in New Hampshire
- Lighting Install in Nevada
- Lighting Install in Delaware
- Lighting Install in Rhode Island
- Lighting Install in Maine
- Lighting Install in District of Columbia
- Lighting Install in Mississippi
- Lighting Install in New Mexico
- Lighting Install in Hawaii
- Lighting Install in Montana
- Lighting Install in North Dakota
Recessed & LED Lighting Installation FAQ
Is a permit needed for electrical work?
Permits are commonly required for panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, and work in wet locations like kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors. Simple device replacements often do not need one. Because requirements are set locally, the safest approach is to ask the contractor who will pull the permit and confirm the inspection record afterwards.
How many recessed lights for a room?
Spacing is usually set at roughly half the ceiling height between fixtures, adjusted for task areas and for any joists in the way. Kitchens need placement relative to counters rather than an evenly spaced grid.
What colour temperature should I choose?
Most homes look best in the 2700K to 3000K range for living spaces, with 3500K to 4000K acceptable in garages, utility rooms and workspaces. The important rule is to keep one temperature consistent across a visible area.
How quickly can someone get here?
Timing depends on the local contractor schedule and the nature of the call. Genuine emergencies are usually prioritised, often with same-day or overnight response, while planned work is typically scheduled within days rather than hours.
What should I do while waiting for an electrician?
For an urgent fault, switch the affected circuit off at the panel and leave it off. If the panel itself is hot, smoking, sparking or wet, do not touch it and keep everyone away from it. Never pull a meter or open a panel, and never pour water on anything electrical.
Will recessed lights save energy?
Modern LED fixtures use a fraction of the wattage of incandescent cans and last far longer, so running costs drop noticeably. Savings show up on the bill only when the fixtures you remove were genuinely running long hours.
How do I know the electrician is licensed?
Ask for the licence number before work begins and confirm it with the licensing authority for your state or municipality. Electrical licensing is handled at state level in most of the country and at city or county level in a few large metro areas, so the correct place to verify depends on where you live. A licensed contractor will give you the number, and usually the insurance certificate too, without being asked twice.
What warranty should I expect?
Workmanship warranties are set by the contractor, and one to two years on labour is common on larger jobs, with manufacturers covering the equipment separately. Ask for the warranty terms in writing on the invoice, not verbally.
Need recessed lighting installation?
Free phone triage: describe what is happening and find out whether it needs a visit today or can be scheduled. No obligation, no charge for the call.
Call (619) 877-0478Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for the licence number and the trip fee before anyone is dispatched.