Light Up Your Life: The Cost of Installing Outdoor Lighting in Damonte Ranch
Ever wondered how to transform your home’s exterior into a captivating spectacle at night?
Or how to enhance the security of your property while adding a touch of elegance?
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the world of outdoor lighting, focusing on the costs involved in installing these illuminating fixtures in Damonte Ranch, Nevada.
By the end of this read, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to brighten up your outdoor living space installation in Damonte Ranch without dimming your budget.
Outdoor lighting is more than just a stylish option for your home.
It’s a practical solution that enhances safety, security, and the overall aesthetic appeal of your property.
From pathway lights that provide easy navigation to motion sensor lights that bolster security, outdoor light fixtures play a crucial role in any home.
The Importance and Benefits of Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting fixtures are essential for several reasons.
They illuminate your outdoor space, making it usable even after the sun sets.
Whether you’re hosting a late-night barbecue on your well-designed patio or simply enjoying a quiet evening by your retaining wall, outdoor lights ensure that your activities aren’t cut short by dusk.
Moreover, outdoor lighting enhances the security of your home.
With the right placement of floodlights and motion sensor lights, potential intruders can be deterred.
Outdoor lights also increase safety by illuminating walkways to prevent trips and falls at night.
Average Cost of Outdoor and Landscape Lighting Installation
The cost of installing outdoor lighting varies greatly, depending on several factors.
On average, homeowners in the U.S. spend around $4,000 on outdoor light installation projects.
For simpler projects involving incandescent path lights and deck lights, the cost can range between $2,000 and $3,000.
High-end installations featuring designer, motion, and solar-powered lighting can cost between $5,000 to $10,000.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Outdoor and Landscape Lighting Installation
Several factors can influence the cost of your outdoor lighting project.
These include:
- Existing Landscaping: Retrofitting outdoor lighting into an existing mature landscape can be more challenging and expensive. Contractors must work around features such as large shrubs and mature hardscaping, which can increase costs. The cost of retrofitting lights into an existing landscape will depend on the complexity of the installation and the specific contractor you hire.
- Wiring: The distance between your home and the lights will determine how much wiring you’ll need. The farther the lights are from your home, the more wiring you will need. New electrical wiring can cost anywhere from $2 to $12 per foot.
- Digging and Trenching: If you want to run electrical cables, you will need to dig trenches. This can cost between $6 and $15 per linear foot.
- Types of Lights and Fixtures: The type of light you choose can significantly impact the cost. Simple pathway lighting can cost as low as $50 per light, while more complex fixtures like a gazebo or pool lighting can run up to $1,000 per lighting fixture.
- Solar vs. Hardwired: Solar lights do not require wiring to run from your home and don’t use household electricity, making them more economical and efficient than hardwired lights. However, solar lights may not be as reliable as hard-wired lighting. That being said, solar lights are the cheapest option if you are going to DIY an outdoor lighting installation.
Types of Outdoor Lights and Fixtures
There are many landscape lighting options available, each with different requirements and installation costs.
Here are some of the most common types of outdoor lighting:
- Pathway Lights: These soft lights, sometimes called mushroom lights, provide a gentle glow that helps you navigate a path after dark. Prices vary based on the specific model and brand but typically fall in the range of $50 to $150 per fixture.
- Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting: These lights require a 12-volt transformer to be installed because they use less voltage than the 120-volt household supply. This reduces the household’s electricity consumption and running costs. A low-voltage lighting installation usually starts at $3,500 for a new build project, which includes five lights and a transformer. Each additional light then costs about $200 to $300 per fixture.
- Porch Lights: Most homeowners pay between $75-$250 per fixture for porch lights. However, some high-end brass porch lights cost around $9,000.
- Floodlights: A standard floodlight typically costs around $175. Some floodlights cost less than $75 while others can cost up to $700.
- Downlights: The average downlight price is between $100 and $400, depending on the fixture. Downlights are mounted high above the ground and feature a shrouded bulb to provide soft, moon-like illumination.
- Uplights: Uplights are similar to downlights and cost between $100-$400, with an average price of $250. Uplights are placed at the base of your home’s walls, a tree, or any other landscape feature you want to highlight.
- Outdoor Security Light: An outdoor security light costs between $350 to $500 on average. Outdoor motion sensor lights or outdoor security lights can be used to deter intruders.
- Lamp Post: Lamp posts typically cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000. However, some high-end lamp posts can cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Lamp posts are usually installed far from homeowners’ property, often close to the sidewalk. This means that they cost more to install.
- String Lights: These are often used for decorative purposes in outdoor spaces. They create a festive atmosphere and are perfect for parties or special events. Basic string lights can cost as little as $40, while premium smart string lights with remote control can cost $400 or more.
- Outdoor Wall Lights: These are fixtures that are mounted on the exterior walls of a house. They can serve both functional and decorative purposes, illuminating your outdoor space while adding to the aesthetic appeal of your home’s exterior. Outdoor wall lights typically cost between $75 and $250.
- In-Ground Landscape Lights: These lights are installed into the ground to illuminate walkways, highlight landscaping, or provide safety lighting in outdoor spaces. They’re often used to light up driveways or garden paths. While there is a wide variety of price points in this category, most fall within the $85 to $250 cost range.
- Bollard Lights: Bollard lights are sturdy, outdoor fixtures that feature a light encased in a vertical post. These stylish lights provide both illumination and security. They’re often used to light pathways or to define the boundaries of an outdoor living space. Bollard lights usually cost between $250 to $1,000 per post.
Each of these lighting options has its own unique installation requirements and costs, so it’s important to consider what type of lighting will best meet your needs and budget.
Here’s a table summarizing the purpose and average costs for various types of outdoor lights:
| Type of Light | Description | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Pathway Lights | Soft lights, sometimes called mushroom lights, that provide a gentle glow for path navigation. | $50 – $150 per fixture |
| Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting | Lights that require a 12-volt transformer because they use less voltage than the 120-volt household supply. | $200 – $300 per fixture |
| Porch Lights | Lights installed on the porch of a house. | $75 – $250 per fixture |
| Floodlights | Lights that provide broad-beamed, high-intensity illumination. | $75 – $700 per fixture |
| Downlights | Lights mounted high above the ground and feature a shrouded bulb to provide soft, moon-like illumination. | $100 – $400 per fixture |
| Uplights | Lights similar to downlights but placed at the base of a home’s walls, a tree, or any other landscape feature. | $100 – $400 per fixture |
| Outdoor Security Light | Lights used to deter intruders, often featuring motion sensors. | $350 – $500 per fixture |
| Lamp Post | Tall lights typically installed far from homeowners’ property, often close to the sidewalk. | $400 – $1,000 per fixture |
| String Lights | Decorative lights often used for parties or special events. | $40 – $400 or more |
| Outdoor Wall Lights | Fixtures mounted on the exterior walls of a house. | $75 – $250 per fixture |
| In-Ground Landscape Lights | Lights installed into the ground to illuminate walkways or highlight landscaping. | $85 – $250 per fixture |
| Bollard Lights | Sturdy, outdoor fixtures that feature a light encased in a vertical post. | $250 – $1,000 per fixture |
Costs of Outdoor Lighting Depending on the Type of Bulb
Although the bulb won’t affect the installation cost, it can make the price of replacement bulbs significantly higher.
The running costs are also considerably different.
Metal halide light bulbs, for example, are three times more expensive to run than equivalent LED bulbs.
Exterior Light Fixture Replacement Costs
The labor cost to replace outdoor lighting can range from $150 up to $200 depending on where it is located.
Additional factors that could impact the replacement cost are the type of lighting fixture and the complexity of the wiring.
DIY vs. Hiring an Electrician Or Contractor For Outdoor Lighting
When deciding whether or not to hire an electrician to install outdoor lighting, electrical wiring installation should be considered.
Simple repairs can often require the replacement and rerouting of electrical cables.
These tasks should only be performed by a lighting specialist, as building codes often require them.
Your local outdoor living space contractor could also install an outdoor lighting system, provided there’s an outlet for it to be connected to by an electrician licensed to do so.
Landscape Lighting FAQs
Why is landscape lighting so costly?
Landscape lighting is costly because it can be affected by weather conditions. This means that manufacturers have to make outdoor lights weather-resistant and more durable than interior lights.
Landscape lighting systems often come with a lifetime guarantee, which can increase the cost of your initial investment.
Exterior lights should also be water-resistant so they last many years without needing to be maintained.
Are LED landscape lights really worth the investment?
In the long term, LED lights are cheaper than sodium lamps and incandescent bulbs.
The majority of LED landscape bulbs run between 6 and 15 Watts, making them an affordable choice.
The initial cost of LED lights will be more expensive, however.
Here at Property Care Systems, we are proud to install LED bulbs on all of our outdoor lighting installations.
LEDs help lessen the environmental impact of your outdoor lighting’s energy usage as well as reduce the waste associated with short-life incandescent bulbs.
What is the maximum number of low-voltage LED lights a transformer can handle?
A transformer’s ability to handle low-voltage LED lights depends on its total wattage.
A 100-watt transformer would be required to handle eight 12-watt bulbs, which require a total power consumption of 96 watts.
Do outdoor lights consume a lot of electricity to operate?
Outdoor lights’ power consumption depends on the purpose.
You should consult the light fixture specifications to determine how much electricity your outdoor lighting installation will consume.
Light Up Your Life with Property Care Systems
Outdoor lighting is an investment that pays off in safety, security, and aesthetic appeal.
Whether you’re looking to install pathway lights for easy navigation, flood lights for enhanced security, or decorative light bulbs for that soft glow in your pergola or garden, Property Care Systems has got you covered.
We handle all your outdoor living space installation needs, including outdoor lighting.
Ready to light up your life?
Fill out our contact form today, or give us a call. Let’s illuminate your outdoor space together!