Do you want to create a specific atmosphere, highlight a favourite piece of wall art, or simply have plenty of light in your home when you read or cook? If you do then you should have a good look at the lighting in your home and see if you need to make any changes.
Lighting fixtures and fittings can also add style and character to your rooms. An electrician can help you get the look and feel you want by installing new lighting features in your home, both indoors and out.
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How Much to Install Light Fittings and Fixtures?
The table below shows you the average costs of installing various lighting fixtures and fittings. Some jobs take no time at all, and others will take up to a day.
| Service | Estimated Cost | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Replace light fitting | £30 to £55 | 1hour |
| Install dimmer switch | £30 to £55 | 1 hour |
| Install downlights in kitchen | £120 to £440 | 4 to 8 hours |
| Install loft lights | £60 to £165 | 2 to 3 hours |
Electricians typically charge between £30 to £55 an hour, but for small jobs, the electrician may have a minimum call-out charge which could be more than the hourly rate.
When you need an electrician, use HouseholdQuotes! Fill in the online form and tell us briefly what you need.
We’ll then find electricians in your area to give you no-obligation quotes for your light fittings and fixtures installation.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Installing a Light Fitting or Fixture?
Several factors are likely to impact the cost of installing a light fitting or fixture. We take a look at these factors below so you know what to be aware of when you’re setting a budget for this kind of work.
Your Choice of Fitting
Installing switches and sockets are one of the most common jobs for an electrician. There is a large range of choices when it comes to fittings, and these will impact the fitting.
For example, plain white sockets and switches are going to be cheaper than nickel or brushed steel sockets with a USB port. In a local hardware store, you can buy standard white plastic plug sockets for just over £1.
A standard socket with a USB port will cost between £8 and £13.
Your Choice of Fixtures
Your choice of fixtures also has a bearing on electrical installation costs. For example, you may decide to have a central light put up on your ceiling. Assuming you like the minimalist look, you choose a pendant lamp with a simple design.
This lamp is going to take less time and effort to put up than a tiered crystal chandelier, which will need two people to install. Whereas a simple installation might take one hour and cost between £30 and £55.
A heavy chandelier on the other hand could take up to two hours with the help of an electrician and a potential colleague. You could pay between £90 and £165 for the installation carried out by two people.
Whether You Have a Smart Lighting System
Smart lighting means you can control your lighting from an app on your phone or through a voice-activated device like Google Home and Amazon Echo with Wi-Fi.
It will let you turn the lights on and off when you’re on holiday, or when you are due home at the end of the day. Some ranges of smart bulbs let you dim the lights, adjust the colour or the colour temperature.
For example, if you arrive home from work with a headache, you can change the lighting from white to blue to make the atmosphere more calming.
You can buy smart white ambience bulbs for between £15 to £45 and coloured bulbs are between £35 and £50 each.
Wi-Fi light switches that work with remote voice-controlled devices cost between £18 and £76.
If you are interested in turning your house into a Smart Home so that you can control lighting, heating, and security you can buy plug and play products, or if you have recently bought a home you are renovating, an electrician can install an integrated smart wiring system.
How Much Electrical Work Is Required
If the wiring is already in place, the job will take less time than if the electrician has to wire through to the location of your fitting.
If you were having your kitchen rewired before the installation of fixtures and fittings, you’d be looking at between £950 and £1,600.
Your Location
If you live in London or the South East of England, you’ll pay more for an electrician than you will if you live in the Midlands or the North of England. Wages are higher in the south and that means products and services tend to be higher.
What Are the Different Types of Light Fittings and Fixtures?
Fittings
Cord grip – cord grips are mainly used with pendant lights or in place of switches. The light includes a cord that hangs down from the lamp, or in the case of a bathroom light, from the ceiling.
They are very common in bathrooms as it is safer to pull a cord than press a switch with wet hands.
Threaded – threaded or screw fittings are often found in table lamps where a cord isn’t necessary. The light is switched on and off from a button on the stem of the lamp.
Bulbs
The first letter on the base code of a bulb tells you what fitting it is:
- B = Bayonet
- E = Edison (or screw fit)
- G = Capsule bulbs
B22 are the most common size.
B15 or small bayonet bulbs are usually found in decorative light fixtures like chandeliers or sconces. Bayonet fittings have a twist and lock base.
Edison bulbs are screw-in bulbs with E27 as the most common size
E14 or small Edison screw bulbs are also found in decorative light fixtures.
G4 and G9 are like bayonet fitting but with pins. These tiny lights are used for things like cooker hoods, fridges, and freezers.
GU5.3 and GU10 connect with pins and are used in downlights.
Ambient vs Accent vs Task Lighting
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is the standard lighting you use in a room to be able to see when the room is dark. Ambient lighting comes from central pendant lights, spots, or lamps.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is used to create a focal point. You use accent lighting when you want to highlight part of the room or a particular object within it.
It is often used to show off artwork or a book collection or maybe an exotic plant in a dark corner of the room.
Task Lighting
These are lights that help you to do a particular job. A lamp on a desk, for instance, allows you to work without glare or eye strain. Task lighting is used for reading, cooking, and working. This type of lighting helps you when you have a task to do that needs a concentrated light source.
Types of Lighting
Pendant Lights
Pendant lights hang from the ceiling. They don’t have to be located in the middle of the room. They can be placed over a table or a work surface.
The lights are suspended using a cord, a metal rod, or a chain. High street stores sell pendant lights for as little as £12, but you could spend £5,000 or more on a crystal chandelier.
Ceiling Lights
Ceiling lights lie flush or semi-flush against the ceiling. This type of light is used in living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
They come in modern designs and vintage styles. High street prices start at around £10, with an average price of between £25 and £100.
You can also buy designer ceiling lights. These could set you back around £7,000.
Wall Lights
Wall lights and sconces are used to brighten up a room or highlight a dark corner. They are also used to highlight wall art or to add some dazzle to a mirror.
They add character and style to a room.
High street prices for wall lights are between £25 and £50, but you can pay £1,000 or more for a designer wall light.
Downlights
Downlights are often used in bathroom ceilings and kitchens, under kitchen cabinets to throw light onto work surfaces. They are also used outdoors in facias and soffits to provide light around your home’s exterior.
Downlights start at around £6, but like everything you can pay premium prices. You can buy one downlight for around £100 if it’s a high quality product.
Downlights are mainly used in kitchens as a supplementary light source.
LED Lights Strip
These are often placed in an aluminium casing with a diffusor that spreads the light. They are most commonly found as accent lighting in kitchens.
LED light strips are popular because they are extremely versatile. They come in strips, and you can cut them to fit the space.
They can be used for practical reasons. You can buy a metre strip of LED lights for around £6.
You can place them inside a wardrobe or under cupboards in kitchens. You can also use them to add colour and light to a room.
Teenager’s use LED light strips around mirrors and shelves in their bedrooms.
They are available in white, or colours and they can be plugged in, or mains wired by an electrician. They are popular because they are a low cost, long-lasting, low energy consumption light source.
How Can I Save Money on New Light Fittings?
There are several ways you can save money on new light fittings.
Buy second hand! Have a look at websites like Gumtree and Preloved.
You might even find light fixtures that you wouldn’t be able to afford to buy new. There are often hand-made or designer styles available at a fraction of the original price.
Look out for sales. Specialist lighting shops often have sales or end of line discounts.
Find out where your local lighting specialist has a shop or browse online. Online discounts might be higher because an online shop doesn’t have the overheads of a physical shop and these savings can be passed on to the customer.
When you need an electrician, let HouseholdQuotes help you. We’ll then find local electricians to give you no-obligation quotes for your lighting project.
Click To Get QuotesWhat’s Involved in Replacing a Light Fitting?
The first thing you must do is turn the electricity off. You can do this from the main switch in your consumer unit or cut the power from the circuit which powers the room you are in.
Next, test the lights to make sure the wires aren’t live. You can do this by unscrewing the ceiling rose and testing with a screwdriver or a digital detector.
Remove the screws which are holding in the electric wires. You can identify the types of wire by looking at the colours:
- Green and yellow = Earth
- Blue = Neutral
- Brown = Live
If your wiring is old, you may find you have:
- Green and Yellow = Earth
- Black = Neutral
- Red = Live
Now remove the existing flex from the light so it is no longer installed. This will mean removing the neutral and the live wire from the ceiling rose.
Next, you should have three wires coming through the ceiling rose. Take each wire from its screw so they are loose.
Make sure you can identify the live wire and then remove the ceiling rose.
If you are having lights fitted on a bracket, you can now screw the bracket into the ceiling. Make sure you are screwing into a solid surface, not just plywood which won’t be strong enough to hold it.
The next job is to connect each wire to its connector. The connectors are small plastic connectors that look like pencil sharpeners.
You push the wire through into the connector and then snap shut a tiny lever down to keep the wire in place. You can connect more than one wire with one connector if necessary.
You can now insert the wiring from your new light fitting into the other end of each connector.
Now you can push your new light fitting up against the ceiling and screw it into place. Add bulbs and turn the electricity back on to test it’s working!
How Do I Find and Hire an Electrician?
Ask your family and your friends if they can recommend an electrician. Mention it at work, as you never know, a colleague might have had work done recently.
Use HouseholdQuotes. Fill in the form online and tell us briefly what you need.
We’ll then find you electricians in your area to give you no-obligation quotes for light fittings and fixtures installation.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Use the questions below to make sure the professional you’re hoping to hire is up to the job:
- Is there a minimum charge? If the job is small, an electrician may well have a minimum call-out fee. This can be as much as £50 but it may be higher if you live in London.
- What experience do you have? It’s always useful to know if they are a well-established company or they are just starting out. You might find that a newer company is slightly cheaper, or you may prefer to pay more for experience.
- Do you have a website? It isn’t necessary to have a website, but they are useful. Most websites have photographs of previous jobs and testimonials from customers. If they don’t have a website, ask if they have a portfolio with customer feedback and photographs.
- Do you have insurance? Is your public liability insurance up to date? Public liability insurance is vital for all tradespeople as it protects them and you from any injury or damage claims should an accident occur during the installation of new lighting.
- Are you a member of any trade associations? Trade associations will only grant membership to tradespeople with a good work record. They should also have a high standard of workmanship. An electrician might be a member of the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA).
- Is your work guaranteed?
Always get quotations in writing. If the job begins and something changes, make sure it is written down with pricing details.
Lighting can completely change the look of a room. You might be changing older lighting for modern fixtures.
Adding lighting that matches your décor or putting in ambient lighting to create a cosy atmosphere in the evenings.
Dimmer switches are also useful lighting features. They can be turned up and down as you require different levels of light and they will save electricity too.
If you need an electrician HouseholdQuotes can help you. Simply fill in the online form and tell us what you need.
We’ll then find local electricians to give you no-obligation quotes for lighting installation.
Click To Get QuotesFinal Checklist
The below checklist walks you through the best steps to take when you’re thinking of having new lighting installed:
- Decide what you lighting need
- Sort out a budget
- Research the different types of lighting
- Look in shops and online
- Make your purchases
- Get quotations for an electrician (Use HouseholdQuotes to find local electricians!)
- Compare your quotes
- Choose your electrician
- Sort out a date for the job to begin
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
How Many Lights Do I Need in a Room?
To find out how much light you need measure your room to find out how many square metres it is. You then multiply the square meter sum by 25.
The result is the wattage you’ll need. Add a zero to the last figure to get your lumens measurement.
Here’s an example:
Measure the length and width of your lounge (or wherever you are putting the lighting).
Let’s say it is 6 x 3 metres. You multiply the length by the width, so 6 x 3 = 18.
Your lounge is 18 square metres.
Now you multiply 18 x 25. This gives you 450.
If you use 450 watts (or 4500 lumens) in this room, you’ll have enough light.
This could equate to two pendant lights with 8 x 25w bulbs each and one tall lamp with a 60w bulb.
You might decide you need more, in the kitchen for example, or you might want less because you are lighting your bedroom.
Do Bathrooms Need Special Light Fittings?
Downlights and spotlights are commonly used in bathrooms. The recommended IP rating in this area is IP20.
If you want lighting in other areas of the bathroom you must make sure it is the right IP rating for the particular zone.
The zones are:
Zone 0 – if you have lighting in your bath or your wet room use IP67.
Zone 1 – lights over your bath or shower use IP67.
Zone 3 – where’s there’s no water use IP20.
How Do I Wire a Ceiling Light?
Our guide will tell you about average costs and much more about installing a ceiling light.
How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House?
You can find out more information about the cost of rewiring in this HouseholdQuotes guide.
How Much Do Electricians Charge for Other Jobs?
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a thorough assessment of the standard of electrical installation in a property. It will highlight any problems or any installations that might need renewing to comply with current standards.
Householders are recommended to have an assessment every 10 years. They are also used by people buying older homes or landlords who want to rent out a property.
Prices start at around £120 for a one-bedroomed flat. You can expect to pay between £200 to £250 for a three or four-bedroomed house and £300 for houses with five bedrooms houses or more.
Installing a consumer unit – if you haven’t got a modern consumer unit (junction box) then you should have one installed as they include safety features like circuit breakers. The cost for installing a new consumer unit is between £300 and £450.
Installation of security lights – security lights around your home and/or in your garden are a worthwhile investment. You can have them installed with a switch indoors, so you control when they are on and off or, you can have lights that come on when someone or something passes the sensor. One motion sensor light will cost between £88 and £120.
Emergency call-out – if you need an electrician in an emergency then expect to pay between £45 and £85. You’ll pay more though in London, and the South East of England where the price of an emergency call-out could be as much as £100.
What Are the Different Bulb Types?
Incandescent
Incandescent bulbs are the standard bulbs you see in many homes.
Incandescent lights work by heating up a tungsten wire in the bulb until it is white-hot. The filament then creates heat, and you get light.
Incandescent bulbs are always hot to the touch when they are on but they are not energy efficient. Only 2% to 3% of the electricity used is converted to light.
Halogen
Halogen bulbs work like incandescent bulbs by creating heat to make light. They are brighter than incandescent bulbs but the light is flattering for your skin tone.
However, like incandescent lights, they are not energy efficient, and they don’t last as long as an LED light. Halogen bulbs use 20 to 30% less energy than incandescent bulbs
CFL
Compact Fluorescent Lamps are the most common energy-efficient bulbs. They use 60 to 80% less energy than an incandescent bulb.
They work like LED bulbs, there’s no heat involved. The one downside with CFL bulbs is that they take time to warm up. They are not bright straight away like other lights.
LED
LED bulbs contain electrons that release energy as light. No heat is needed.
Between 5% to 20% of the electricity used is converted to light so they are energy efficient and last longer than other types of bulbs. Although they are more expensive to buy, you will save up to 90% on your energy costs by using LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.
LED Filament Bulbs
An LED filament light has a group of LEDs inside the bulb. A standard LED light normally only has one.
This fact means that LED filament bulbs spread the light a little better than LED bulbs. Like incandescent bulbs, the light is spread evenly around the room, even lighting up dark corners.