Recessed Lighting Buyer’s Guide

Looking to add some recessed lighting to your home? Not sure where to start? This buyer’s guide is here to help! We’ll go over everything you need to know, from the different types of lighting available to the installation process. So read on and get ready to light up your life!

What is recessed lighting and what are its benefits over other types of lighting fixtures?

What is Recessed Lighting?

Recessed lighting is put in a ceiling, wall, or other surface from the inside. There are three main parts to recessed fixtures: the housing, the trim, and the bulb. The housing is the biggest part of a fixture. It is hidden in the wall or ceiling and holds the electrical connections. Trim is the part of the fixture that can be seen and is used for decoration. It can be made of baffles, reflectors, or shades. The last part of the fixture is the bulb, which is what makes light.

What are its benefits over other types of lighting fixtures?

Recessed lighting is different from other types of light fixtures and has benefits that others don’t. Read on to find out some of the good things about recessed lighting in a home setting.
Recessed lighting, also called “can lighting,” is different from other types of light fixtures and has benefits that those other types don’t. So, why might you want to put recessed lights in your house? Read on to find out some of the good things about recessed lighting in a home setting.

Why recessed lighting is good

Recessed lights have a simple and clean look because they sit above the ceiling plane and don’t hang or mount. Because of this, recessed lighting may make your rooms look bigger.

Lighting for strategy: Recessed lights give off a lot of light in a small area. Because of this, recessed lights are perfect for putting light in key places. For example, recessed lights put right above your office desk give off clear, bright light.

Perfect for low ceilings. Our tall friends no longer have to bump their heads on hanging fixtures.

The whole room should have the same amount of light. Recessed lights are a great way to light the edges of a room. When a light fixture is put in the middle, you may notice that the light spreads out evenly, but only for a certain distance. Because of this, the edges of the room are darker than the middle. The answer is recessed lights! Put in recessed lights around the room’s edges to spread the light evenly from wall to wall.

Types of recessed lights

Ceilings: Most of the time, recessed lighting is used to light down from the ceiling, so that’s what we’ll focus on most.

Walls: If you want to put a light into a wall, you’ll need an angled flange to point the light down to light a path or steps.

In the ground: These are usually used outside to light a path or make the landscaping look better.

Where to place the lights in your home

When you want to brighten a space that receives a lot of use, like your kitchen or living room, ambient lighting is what you should utilize.

Accent or spot lighting is a sort of lighting that is used to bring attention to a specific object, such as a piece of artwork or the mantle of a fireplace. This type of lighting is also known as directional lighting. When illuminating a piece of artwork, an angle of thirty degrees is recommended as the most effective way to minimize glare.

Wall Washing is a technique that allows you to reflect light into a space in a way that isn’t as harsh as direct downlighting by positioning recessed downlighting close to a wall and “bathing” it in light.

How much do recessed lights cost?

Recessed lighting is a popular choice among homeowners because it uses less energy and costs less money.

Most recessed lights cost between $100 and $480 per fixture, with an average cost of about $360. This covers the cost of both the materials and the labor needed to install the lights, but it usually doesn’t include any extra wiring or changes to your ceiling that may be needed.

Your total cost can also be affected by things like taking out heating ducts or other parts. Before making a decision about recessed lighting, you should think about all the costs and factors. This is true whether you are doing a small project on your own or working with an electrician.

How much recessed lighting am I able to purchase with the money I have?

If you have a larger budget, you will be able to install a greater number of recessed light fixtures. But regardless of how much money you have available, it is still possible to complete this project; the only difference will be that it will have to be done on a lesser scale. The following is a brief rundown of the items that may be purchased at various pricing points:

• $30 to $250

You won’t need the assistance of an electrician if you spend this much money because you’ll have enough money to install multiple recessed lights all by yourself. If your ceiling already has recessed light cans installed, the cost to install each fixture might be as low as $8 to $20. This is especially true if you want to save money.

• $250 to $500

To have a professional install anywhere from one to three recessed lights in your house, you only need a marginal increase in your budget. Keeping the ultimate cost at a manageable level can be accomplished by selecting low-cost fixtures, such as can lights.

• $500 to $1,000

With this money, you should be able to afford to hire an electrician to professionally install three to four recessed light fixtures. That is sufficient to adequately illuminate a room that is 125 square feet in size.

• $1,000 to $2,500

If you have a budget of four figures, you will have enough money to have a professional assist you install anywhere from four to six recessed lights, as well as additional luxuries such as dimmers and smart controls.

How Much Money Will It Take to Buy the Materials to Install Recessed Lighting All by Yourself?

When compared to hiring a professional, the cost of installing recessed lighting by yourself is around half as expensive. It will cost you approximately $50 for the supplies and equipment that you will need to install one light fixture on your own, whereas you would ordinarily have to pay an electrician $100 to do so. In the end, the ultimate price will be determined more by the cost of the light fixtures that you have selected than by the labor fees that are involved.

Cost of Recessed Lighting Determined by the Kind of Light

There are a few different choices available to you when it comes to selecting recessed lighting for your home, which you may choose from.

Lights in Cans

Can lights are a sort of recessed lighting that are placed within a unit in the ceiling and are shaped like a can. They are also known as pot lights, which is short for “pot light.” Trim, lightbulb, and housing are the three pieces that make up each can light.

The total price for all of the combined materials will be anything from $30 to $230 on average. The following is a concise rundown of the costs associated with each of these components:

Housing: Depending on the kind, such as airtight housing, which is designed to reduce undesired airflow, or sloped ceiling housing, the price of this component can range anywhere from $9 to $60 per light fixture. Other housing options include sloped ceiling housing.

Trim and lightbulbs: Trims are what really bring out the ornamental flare in your light fixtures, and they come in a variety of colors and materials, ranging from brushed bronze to stainless steel. There are many different shapes, sizes, and colors of light bulbs. You should budget anywhere from $15 to $60 overall for each fixture to cover the cost of each of these parts.

Fixtures for recessed lighting with LEDs and no cans

Even though these kinds of lights might cost more at first, they might save you money and time in the long run. For one thing, low-profile lights are easier to install in tight spaces than can lights because they are smaller and easier to put in.

And because LED bulbs use less energy, using them could help you save money on your electricity bill. In general, each fixture will cost between $20 and $30, which does not include the cost of installation. Options with Bluetooth cost between $20 and $50 per fixture more.

What things affect how much it costs to install recessed lights?

The total cost of recessed lights depends on a number of things, such as the wiring, the materials, the professional services, and whether or not a ceiling already has a unit installed.

Labor

Most of the time, it will cost between $200 and $250 per fixture for an electrician to put in recessed can or canless LED lights. Pros charge between $85 and $105 per hour, and each installation takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.

New building vs. ceiling with lights already there

Most of the time, it costs less to install recessed lighting in a ceiling that already has lights. If this is the case, each fixture will cost $200 to $300 to install, and the whole project will cost $800 to $2,160.

In most cases, the time and effort required to install lighting into an entirely new ceiling will result in an increased cost. You could pay up to $500 for a single light fixture and between $800 and $2,880 for a whole set.

Materials

Depending on the style you choose, light fixtures can cost anywhere from $30 to $230.

Wiring

Wiring lights into a ceiling isn’t always necessary. If the ceiling already has lights, for example, you probably won’t need to do it. If wiring is required, add $70 to $140 to what you are already paying.

Obstacles

Electricians usually charge more to install recessed lighting in places where heat ducts, joists, or wires from other electronics get in the way. If one of these is in your way, add another $200.

Salvatore Cutrona, an Expert Review Member and Licensed Master Electrician, says, “It will be much easier to install lights where there is access above the ceiling, like in an attic or crawl space, than on a lower level where the ceiling needs to be cut and then patched.”

FAQs

Is it advisable to employ a professional or do it yourself when installing recessed lighting?

Even though a seasoned do-it-yourselfer should be able to complete this job successfully, inexperienced builders should be prepared for a number of challenges along the way. If everything isn’t installed correctly, as a matter of fact, you can be subject to a fine in some states. If you are unsure how to complete the task at hand, you should seek the assistance of a local electrician.

What is the recommended number of recessed lights for my room?

The number of lights that must be installed in your property is proportional to its square footage. In general, you will require approximately six light fixtures for an area that is 250 square feet in size. It is important to remember to keep the distance between each light at a maximum of 4 to 6 feet so that everything can be seen clearly.

Conclusion

Recessed lighting is a popular choice for home improvement because it has many benefits over other types of lighting fixtures. There are several different types of recessed lights, and they can be installed in almost any place in your home. They are also relatively affordable, so they are a great option for people who want to improve the look and feel of their homes without spending a lot of money.