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How Much Does It Cost to Install Flood Lights in 2024? What to Know

Led floodlight

Floodlights are a type of outdoor lighting. When installed outside homes or commercial properties, they usually include motion sensors and are used to bathe an area in light. Commonly used as security, they can provide peace of mind to the homeowner. These lights run off the main power, meaning they need to be installed and connected to your existing electrical supply.

This does require electrical work, so while the lights can be installed as a DIY project, it shouldn’t be attempted by anybody that is not confident working safely with electricity. Installing floodlights can cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000, depending on whether you do it yourself or hire an expert.

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The Importance of Floodlights

Modern floodlights use LED lights and motion sensors. The motion sensor senses when somebody approaches a certain area, and the lights turn on. These lights can be used as a convenient way of lighting a path or driveway when you approach, or they can be used to protect concealed areas of a property. When used for security, they are usually installed at the rear of a property or pointing at a shed or garage. Although they can be installed at the front of a property, this location means that they might be set off by passing traffic.

Flood lights are usually attached to the exterior wall of a property, although they can be fitted atop a floodlight pole, similar to how they are used at sporting venues. The placement of the lights is as important as the quality of the lights, and the effectiveness of the sensors that they use. Professional installers will know where best to situate the lights and they will be able to ensure that they do not overload an electrical system to run the lights.

How Much Does Floodlight Installation Cost?

floodlight
Image Credit: anystock, Shutterstock

Floodlight installation means paying for the floodlights themselves, any other accessories and equipment needed to install the lights and paying for labor costs for the installation.

Basic flood lights that produce minimal lighting and cover only a small area can be bought for $200, but more powerful and more effective lights can cost upwards of $500. If you need multiple lights to cover an area, this means that you will have to pay multiple times the cost of the lights. When choosing lights, ensure that you get the features you require. Lights with motion sensors are most effective for providing security and unless the lights will be placed under a waterproof roof, you should ensure that the lights are fully waterproof.

You will also need to pay labor costs for a professional installer. Again, rates do vary. If the installation is simple and the installer is able to run the wiring directly off an existing circuit. Expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $500 or more for the installation.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

There are some additional costs that may or may not be included in your installation.

If your existing circuit will not cope with the load and a new circuit breaker is required, or if the installer believes that adding a ground fault circuit interrupter is needed, then you can expect to pay between $400 and $3,000 for this service. Your installer should be able to advise whether this will be required before they start work.

If the wiring is difficult, for example, because the lights are away from the house or away from an internal switch, there could be additional labor costs of between $100 and $300 to update and ensure that there is adequate wiring in place.

If the floodlights cannot be installed on the exterior of a property, you may need to buy poles or some other method of erecting the lights. These can cost between $100 and $200 each.

Can You Install Floodlights Yourself and How Much Will It Cost?

Ring Floodlight
Image Credit: Martin D Brown, Shutterstock

If you are a skilled electrician, it is possible to install the floodlights yourself, but this work should only be undertaken by somebody that knows what they’re doing.

If you can do the work yourself, it means that you won’t have to pay labor costs, and the only real investment will be the purchase of the lights. In this case, expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $500 for the lights, although if you need to add another circuit breaker or a floodlight pole, you will have to buy these too.

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Conclusion

Floodlights can make a good addition to the exterior of your home, providing lighting when you walk in a darkened area of the garden or improving security by lighting up dark areas when people approach. The total cost can range from $200 if you install a fairly basic floodlight yourself to $2,000 or more for a full installation completed by a professional installer. If you aren’t a skilled electrician, it is a good idea to have one do the work for you to ensure that the job is completed safely.


Featured Image Credit: Phakorn Kasikij, Shutterstock

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