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Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Cost

By Kim

Last updated 24th May 2023 - Reading time: 13 mins

Are you considering installing spotlights or downlights in your home? If so, you may be wondering how much this type of work costs.

In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about installing spotlights and downlights, including the supply costs, the labour costs, and any additional costs associated with this work.

We will also go over the method of installation, the different types of spotlights and downlights, and some tips on finding the right contractors for the job.

Average Cost of Fitting Spotlights and Downlights:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 2 – 4 hours

£400

How Much Does Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Cost?
- Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Prices
Supply Only Costs
Additional Costs
Labour Costs and Timescales
Cost Factors of Fitting Spotlights and Downlights
What's Involved in Fitting Spotlights and Downlights?
Can I Install Spotlights and Downlights Myself?
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Fitting Spotlights and Downlights
Types of Spotlights and Downlights
Hiring Contractors for Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Checklist
FAQs
Sources

How Much Does Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Cost?

Lighting can make a huge difference to your home, and choosing the right lights is important. Downlights are very common in British homes. Installing downlights or spotlights is a standard type of job for any qualified electrician. These lights can add a modern, sleek touch to any room of the home.

So, how much does it cost to install spotlights and downlights?

The average cost for installing spotlights and downlights is around £300 - £500. The price will depend on how accessible the existing wiring is, the number of spotlights needed, and your location in the UK.

Those based in the London area can expect to pay more for the electrician work than those based in the North or other parts of the UK. This is because labour costs, in general, are typically higher in this area.

Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Prices

Below is a table showing the average cost of fitting downlights in your home:

Job Description	Average Cost
Supply and installation of downlights in one room	£300 - £500
Supply and installation of downlights in the whole house	£1000 - £4000
Downlight/spotlight costs (supply only)	£20 - £75

Supply Only Costs

If you are interested in replacing downlights yourself or want to purchase the downlights or spotlights first and then find an electrician to fit them later, you might be interested in the cost of the lights themselves without factoring in the cost of the labour.

The average cost of the lights themselves is around £20 - £75 on average. The more lights you need, the more you can expect to pay for them.

Halogen bulbs are much cheaper to buy than LED bulbs. However, these have much poorer energy efficiency when compared to LED bulbs. LED bulbs are around £20 per bulb on average. However, they can be up to around £75, depending on the type of light you choose.

LED bulbs come with huge cost savings. They use much less energy than halogen bulbs, and they also last for around seven to eight years. LED spotlights and downlights are very energy efficient, so these are usually the most common option for bulbs in these lights.

Additional Costs

There are several additional costs that you may also need to consider when installing ceiling spotlights or downlights. Below is a list of the additional things that you may need to budget for with this type of work:

Paint a Room

If you are installing the new light fittings as a way of improving the overall look of your room, then you may wish to consider also decorating the room in more ways. This might include painting the room a new colour. The average cost to paint a room is around £300 - £500. This price will depend on the room's size and the paint's quality.

Ceiling Repair or Replacement

When you are getting your lights changed, you may notice some damage or imperfections on the ceiling. If so, this may mean that you need to get some ceiling repairs or a ceiling replacement completed before you go through with the new lights work. On average, replacing a ceiling will cost around £400 - £1000.

Plastering

If the walls of the room and the ceiling are looking a bit uneven, tired, and old, you may want to plaster the room before adding any additional items of décor to the room, including the lights. The price you pay for plastering a room will depend on the size of the room. However, you can expect to pay roughly £400 - £1500 for this type of work.

Labour Costs and Timescales

If you are planning on purchasing your spotlights and downlights separately and then finding a contractor to fit them at a later date for you, then you may be wondering what the labour costs are for this type of work.

You will need a qualified electrician to install your new spotlights or downlights for you. This is because bad wiring could lead to potential fire hazards, which can put you, your family, and your home in danger.

The average cost to hire an electrician is around £150 - £200 per day. This will depend on your location as those based in the London area will pay more for the labour costs than those based in the North or other areas in the UK.

The timescales that you can expect when it comes to installing new downlights will vary depending on the number of lights being fitted and the extent of the electrical work needed. However, you can expect this work to take around 2 – 4 hours per room.

Cost Factors of Fitting Spotlights and Downlights

There are several things that can affect the overall cost of fitting downlights or spotlights. Below is a list of the things that may have an impact on the overall price you pay for this work:

Additional Electrical Work

When installing downlights or spotlights, the electrical work needed can affect the overall cost of the job. This is because electrical work can take time to install.

The electrician may need to feed additional electrical cables to reach the new lights in their given location. The more of this additional electrical work that is needed, the longer the job will take and this will, therefore, result in higher labour costs.

Location of Property

The location of your property can also affect the overall cost of the job. Those in the London area can expect to pay more for the electrician work than those in the North or other parts of the UK. This is because labour costs, in general, are typically higher in this area.

Type of Lights

The type of lights that you choose will also affect the overall cost of the job. As we've mentioned earlier, downlights and spotlights can range in price. The more expensive your lights are, the higher the overall costs. Some lights are also more difficult to install than others and may require more electrical work, which can add on more costs.

Number of Lights

The number of lights that you need may also increase the cost. For example, if you fit downlights or spotlights in just one room, this will be cheaper than if you are planning on installing them in multiple rooms. Similarly, the more lights that you want in each room will increase the costs.

What's Involved in Fitting Spotlights and Downlights?

It’s important that you hire a professional electrician to install downlights for you as faulty or incorrect electrical work can be very dangerous. However, if you’re wondering what the process is for installing downlights, below is an overview of what your electrician will do for you on the day of the work:

First of all, the electrician will measure and mark the ceiling at the centre point of the light. In this position, they will then drill a small pilot hole into the ceiling
The electrician will then ensure that no pipes, joists, or wires are in the way of the installation before continuing
They will then use a hole saw to cut out the appropriate width of the hole for the downlight to be fitted into
They will then feed the wiring through to the hole so that the downlight can be wired into position
They will then fit the downlight into the hole by holding the two springs back against the sides and pushing it up into the hole
Once in position, the springs will then lie flat on top of the ceiling to hold it properly in place

Can I Install Spotlights and Downlights Myself?

It is never recommended that you install downlights or spotlights yourself. This is because it is electrical work and can be very dangerous if done as a DIY job. If you attempt to install the lights yourself, you may be at risk of electrocution.

Also, if you wire the lights up incorrectly or if any part of your wiring work is faulty, this could put the lights and wiring at risk of starting a fire. A fire will put you, your family, and your home in danger, so it's not really a risk you want to take.

You should only attempt to do this work yourself as a DIY job if you are a qualified electrician.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Fitting Spotlights and Downlights

When it comes to installing spotlights and downlights in your home, you won’t usually need to worry about planning permission or building regulations. However, the work will need to be up to electrical standards. This is why it is so important to hire a professional electrician to carry out this type of work for you.

If you live in a listed building, then you may need to apply for planning permission to install new lights. However, this is something that you should check with your local authority before carrying out the work.

Types of Spotlights and Downlights

There are several different types of downlights or spotlights to choose from. Below is a list of the different types of these lights that you can buy to help you make the right choice for your home:

Recessed Downlights

These are the most popular downlight types and are common in UK homes. With this type of fitting, you will only see the front of the fitting, which is parallel to the ceiling, making it blend in with the ceiling in a flush design. Alternatively, these can be used with a decorative bezel if you want to make more of a statement.

Surface Downlights

Surface downlights are also common in UK homes where the ceiling is unsuitable for installing recessed downlights. With this type of light, the body of the light is clearly visible once the installation is complete. Surface downlights can vary in style and type from simple to very decorative since the fitting is visible.

Pendant Downlights

Pendant downlights are great for their aesthetics as they vary in style to suit any surrounding design. They come in many different styles, from modern to traditional to contemporary. The body of this type of light is very prominent as it is installed by hanging the light fitting to the ceiling.

In addition to the wide variety of designs, this type of light also comes with varying light distributions that can add to the decorative effects while also functioning as a way of illuminating the room.

Semi-Recessed Downlights

With this type of light, the main body of a semi-recessed downlight is installed into the ceiling, similar to a fully recessed light. However, some of the bezels will be slightly protruding. This type of light is best suited to homes that light to see a feature ceiling.

Hiring Contractors for Fitting Spotlights and Downlights Checklist

You may need to consider several things when finding the right electrician to carry out your downlight or spotlight installation. Below is a list of some things you should think about when finding the appropriate contractor for the job:

Does the contractor provide any guarantees with the electrical work?
How much does it cost to install the downlights or spotlights? – Ask for a breakdown of the costs so that you know you’re paying a good price for each element of the job
Does the electrician have experience in installing your type of lights?
How much experience does the electrician have in installing downlights and spotlights?
Will the electrician fix any issues that may come up?
Do you need to hire any additional contractors for parts of the work? For example, plaster for the ceiling?
Do you need to provide anything for the electrician so they can adequately complete the job?
How will it take to install the downlights or spotlights?
Can the electrician provide any pictures of their previous work?
Will the electrician take care of the waste removal for you?
Search for ‘electrician near me’ online to find reputable local electricians to carry out the work

FAQs

What is the difference between downlights and spotlights?

Spotlights are very similar to downlights. However, these are usually mounted to the surface of the ceiling. Spotlights are ideal for directing the light flow onto specific objects or areas and can be used when recessed downlights can’t be installed. Both types of lights come in many different styles and designs.

What are fire-rated downlights?

A fire-rated downlight is a recessed light that is fitted into the ceiling. The downlight's fire rating must match the ceiling's fire rating. This is to prevent the light from becoming too hot and causing damage to your ceiling or causing a potential danger of a fire. Fire-rated downlights help to slow the spread of fire when compared to traditional downlights. They do this by sealing the hole where they are installed.

How do you fit the downlight spring clips?

The downlight spring clips hold the fixture in place on the underside. To fit the clips to the light, you will need to push a screwdriver into one end of the spring, turn this around, and then insert this into the first slot. Then, push the other end of the spring to the other slot before releasing the screwdriver.

How do I make a downlight hole smaller?

If your downlight hole is too big, this can be made smaller with the use of a downlight conversion kit. This uses a circular conversion plate which reduces the size of the original hole.

How do you remove an LED downlight light bulb?

To remove the LED bulb from your downlight, begin by turning off the switch. Wait for the bulb to cool, and then place your fingers on either side of the rim trim and pull this down to expose the two spring clips which are on either side of the bulb. When the light and wire drop down, you will see that there is a plug attached. Simply unplug this wire and then replace the unit with a new one.