Security Light Installation Cost

How Much Does Security Light Installation Cost?

For most homes, the cost to install security lights comes in at around £300. The final price to supply and fit depends on the type of light you choose, how many you’re having fitted, and how tricky they are to wire in.

Because you're working with electrics outdoors, it's a job for a qualified electrician rather than a casual DIY job. That way, everything's wired safely, and you're not guessing with cables and connections. For other types of outdoor lighting, such as garden or patio lights, see our guide to outdoor lighting installation costs.

For example, floodlights will cost around £80 to £180 to install, whereas motion sensor lights can cost about £90 to £500. On average, you can expect to pay somewhere between £80 and £1,100 for outdoor security lights.

Security Light Installation Prices

The table below indicates the average supply and fit security light installation costs:

Labour Cost to Install Security Lights & Timescales

Installing security lights is not a hugely extensive job, therefore, an electrician will usually work alone when completing this type of work. One security light can be fitted in around 1 to 2 hours. If you are installing multiple lights, it could take a few hours or up to a day to complete.

Most electricians will charge around £150 to £200 per day for the labour costs. They will usually charge a minimum of half a day's work, so you can expect to pay a minimum price of around £75 to £100 for the labour costs.

Just want a straight quote?

You can use MyJobQuote to get free, no-obligation quotes from local electricians. Tell us a few details about your security lights and we’ll connect you with tradespeople near you.

Security Light Costs

If you plan to buy the light yourself before the installation, you may be curious about how much you can expect to pay for a light.

Below is a list of the prices for the light alone without the cost of labour:

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

Additional Security Light Installation Cost

When it comes to installing security lights, there are several additional costs that you may need to consider. Below is a list of those extra costs that you might need to think about:

Security Alarm

When installing a security light, you may also want to accompany the light with a security alarm for added peace of mind. Alarms are great for notifying you when intruders are near and can be very helpful at deterring potential burglars.

The average cost for fitting a security alarm is around £125 to £500. The overall cost will depend on the type of alarm and your location in the UK.

CCTV System

If you are interested in adding even more security to your home, you may be interested in installing a CCTV system. The cost of installing CCTV will depend mostly on the number of cameras you wish to have installed. The average price for installing a CCTV system is around £350 to £2,500.

Rewiring or New Circuit

If your property doesn't have an existing outdoor circuit, or if the current wiring isn't suitable for the new lights, an electrician may need to run new cabling from the consumer unit. Depending on the distance and route involved, this can add £100 to £300 to the overall cost. In older properties, a full circuit upgrade may be needed, which can push costs higher.

Minor Works Certificate

Any notifiable electrical work carried out by a registered electrician should come with an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or a Minor Works Certificate. This confirms the work meets UK building regulations and is safe. Most reputable electricians include this as standard, but it's worth confirming when you receive your quote. If the work isn't certified, you may face issues when selling your property.

Removing Old Fittings

If you're replacing an existing security light, the old fitting will need to be safely removed before the new one is installed. This is usually a quick job and may be included in the overall installation quote, but it's worth checking. If the old fitting is particularly large, corroded, or awkwardly positioned, removal could add £20 to £50 to the bill.

Factors That Impact Security Light Installation Costs

You may need to consider several factors when working out the overall cost that you can expect to pay for your security lights. Below is a list of the main cost-affecting factors that you may need to consider:

Type of Lights

Security light installation costs depend heavily on the type of light you want.

For example, if you're on a tight budget, you may choose to have landscape lights that cost as little as £2 each. However, more powerful security lights that cover more area can cost £1,000 or more.

With this in mind, the type of light you choose is a huge factor in the price you can expect to pay.

Positioning of Lights

The positioning of the lights can affect the overall cost of the job, as it'll impact how easy the job is to complete.

For example, additional wiring may be needed depending on where the lights are placed. The ease of access to the area can also affect the cost. The more difficult the job is to complete, the longer it will take, so the labour costs will increase.

Location of Property

The location of your property can also play a role in the overall amount that you pay for the job.

Those based in and around the London area can expect to pay around £30 to £100 more in labour costs for fitting security lights than homeowners based in the north or other parts of the UK.

Existing Wiring

Whether or not existing wiring is in place at the installation point has a significant impact on the overall cost. If you're replacing an existing security light on an already-wired circuit, the job is quicker and cheaper. If new wiring is needed — particularly if it has to be run from the consumer unit — this adds both time and materials to the job, typically increasing costs by £50 to £200.

Number of Lights

The more lights you're having installed in a single visit, the more cost-effective the job becomes per fitting. An electrician who charges a minimum call-out will cover multiple lights in the same session, reducing the effective cost per light. However, total labour time increases with each additional fitting, so the overall bill will still be higher than a single-light installation.

What's Involved in Security Light Installation?

Installing a security light involves outdoor electrical work, drilling into external walls, and ensuring everything is correctly weatherproofed.

This is why most homeowners choose to hire a qualified electrician to make sure their security lighting is installed safely and working properly.

Once you've hired your electrician, here's an overview of what the installation process typically involves:

Before the Job Starts

• Initial Assessment – Your electrician inspects the installation site and your existing outdoor circuit to determine whether new cabling is needed and what preparatory work will be required.
• Positioning the Light – They'll identify the best position for the light to maximise coverage of the area you want illuminated, taking into account sensor range, height, and any potential obstructions.
• Planning the Wiring – Once the location is confirmed, the electrician plans the safest and neatest route for the wiring, whether that's connecting to an existing outdoor circuit or running a new feed from the consumer unit.

During the Job

• Isolating the Power – Before any work begins, the relevant circuit is switched off to ensure the job can be carried out safely.
• Drilling and Preparing the Wall – Fixing holes are drilled at the mounting position and, where needed, a hole is made through the external wall. Protective conduit is fitted to house and protect the cables.
• Routing and Connecting the Wiring – The cables are fed through the conduit and connected to the appropriate terminals inside the light fitting, with the other end connected to the electrical supply.
• Fitting and Sealing the Light – The light is securely mounted in position and sealed around the fitting to ensure it's fully weatherproof.
• Installing Switches or Sensors – If an indoor switch or additional controls such as a PIR motion sensor or photocell are required, the electrician will install and connect these at this stage.

After the Job

• Testing the Installation – Once everything is connected, the power is restored and the electrician checks that the light, switch, and any sensors are all functioning correctly and safely.
• Final Safety Checks and Certification – After completing their checks, the electrician will provide the relevant documentation — such as a Minor Works Certificate — confirming the installation complies with UK Building Regulations.

Types of Security Lights

There are several different types of security lights that you can choose from. To help you decide which type of security light is right for you, we have created the following list with information about each type and the pros and cons of each:

Motion Sensor Security Lights

Most properties in the UK choose motion sensor security lights because these lights only operate when there is movement around the vicinity of your home. The average cost for motion sensor lights is around £10 to £50 each, although this can vary depending on the style and variety of the light.

Motion sensor lights are great for reducing your energy bills as they only come on when they need to. However, the downside of motion sensor lights is that they are hard to control as they can sometimes come on when it's not needed, such as if a neighbour walks by your home or if leaves are blowing around.

The lights also don't stay on for very long, making them the wrong option if you're looking for lighting that allows you to sit out in your garden in the evening.

Pros

• ✔ Cheap price.
• ✔ Energy efficient.
• ✔ Provide adequate lighting.
• ✔ Come on automatically.

Cons

• ✖ Hard to control.
• ✖ Not great if you need lighting for long periods.

Floodlights

Floodlights are a popular choice for driveways, garages, and the rear of properties. The cost of the light itself ranges from around £4 to £80, depending on wattage and specification. LED floodlights are the most common option — they're energy efficient, long-lasting, and widely available from £15 upwards.

For floodlight installation costs, most electricians charge £80 to £180 to supply and fit a single unit, assuming wiring is already in place. If you need new wiring run from the consumer unit, this can add £50 to £200 to the total. Installing 2 floodlights in a single visit typically costs £150 to £300 in total, since the electrician is already on site and the additional fitting time is relatively short.

They're weatherproof, which reduces the risk of electrical incidents, and LED versions can last 30,000 hours or more. One unit may not be enough to cover a large driveway or garden evenly, so factor in the cost of multiple fittings if you have a larger area to cover.

Pros

• ✔ Low priced.
• ✔ High intensity.
• ✔ Long-lasting.
• ✔ Weatherproof.
• ✔ Reduced risks of fire or electrical incidents.

Cons

• ✖ Not great for covering large areas.
• ✖ Multiple lights can cost a lot.

Landscape Security Lights

Landscape security lights come in various styles, such as pathway lights, LED ground lights, and decking lights. The price you will pay for these lights will depend on the style that you choose.

The costs can range from £2 to £1,000 or more, depending on the type and quality. At the lower end, you'll find basic solar-powered spike lights or simple LED path markers — cheap to buy and easy to install, but limited in brightness and build quality.

Mid-range options (£20 to £150) include more durable LED path lights, deck lights, and ground spotlights with better weatherproofing and longer lifespans.

At the premium end, you're looking at architectural-grade fittings, smart-connected systems, or custom in-ground LED installations. These offer a much higher output and a more polished finish, but come with significantly higher supply and installation costs.

One of the main benefits of landscape security lighting is that it can illuminate the full perimeter of your property, making it less appealing to intruders.

The downside of these lights is that they can be quite difficult to install and can also increase your electrical bills by quite a lot. This is because there tend to be many lights installed, and they are usually on for long periods.

Pros

• ✔ Many styles available.
• ✔ Provide a lot of lighting.
• ✔ Increase security and safety of your home.
• ✔ Many styles are aesthetically pleasing.

Cons

• ✖ It can be difficult to install.
• ✖ It can be expensive to buy.
• ✖ It can be costly to run.

Spotlights

Security spotlights are narrow beams of intense lights usually installed along walkways or exterior walls for an aesthetically pleasing look. This type of light tends to cost around £8 to £400 for the lights themselves. The main advantage of these lights is that they are very long-lasting and very durable.

However, one problem with this type of light is that many of them use regular bulbs, which can be prone to blowing. With this in mind, you may want to pay extra for LED bulbs to ensure the lights are long-lasting.

Pros

• ✔ Provide a lot of light.
• ✔ Very long-lasting.
• ✔ Durable.
• ✔ Waterproof.

Cons

• ✖ Bulbs can be prone to blowing.
• ✖ May have to pay extra for LED bulbs.

Solar-Powered Security Lights

Solar-powered lights are a great option for outdoor lighting as they use power from the sun and don't require any electrical wiring to work. These lights tend to be very affordable and cost around £1 to £20 per light.

The main advantages of these lights are the fact that there is no running cost and they are very easy to install. Most people can install these lights themselves as a simple DIY job.

One downside is that they have a much lower output, so they don't provide much light on their own. This means you may need to buy quite a few of these lights for them to make a difference. In gloomy winter months they can also be much dimmer or only stay on for a short time.

Pros

• ✔ Low prices.
• ✔ Easy to install.
• ✔ Free to run.

Cons

• ✖ Don't provide much light.
• ✖ Must be placed in direct sunlight to work.

Checklist: Hiring an Electrician to Install Security Lights

Don’t be too hasty to book in your local electrician – run through a few simple checks first. It’ll help you dodge cowboys and know exactly what you’re paying for:

• Are they a registered electrician? Look for someone registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT. This means their work is self-certified and meets UK building regulations without needing a separate inspection from your local authority — which saves you time and potential fees.
• Do they fit security lights much? Ask if they’ve installed the type of lights you want before – motion sensors, floodlights, smart lights, the lot. If they’ve done similar jobs, they’ll work faster and make neater choices on placement.
• Is the quote broken down easily and concisely? You want to see labour, parts, and any extras listed individually, so it’s a lot easier to compare prices with other electricians.
• What, exactly, will your electrician do? Check whether they’re running new cables, drilling through walls, sealing holes, setting up sensors, and removing old fittings. Get it in writing, as you really don’t want to get caught out.
• What about insurance? Enquire about public liability insurance. In the worst case that something gets damaged or someone gets hurt while they’re working, you’ll both be glad it’s in place.
• Will they test everything properly? You can expect them to test everything. They’ll test the lights, sensors, and switches before they leave and show you how it all works, including how to tweak the settings.
• Do they offer a guarantee on their work? The right electrician will guarantee their workmanship for a set period. So, find out how long you’re covered for if a fault crops up later.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question