It’s no secret that I’m head-over-heels for picture lights aka art lights. I have them in our bedroom, our study, our kitchen, our daughter Greta’s bathroom, our mudroom…you get it ;). They immediately make any piece of art, bookcase, mirror, or collectible wall more of a showcase. Plus, they provide just the most moody, dramatic, museum-like lighting to any room.
I’ve already done a full guide on picture lights, but I often get asked, “How much did it cost you to install a picture light in [insert room name]?” And the answer is…well, it’s kind of hard to say—but we can help!
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See, usually either Chris installs a picture light himself or the installation is included in the price of a bigger contracted room makeover that had other electrical projects included. Now, before you head to YouTube to get ideas on how to install a picture light, let’s face the facts. Electrical work is something you really shouldn’t take on as a casual DIY-er unless you have been trained properly by someone with a lot of knowledge and experience. The risks are just too high. Your best option is to hire a professional!
I want to give you an idea of how much it costs to install a picture light through a licensed electrician, so I collected quotes from six companies in our region just outside the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, to get a better idea of what you can expect. Plus I’m including some things you should consider before getting a quote or hiring a professional to install a picture light.
Of course, you can (and should!) get quotes in your area that may be more or less than this depending on location. But I hope this gives a little transparency into a service that can seem a little bit ambiguous at times!
Picture Light | Copper Canisters | Copper Bowls | Copper Cookware | Brass Salt Mill | Glass Cloche | Cabinet Knobs | Brass Table Lamp | Leather Desk Mat | Marble Bowl | Kitchen Desk (similar)
What You Should Consider Before Hiring a Professional
- Make sure you are contracting with a licensed electrician in your state of residence.
- You may need a permit from your city, town or county to meet minimum local and state code requirements.
- Decide on the location where you’re going to put the light.
- Decide whether you want the light on a dimmer or not.
- You may need to have the light you want to install on-site for an accurate quote.
Questions That Electricians May Ask Before Installation
- What is the age of your home?
- How high up is the installation? Is a ladder needed?
- Is it a brand-new installation or replacing an existing install?
- What part of the house is it in (how close to a breaker or an attic)?
- What material are they going to cut through (tile vs. drywall vs. wood)?
- What stage of renovation are you in? (Is this a one-off or part of a bigger reno where the walls may already be opened up?)
- Do you have a light switch to add onto or will they have to add another hole in the wall?
- Is there crawl space/attic access close to where you want the fixture installed?
Picture Light | Bed | Bedding | Waffle Blanket | Bench (similar) | Polly Smoke/Sand Rug | Nightstands (similar) | Lamps (similar) | Vase | Faux Lilac Stems | Round Frame | Brass Frame | Brass Box (similar) | Chandelier
The Average Costs of Hiring an Electrician to Install a Picture Light
To give the six companies a similar starting point, we got a quote for a new install picture light through drywall above a piece of wall art in a room. The breaker for this wall is located behind the wall in the garage, and the ceilings are 9 feet high in this room.
Scope of work/quote fee: Ranges from free/waived to $69 (six companies I contacted did not charge for quotes, while two companies asked $45 and $69 respectively)
Wire and install picture light: Ranges from $200 to $366 with an average of $296
Acquire electrical permit through electrician*: Ranges from $225 to $285 with an average of $253
Install a 600w dimmer switch: Ranges from $60 to $76 with an average of $68
AFCI protection as needed per code: In our case, we already have it. If you need to add it, I was quoted at $150.
TOTAL COST (without quote fee): Ranged from $349 to $726 with an average cost of $503
*Note about the electrical permit: It’s recommended and sometimes required by county or town to have this for something even as minimal as changing out a light for a ceiling fan. Now, you can do these things yourself as a homeowner and not pull a permit, but for extra “insurance” especially if a new outlet is involved, it would be prudent. While a few companies required it due to liability, one electrician told me that it’s up to the homeowner (their reasoning was that they’ve heard some inspectors don’t even really look at the work completed, which made their clients really unhappy). This electrician did give me a tip that you can often pull the permit yourself—I looked into it on our town and it would save me $150 off the average cost above!
Obviously if you have other electrical work you’d like done, make sure to combine it into a single job to save, as some electricians said that the cost of dimmers went down for additional ones. Note that all of the electricians surveyed did not do drywall repair or they offered rough patching only, so final sanding and painting are on the homeowner if any larger cuts are necessary.
Also, ask about warranties on their services. A five-year warranty is solid expectation.
One company we surveyed—our friends at Mr. Electric from Neighborly—included a complimentary home safety check of all electrical panels, which is a really great feature for any homeowner. Especially for homes that have a few years on them—you don’t want any nasty surprises later on!
Picture lights are such a great way to add character and life to your homes—I just can’t get enough of them, honestly!! I hope this gives you a better idea if hard-wiring a picture light is a fit for your project and budget. And if you’re not sold on it yet, you can always try out a battery-powered or plug-in picture light!
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