How much does commercial lighting installation cost?
Free guide to commercial lighting installation pricing. The typical range, what drives cost up or down, and how to read the difference between an honest quote and a red-flag one. All numbers reflect residential network installs across the US.
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Estimate your commercial lighting project.
Square footage, ceiling type, project type, and energy code. Estimate covers fixtures, install labor, and basic controls.
Rough estimate only. Actual quotes depend on your specific property, electrical setup, fixture grade, and local labor rates. The free site visit from a network installer gives you the real number — typically within 15% of these ranges, sometimes lower.
Commercial Lighting Installation. Typical price by project scope.
Detailed bands by project size and scope. All ranges reflect residential network installs; commercial projects price separately.
Six factors that move every commercial lighting installation quote.
01
Square footage and ceiling height
02
Whether existing fixtures can be retrofit or need full replacement
03
Energy code compliance (Title 24, ASHRAE 90.1). California and West Coast cost more
04
Emergency lighting requirements (battery backup units, exit signage)
05
After-hours installation (nights and weekends carry premium labor rates)
06
Lighting controls (occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, scheduling)
Pricing shifts with labor rates and local code.
The Midwest baseline runs ~15–20% below national average; coastal and West Coast markets run above.
Region
Midwest
0.85×
Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Columbus. Office and retail fit-outs at baseline pricing.
Region
Southeast
0.95×
Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta. Strong growth in tenant fit-out activity.
Region
East Coast
1.30×
NYC, Boston, DC. Premium labor + after-hours installs are standard.
Region
West Coast
1.50×
LA, SF, Seattle. Title 24 / ASHRAE compliance + premium labor markets.
Three realistic scenarios. Itemized.
Real-world line items from network installations. Your project will price differently. Request a free quote for an exact scope.
Cincinnati, OH
Small office retrofit
1,800 sq ft office, halogen to LED across open workspace plus 3 conference rooms.
- Lighting plan + spec$1,200
- 42 LED fixtures (mixed types)$4,200
- Occupancy sensors$900
- Install labor (2 days)$2,400
- After-hours premium$0
Denver, CO
Boutique retail flagship
700 sq ft retail with custom track lighting plus accent fixtures designed for product display.
- Lighting design$1,800
- Track system + 28 heads$4,800
- Accent display fixtures$2,200
- Install labor$3,600
- Commissioning$600
Houston, TX
Warehouse high-bay
22,000 sq ft warehouse retrofit from metal halide to LED high-bay. Major efficiency gain.
- Energy study + plan$2,400
- 48 LED high-bay fixtures$24,000
- Daylight harvesting sensors$3,600
- Install labor (lift required)$12,000
- Disposal of old fixtures$1,200
What a good quote looks like. And what to walk away from.
Good signs
- Energy study completed before fixture selection
- Code-compliance documented for Title 24 / ASHRAE / local code
- After-hours install scheduling discussed upfront
- Fixture data sheets provided for every item
- Daylight harvesting / occupancy sensors included in base design
- Disposal of old fixtures included in scope
Walk-away signs
- Fixture selection without energy study
- ‘Code compliance is your responsibility’
- After-hours premium added at invoice time
- ‘LED retrofit’ with no fixture specs
- Sensors quoted as add-on after the fact
- Old fixture disposal billed separately after the project
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01
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What homeowners say about commercial lighting installation pricing.
Recent feedback from Commercial Lighting Installation homeowners after their projects closed.
“Boutique retail flagship. They quoted track + accents, worked around our retail hours, finished before our seasonal opening.”
Tom W.
Denver, CO
“Warehouse high-bay retrofit. Energy study first, then fixture selection. Payback math was honest. 3.2 years, not the inflated 1.8 someone else quoted.”
Susan P.
Houston, TX
“Office track lighting with after-hours install. Quote had a clean per-hour after-hours rate up front, not a surprise on the invoice.”
Carlos M.
San Antonio, TX
“Small office retrofit. 42 fixtures, occupancy sensors included in base price (not an add-on).”
Rachel M.
Cincinnati, OH
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Pricing for every other lighting service.
Cost Guide
Outdoor Lighting Installation
$2,000–$5,000
View guide →Cost Guide
Landscape Lighting Installation
$2,500–$8,000
View guide →Cost Guide
Recessed Lighting Installation
$150–$300
View guide →Cost Guide
Holiday Lighting Installation
$300–$800
View guide →Cost Guide
Security Lighting Installation
$150–$350
View guide →Cost Guide
Interior Lighting Installation
$800–$4,000
View guide →Cost Guide
LED Lighting Installation
$50–$200
View guide →Cost Guide
Deck & Patio Lighting Installation
$1,500–$6,000
View guide →Cost Guide
Smart Lighting Installation
$1,500–$6,000
View guide →Commercial Lighting Installation cost — common questions.
How much does commercial lighting installation cost per square foot?
Retrofit runs $3–6/sq ft for standard office; new install $6–12/sq ft. High-bay warehouse retrofit $4–8/sq ft. Retail with custom track can reach $20+/sq ft. Major variables: ceiling height, existing wiring condition, energy code compliance level.
What’s Title 24 and how does it affect cost?
Title 24 is California’s strict energy code requiring high-efficacy lighting plus mandatory controls (occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting). It adds 20–30% to project cost but typically pays back in 2–4 years via reduced energy bills. ASHRAE 90.1 applies in other states with similar (lighter) requirements.
Should I retrofit existing fixtures or do a full replacement?
Retrofit if the existing housings are <10 years old and rated for LED conversion kits. Full replacement for older fluorescent or metal halide systems. The controls and color rendering are dramatically better with modern LED. Energy study before either decision saves money long-term.
What’s the energy payback period typically?
2–4 years for standard office retrofits, 1.5–3 years for warehouse high-bay retrofits (because lights run 24/7). California Title 24 projects often qualify for utility rebates that cut the payback in half.
Can the install happen during business hours?
Usually yes for small offices and retail outside opening hours. Anything disruptive (warehouses, restaurants, hotels) requires after-hours scheduling. Expect a 20–40% labor premium on those projects.
What’s included in ‘commissioning’ on a commercial quote?
Commissioning is the post-install programming and verification. Setting occupancy sensor sensitivity, daylight harvesting thresholds, and scene programming. It’s $400–1,500 depending on system complexity and should be a line item, not hidden in labor.