Install Garden Lighting Cost

How Much Does Garden Lighting Installation Cost?

Garden lighting comes in many different forms–which means there will definitely be a type that suits your needs. The main varieties you’ll come across are:

• Solar-powered garden lights - £10 to £200+
• Wired garden lights - £120 to £200+
• LED garden lights - £350 to £450+

Solar-powered garden lights are a great DIY-friendly option for homeowners who want a quick, hassle-free solution to brighten up their garden. They can range from simple “stake” designs, which can be inserted into the ground to illuminate a pathway, for example, and can stretch to more elaborate designs such as festoon string lights, strip lights that wrap around your whole garden, or intricate designs like hanging tree or ball illuminations.

These lights don’t require any hard electrical wiring, making them a great choice for DIY enthusiasts who want a quick fix. However, this means they can be a little temperamental if you don’t have a great deal of sunshine, as they are powered by the sun.

If you want something more reliable and suitable for use all year round (no matter the level of sunshine you receive), wired garden lights are a great solution. Unlike solar-powered lights, wired garden lights need to be installed by an electrician as they are mains-powered. As you’d expect, they are available in a range of styles and designs to suit your outdoor aesthetic, from elaborate faux streetlight styles to more simple light bulb strips, or firefly festoon bulbs.

Similar to wired garden lights, you can opt for an LED bulb instead to give an energy-efficient glow. This allows you to achieve a consistent outdoor glow with a lower carbon footprint while saving money on your energy bills at the same time. LED garden lights come in a range of designs and styles, from festoon bulbs to upright stakes, as well as fairy lights to create a whimsical feel.

The cost of your outdoor lighting installation will depend on a few factors:

• The type and quality of your chosen lighting (e.g. mains-powered being generally more expensive than solar)
• The complexity of the installation (e.g. any wiring and landscaping needs)
• The size of the area

It’s important to consider these factors when calculating representative costs, as lighting a large garden across multiple levels will cost more than lighting a small balcony with a few festoon bulbs, for example.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some installation prices.

Garden Lighting Installation Prices

To give you an idea of the budget you may need for your garden lighting project, we’ve collected some estimated costs, considering different types of lighting installations:

Low-voltage outdoor lights can cost between £120 and £200, depending on the scale of your desired installation and lighting style. They are typically cheaper than other types of wired outdoor lights, as the lower voltage means they use less energy and as a result, aren’t as bright. This makes them a good cost-effective choice if you’re on a budget.

A cluster of 10 LED lights can cost between £350 and £450, again depending on the exact style and design. LED bulbs are incredibly energy-efficient, meaning your carbon footprint will be reduced compared to traditional bulbs. They also shine brightly, which can give you a great burst of illumination if you have a particularly dark outdoor space.

Solar-powered outdoor lights are incredibly easy to install yourself as a DIY project and require no electrical wiring, helping to keep installation costs down. As they are powered by the sun, they can be less reliable than hard-wired outdoor lights, but they can be a good choice if you have a lot of sunshine and just want a subtle glow to illuminate a pathway, for example. These cost as little as £10 and can rise to £200+ for more ornate creations.

Landscape lights come in many different shapes and sizes, from pathway lights to LED ground lights and decking light solutions, giving you ample choice, costing as little as £80 for supply and installation. They are typically bright and work well to light your home and surroundings, acting as a layer of security–however, they can be expensive to run if you keep them on for long periods of time.

Speaking of security, a 30-watt security light will cost around £150 to £200, depending on the exact model. As the name suggests, these give a bright burst of light suitable for deterring unwanted visitors. Similarly, floodlights work in a comparable way and cost between £80 and £180.

As we’ve mentioned, some outdoor lighting solutions are suitable for DIY installation. Let’s look at some supply-only costs to put that into perspective:

For supply-only, landscape lights can cost as little as £2, while some floodlights can start at just £4. Motion sensors are typically cheap, too, starting at £10.

It’s important to note that any electrical installation should be completed by competent electricians only to avoid the risk of electrocution. If you are unsure about electrical wiring, do not attempt it yourself–it’s best to hire a professional electrician to do the job safely and efficiently.

Additional Costs

As with most home renovation jobs, one small task will inevitably turn into a much bigger project–and lights for the outside is one of those “small” tasks.

Garden Maintenance

If you’re planning on spending more time outside–and especially once you’ve had lights installed–any imperfections will be all the more obvious. This might mean you want to have some garden maintenance undertaken.

Regular garden maintenance can cost between £30 and £50 to maintain an already well-kept garden. However, for vastly overgrown or unkempt spaces, the cost will be in the region of £200 to £250 per day, with an added charge for waste clearance of around £40 to £70 per hour.

Patio and Decking Installation

Perhaps you want a solid spot to sit and enjoy a drink after work in the summer evenings? If your garden doesn’t already have a patio or decking, it might be a good idea to have that work booked in around the same time as your garden light project to revamp the entire space at once.

Installing a garden patio costs around £800 to £1,500, depending on the size and scope of the design. Decking is slightly more expensive, starting at £900 and rising to £4,400 and beyond, depending on the size and quality of your chosen decking.

Fencing Repairs

Maybe your garden fences have seen better days–eight wooden fence panels can cost in the region of £1,500 to £2,000 depending on the wood’s quality, while metal panels can command £1,600 to £2,400. You can opt for a supply-only approach to fencing, with panels costing anywhere from £15 to £80 depending on the style (lap being cheaper than tongue and groove, for example), if you feel capable of taking on the labour yourself.

Tree Pruning

Overhanging trees are a burden in gardens, especially if you have quite a few to maintain. Tree surgery is a highly skilled trade and not something you should attempt yourself, so it’s always best to hire professionals to take care of the work for you.

Daily rates start at £150 and rise to £200 for more experienced surgeons, but you will normally need more than one surgeon on site, bumping your overall costs up to around £450 to £600 per day.

Labour Costs and Time Frames

Electricians commonly charge between £150 to £200 per day of work. Depending on the scale of your electrical installation, the cost for outdoor light installation is most likely to be between £75 and £100, with higher costs associated with more complex installations.

It’s common to see these labour costs rolled into the total estimated price from a supplier, including the lighting supply costs, so be sure to check this in your quotation to ensure you know exactly what’s included. This will save you from encountering pesky added extras that you weren’t initially aware of.

Installing garden lights is a relatively quick process, generally taking around half a day, but the timeframe can extend for more complex tasks. For instance, if you have a vast garden that requires complex wiring set-up, the timeframe is likely to be longer than it would be for a simple small garden set-up on one level.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Garden Lighting

By now, we have a fairly good idea of the different types of outdoor lighting–but how can we narrow those choices down to find the best solution for your outdoor space?

Take a look at our pros and cons to get better acquainted with the different types and their associated hallmarks:

Installation Steps

When your contractor comes to your property to install your mains-powered garden lights, the steps they’re most likely to take are as follows:

1. Switch off the electrical supply
   The first and most important job is for your contractor to turn off the electrical supply. This ensures the work can begin safely.
   
   
2. Work area preparation
   Work will then begin to clear the space and start the preparations to get the site ready for lighting installation. If you want to save money–and time–at this stage, it’s best to have your garden space cleared in the relevant areas to ensure your electrician can get to work straight away without any delays.Where necessary, holes will be drilled to accommodate the wiring and lighting type. The holes will be filled with plastic conduit, and then the cable will be fed through them.
   
   
3. Connect the wires
   Once threaded through, your contractor will connect the cables with their associated terminals before securing them with PVC electrical tape.
   
   
4. Light fitting
   At this stage, things start to take shape as the lights are fitted. They will take time to ensure the fitting is flush to the surface, and sealant will likely be applied to keep it secure.
   
   
5. Light switch installation
   The light switch will then be installed, with the electrician ensuring the cables are connected properly to ensure proper earthing.
   
   
6. Testing the lights
   Once the contractor is happy with the electrical installation, they will check the lights work. If there are any issues, they’ll be rectified at this stage before the electrical supply is fully restored.

As we’ve mentioned, electrical work needs to be carried out by professional, qualified electricians–do not attempt this work by yourself.

DIY Installation

Solar-powered outdoor lighting is the only type suitable for DIY projects, as it doesn’t require any electrical wiring. With these installations, you can easily unbox and insert them into the ground, or mount as necessary.

If you have outdoor lighting that needs to be mains-powered, it’s recommended that you hire a professional electrician to carry out the work for you to ensure it is completed safely. There are obvious risks involved with working with electricity, and these can be mitigated by handing the work over to a professional with ample experience.

Compliance and Regulations

In most cases, the installation of garden lighting isn’t a notifiable activity and doesn’t require planning permission. The work, however, needs to be carried out by a qualified electrician if you are having wired lighting installed, as it will need to meet regulations and electrical standards.

You should receive an electrical installation certificate (EIC) to show the work was carried out lawfully and competently. The electrician should also notify the local council about the work.

Rules and regulations may differ in conservation areas or within listed property boundaries, and should be looked into on an individual case-by-case basis in these instances to ensure what you are having done isn’t in breach of any guidelines.

FAQs

Finding and Hiring a Professional

While some outdoor lighting installations–such as solar-powered lights with no electrical wiring–can be completed yourself, it’s recommended that you hire a professional electrician to do the work when it comes to mains-powered lights.

It might be tempting to jump straight in with the first trader you receive a quote from–we all want our gardens to look their best!–but it’s still prudent to carry out some due diligence before signing a contract. First, take a look at the trader’s credentials: Are they experienced in outdoor light installations, and for how many years?

Ensure they have relevant experience in your project’s type–while they might be good at one particular speciality, it’s best to find someone who fits your full project’s scope to ensure a good result. Look at any before and after photographs or videos the trader has on their website or profile, as this will give you a good idea of the type of finish you can expect.

Working with electricity means abiding by electrical regulations. Ask the trader to ensure competence in this area–if they show hesitancy about regulations, it’s best to avoid them.

Aim to gather at least three different quotes to compare. Be wary of suspiciously cheap prices with immediate availability, as this can be the sign of a rogue trader or someone who might be willing to cut corners to get the job done as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Lastly, be sure to ask if the trader offers warranties or guarantees on their work–it’s best to find out what will happen if the lighting fails and if they will come back out to fix it at no charge.

Sources

https://elec-inn.co.uk/how-much-does-it-cost-to-have-an-outside-light-fitted
https://www.airtasker.com/uk/costs/landscape-lighting/how-much-does-outdoor-lighting-cost
https://www.screwfix.com/guides/outdoor-garden/guide-to-outdoor-lighting
https://theartoflight.co/further-knowledge/is-garden-lighting-notifiable