Outdoor & Security Lighting Installation Cost
Replacing an outdoor fixture on an existing box typically costs $100 to $300, while adding a new motion sensor, flood, or security light that needs wiring runs $250 to $700. A porch light swap sits near the low end. Here is how installed prices break down by fixture type and what changes the number.
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| Fixture type | Installed range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porch light swap | $100 – $250 | Existing box at the door, like-for-like |
| Wall lantern / sconce swap | $100 – $300 | Existing exterior box |
| Motion sensor light, new wiring | $250 – $600 | New box, wire run, sensor aiming |
| Flood light, new wiring | $300 – $700 | Often higher mounting, two-head fixture |
| Security light (dusk-to-dawn) | $250 – $700 | Photocell or motion, eave mount |
| Add a switch or photocell control | $50 – $200 | Bundled at the same visit |
| Line item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician labor | $120 – $400 | Drilling, wire run, weatherproofing, aiming |
| Weatherproof box and gasket | $20 – $60 | Exterior-rated, gasketed cover |
| Wire run from a power source | $60 – $250 | Distance and access drive this |
| Switch, photocell, or timer | $15 – $80 | Control method for the new light |
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Swap vs new wiring: the main price split
As with indoor fixtures, the biggest swing is whether a box already exists. A porch light or wall lantern that replaces an existing fixture is a $100 to $300 job: the electrician removes the old one, checks the gasket and box for water damage, and mounts the new fixture with fresh weatherproofing.
A new light where none existed (a flood on a garage gable, a motion light over a side door) means drilling through the exterior, running cable from a power source, mounting a weatherproof box, and sealing every penetration against water. The labor mirrors a new indoor fixture install, plus the weatherproofing. That work runs $250 to $700 depending on the run length and how hard the power source is to reach.
Motion sensor light installation cost
A motion sensor light installed with new wiring runs $250 to $600. The fixture itself is inexpensive (a two-head LED motion light is often $30 to $80), so the cost is the wire run, the weatherproof box, and the time spent aiming the sensor and setting its range and timeout so it triggers on people, not passing cars or pets.
If you are replacing an existing porch or eave fixture with a motion version, the price drops toward $150 to $300 because the box and power are already there. Aiming and dialing in the sensitivity is still the part that separates a useful light from one that either never triggers or stays on all night.
Flood and security lights
Flood lights run $300 to $700 installed with new wiring, a step above motion lights because they often mount higher (a gable or second-story eave), use a heavier two- or three-head fixture, and need a ladder. A dusk-to-dawn security light adds a photocell so it runs every night automatically, or pairs a photocell with motion so it idles dim and brightens on movement.
For a property corner or driveway, a single well-aimed flood often covers more ground than several smaller fixtures, which keeps the total down. For low-glare path and accent effects across a yard, a low-voltage landscape lighting system is the companion approach. The electrician will weatherproof the box, secure the mount against wind load, and confirm the photocell faces away from the light it controls so it does not cycle on its own glow.
- ·Dusk-to-dawn: photocell turns the light on at dark, off at dawn
- ·Motion-only: dark until movement, then a timed burst
- ·Combo: dim all night, bright on motion, the common security setup
- ·Aim the photocell away from the fixture to prevent cycling
Porch lights and quick swaps
A porch light swap is the simplest outdoor job, $100 to $250, because the box sits right at the door with power already run. The one thing to check is the box itself: outdoor boxes take weather, and a rusted box or a failed gasket should be replaced during the swap so the new fixture does not let water into the wall.
Smart porch fixtures and video doorbells are a related upgrade. A video doorbell usually taps the existing low-voltage doorbell transformer rather than line voltage, which is a different job covered on our doorbell installation page.
Wiring, GFCI protection, and code
Outdoor lighting circuits and any accessible outdoor receptacle generally require GFCI protection, and exterior boxes must be weatherproof and gasketed. If the electrician is running a new circuit or adding an outdoor outlet alongside the light, expect GFCI protection in the plan, which is a code requirement and a genuine shock-safety measure in wet locations. That same GFCI is the usual reason an outdoor outlet stops working later.
New circuits or new outdoor outlets may trigger a permit, usually $50 to $200, while a like-for-like fixture swap generally does not. An electrician working in your area will know the local rule and fold the permit into the quote when it applies.
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