If you’re looking to install lighting in your home, the cost to install a wall sconce ranges from $90 to $450 with the average cost being $220 per sconce.
Beyond simply illuminating a hallway or bathroom, wall sconces are an elegant addition to your home’s overall style. Learn more about labor rates, materials, wiring, and other expenses that go into the cost of installing sconces on the wall.
While there are a few factors involved in the overall cost of installing wall sconces, it mainly comes down to labor and materials.
Unless you’re doing the work yourself, labor represents most of the overall installation cost for wall sconces. Electricians charge between $50 and $100 per hour, and light fixtures can take between one and three hours each. Some electricians have minimum visit charges, which means that you may have to pay a minimum labor charge even if your wall sconce takes less time for the electrician to install.
If your wall sconce installation doesn’t need wiring, a handyperson can also do the job. The average hourly wage for a handyperson is about $90 per hour.
| Contractor Type | Low Cost (per hour) | High Cost (per hour) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $50 | $100 |
| Handyperson | $40 | $140 |
Wall sconces can vary widely in terms of quality and luxury, which means their costs do too. Your local hardware store likely has sconces available for as little as $20, but it’s also easy to find sconces that cost $500 or more.
Besides the wall fixture itself, you may also have to pay for material costs such as:
Light bulbs
Light switches
Wiring
Installing or swapping a wall sconce where there’s already light fixture wiring in place is a fairly straightforward task that doesn’t require a lot of labor. If you’re installing a brand-new wall sconce with new wiring, the task becomes more complex and time-consuming and can add between $100 and $200 per fixture to the total bill.
To install a new wall sconce, your electrician will have to install new electrical wiring and potentially upgrade your electrical panel. After that, you’ll have to re-drywall and paint the area. Together, these tasks can draw out labor and costs.
If you already have a light fixture in place that needs to be swapped out, removing the light will add to your electrician’s labor costs. While some fixtures can be removed in as little as 15 minutes, more complex installations may take several hours to fully remove and deal with any unusable wiring. If you have several fixtures to remove and replace, even 15 minutes of extra labor can add up, which is why it’s important to factor in when calculating total labor costs.
Your local electrician’s rates depend on the area you live in. If you live in a dense city with a higher cost of living, for example, you’ll likely pay higher rates for an electrician. Rural locations typically mean lower hourly rates, but you may need to pay an extra fee for your contractor’s travel if your home is out of town.
You generally won’t have to pay for any permits or inspections if you’re simply swapping out a fixture where there’s already wiring. If installing new wall sconces in your home also involves extensive rewiring or electrical panel upgrades, you may need to pay for permits and inspections according to your state’s regulations.
| Safety Requirement | Low Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | $100 | $125 |
| Permit | $75 | $900 |
Depending on the size of your space and the lighting effect you’re going for, you may want to install more than one wall sconce. A small bathroom, for example, probably won’t need as many sconces as an entry area, hallway, or living space. If you’re paying an electrician at an hourly rate, you’ll have to factor in the extra labor for every fixture you want installed.
Once your wall sconces are installed, there aren’t many major ongoing expenses to worry about. They’re mainly the same as any other electrical or lighting fixture in that, depending on how often you use them, you’ll likely have a slightly higher electricity bill. Depending on the type of light bulbs your wall sconces use, you’ll have to swap out burnt-out lights every few years or so.
Installing a wall sconce on your own can save labor costs, and installing wall sconces is a relatively easy job with some electrical know-how and a few tools. If you’re not comfortable working with electrical units, however, light installation may be better left to the pros.
If your wall sconce installation requires any rewiring, hiring a local electrician is probably the better option. Electricians complete training and examinations to be able to manage electrical systems safely, and their expertise also means that they’ll complete the installation quickly and correctly.
When you’re installing new wall sconces and upgrading your lighting, it often makes sense to do a few other upgrades at the same time. Some common add-on options include:
Dimmer switches: $10–$25
Smart home hookups: $20–$100
Electrical panel upgrade: $800–$4,000
The cost of installing wall sconces can vary, but a few strategies can help you keep your costs down without compromising on quality.
To get the best rate and the best service, it’s important to shop around and get quotes from multiple electricians or lighting contractors. Some electricians may charge a flat rate for fixtures while others charge strictly by the hour, and rates can vary depending on the level of credentials and experience they possess.
Energy-efficient lighting, such as LED or CFL light bulbs, can help you save on your electricity bill. These light bulbs consume less electricity without compromising the quality of the lighting.
New wiring is one of the fastest ways to rack up your wall sconce installation bill. If possible, opt to swap out existing fixtures with compatible wiring rather than installing brand-new fixtures.
Wall sconces are generally characterized as wall-mounted fixtures that flank an object or area, and they can be both decorative and functional. There are a few types of wall sconces, such as basic up-light or down-light sconces, candle sconces, swing arm sconces, picture lights, and lantern sconces, and each offers its own lighting effect and decorative quality.
The cost to install a light fixture ranges from $155 to $945 with an average of $550. Certain factors affect the total cost, such as the type of light fixture, wiring requirements, your location, removal costs, and more. For example, swapping a pendant light without rewiring generally costs much less than installing a recessed light with new wiring.
