How Much Does Pool Light Replacement Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $500 - $900
Depending on the light type, the cost to replace your pool light averages around $625. Incandescent bulbs are the least expensive option, while LED lights cost much more.
Picture this: you head outside for your first early-morning laps of the swimming season, only to notice your pool lights have burned out. You’ll need to budget around $625 per light for pool light replacement costs, but that cost could jump to $1,700 if you’re replacing specialty lights.
From lighting the way during your early swimming exercises to keeping guests safe during your late-night summer cookouts, pool lights put in a lot of work for us. However, they require special features to protect the electrical components from the pool water, which is why pool lights tend to come at a higher cost than traditional light bulbs for indoor uses.
- Average
- $625
- Low end
- $450
- high end
- $1,700
Pool Light Replacement Cost Factors
The total cost to replace pool lights, an average of $625 per light, depends on a few different factors, including how many pool lights you’ll need, the type of pool lights, and labor costs if you choose to hire a local swimming pool repair company to handle the job.
Type of Pool Light
Pool light replacements may cost around $450 to $1,700, depending on the light type. Energy-saving LED pool lights cost around $700 to $900 for smaller models or $1,000 to $1,500 for larger units, but they’ll need to be replaced less often than other pool light types. Incandescent bulbs are the least expensive option, costing around $450 to $650 per bulb, but they only last about 1,000 hours before they need replacing.
Fiber optic pool lights cost around $1,300 to $1,700. While they can offer cool color-changing technology, they’ve become less popular compared to LED lights, which also are available in various colors and tend to be brighter.
| Pool Light Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Incandescent | $450–$650 |
| LED | $700–$1,500 |
| Fiber optic | $1,300–$1,700 |
Number of Pool Lights Needed
Pool lights cost about $625 each, and replacements are typically sold individually. Unless your swimming pool is older and all the lights are due for an upgrade, you’ll usually only need to replace one light at a time as each light burns out or becomes damaged.
Existing Wiring
Making changes to the pool wiring costs around $500 to $1,000. You’ll need to hire an electrician to handle the electrical work, which costs around $50 to $100 per hour, and you’ll likely need to file for building permits, about $50 to $350 each, and pay up to $100 for electrical wiring inspections.
Labor
For broken pool lights you should call a professional pool service or an electrician, who will charge about $50 to $100 per hour. You may feel confident in changing a light bulb in your bedroom lamp or kitchen track lighting, but changing a pool light can be riskier for untrained homeowners since you’ll be handling electrical parts and wiring in close contact with water.
Cost to Replace a Pool Light by Bulb Type
Pool light replacement costs vary quite a bit based on the type of light bulb inside the fixture. You could spend anywhere from $450 to $1,700 per entire light fixture, or about $20 to $650 just for each light bulb.
LED
LED pool light replacements cost about $700 to $1,500 each, or around $50 to $650 for the light bulb, depending on the size of the light. While these costs may seem expensive at first, there are many long-term savings benefits of LED lights. For one, with a lifespan of about 20,000 to 30,000 hours, you’ll rarely need to replace your LED lights. LED lights also offer impressively bright light without consuming much energy, meaning your utility bills will also be less expensive.
Fiber Optics
Fiber optic pool light replacement costs about $1,300 to $1,700, or about $20 to $60 just to replace the bulb. Fiber optic lights offer a more subtle glow, ideal if you aren’t looking for something that will light up the whole backyard. Fiber optics have become less popular with the rise of LED pool lights. They don’t last quite as long as LEDs, but they will last about three to seven years, giving them a benefit over incandescents.
Incandescents
Incandescent pool light replacements cost around $450 to $650 per fixture or about $20 to $70 for a new light bulb. These lights are the least expensive type of pool light, but they won’t last quite as long as fiber optic or LED pool lights. Incandescent pool lights last about 1,000 to 5,000 hours, usually about one to three years of use.
Ongoing Pool Light Costs
Sometimes, you may find that not only the light fixture needs to be replaced, but the wiring needs to be updated too. You might decide you want more pool lights than you currently have, and you’ll need an electrician to install additional wiring, or you may need to upgrade the pool wiring as you transition from fiber optic pool lights to LEDs.
Maintenance
Swimming pool maintenance costs about $110 to $375 per month. You’ll spend about $300 a year for the electricity, and you’ll also want to consider either keeping up with cleaning and repairs yourself or hiring a local pool service for around $75 to $100 per hour. When hiring a pool maintenance pro, you can opt for monthly or seasonal maintenance contracts. By keeping your pool clean and in good condition, the pool parts, including lighting, will last longer before needing replacement.
Repairs
Pool light repair costs about $65 to $150 per light, and may involve replacing a worn-out gasket or conduit seal. You can also repair a pool light by just swapping out a burned-out bulb for a new bulb, which costs about $20 to $100.
Replacing a Pool Light Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
To replace a pool light yourself, you’ll spend about $100 to $500 for the replacement light and bulb, or about $20 to $100 for just the light bulbs.
But handling electrical components of a pool filled with water can pose shock risks, so this job is best left to a professional. You’ll pay about $625 per light for a professional to replace the pool lights.
Hire a pool repair expert near you to safely replace a pool light. A pro will also be able to inspect the wiring and ensure the light fixture is properly installed and sealed to keep your family safe while swimming.
How To Save on Pool Light Replacement
Replacing pool lights can give some people sticker shock when compared to the cost of standard indoor light bulbs. While the higher cost is due to added safety features for pool lights, you can still save money on replacements with a few handy tips.
Ask About Discounts
Are you ordering multiple lights from a pool company? Check in about discounts for ordering items in bulk. Some companies may also offer sales on pool products in fall and winter, when fewer people are buying them.
Opt for LEDs
Hear us out—while the upfront cost of LED pool lights is more expensive than incandescent or fiber optic lights, you’ll actually save money in the long run. LED pool lights use less energy and need to be replaced far less often, about every ten years, compared to the other pool light types.
Replace Just the Bulbs
If your light fixtures are in good shape, you can save money by only replacing the inner light bulb rather than the entire unit. Pool light bulbs are about $20 to $100 each, while the whole unit will cost about $625. Of course, if the unit is old or in poor condition, it’s important to replace the whole thing to minimize risk of electrocution from a faulty pool light.
Repair vs. Replace
Maybe the gasket of the pool light needs to be upgraded, but the rest of the fixture is in good shape. If your pool light can be repaired, hold off on a replacement. Repairing a pool light costs about $65 to $150 per light, compared to replacing a light for around $625.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it’s time to replace an old or broken pool light, you can hire an electrician near you to get the job done. Working with an electrician is helpful for pool light replacements, especially if you need to repair or update any existing wiring or install new wiring for additional pool lights.
It’s fair to be concerned about handling pool lights or wiring in a pool filled with water. But fortunately, pool lights and swimming pools are designed to make it easy and safe to replace the lights without needing to drain the water. Instead, you can turn off the electricity to the pool as a safety precaution, unscrew the pool fixture, pull it up and out to the side of the pool, then change the bulb.
The lifespan of a pool light depends on the type, but thankfully, these lights are designed to last a long time before they need to be replaced. LED bulbs last the longest, about 20,000 to 30,000 hours, while incandescent bulbs last the shortest amount of time, about 1,000 to 5,000 hours. Fiber optic pool lights will last around 6,000 hours.
Pool lights are designed to be safe by protecting swimmers from electrocution. These lights are made with waterproof fixtures and seals to prevent contact with the water.
Electrocution from pool lights is still possible, but rare. Faulty wiring or broken lighting equipment can make lights unsafe, so it’s important to replace lights as needed and have an electrician inspect and upgrade the wiring.
Pool light replacements are often more expensive compared to other pool parts, like pump motors, or standard light bulbs for indoor use. The reason for the higher cost is that pool lights are specially designed and made with parts meant to keep swimmers safe. The light fixture and surrounding parts protecting the bulb must be waterproof, tightly sealed, and resistant to extreme temperatures.