Get matched with top outdoor lighting pros in Capitola, CA

Low-voltage landscape lighting costs about $120 per fixture to install. You may need to install a 12-volt transformer, too, to ensure the lighting system runs safely. For a six-fixture low-voltage landscape lighting setup, expect to pay around $1,000. A major reason people choose low-voltage landscape lighting is to reduce the risk of shock, making it safer to operate the outdoor lighting system.

It’s important to ask an electrician a few questions before you commit to hiring them so you can make an informed decision as a consumer. If you’re getting estimates or considering hiring an electrician, ask them these questions:

• Are you a full-time electrician?

• Are you bonded, licensed, and insured?

• What level of experience do you have as an electrician?

• Can you please share three references?

• Do you do residential or commercial electrical work?

• What kinds of electrical work are you most familiar with?

• Will any subcontractors be performing the work?

• Are permits and inspections required?

• Who is responsible for obtaining permits and inspections?

• What is your schedule?

• Do you offer a guarantee or warranty on your work?

• Will you sign a do-not-exceed clause to keep the job within the budget?

Yes, you should get a quote or an estimate from an electrician. Most electricians offer free estimates or quotes. When getting quotes, do your research and verify each electrician’s license. Get quotes from three different electricians to compare. If the prices or items listed appear different on the quotes, ask the electrician to clarify. Learning as much as you can about the electrical work you want done will help you get the most accurate estimate. 

Qualified, licensed electricians will charge from $50 to $100 per hour. The cost to hire an electrician for emergency visits may range from $100 to $200 per hour because this urgent service usually takes place during off hours and may require an electrician to leave or reschedule jobs they’re currently working on. Scheduling work on holidays or during periods of high customer demand, like after a major storm, will also lead to higher rates or extra fees.

Landscape lighting costs about $4,000 on average, ranging from $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the amount of lighting, type of lights, and your location. Additional cost factors include any electrical work, excavation and trenching, and the current landscaping that the contractor has to work around. You can expect to pay an average of $100 for pathway and string lighting, and about $700 for lamp post lighting.