How much does bathroom lighting cost?

Last Updated Sep 21, 2016 · Written by Craig Gibson

Bathrooms|Renovation Costs

If you are trying to create a luxurious spa atmosphere then bathroom lighting can help set the right mood, without breaking the bank.

How? First step is to think like a lighting designer and breakdown your light sources into three groups. Besides general or ambient lighting you need task specific lighting for grooming (shaving, make up) and accent lighting (mirror lighting) for visual interest. You also need to think about your energy saving options, where to position your lighting, switches and powerpoints.

And who is going to install it for you?

Who can install my bathroom lighting?

You have to use a licensed electrician to work on any aspect of your lighting or electrics. There are no short cuts around this, everything from a full blown reno to installing new downlights needs the services of your friendly local sparkie.

© Ron Furlonger Co

LED lighting for the bathroom

LED lighting has quickly become the go-to lighting source for residential and commercial applications, and should be on your radar for lighting your bathroom. Why? LED is extremely energy efficient, runs cool and lasts for years. For a bathroom, LED would be ideal as downlights, mirror lights or wall lighting. You can even choose a range of colours, to suit your mood.

If you are shopping for LED bulbs for the first time you need to be aware that they have slightly different specs to when compared to halogen or incandescent bulbs.

Let’s take a look:

Output: The light output of LED’s (measured in lumens) is lower than your old bulbs. For example a 6W LED bulb will output in the region of 450 lumens, which is roughly equivalent to a 40W incandescent bulb. A 10W LED bulb (1000 lumens) would be roughly equivalent to a 75W incandescent bulb. So adjust your thinking accordingly.

Beam: Beam refers to how much coverage the LED bulb has, expressed in degrees.

Colour temperature: LED bulbs are labelled 'warm white' if you want a slightly yellow tinged feel, 'cool white' for a colder, bluer light, or ‘natural’ for somewhere in between these. Choose carefully as they will affect what your skin looks like in the bathroom. Avoid cool, blue light as it is likely to make you look a little pale and sickly.

Fitting: LED bulbs have a range of fittings or connectors, including E14 or E27 (traditional Edison screw type), B22 (bayonet fitting), GU10 ((240V with two pin fitting) and MR16 (12V downlight)

Read: How much does LED lighting cost?

#hiptip: When shopping for LED bulbs look for the lumen rating rather than its wattage

Retrofitting halogen downlights for LED’s

You can also simply swop out your existing halogen downlights for LED downlights and benefit from the energy savings and longevity these offer. First step is for an electrician to help you work out what voltage your existing lighting system runs off: 240V or 12V. This will determine what type of LED bulbs you need.

Hiring the right sparkie

When it comes time to hire an electrician you need to make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• Are you licensed?
• Are you insured to work in my home?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up?
• Can I see examples of your work?

Read: How much does an electrician cost?

© Glenco Electrical

#hiptip: Only a licensed electrician can legally install your bathroom lighting

How much does bathroom lighting cost?

First out, lets look at what your sparkie is going to charge. This could be a flat service fee and an hourly rate. The service fee will often cover the first 30 minutes they are working on your job. Expect them to charge a service fee in the region of $70 - $130 and $70 - $95 per hour, with the hourly rate calculated in 15 minute increments.Others may have a set rate for doing a specific job - such as installing a downlight or powerpoint.

It often makes more sense to get an quote for your entire job, especially if it is a larger project. Remember to make sure you have it in writing, otherwise you could be setting yourself up for a nasty surprise when the final bill arrives.

© TAR Bathrooms

Installing a powerpoint: Sydney-based GLENCO Electrical Services charges in the region of $150 to install a new light fitting. This includes labour and materials.

Installing LED lighting: RJ and AM Lawrence Electrical Contractors charges around $60 - $75 per point for installing LED downlights, a popular retrofit option to replace halogen downlights.

#hiptip: Think about the number and placement of light switches and powerpoints when you are planning your bathroom project

Get a sense how much your project will cost by getting quotes from licensed electricians where you live. This will enable you to get a sense of what market rates currently are.

Get bathroom lighting ideas and inspiration

Looking for inspiration? Why not browse our Bathroom Design Ideas photo gallery. Did you know you can also use our dedicated app to Get Quotes, then message your tradie directly and add pictures of your project?

* All the costs and prices quoted were sourced at the time this article was written. They are indicative, may vary locally, are subject to market forces and should only be used as a guide.