Lighting is priced by fixture count and by how hard the cable is to run. Both are worth understanding before comparing quotes.
Fixtures
Count is the primary driver, and count follows the design — how many features are being lit, and how many fixtures each needs.
Quality varies enormously. Cast brass and copper fixtures with sealed, serviceable LED modules cost several times what thin aluminium and plastic cost, and they last accordingly in wet clay and mulch.
Integrated versus replaceable lamps affects long-run cost: a sealed fixture with a failed LED is a replacement, not a bulb change.
Transformer, cable and trenching
Transformer sized to total load with headroom, plus multiple taps for voltage management on longer runs.
Cable gauge and total length. Long runs to the back of a property need heavier cable to control voltage drop.
Trenching is labour. Open beds and lawn are quick; boring under a driveway, walkway or patio is not.
Where lighting is installed with new hardscape, sleeving during construction saves a great deal later.
Controls and complexity
A basic astronomic timer is inexpensive; zoned smart control with dimming and colour costs considerably more.
More zones mean more wiring and more transformer capacity.
Hardscape and step lights installed into existing walls cost more than the same fixtures built in during construction.
Tree-mounted down lighting requires climbing and careful cable routing.
Getting value
Buy fewer, better fixtures. A restrained scheme with quality hardware outperforms a large scheme with cheap ones, and does not need replacing in three years.
Size the transformer and lay the cable for the whole plan even if you install fixtures in stages.
Ask about warranty on fixtures and on labour, and whether the installer returns to reaim as plants grow.
Southern Style Turf & Design designs and installs landscape lighting across the Lake Norman area with proper cable sizing, sealed connections and a night-time demonstration before final placement.
Frequently asked questions
Why do lighting quotes vary so much?
Fixture quality and cable specification. Two quotes with the same fixture count can use hardware with very different lifespans.
Can I install lighting in stages?
Yes, if the transformer and cable are sized for the full plan from the start.
Are solar lights a cheaper alternative?
They cost less up front and generally deliver inconsistent output and short lifespans. Low-voltage wired systems are what holds up.
Want this looked at on your property?
We give free, no-pressure on-site estimates across Denver, Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Troutman.
