How Much Does It Cost to Install a Chandelier
2022 Chandelier Installation Cost: Compare Electrician Rates
Chandeliers add an element of elegance, ambiance, style, and atmosphere to any room or home. They can draw any eye, add value to a home, and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the house. As gorgeous and unique as chandeliers are, how much do they cost to professionally install?
The average cost to install a chandelier is $457. It costs an average of $1,000 to install a tiered crystal chandelier and $530 to install a shaded chandelier. Professional electricians $70 per hour to install a chandelier, and it costs another $140 to install fluorescent bulbs.
The price all comes down to the chandelier that you choose, and how long it takes to install. Follow along as explore all of the factors that determine how much it will cost to install your chandelier.
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Table of Contents
- Cost To Install Chandelier
- Types of Chandeliers
- 5 Light Chandelier
- Crystal
- Tiered
- Shaded
- Antler Chandelier
- Type of Chandeliers
- Average Cost
- Lights
- Fluorescent Bulbs
- LED Bulbs
- Weight
- Labor
- Do You Need an Electrician To Install a Chandelier?
- Related Questions
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- Does a chandelier need to be centered over a table?
- Do chandeliers come with the house?
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- Summing It Up
- Related Articles
Cost To Install Chandelier
The average builder-owner spends between $215 and $700 to install a chandelier with an electrician. Costs can exceed $1,800 if you want to install a chandelier somewhere that has never had a lighting fixture. Chandelier installation typically takes 1-2 hours, but it can take up to 4 hours if you have a high ceiling and a heavy chandelier.
Many factors determine how much you'll spend on your chandelier installation, such as:
- Type of chandelier
- Labor cost
- Duration of installation
- Electrical work
- Weight
- Ceiling height
Labor is one of the biggest chandelier installation costs, but the type of chandelier makes a big difference. Some chandeliers, such as Empire chandeliers, are heavy and that can increase the installation costs. Let's take a look at each of the factors that determine how much you will pay to install your chandelier.
Types of Chandeliers
Chandeliers cost between $100 and $2,500 or more before you hire an electrician to install them. They cost more or less based on how ornate they are, how many bulbs they have, and what materials they're made of. Let's explore the cost of chandelier installation by type, and see how it affects the total price.
5 Light Chandelier
Standard 5 light chandeliers cost between $100 and $250 depending on the design and materials. Ornate, French designs generally cost closer to $250, and simple 5 light chandeliers cost as little as $8-$100. This only applies to 5 light chandeliers without crystals and other dressings that add hundreds or thousands to the bill.
It would cost $215-$300 to install a basic 5 light chandelier if you are replacing an existing light fixture. Prices can soar to $500-$1,000 if you have to install a 5 light chandelier in a ceiling that isn't wired for a light fixture. Simple 3-5 light chandeliers without crystals are the most affordable chandeliers that you can install.
Crystal
Crystal chandeliers are gorgeous, elegant, iconic, and expensive to buy and install. You can expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 or more for a crystal chandelier with 3-5 lights. They vary in cost based on the type of crystal, as well as how many crystals the chandelier contains throughout, including the light holders.
There are many ornate designs available, but elaborate crystal chandeliers generally cost a minimum of $500. Many crystal chandeliers weigh more than 15 pounds, and that makes the installation more expensive. The electrician has to install a special electrical box to accommodate crystal chandeliers that exceed 15 pounds.
Labor costs add another $40-$400 to your crystal chandelier installation due to the working time involved. Heavy crystal chandeliers can take up to 4 hours to install, and that adds up at $40-$100 per hour.
Tiered
Tiered chandeliers are elaborate and boast a tiered design that adds depth and elegance to the room. It takes more work and materials to build a tiered chandelier, and that accounts for their high price. You can expect to pay between $150 and $1,200 for a tired chandelier before installation costs.
Costs vary because tiered chandeliers refer more to the shape than the material or design. In other words, you can buy tiered crystal chandeliers that cost $350-$1,000 or more, or tired paper chandeliers that start at $250. They are often cumbersome because of their design, and that can add to labor costs when you install a tiered chandelier.
Tiered chandeliers take between 1 and 4 hours to install, you'll generally spend $240 on labor for installation. It's worth the cost for the sense of style and elegant design that tiered chandeliers bring.
Shaded
Shaded chandeliers are ideal for creating dim light in a room to create an ambient vibe. They are also a great way to dull the sometimes harsh light that some chandeliers can produce. You can expect to pay roughly $130-$400 for a shaded chandelier, but it can cost more or less.
Costs can exceed $600 if you choose a shaded chandelier that has crystals in the fixture. Shaded chandeliers often weigh 15 pounds or less, and that helps keep the installation costs down. It only takes 1-2 hours to install a shaded chandelier, and that can run you $40-$80 if you're replacing a fixture.
Labor only costs you $100-$200 to install a shaded chandelier where there hasn't been a fixture before. Shaded chandeliers are among the most affordable varieties of chandeliers that you can install.
Antler Chandelier
You can expect to pay between $120 and $2,500 or more for an antler chandelier. Costs vary based on whether you choose a chandelier made with real or fake antlers. There are many types of antler chandeliers with anywhere between 1 and 5 lights, and there can sometimes be more.
The number of antlers in the fixture also increases the price if the antlers are authentic. However, some builder-owners can save money if they make the antler chandelier themselves. In that case, you may only spend the $40-$400 in labor costs in your chandelier installation.
Type of Chandeliers | Average Cost |
| 5 Light Chandelier | $100-$250 |
| Crystal Chandelier | $200-$1,000 |
| Tiered Chandelier | $150-$1,200 |
| Shaded Chandelier | $130-$400 |
| Antler Chandelier | $120-$2,500+ |
Lights
Chandelier installation costs also vary based on which kind of lights you choose. Consider what kind of light best compliments the room and the rest of the house when you choose light bulbs. Homeowners choose between two types of light bulbs when they install chandeliers: fluorescent and LED light bulbs.
Fluorescent Bulbs
It costs roughly $80-$200 to install fluorescent bulbs in your new chandelier. The bulbs themselves are cheap, but the electrician wires the fixture a certain way to accommodate fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs can give you between 10,000 and 15,000 hours of light.
That is great news because it is difficult to change light bulbs in high chandeliers, especially for 3-5 light fixtures. Fluorescent bulbs aren't for everyone and they are ideal for bright homes, but they are a great option. It won't add much money to your installation cost, and you only need to change them every 2 years.
LED Bulbs
Choose LED light bulbs if you want to keep labor rates down to $40-$100 per hour. It is relatively easy for a seasoned electrician to wire and install LED light fixtures. This keeps chandelier installation costs to a minimum, and it can also help minimize electrical bills because they are energy efficient.
Your LED bulbs can last for up to 50,000 hours, and many of them can last 11 years or longer. This makes it easier to maintain your chandelier, especially if you are uncomfortable changing the light bulbs. Many homeowners choose dimmable LEDs for their chandeliers, and it only costs $6-$8 per bulb to replace them.
In the long term, LED lights are the most efficient and affordable light bulb option for your chandelier. They are rated to last longer than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, and LED lights are more energy-efficient.
Weight
Weight doesn't affect chandelier installation costs as directly as the type of chandelier or bulbs, but it still matters. Your average chandelier weighs less than 15 pounds, and that makes it easier to install and takes less time. Light chandeliers are easier to install with fewer people and minimize the total installation time.
However, heavier chandeliers that weigh more than 15 pounds add up to hundreds to the total cost. Electricians must install a different type of electrical box that can handle heavier weights to prevent damage and properly power the fixture. The box itself adds to the cost, and so does the extra hour or two that it adds to the installation.
You aren't directly charged based on weight, but weight impacts how long it takes to install the chandelier. Labor is everything when it comes to home installations, so it's important to consider how much your chandelier weighs.
Labor
Electricians install chandeliers, and labor costs vary based on what they charge as their hourly rate. Generally, professional electricians charge between $40 and $100 per hour to install chandeliers and similar lighting fixtures. You can expect to spend $80-$200 or more in labor costs when you hire an electrician to install your chandelier.
Professionals take 1-2 hours to install a chandelier, or 3-4 hours in rare instances if there are problems with the electrical work. Installation can take longer if you want to put a chandelier in a place that hasn't had a lighting fixture before. This takes longer because the electrician often has to cut into the ceiling and install electrical wires.
Labor costs rarely exceed $160-$400 unless your home has poor electrical wiring or access. Electricians generally include equipment costs with labor, and they charge you between $15 and $30.
Do You Need an Electrician To Install a Chandelier?
Your best option is to hire an electrician to install a chandelier due to the electrical work it entails. Some builder-owners hire a handyman to install chandeliers, but electricians are better suited for it. It is especially ideal to choose an electrician for installation if the chandelier is going somewhere there hasn't been one before.
A handyman or DIY-oriented homeowner can install a chandelier themselves, but it is risky. There is a lot of electrical work involved, and chandeliers can often weigh more than 15 pounds which makes installation tricky. Handymen can technically install a chandelier if it is going in place of an existing chandelier.
However, it is still better to hire an electrician to keep installation time under 4 hours total. Electricians are more likely to keep the labor to 1-2 hours, whereas a handyman may take much longer at a minimum of $80 per hour.
Does a chandelier need to be centered over a table?
It's recommended that you place a chandelier over the center of a table if there is one in the room. However, you don't need to worry about centering it if there is something notable in the room. Otherwise, it's best to center a chandelier over a table to highlight the piece and create a contrast in the room.
Do chandeliers come with the house?
Yes, chandeliers come with the house because they become part of the property as soon as you install them. However, homeowners technically don't need to leave the light bulb in the fixture when they sell the house.
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Summing It Up
Chandelier installation costs between $215 and $700, but it depends on what kind of chandelier you choose. The most expensive type of chandelier is a tiered crystal chandelier, and they can cost as much as $1,200 before installation. Professional electricians charge homeowners between $40 and $100 per hour to install a chandelier.
Chandeliers typically take 1-2 hours to install, but professional installation can take as long as 3-4 hours. Professional handymen charge more at $80 per hour, on average, and that is not ideal for chandelier installation. It's best to choose LED lights because they can last as long as 11 years before you need to replace them.
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Nick Durante
Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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