The cheapest per-light price is the one with ten mates in the same visit.
LED upgrades are the most transparently priced electrical work in Auckland: four separate sources publish per-light or per-room numbers, and they all tell the same story. Single lights cost $50–$150 installed; get past ten in one visit and the price drops to $39–$70 each. The upgrade pays for itself in power savings in about 3–4 years, so this is the rare trade job where the maths is friendly.
Is this your stream?
Replacing hot halogens with LEDs, adding downlights to a dark room, outdoor and security lighting, or a full feature lighting plan. Per-light pricing applies to the swaps; design work is quoted after a walk-through.
Flickering lights, tripping when fittings run, or scorched fittings are a fault or a switchboard issue, not a lighting upgrade. Sort the circuit first.
What it costs in Auckland
The bulk per-light rate
Superior Property Services' 2026 Auckland guide puts jobs of 10 or more lights at $39–$70 per downlight installed, because the callout and setup spread across the job. Power Projects' group rate is $80–$120 per light.
The single-light rate
Single replacements run $50–$110 installed in Superior's guide, and Neon Electrical lists LED downlight installation at $80–$150 per light. Small jobs carry the callout, which is why they cost more per light.
The whole-house package
Northern Lights publishes a 20–30 fitting full-house replacement at $900–$1,800; Superior puts it at $900–$2,100, with savings of $350–$500 per year giving a 3–4 year payback.
Auckland providers, compared
Six providers for lighting work, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Buying fittings before the electrician checks the ceiling: insulation contact ratings, ceiling access and existing wiring decide which downlights can go in. IC-rated fittings around insulation are not optional; the wrong fitting is a fire risk.
Comparing per-light prices without checking what is included: Superior Property Services' Auckland guide spans $39–$110 per light because fitting quality, dimming, and patching all move the number. A $39 quote and a $110 quote are rarely the same job.
Doing one room at a time: the per-light cost drops to $39–$70 once you hit 10 or more lights in one visit, because the callout and setup are spread across the job. Whole-house upgrades at $900–$2,100 beat five separate room visits.
Skipping the dimmer conversation until after install: dimmable drivers and compatible dimmers need to be specified before the fittings go in. Retrofitting dimming to the wrong LED gear means replacing it.
Ignoring the running cost maths: Superior's guide puts whole-house LED savings at $350–$500 per year, with a 30-light upgrade paying for itself in 3–4 years. The upgrade is closer to free than it looks.
Using a handyman for fixed wiring: new lighting circuits and most downlight installs are prescribed electrical work needing a registered electrician and, for new circuits, a Certificate of Compliance.
FAQ
How much do LED downlights cost installed in Auckland?
Published Auckland figures: Superior Property Services' 2026 guide puts single downlight replacements at $50–$110 installed, dropping to $39–$70 per light for 10 or more. Power Projects charges $80–$120 per light for group installs, and Neon Electrical lists $80–$150 per light. Northern Lights prices a single room (6–8 fittings) at $300–$600.
What does a whole-house LED upgrade cost?
Northern Lights publishes a full house replacement of 20–30 fittings at $900–$1,800, and Superior Property Services puts the same job at $900–$2,100 installed. Fitting quality and any new dimming or wiring move you within that band.
Do LEDs really pay for themselves?
Superior Property Services' guide estimates whole-house LED savings of $350–$500 per year against halogens, putting payback on a 30-light upgrade at roughly 3–4 years. Halogens also run hot, which matters in insulated ceilings.
Can I just swap the bulbs myself?
Like-for-like bulb swaps in existing fittings are fine DIY. New downlight installations, new circuits and most hardwired fitting changes are prescribed electrical work for a registered electrician. If the job involves cutting into the ceiling or touching fixed wiring, book the electrician.
What should I ask before booking?
Whether fittings are IC-rated for insulated ceilings, whether the quoted fittings are dimmable and with which dimmers, whether patching and painting is included, and whether the per-light price assumes a minimum number of lights. Those four answers explain almost every price difference between quotes.
Count your lights, then buy in bulk: $39–$70 per light at 10-plus, $50–$150 for singles, $900–$2,100 for the whole house, paying itself back in 3–4 years. Neon and Power Projects publish their per-light rates, Northern Lights packages by the room or house, Superior's guide benchmarks everyone, Viper covers the Shore with a $20,000 guarantee, and The Conduction Company fixes the price on design work. Check IC ratings and dimming before the fittings arrive.