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Top Landscape Lighting Installation in Highland, California Ranked
A well-designed outdoor lighting system transforms your Highland property from a dark space into a functional, beautiful, and secure extension of your home. Landscape lighting installation, or outdoor illumination, is more than just placing a few lights; it's an art that enhances architectural features, illuminates pathways for safety, and creates inviting ambiance for evening enjoyment. This guide will help you understand the costs, options, and process for installing professional-grade outdoor lighting, empowering you to connect with skilled local specialists who can bring your vision to life.
Understanding the Value of Professional Outdoor Lighting
Investing in professional landscape lighting offers benefits that go far beyond simple visibility. A strategically lit yard increases your home's curb appeal and perceived value, making it stand out in the Highland neighborhood. From a practical standpoint, it significantly improves safety by illuminating steps, walkways, and potential trip hazards. It also acts as a powerful deterrent to unwanted activity, adding a layer of security. Perhaps most importantly, it extends your living space outdoors, allowing you to enjoy your patio, garden, or pool area long after the sun has set.
What Does Landscape Lighting Installation Cost in Highland?
The cost for outdoor lighting installation in Highland varies widely based on the project's scope and complexity. For most residential properties, total project costs typically range from $2,000 for smaller setups to over $10,000 for extensive, custom designs1 2. The average installation for a system with 10-20 quality fixtures often falls between $3,000 and $6,0001.
To provide a clearer picture, costs are often broken down by project scale:
- Small Projects (8-15 fixtures): Ranging from approximately $3,000 to $8,000. This scale is ideal for highlighting an entryway, illuminating a primary walkway, or adding accent lighting to a small patio or garden bed1 3.
- Medium Projects (20-40 fixtures): Typically between $8,000 and $15,000. This allows for consistent coverage of a larger yard, including multiple trees, architectural features, patio seating areas, and perimeter lighting1 3.
- Large or Custom Projects (40+ fixtures): Starting around $15,000 and potentially exceeding $35,000. These are for expansive properties and involve advanced features like smart home integration, color-changing LEDs, intricate zoning, and premium materials1 3 4.
Cost Breakdown: Fixtures, Labor, and Design
Understanding what contributes to the final quote is key. The total price is a combination of several factors.
Per-Fixture Costs: For a quality LED system that includes the fixture, transformer, wiring, and professional installation, you can expect to pay between $100 and $250+ per light1 5 6. The exact price depends on the fixture type-simple path lights cost less than specialized uplights or architectural sconces.
Labor and Professional Design: This is where expertise matters. A professional designer creates a cohesive lighting plan that balances function and aesthetics. Labor rates for skilled installers in the area typically range from $45 to $100 per hour7 8. Complex jobs requiring extensive trenching for wiring, working on sloped terrain, or integrating with existing hardscapes will increase labor time and cost1 5 6.
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Popular Types of Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
Choosing the right fixtures is crucial for achieving your desired effect. Modern systems primarily use energy-efficient and long-lasting LED technology. Here are the most common types used in Highland installations:
- Path Lights: These are low-level fixtures placed along walkways, driveways, and garden borders. Their primary function is safety, guiding guests and marking boundaries with a soft, welcoming glow3 9.
- Uplights and Spotlights: Used for dramatic effect, these fixtures are placed at the base of an object to shine light upward. They are perfect for highlighting specimen trees, textured walls, statues, or the facade of your home3 5.
- Accent Lights & Well Lights: Similar to uplights but often more subtle, these are used to graze a wall with light or wash a planting bed. Well lights are installed flush with the ground, making them discreet for highlighting low shrubs or architectural details3 6.
- Deck and Step Lights: These are essential for safety on elevated surfaces. They can be recessed into stair risers, mounted on railings, or installed on deck posts to prevent trips and falls while adding ambiance5 9.
- Smart Lighting Systems: The future of outdoor illumination. These systems allow you to control lights, set schedules, create scenes (like "entertaining" or "security"), and even change colors-all from a smartphone app or voice assistant3 9.
Key Factors That Influence Your Final Price
Several variables will shape the estimate you receive from a lighting professional:
- Number and Type of Fixtures: This is the most straightforward factor. More lights mean higher material and labor costs. Additionally, decorative, brass, or specialty fixtures cost significantly more than standard models1 5 6.
- Installation Complexity: Is the soil easy to trench, or is it rocky? Does wiring need to run under a driveway or patio? Installing lights in hard-to-reach areas or on retaining walls increases labor time1 7 10.
- Power Source and Wiring: Low-voltage (12V) LED systems are the standard for safety and efficiency. While solar lights have a lower upfront cost, they are generally less reliable, provide weaker illumination, and offer less design flexibility than a hardwired professional system6 9 8.
- Control Systems: A simple timer on a transformer is the most affordable option. Adding a smart control hub with multiple zones, dimming capabilities, and app integration adds to the project cost but provides superior convenience and flexibility3 9.
The Professional Installation Process: What to Expect
A quality installation follows a deliberate process to ensure a beautiful and long-lasting result.
- Initial Consultation & Design: A specialist will visit your Highland home to discuss your goals, assess the property, and create a custom lighting plan. This plan will include fixture placement, wire runs, and transformer locations.
- Equipment Selection: Together, you'll choose fixtures that match your home's style-whether modern, traditional, or rustic-and are rated for outdoor durability in our climate.
- Installation: The crew will trench shallow lines for wiring, install transformers, place and secure all fixtures, and connect the system. They will handle all electrical connections safely and to code.
- Aiming & Final Adjustments: Once everything is powered, the installer will meticulously adjust the angle and direction of each light to achieve the perfect effect, ensuring there is no glare into windows or onto neighboring properties.
- System Demonstration & Walkthrough: A final step is for the professional to walk you through how to operate the system, explain maintenance, and answer any questions.
Maintaining Your Landscape Lighting Investment
To keep your system looking and performing its best, simple annual maintenance is recommended. This includes cleaning lenses of dirt and debris, trimming back any plant growth that may be blocking lights, checking for any fixtures that have shifted or been damaged, and ensuring wire connections remain protected. Many local providers offer maintenance plans to handle this for you.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Footnotes
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How Much Does Landscape Lighting Installation Cost? [2026 ... - https://www.angi.com/articles/landscape-lighting-costs.htm ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9
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Landscape Lighting Installation Costs in Los Angeles in 2025 - https://elevatedseasons.com/landscape-light-installation-cost-in-los-angeles/ ↩
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Breaking Down the Cost of Landscape Lighting Installation - https://kndlandscaping.com/breaking-down-the-cost-of-landscape-lighting-installation/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8
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Guide to Landscape Lighting in SoCal Homes | Caliscapes OC - https://caliscapesoc.com/the-complete-guide-to-perfect-landscape-lighting-in-southern-california/ ↩
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Landscape Lighting Cost - Arte Verde - https://www.arteverde.com/landscape-lighting-cost/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
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How Much Does Landscape Lighting Cost in 2026? - https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/cost/landscape-lighting-price/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
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Outdoor Lighting Installation Cost and Pricing Guide - https://www.outdoorlights.com/resources/pricing-guide/ ↩ ↩2
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How Much Does Professional Landscape Lighting Cost? - https://washingtonoutdoorlighting.com/how-much-does-professional-landscape-lighting-cost/ ↩ ↩2
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The #1 Powerful Guide to Cost of Landscape Lighting Installation in ... - https://bestinirrigation.com/cost-of-landscape-lighting-installation/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
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Cost To Install Outdoor Lighting - Arte Verde Landscape Design - https://www.arteverde.com/cost-to-install-outdoor-lighting/ ↩
