How Much Does It Cost to Install a Chandelier?

Keen to elevate your living space with a chandelier? Whether you're decking out a new home, moving into a different house, or sprucing up an older property, it’s essential that you budget accordingly. Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of how much it really costs to install these extravagant light fixtures.

What Is the Difference Between a Chandelier and a Pendant Light?

As tempting as it always is to jump straight into important questions such as “how much does it cost to install a chandelier?” or “how much does it cost to install pendant lights?”, we all have to start by first tackling the basics: What is the difference between a chandelier and a pendant light? 
 
Chandeliers are the reigning royals of decorative hanging lights, mounted elegantly on ceilings or walls. These large lighting fixtures are typically characterised by having branches sporting several candleholders or, in more modern times, light bulbs. Known for their lavish flair, it can come as no surprise that chandeliers are generally viewed as a luxury home furnishing. 
​ 
In contrast, pendant lights are like the minimalist siblings in the lighting family. They hang gracefully from the ceiling by a cord, chain, or metal rod; hence the nicknames drop or suspender lights. Pendent lights are distinct from their more flamboyant counterparts the chandeliers, as they typically have a single light bulb fixture. The true nature of their charm lies in creating a warm, intimate ambiance perfect for homes and restaurants alike. 

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Chandelier?

​If you’re wondering how much does it cost to install a chandelier, you’re not alone. We’ve had many clients call us to ask the very same question. If you’re hoping to affix a chandelier or pendant light, you’ll likely require the expertise of an electrician. 

Cost Breakdown: Chandelier or Pendant Installation

Most of the cost associated with chandelier or pendant light installation is related to the labour cost. So really, how much does it cost to install a chandelier? Let’s break it down. 

The Cost of the Chandelier or Pendant Lights

​Chandelier costs are mainly attributed to the materials used to create them. The cost of the chandelier itself can fall within a vast range. Most decent chandeliers will fall into a price range from $300 to $500. Ornamental pieces can fall into a much higher price category that many of us will never be able to afford. High-demand materials such as gold and diamonds are used to create high-end chandeliers. So, before figuring out how much it will cost for the chandelier installation, we recommend having a pretty good idea about which chandelier you’ve chosen and the outright cost of that first. For this article, let’s assume you have selected a chandelier or pendant that is $400. 

Replacement or New Placement

​Whether or not the chandelier or pendant is to be placed in an area where there has been an extravagant light fitting before or not will affect the installation fee. Electrical wiring will already exist where there has been a light fitting before. Therefore, it is more manageable to add a chandelier where there is already electrical wiring because this will incur a smaller electrical fee. It’s also important to consider where you want the light switch. Adding a new light switch will add another hour to the installation. Typically, electricians will charge from $100 to $200 to replace a chandelier or pendant. 
 
Replacement or new placement of chandeliers will feed into the labour costs, which we will explore in further detail in the next section. If it’s an entirely new placement with no light fixtures, this will require additional wiring work. Depending on the weight, it may also need more than one specialist to install the chandelier. Generally, electricians will charge from $300 to $2,000 to install a new chandelier. For this article, let’s assume that pendant light installation costs are $1,150. 

Labour Costs

​When asking the question, “how much does it cost to install a chandelier?” the next thing you’ll need to consider is the labour costs. Labour costs will increase as the lighting system becomes more complex. The pre-existing electrical wiring and fixtures where the chandelier is to be placed can also add complexity, and therefore, cost. 
 
Most electricians will charge a service and call-out fee of approximately $80-$120. Specialist light fitting professional fees could be even higher. General electrician fees will charge an hourly rate of $100 once that initial 30-minute window has expired. 

Summary: Chandelier Installation Costs

Replacement Chandelier 

For the cost breakdown, let’s assume the re-installation of a replacement chandelier takes an hour and a half, and a replacement chandelier costs $150. That’s $200 for the service and $150 for the chandelier itself. So, altogether around $350. 
 
New Chandelier

Let’s assume the installation takes two hours for the cost breakdown, and your chandelier costs $400. That’s $250 for the service and $400 for the chandelier, adding up to approximately $650 for the costs altogether. 
 
Pendant Light 
​
So, how much does it cost to install pendant lights? Pendant lights typically take one to three hours to install. The pendant costs $400, and the labour cost is $250. The overall cost of pendant light installation is around $650. 
 
Please note that these calculations are based on several assumptions and estimations. We highly recommend calling a professional to discuss your circumstances before booking a pendant light or chandelier installation. 

Conclusion

Now that we’ve covered the basic questions such as “how much does it cost to install a chandelier?” you should be confident to decide whether or not you are happy to install one in your home. Choosing the right electrician will be crucial in the success of your chandelier or pendant light installation, so choose carefully. 
 
Entrust your chandelier or pendant light installation job to an electrician other locals trust. Cowley Electrical Services is the leading electrical team in Bateman’s Bay and the South Coast of NSW. Our highly experienced team will be more than happy to assess your job and honestly answer all queries regarding electrical installation costs. Do not hesitate to contact the Cowley Electrical Services team today on 0411 457 441 for all lighting installation.