How Much Does Landscape Lighting Cost in Palm Beach County? A Realistic Pricing Guide
Michael PascualCall five landscape lighting companies and ask what a system costs. You may get five different answers, and at least one shrug. Nobody is dodging the question. Price depends on the property, and no two yards in Palm Beach County are alike. A tidy entry path in Palm Beach Gardens, a riverfront lot in Tequesta, a dock on Singer Island, and a turtle-friendly design in Hobe Sound are four very different jobs.
Still, you should have a starting point before anyone walks your yard. This guide shares published estimates, explains what actually moves the price, and points out where South Florida tends to push it up. One honest note before we begin: these are general figures, not Brightway quotes. Your real number comes from a site visit. And if you are weighing a weekend kit against a professional crew, our guide to DIY vs. professional installation is a good companion.
The Short Answer
Here is the plain version. For a typical home in this area, expect to start in the low to mid thousands of dollars, with plenty of room above that for large lots, premium materials, and custom design.
Numbers help, so here are some. ClearCost's local estimate covers the Miami to West Palm Beach metro area, which includes Palm Beach County. It puts outdoor lighting installation at $1,725 to $5,700, with an average around $3,425. That is roughly 14 percent above the national average.
One caution. ClearCost builds that figure by adjusting national pricing data for local cost of living. It is a model, not a survey of local contractor quotes. Treat it as a starting point for anyone budgeting landscape lighting installation Palm Beach Gardens FL homeowners ask about, and expect custom work to land higher.
|
What you are pricing |
Estimated range |
|
Typical project, Miami to West Palm Beach metro |
$1,725 to $5,700 (average about $3,425) |
|
National average, for comparison |
About $3,000 (range $1,500 to $5,000) |
|
A small start, such as a few path lights |
From about $575 |
|
A full property design |
$11,425 and up |
|
Per fixture installed |
Roughly $150 to $575, depending on type |
Source: ClearCost estimates, updated April 2026.
What You Are Actually Paying For
A quote is really a bundle of smaller costs. Once you know the pieces, comparing one quote against another gets much easier.
- Fixtures
The biggest swing factor, and it depends on type and material.
- Transformer, cable, and connectors
The transformer steps household power down to a safe 12 volts.
- Trenching and burial
Cable runs a few inches underground, and long runs or rocky, rooted ground cost more.
- Design
A professional lighting plan is its own line item.
- Labor
ClearCost notes electricians charge $70 to $120 an hour, and a typical 10 to 15 fixture project takes 6 to 10 hours of labor.
- Power
A property without an outdoor outlet may need a new circuit, which ClearCost puts at $200 to $500.
Here is how individual items price out:
|
Item |
Typical cost |
|
Low-voltage LED path light, per light |
$125 to $275 |
|
Low-voltage spotlight or uplight |
$125 to $350 |
|
Deck or step light, per light |
$100 to $225 |
|
Transformer (150 to 600 watts) |
$100 to $400 |
|
Low-voltage cable, per 100 feet |
$25 to $100 |
|
Trenching and burial, per 100 feet |
$50 to $175 |
|
Timer or smart controller |
$50 to $225 |
|
Professional design plan |
$225 to $575 |
Upgrades Worth Pricing
Once the basics are covered, a few add-ons deserve a quick look:
- Smart home integration, meaning Wi-Fi or app control: $125 to $350
- Color-changing RGB fixtures: $225 to $675
- A photocell or dusk-to-dawn sensor: $25 to $125
- Lighting for retaining walls and steps: $450 to $1,375
Our smart control lighting page shows how app control and zones work day to day, which helps you decide whether the extra cost earns its keep.
Why Palm Beach County Often Runs Above the Averages
An estimate built from national data cannot capture every local wrinkle. A few realities push many properties higher.
- Salt air and humidity
Brass, copper, and marine-grade stainless cost more than painted aluminum or plastic. ClearCost note commercial-grade brass can run three to five times the price of builder-grade plastic. Near the coast, that extra money buys real longevity.
-
Big lots and long runs
Larger properties need heavier wire and sometimes more than one transformer, so fixtures at the far end do not dim.
- Waterfront work
Docks and seawalls call for wet-location equipment and often a licensed electrician. Singer Island and Tequesta properties see this most, and our Singer Island guide covers dock lighting in more detail.
- Sea turtle rules
Beach-facing lights on Singer Island and in Hobe Sound, which sits in Martin County, may need shielded, amber fixtures. Palm Beach County also requires a permit to install or replace a light source inside its turtle protection zone, which includes parts of Singer Island and Tequesta.
- Mature trees and palms
Lighting a tall palm or a wide oak takes more fixtures and more careful aiming than a young yard.
Approvals and HOAs
Gated communities in Palm Beach Gardens and many condo associations want sign-off before work starts. That adds time more than money, but time has a cost too.
None of this means you should brace for a shocking number. It means a site visit matters more here than any online estimate.
What It Costs to Run
The good news is that running costs are small. The low voltage landscape lighting Palm Beach Gardens FL homeowners choose today is almost always LED, and our post on low voltage lighting explains why that is both safer and more efficient.
To see how small, try a simple illustration. It assumes 15 fixtures burning six hours a night, 4 watts per LED fixture, 35 watts per halogen fixture, and electricity at 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. Your rates and fixtures will differ.
|
System |
Total load |
Energy per year |
Approximate yearly cost |
|
15 LED fixtures at 4 watts |
60 watts |
About 131 kWh |
About $20 |
|
15 halogen fixtures at 35 watts |
525 watts |
About 1,150 kWh |
About $172 |
The direction of those numbers is not a fluke. The Department of Energy says residential LEDs use at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent lighting and can last up to 25 times longer, and halogen bulbs are a type of incandescent. Your exact savings depend on the fixtures you compare.
Bulb life adds to the picture. ClearCost lists quality outdoor LED fixtures at 30,000 to 50,000 hours. At six hours a night, that works out to roughly 13 to 22 years, though connectors and wiring may need attention sooner.
Smart Ways to Spend Less Without Cutting Corners
- Start with a professional design plan.
ClearCost's own advice is to avoid over-lighting or under-lighting your property from day one.
- Plan the whole layout first, then build in phases.
Front yard now, back yard next year, without redoing the wiring.
- Light your best trees first.
Two or three uplights per large tree is a common starting point, and our tree lighting page shows the effect.
- Buy quality once.
Brass and copper hold up better in wet, corrosive conditions, and cheap fixtures are the ones that get replaced.
- Coordinate with other yard work.
If a patio or planting bed is coming, run cable before it goes in.
Compare quotes line by line.
If you are sorting through landscape lighting near me results, ask every company the same questions: fixture count and material, transformer size, warranty, permits, night aiming, and follow-up service. A bargain quote that skips those often costs more later.

Keeping It Working
Like any low voltage landscape lighting Palm Beach Gardens FL homeowners install, a system is not a one-time purchase. ClearCost suggests checking connections every three to five years and notes that transformers typically last 10 to 15 years. The fixtures themselves can outlast the wiring, which is why a quick checkup now and then beats waiting for a dark corner. Our lighting repair and maintenance team can tell you whether your system needs a tune-up or something bigger.
Did You Know?
A typical home uses 10 to 20 landscape lights, with path lights spaced every 6 to 8 feet and two to three uplights per large tree.
The Department of Energy says residential LEDs use at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent lighting.
Commercial-grade brass fixtures can cost three to five times more than builder-grade plastic.
A full installation usually takes one to three days, though a design consultation can add one to two weeks beforehand.
FAQs
How much does professional landscape lighting cost in Palm Beach County?
ClearCost estimates $1,725 to $5,700 for the Miami to West Palm Beach area, averaging about $3,425. Custom designs with premium materials often run higher, and a site visit gives the real number.
Is it cheaper to do it myself?
A starter kit costs far less upfront. But long wire runs, humidity, and connecting to home power can raise long-term costs, and the connection usually needs a licensed electrician.
How can I lower the cost without hurting quality?
Start with a design plan, install in phases, choose LED fixtures, and coordinate with other yard work so trenching happens only once.
How many lights does a typical home need?
Most homes use 10 to 20 lights, with path lights every 6 to 8 feet and two to three uplights per large tree. A designer can tailor the count to your property.
Does living near the coast add cost?
Often. Salt air favors brass, copper, or stainless fixtures and sealed connections, and dock work or turtle-friendly fixtures can add specialized parts and labor.
Final Thoughts
Landscape lighting is one of those projects where the cheapest quote and the best value are rarely the same thing. Knowing what goes into the price, and why Palm Beach Gardens, Singer Island, Tequesta, and Hobe Sound can each land differently, helps you ask better questions and avoid surprises.
If you are pricing landscape lighting installation Palm Beach Gardens FL families can feel good about, a site visit is the fastest route to a real number. Whether you found us searching landscape lighting near me or through a neighbor, the team at Brightway is glad to walk your property with you. You can request a quote whenever you are ready.