Professional and quality outdoor lighting can significantly change your living experience and your property’s physical appearance. Among the many options in the market, a low-voltage outdoor lighting system is often a homeowner’s favorite. It costs at least a couple of thousand dollars to install a quality low-voltage outdoor lighting system in Kansas City on average. The price ranges between $2,500 and $7,500 or more depending on the level of your system, the area that requires lighting, and any upgrades or add-ons you purchase.

What is a Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting System

Low-voltage LED lights, or low-voltage landscaping lights, are one of the best outdoor lighting options for homeowners in Kansas City. A low-voltage lighting system reduces standard line voltage (120V-230V) down to a safer level of 12V to 48V (12V for most residential lights) through a transformer. This allows lights to be installed near water features and other sensitive areas where regular voltage might not be suitable.

Most low-voltage landscaping lighting systems consist of three main components:

• Transformer: Converts high (regular) line voltage to the desired lower voltage;
• Low-voltage wire: which connects fixtures and the control panel and carries the now-reduced current through the system
• LED lights: Various types of energy-efficient LED light bulbs made for different lighting purposes.

Benefits of a Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting System

Some key benefits of having a professionally-installed low-voltage outdoor lighting system for your Kansas City home include:

• Improved security: Sufficient lighting at night can significantly enhance your home’s security, reducing unwanted attention while making it easier for your cameras to capture what’s happening on your property.
• Better coverage: Since you can install low-voltage LED lights near water and other sensitive areas, the low-voltage system can provide better lighting coverage throughout your landscape than standard-voltage lights.
• More energy-efficient: these systems typically use energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
• Smart control: many low-voltage outdoor lighting systems can be controlled remotely via a mobile app or configured to turn on and off at a certain time automatically.
• Landscape enhancement: With proper lighting, you can make your existing landscape look even more charming.
• Increased property value: a high-end lighting system can potentially boost your property’s value depending on what the buyer is looking for.

Cost by Number of Lights

Most lighting systems are categorized based on the number of lights installed. The following list shows the basic cost range to install a low-voltage lighting system for your Kansas City home based on the number of lights:

• Basic 6-light pathway system: $2,700
• Mid-range 10-light landscape system: $3,500
• Premium smart system with 15 lights: $5,600

Cost by Type of Lighting

Your contractor may also quote you depending on the type of lighting you want installed. These different lighting methods can be for decorative or functional purposes, depending on placement.

Pathway Lighting

As the name suggests, path lights are installed along walkways to illuminate paths in the dark. They can be installed along walkways, pavers, or garden paths. Pathway lighting typically costs $250 to $350 per fixture with labor, wire, & transformer included.

Up Lighting

Pointing upwards, up lighting focuses on trees or architectural elements and emphasizes the depth, texture, and complexity of your landscape. Think of them as spotlights to highlight core features of your house. Up lighting also costs $250 to $350 on average per fixture with labor, wire, & transformer included.

Down Lighting

Opposite to up lighting, down lighting are often installed under decks, patios, and overhead structures to create a tucked-away, intimate atmosphere for gathering areas. Down lighting costs  $300 to $400 on average because of extra labor and wire needed to get fixtures mounted on the house or trees.

Hardscape Lighting

Installed along walls and edges of your decks and patios, hardscape lighting highlights the features and textures of your outdoor living spaces. They also make it safer to walk around on these structures during the night. Hardscape lighting can cost $200 to $300.

String Lights

String lights are one of the few low-voltage lighting systems that can be installed by the homeowner. The fixture may cost less than $20 on the low end and between $40 and $60 on the high end.

Upgrade and Add-On Costs

Depending on your budget, you can add various upgrades to your low-voltage outdoor lighting systems for easier, more robust controls and unique characteristics. Common upgrades and their costs are listed below

• Bluetooth color-changing light bulbs: $150 per fixture
• Bluetooth-controlled transformer with custom programmable color changing: $300 or more per fixture

Can I Install Outdoor Lighting Systems on My Own?

We recommend hiring a contractor to install outdoor lighting systems for your property in Kansas City. Low-voltage outdoor lighting systems must be installed properly to avoid fire hazards and malfunctions. A professional landscaping company also knows how to install lights that bring out the most characteristics of your landscape while ensuring visibility and accessibility needs. Professional contractors are also insured, which protects you from being held responsible for any installation issues or damages caused by the installation.

DIY Outdoor Lighting Ideas

If you want to test your creativity at outdoor lighting, there are plenty of low-risk, low-maintenance DIY outdoor lighting inspirations you can try. However, we typically do not recommend installing solar landscaping lights because they tend to make your landscape look like a runway. They are also subject to weather conditions, raising concerns about insufficient or complete lack of lighting due to rain and overcast weather.