Published Ontario prices for installing LED pot lights run $100 to $500 per light, and most sit at $150 to $330 before HST. A room of six to twelve lights is $1,200 to $4,000 or more, and a twelve-light basement $1,800 to $3,600.
One of the sources writes for Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. The main difference between the low and high ends is the ceiling: an open ceiling in a renovation is quick, while a finished ceiling with insulation and joists in the way takes more time.
Per light
Most installs now use slim wafer LED fixtures that need no housing, which keeps holes small. Retrofits into an existing ceiling cost more per light than new construction because the electrician fishes wire between joists without opening the ceiling. Dimmers, a second switch location and fixing an old box or two add to the total.
Published per-light prices
CAD · before HST · published prices
- Per light, Guelph and the Tri-CitiesFrom a Guelph and Tri-City electrical contractor’s 2026 pot light cost guide
- $150 to $350
- Per light, retrofit into an existing ceilingFrom a Guelph and Tri-City electrical contractor’s 2026 pot light cost guide
- $200 to $350
- Per light, new construction or open ceilingFrom a Guelph and Tri-City electrical contractor’s 2026 pot light cost guide
- $150 to $250
- Per light, installedFrom an Oshawa electrical contractor’s October 2026 pot light cost guide
- $150 to $300
- Per light (Toronto)From a North York electrical contractor’s 2026 electrician cost page
- $100 to $150
- Per light (GTA)From an Etobicoke electrical contractor’s 2026 electrician pricing guide
- $200 to $500
Whole rooms and exteriors
Per-light prices usually drop as the number of lights goes up, since the circuit and switch work is shared. Exterior soffit lights cost more per light, because the work is on a ladder and the fixtures are rated for damp locations.
Published room and exterior prices
CAD · before HST · published prices
- A typical room of 6 to 12 lightsFrom a Guelph and Tri-City electrical contractor’s 2026 pot light cost guide
- $1,200 to $4,000 or more
- Exterior pot lights, per lightFrom a Guelph and Tri-City electrical contractor’s 2026 pot light cost guide
- $200 to $400
- Four kitchen lightsFrom an Oshawa electrical contractor’s October 2026 pot light cost guide
- $600 to $1,200
- A twelve-light basementFrom an Oshawa electrical contractor’s October 2026 pot light cost guide
- $1,800 to $3,600
ESA permit
ESA counts pot lights as outlets. Under its 2026 fee guide, a contractor’s renovation notification for one to ten outlets, with no service change, is $46 (the $92 minimum applies when it is the only item).
Source: ESA 2026 Wiring Fee Guide.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to install pot lights in Kitchener?
Published 2026 prices from Ontario contractors, including one writing for the Tri-Cities, run $150 to $330 per light for most jobs, before HST. A room of six to twelve lights is $1,200 to $4,000 or more.
Why do retrofit pot lights cost more?
The ceiling is finished. Wire has to be fished between joists, around insulation and past framing without opening the drywall, which takes longer than an open renovation ceiling.
Do pot lights need an ESA permit?
Yes. Adding lights is new wiring, so it needs an ESA notification. A licensed contractor files it and the fee for a small job is under $100.
How many pot lights does a room need?
It depends on ceiling height and what the room is for, but a common rule is one light every four to six feet. A kitchen usually wants more than a bedroom.
Where these prices come from
These figures are from Ontario electrical contractors’ own published price guides, including three from Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo, checked October 25, 2026. We describe each source rather than name it. They’re ranges, not quotes, and before HST. ESA fees come from ESA’s own 2026 fee guide.