What's in a landscape lighting quote, and what cheap quotes leave out
A real landscape lighting quote names fixtures, trenching, restoration and the controller. Ours start at $195 per fixture.
Short answer: a real landscape lighting quote lists the fixtures, the wire, the transformer, the trenching, the cleanup afterward and the controller, all with a price. Our installs start at $195 per fixture, and trenching, restoration and the controller are included. A cheap quote often leaves one or more of those out, and you pay for them later.
Why quotes differ so much
Two quotes for the same front yard can be thousands apart. The difference is rarely the lights. It is what surrounds them. A kit from a big-box store gets you fixtures and a transformer, and then you supply the labor, the wire runs, the burying and the troubleshooting. A crew that rushes gives you a low number and skips the parts you cannot see on the day.
Here is how to read any quote, ours or someone else's.
The checklist
| Line item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Fixtures | Count and type: path, up-light, down-light. Low-voltage LED. |
| Wire | Run length and gauge. Too thin a wire dims the far end. |
| Transformer | Sized for the fixtures, with room to add more later. |
| Trenching and burying | Is wire buried, or laid on the surface? |
| Restoration | Who puts the sod and mulch back? |
| Controller | Timer or dusk sensor, and who sets it? |
| Demo | Do you see it lit before you commit? |
If any of these rows is blank, ask why. The answer is often "that's extra."
What ours includes
Our price starts at $195 per fixture installed, and that price already covers trenching, restoration and the controller. We quote after a dusk demo, so you see the lights on your own house before you commit. We use low-voltage LED. And we stop and tell you before doing anything we could not see, so there are no surprises added at the end.
What moves the total
The per-fixture price is the starting point. The total depends on how many fixtures you want, how long the wire runs are and what is in the way, such as driveways, walls and tree roots. We would rather tell you that than quote a round total that fits nobody's yard. See lighting for what we install and pricing for the list.
What cheap quotes tend to leave out
- Burying the wire. Surface wire gets cut by mowers and string trimmers.
- Restoration. You end up with trenched lawn and a rake.
- The controller. Without one, the lights run when someone remembers.
- Room on the transformer. Fine today, and a full unit when you want a tree lit next year.
- A demo. A cheap quote asks for a deposit first. We show it lit first.
- Someone to call. A drop in brightness six months later is a service call, and you want a company that picks up.
Example: 12 fixtures × $195 = $2,340. That is only an example of the arithmetic. Real jobs include the wire run and the transformer, so the final number depends on your layout.
When a cheaper option is fine
Not every yard needs a full system. A pair of path lights by the front steps can be a weekend DIY kit if the run is short and you do not mind a bit of fuss. We would not tell you to pay a crew for that. A whole front elevation across a large lot, with trees, steps and a long driveway, is where the labor and wiring matter.
When to call us
Call when you want lights on a house, a drive or a garden, and want a number you can compare. We are licensed and insured, and our own crew installs everything. We work in intown Atlanta and the north metro, including Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Vinings. Request a quote and we will schedule a dusk demo.
FAQ
How much does landscape lighting cost per fixture? Our price list starts at $195 per fixture installed, including trenching, restoration and the controller.
What should a landscape lighting quote include? Fixtures, wire, transformer, trenching, restoration and the controller, each listed. If a line is missing, ask who pays for it.
Why is one lighting quote so much cheaper than another? Usually something is left out: buried wire, restoration, the controller or transformer capacity. Compare the line items, not the total.
Can I see the lights before I commit? With us, yes. We quote after a dusk demo so you see it lit first.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026.