The short answer
Smart lighting for a whole UK house typically costs around £3,000–£10,500, averaging roughly £6,500, depending on how many rooms and fittings you cover. The components are modest individually: smart bulbs run about £7–£50 (averaging around £27), smart switches about £20–£60, and a smart hub about £20–£90. Labour for an electrician is usually around £40–£50 per hour, or roughly £200–£250 per day, with a whole-house fit often taking one to two days. The big cost split is whether you simply swap bulbs and switches yourself, or have new wiring, downlights and circuits installed — the latter is electrician's work and adds notably more.
Smart lighting is where most homeowners start, and the cost depends heavily on whether you are swapping bulbs or rewiring. The figures below are typical installed ranges for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK costs
- Whole house~£3,000–£10,500 (avg ~£6,500)
- Smart bulb~£7–£50 (avg ~£27)
- Smart switch~£20–£60
- Smart hub~£20–£90
- Electrician labour~£40–£50 / hr (~£200–£250 / day)
What drives the price
- Number of rooms & fittings: you largely pay per light point, so a whole house costs far more than a couple of rooms.
- Bulbs vs wiring: swapping bulbs and switches for smart versions is the lowest-priced route; fitting recessed downlights or new circuits needs an electrician and cabling.
- Switches vs bulbs: smart switches control whole circuits and look tidy but may need wiring work; smart bulbs are plug-and-play but cost per fitting.
- Labour: where wiring is involved, an electrician's day rate and any Part P certification add to the figure.
| Item | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-house smart lighting | ~£3,000–£10,500 | averages around £6,500 |
| Smart bulb | ~£7–£50 | averages around £27 |
| Smart switch | ~£20–£60 | may need wiring work |
| Smart hub | ~£20–£90 | one per home, links devices |
| Electrician labour | ~£200–£250 / day | whole house often 1–2 days |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote smart lighting guides.
When it becomes electrician's work
Simply replacing bulbs with smart bulbs, or swapping a switch for a like-for-like smart switch, is usually a DIY job with no rewiring. It changes once you want new light points, recessed downlights or extra circuits — that means running cable and connecting to the consumer unit, which is notifiable under Part P and should be done by a registered electrician. That is the step that moves smart lighting from a few hundred pounds of components into the thousands, because you are paying for cabling, labour and certification as well as the kit.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does smart lighting cost for a whole house?
Typically around £3,000–£10,500, averaging roughly £6,500, depending on how many rooms and fittings you cover and whether any rewiring is involved. Swapping bulbs yourself sits at the lower end; new circuits and downlights push it higher.
How much do smart bulbs and switches cost?
Smart bulbs usually run about £7–£50 each (averaging around £27), smart switches about £20–£60, and a smart hub about £20–£90. Bulbs are plug-and-play, while some switches need wiring work.
Do I need an electrician for smart lighting?
Not for swapping bulbs or like-for-like switches. But fitting new light points, recessed downlights or extra circuits means running cable to the consumer unit, which is notifiable under Part P and should be done by a registered electrician.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property. They are guidance, not a quotation.