Design
The cost of indirect lighting
Materials, installation and building work broken down. Three worked examples, what makes up the price and where you can save.
What the price includes
The cost of indirect lighting is made up of three items of very different sizes. Materials are the most predictable – they are calculated from the metres. Electrical work depends on whether the connection is fixed or plug-in. Building work is the largest and most variable item, and it is absent entirely from a retrofit.
| Item | What it includes | Price level | When it is absent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | LED strip, aluminium profile, driver, dimmer or Zigbee controller, connectors | €40-45/m + driver €80-240 + control €60-150 | Never |
| Electrical work | Driver connection, cabling, control installation. Hourly rate €80-90 | 1-2 h plug-in · 3-5 h fixed connection | If the driver is plug-in – then it is DIY work |
| Building work | Framing, plasterboarding, filling, painting | €150-250/m finished | Surface profile on a finished wall – no building work at all |
Three worked examples
The €40/m rate includes the strip and the profile. The driver is sized for 80 % load: the strip’s total power divided by 0.8, then the next standard size. Electrical work €80-90/h.
1. Bedroom – retrofit with a surface profile
Room 3 × 4 m, all four walls, i.e. 14 metres. 7.2 W/m mood lighting is enough for a bedroom. The surface profile is screwed onto the finished wall at the wall-ceiling junction – no plasterboard work.
| Item | Calculation | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Strip + profile | 14 m × €40/m | €560 |
| Driver | 14 m × 7.2 W = 101 W → /0.8 = 126 W → 150 W driver | €120 |
| Zigbee controller + button | Dimming and scenes | €60-120 |
| Materials total | €740-800 | |
| Electrical work | Plug-in: yourself. Fixed connection: 1-2 h | €0 or €80-180 |
| Building work | Not needed | – |
| Total | €740-980 |
2. Living room – light cove on four walls
Room 4 × 5 m, perimeter 18 metres. General lighting 14.4 W/m for a light ceiling. A plasterboard bulkhead at the wall-ceiling junction, which needs framing, plasterboarding, filling and painting before the profile is installed.
| Item | Calculation | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Strip + profile | 18 m × €45/m (a 14.4 W strip costs more than 7.2 W) | €810 |
| Drivers | 18 m × 14.4 W = 259 W → /0.8 = 324 W → 2 × 200 W | €200-240 |
| Zigbee controller + buttons | Two groups: general and mood | €80-150 |
| Materials total | €1090-1200 | |
| Electrical work | Fixed connection, 2 drivers, 3-5 h | €240-450 |
| Building work | 18 m bulkhead: framing, plasterboarding, filling, painting | €600-1200 |
| Total | €1930-2850 |
3. Whole floor – new build
Living room, kitchen, hallway and bedroom, about 40 metres in total. A mix of light coves and dropped ceilings, 14.4 W/m for living spaces and 7.2 W/m for the bedroom. The building work is part of the other plasterboarding, so its extra cost is lower than as a separate renovation.
| Item | Calculation | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Strip + profile | 40 m × €40-45/m | €1600-1800 |
| Drivers | About 450 W in total → 4-5 drivers by room | €400-550 |
| Zigbee gateway + controllers | Central control, 5-6 groups | €250-400 |
| Materials total | €2250-2750 | |
| Electrical work | Part of the wider electrical contract, 6-10 h extra | €480-900 |
| Building work | Extra work on the plasterboarding contract | €1500-3000 |
| Total | €4200-6650 |
Why a retrofit is so much cheaper
In the bedroom example there is no building work at all and electrical work can be zero. The same room as a light cove would cost €600-900 more for the bulkhead alone. A surface profile shows as a trim, a bulkhead does not – it is a choice between price and appearance, not light quality.
Where to save
- Surface profile instead of a bulkhead – the biggest single saving, €150-250/m. Suits you if a trim at the wall-ceiling junction does not bother you.
- Plug-in driver – electrical work drops to zero if there is a socket nearby. Works for retrofits, not new builds.
- Do the plasterboard work yourself – if a bulkhead is built, building work is the largest item and it can be done with basic skills. Filling and painting decide the result.
- Size the driver in one go – one larger driver is cheaper than two small ones, but the number of groups decides. Two groups need two drivers.
- Plan before plasterboarding – a change after plasterboarding costs many times more. A €199 lighting design is cheaper than one round of chiselling out.
Tax relief
Many countries offer tax relief on electrical and building labour in the home, but not on materials. Ask for an itemised invoice with labour and materials shown separately – without it, relief usually cannot be claimed.
In the living room example the labour share is €840-1650. Check your local rules for how much of it can be deducted.
Calculate your own cost estimate
Frequently asked questions
How much does indirect lighting cost?
Materials €40-45/m including strip and profile, plus driver and control. A 14-metre bedroom perimeter as a retrofit €740-980, an 18-metre living room light cove €1900-2850 including building work.
Is indirect lighting more expensive than downlights?
More per metre, but the result is different. Ten downlights cost €400-700 installed; the same room with indirect light €1900-2850 with a bulkhead or €740-980 with a surface profile. Indirect light does not dazzle or cast point shadows.
What makes up the cost of indirect lighting?
In a retrofit almost entirely materials: strip and profile about 75 %, driver 15 %, control 10 %. In a bulkhead structure, building work is the largest item – often more than half the total.
DIY or hire a professional?
Installing the strip and profile is DIY work if the driver is plug-in. A fixed electrical connection, bathrooms and saunas need an electrician. Plasterboard work is worth outsourcing if you want invisible joints.
How big a driver is needed and what does it cost?
The strip’s total power divided by 0.8, then the next standard size. 14 m × 7.2 W = 101 W needs a 150 W driver, about €120. 18 m × 14.4 W = 259 W needs a 320 W driver or two 200 W drivers, €200-240.
How much does lighting design cost?
LedStore’s lighting design starts from €199. It pays for itself if it prevents one wrong purchase – the wrong strip or profile is a costlier mistake than the design fee.