Permanent lighting price per foot by system
| System tier | Per linear foot | 150 ft home | 250 ft home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic RGB track lighting | $15–$25 | $2,250–$3,750 | $3,750–$6,250 |
| Mid-range RGBW | $20–$30 | $3,000–$4,500 | $5,000–$7,500 |
| Premium RGBW / RGBWW pixels | $25–$40 | $3,750–$6,000 | $6,250–$10,000 |
What drives the cost of a permanent lighting install
- Linear footage: the biggest factor. Measure every run, including gables at their sloped length.
- Product line: channel, pixel density and colour capability (RGB vs. RGBW vs. RGBWW).
- Roof pitch and height: steep roofs above about 8:12 and second or third stories need more time and safety gear.
- Controllers and power: extra controllers, power supplies and long wire runs to an outlet.
- Colour matching and trim work: custom-coloured channel to match the fascia.
- Season: many installers offer 10–20% off for off-season installs.
Measure it. Show it. Win it.
Measure the roofline, show the homeowner their house lit up and send the estimate, all in one app. $50/month for 2 users after a 14-day free trial. $0 today.
How installers set their per-foot price
Start with your material cost per foot (channel, lights, wire, controller share), add labor per foot based on your crew's real install speed, then add overhead and target margin. Many established installers aim for a gross margin of 50% or more on permanent lighting, but check your own numbers.
Keep a separate higher price for steep or multi-story work instead of discounting your base price to win easy jobs.
Turn the number into a professional estimate
The calculator gives a ballpark. For a real quote, measure the home, pick your system and per-foot price, and deliver a branded estimate with an AI preview of the client's house. LightingBid Pro does this in one flow.