Top Reasons to Choose GreenMargins for Landscape Lighting
⏱️ In 30 Seconds
- ✓Who it's for: Landscape lighting contractors doing residential and commercial outdoor lighting
- ✓The problem: Lighting has many components—fixtures, wire, transformers, labor—easy to miss costs
- ✓What GreenMargins does: Tracks fixture costs, installation time, transformer sizing, and wire runs in one quote
- ✓Key benefit: Know your margin on every lighting job including maintenance upsells
Landscape lighting is high-margin work when priced right. Premium fixtures, skilled installation, and recurring maintenance add up. But with fixtures, wire, transformers, and labor, there's a lot to track. Here's why lighting contractors use GreenMargins.
Fixture Library with Pricing
Build a library of your fixtures with cost, wattage, and installation time. Apply consistent pricing across all quotes.
Transformer Sizing Tracking
Total wattage determines transformer size. Track fixture loads and ensure you're quoting the right transformer capacity.
Wire Run Calculations
Wire is a real cost—12/2, 10/2, direct burial. Estimate run lengths and include wire costs in your quotes.
Installation Time by Fixture Type
Path lights install fast. Uplights in trees take longer. Set fixture-specific installation times for accurate labor quotes.
Design Service Pricing
Lighting design is a profit center. Charge for design consultations and presentations separately from installation.
Good-Better-Best Packages
Offer fixture tiers—commodity, mid-range, premium brass. Show clients the difference in quality and price.
Maintenance Contract Bundling
Every lighting install should include a maintenance agreement. Bundle annual service into your quotes.
Add-On Zone Tracking
Clients often add zones later. Track the initial system and price add-ons knowing transformer capacity and existing wire runs.
LED Retrofit Pricing
Upgrading halogen to LED? Price retrofits based on fixture compatibility and transformer replacement needs.
Warranty Tracking
Premium fixtures have long warranties. Track warranty periods and service under warranty vs. billable.
📋 Worked Example: Mid-Range Residential Lighting Package
Here's how a contractor prices a typical residential lighting installation:
Project Scope:
- • Front yard: 6 path lights, 4 tree uplights, 2 house wash lights
- • Backyard: 4 path lights, 3 deck lights, 2 uplights
- • 300W transformer with timer/photocell
- • ~250 feet of wire runs
| Component | Qty | Cost | Markup | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixtures (Mid-Range Brass) | ||||
| Path lights | 10 | $85 ea | 50% | $1,275 |
| Tree uplights | 6 | $120 ea | 50% | $1,080 |
| Wall wash lights | 2 | $95 ea | 50% | $285 |
| Deck lights | 3 | $65 ea | 50% | $293 |
| Equipment | ||||
| 300W transformer | 1 | $280 | 40% | $392 |
| 12/2 wire (250 ft) | 1 | $95 | 40% | $133 |
| Connectors, stakes, misc | 1 | $60 | 40% | $84 |
| Labor | ||||
| Fixture installation (21 × 30 min avg) | 10.5 hrs | $35/hr | — | $368 |
| Wire trenching/runs | 3 hrs | $35/hr | — | $105 |
| Transformer install + programming | 1.5 hrs | $35/hr | — | $53 |
| Billed labor (15 hrs × $85) | — | — | — | $1,275 |
| Recurring Revenue | ||||
| Annual maintenance contract | 1 | $120 | — | $249 |
| Installation Total | — | $1,992 | — | $5,066 |
Net Profit: $3,074 (60.7% margin) on installation + $129/year recurring maintenance profit
Lighting is high-margin work when you track all costs—fixtures, labor, and materials—and charge accordingly.
💡 Landscape Lighting Fixture Selection & Pricing Guide
Use these benchmarks when estimating lighting projects:
Fixture Cost Tiers (Your Cost)
| Fixture Type | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium Brass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path/area light | $25-45 | $65-95 | $120-200 |
| Spot/uplight | $35-55 | $75-120 | $150-250 |
| Wall wash | $40-60 | $80-120 | $140-220 |
| Well light (in-ground) | $45-70 | $90-140 | $180-300 |
| Step/deck light | $25-40 | $50-85 | $100-160 |
| Hardscape/wall light | $35-55 | $70-110 | $130-200 |
Markup guidance: Budget 35-45%, Mid-range 45-55%, Premium 50-60%
Installation Time Benchmarks
| Path light (soft soil) | 15-25 min |
| Path light (rocky/roots) | 25-40 min |
| Tree uplight (ground) | 20-30 min |
| Tree uplight (in canopy) | 35-50 min |
| Well light install | 40-60 min |
| Hardscape light | 25-40 min |
| Transformer install | 45-90 min |
Transformer Sizing Quick Reference
| 150W transformer | ~120W load max |
| 300W transformer | ~240W load max |
| 600W transformer | ~480W load max |
| 900W transformer | ~720W load max |
| Typical LED Fixture Wattage | |
| Path light LED | 2-4W |
| Uplight LED | 4-8W |
| Flood LED | 8-15W |
Voltage drop rule: Keep voltage drop under 10% on any run. Use 10/2 wire for runs over 100 feet. Multiple home runs from transformer are better than long daisy chains. Undersized wire = dim fixtures = callbacks.
📊 Spreadsheet vs. GreenMargins for Lighting Projects
| Capability | Spreadsheet | GreenMargins |
|---|---|---|
| Fixture library with wattage | Separate list | ✓ Integrated |
| Fixture-specific install times | Manual lookup | ✓ Auto-calculated |
| Transformer sizing | Manual sum | ✓ Wattage totals |
| Good-better-best options | Multiple sheets | ✓ One quote |
| Maintenance contract bundling | Separate doc | ✓ Built-in |
| Profit by fixture type | Manual analysis | ✓ Automatic |
Frequently Asked Questions
What markup should I use on landscape lighting fixtures?
How do I estimate low voltage lighting installation time?
Should I include maintenance contracts with lighting installs?
How do I calculate transformer sizing for quotes?
What's the most profitable part of landscape lighting?
Price Lighting Projects Profitably
Track fixtures, wire, labor, and maintenance in every quote.
14-day free trial. No credit card required.
Start Free Trial