How Much Does LED Strip Lighting Cost to Install? What Drives the Price
The cost of professionally installed LED strip lighting depends less on the strip itself and more on everything around it: the aluminium profile and diffuser, the drivers, dimming and controls, how hard it is to hide the cables, and whether it's a new build or a retrofit. Two quotes for the same length of strip can differ widely because they describe very different installations.
Why there's no single price per metre
It's tempting to compare LED strip quotes by the metre, but the strip is often the smallest part of the cost. A 3-metre run under kitchen cabinets in a new build, where the cabinetmaker has already routed a channel and left a cable path, is a quick job. The same 3 metres retrofitted into existing joinery, with a driver to hide and a new switch to wire, is a very different one.
What you're really paying for is a finished result: an even line of light with no visible dots, a driver that won't overheat, dimming that doesn't flicker and a certificate for the electrical work.
What drives the cost
| Factor | Budget version | Quality version | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strip | Low-density, CRI 80, thin copper | High-density, CRI 90+, 24V | Moderate |
| Profile and diffuser | None, strip stuck to the surface | Recessed aluminium profile with opal diffuser | Moderate to high |
| Driver | Small, cheap, hidden wherever it fits | Correctly sized with headroom, accessible and ventilated | Moderate |
| Dimming and controls | On/off only | Compatible dimmer, sensors or smart control | Moderate to high |
| Access | Surface cables, visible adaptors | Concealed cables through walls, ceilings and joinery | High in retrofits |
| Number of runs | One long run | Several short runs, each needing connections | Moderate |
| Location | Dry indoor space | Bathroom, outdoor or pool area with IP-rated parts | Moderate |
| Compliance | Not provided | Tested and certified by a licensed electrician | Small, but essential |
The biggest swing is usually access. New builds and renovations where walls, ceilings and joinery are open cost less per metre than retrofits into finished spaces.
Typical jobs and what they involve
Rather than quote numbers that won't match your home, here's what's involved in three common jobs. Use it to check a quote covers everything.
| Job | What a complete quote should include |
|---|---|
| Under-cabinet strip in a new kitchen | Strip and profiles for each cabinet run, diffusers, driver in an accessible cupboard, cabling through the joinery, a separate switch or dimmer, testing and certificate |
| Ceiling cove in an existing living room | Coordination with a plasterer to build the cove, high-density strip, driver access, new dimmer circuit, patching allowance, testing and certificate |
| Whole-home package in a new build | Lighting plan, strip for kitchen, stairs, bedheads, ensuite niches and outdoor areas, all profiles and drivers, dimming or smart control, commissioning after dark, testing and certificate |
For a price on your project, the fastest route is a site visit or a look at your plans.
Planning a build or renovation?
Luxe designs and installs architectural lighting across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. Book a lighting consultation.
Why the cheapest quote often looks worst
The lowest quote usually saves money in places you'll notice later:
- No profile or diffuser, so every diode shows as a dot, especially reflected in stone.
- Adhesive-only fixing, which lets go in Queensland summer heat and humidity.
- Drivers crammed into sealed spaces, where they run hot and fail early.
- Cheap strip that shifts colour, dims unevenly along the run, or fails within a couple of years.
- Incompatible dimming, leading to flicker and buzzing.
Replacing a failed installation, particularly one built into joinery, costs more than doing it properly the first time.
How to compare quotes
Line two quotes up against this checklist:
- Strip brand, voltage (12V or 24V) and CRI
- Profile type and diffuser for each run
- Driver brand, size and location
- Dimming method and dimmer model
- How cables will be hidden
- IP rating for any wet or outdoor locations
- Warranty on parts and workmanship
- Licence number and a certificate of compliance
If a quote doesn't list these, ask. The answers tell you whether you're comparing the same job. Our guide on whether you need an electrician to install LED strip lights explains which parts of the job legally need a licensed electrician.
Ways to save without cutting corners
- Plan during the build or renovation. Recesses, cable paths and driver locations cost far less when walls and joinery are open.
- Focus on the runs that matter. A few well-placed runs in the kitchen, stairs and bedhead often do more than strip in every room.
- Group circuits sensibly. Fewer, larger drivers and shared dimmers where it makes sense.
- Use standard lengths. Designing runs around joinery lengths reduces cutting and joins.
Our LED strip lighting and kitchen LED strip lighting pages show the finish we work to, and you can read our reviews or get your free lighting quote. For ideas on where strip earns its place, see our kitchen lighting ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install LED strip lighting?
It depends on the length and number of runs, the quality of strip, profile and driver, whether you want dimming or smart control, and how easy it is to hide the cables. New builds usually cost less per metre than retrofits. A site visit or a look at your plans gives an accurate price.
Why do LED strip quotes vary so much?
Quotes differ in what they include. A low quote may use cheap strip stuck straight onto joinery with no profile or diffuser, and a driver hidden where it will overheat. A higher quote usually includes quality strip, aluminium profiles, accessible drivers, dimming and a compliance certificate.
Is LED strip lighting cheaper to run than downlights?
LED strip is very efficient, but running costs depend on the total wattage. A few metres of strip used as accent light uses little power. Most homes use strip alongside downlights rather than instead of them, so the running-cost difference is small.
Is it cheaper to install LED strip during a build?
Yes. During a build or renovation, recesses, cable paths and driver locations can be planned into the framing and joinery. Retrofitting means cutting in, fishing cables and hiding drivers in existing spaces, which takes more labour.
What should a LED strip lighting quote include?
The strip brand and CRI, the profile and diffuser, driver brand, size and location, the dimming or control method, labour, the warranty, and a certificate of compliance for the electrical work. If a quote doesn't list these, ask.
Get your free lighting quote.
Call 0411 212 528 or request your consultation. Licensed electrical contractor #90549.
