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Pot light installation estimator template

Customers pick how many lights and what's above the ceiling, with a dimmer or smart dimmer. Patching the access holes is an option, and textured ceilings are flagged for a visit.

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Try it as a customer would

Lakeshore Electric (sample business) Sample result: 8 pot lights below another floor, a new dimmer switch, access holes patched and painted Before tax
Standard LED $2,310 USD
Setup and connection to your lighting circuit · $200 Pot lights installed · $1,520 Dimmer switch · $120 Patch and paint the access holes · $320 Electrical permit and inspection · $150
Premium LED $2,590 USD
Setup and connection to your lighting circuit · $200 Pot lights installed · $1,920 Dimmer switch · included Patch and paint the access holes · $320 Electrical permit and inspection · $150

Fictional business and sample prices. Preliminary estimate based on the answers; final pricing follows an assessment.

Questions included

  1. How many pot lights would you like? “I don't know” → uses a stated assumption
  2. What is above the ceiling where the lights will go? An attic we can get into Another floor of the house The roof, with insulation (vaulted or flat ceiling) “I don't know” → shows a price range
  3. How would you like to switch them on? Use the existing switch · A new dimmer switch · A smart dimmer (phone or voice control)
  4. Do you need a switch in a new spot? No · Yes
  5. Should we patch and paint the small access holes? Yes, patch and paint them · Yes, but the ceiling is textured (popcorn or stipple) · No, I'll take care of it

Prices you supply

  • Setup and connection to your lighting circuit Your installed price for each package
  • Pot lights installed A price for each one
  • Dimmer switch A fixed extra when it applies; included in Premium LED
  • Smart dimmer switch A fixed extra when it applies
  • Switch in a new spot A fixed extra when it applies
  • Patch and paint the access holes A price for each one
  • Electrical permit and inspection A fixed extra when it applies
  • Minimum job priceNo estimate shows less (sample: $500)
  • Assessment rule: Textured ceilingMatching a textured ceiling over the patches is priced after a visit.

How the price is worked out

Every job has a $200 setup and connection charge and a $150 permit and inspection fee. Each light has a price by what's above the ceiling: in the sample, lights below another floor are $190 (Standard LED) or $240 (Premium LED) each, so 8 lights are $1,520 or $1,920. A new dimmer switch adds $120 to Standard; Premium includes it, so it shows as “Included”. Patching and painting the access holes is $40 per light ($320). That gives $2,310 and $2,590 before tax.

With an open attic above, lights are $150 or $200 each and there are no holes to patch; under a vaulted or flat roof they're $230 or $280. A smart dimmer is $260 and a switch in a new spot $220. Matching a textured ceiling over the patches is priced after a visit. If the customer doesn't know how many lights, the estimate prices 6; if they don't know what's above the ceiling, it shows a range from an attic to another floor.

What you can change

  • Prices per light by ceiling access, for each package.
  • Setup, switch, patching and permit prices.
  • Which packages include the dimmer.
  • Your minimum job price and rounding.

What still needs your visit

The circuit's capacity, which way the joists run and the final layout. The estimate shows its assumptions and says the price is preliminary.

Putting it on your website

Build, test and publish your first estimator free, for as long as you like. Unlimited estimators are $35 a month in the US or $45 CAD in Canada (pricing). Add it to your website with a short embed code, or share a hosted link.

Use this template free

Used by: electrical contractors.