How To Wire a Sconce the Right Way in 11 Steps

Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. Behind the drywall, you’ll find two vertical wall studs that will be located roughly 14.5 inches apart. Your sconce will be installed in between these two studs. Use painter's tape to mark their location.

Using your painter’s tape, mark both the location of the sconce and the wall light switch between the two studs. It’s recommended that the light switch be around 48 inches high. If your sconce comes with a switch on it, you can skip steps related to installing and wiring a separate light switch below.

Use a pencil to mark the location of the light box hole. Your sconce fixture will likely come with a paper template to trace this. If it doesn’t, mark a hole the same size as the light box. 

For example, a four-inch round box will need a four-inch hole. Using a drywall or hole saw, cut out the hole and remove the drywall.

After cutting your light box hole, mark a hole for the light switch box. If a template is available, use that to mark the cutout area. 

If not, take the box and turn it backward. Mark around its edges to make your template on the drywall. Don’t draw around the outer trim as that part should stick out from the wall. Then, use the same saw as before to cut the hole.

Take off the faceplate from the outlet you’ll be drawing power from. Check that no power is flowing by using a voltage tester.

Assess whether the outlet box is a nail-in or old-work box. A nail-in box won’t have any screws that allow it to be removed. If you have a nail-in box, it’s best to contact a professional as they will need to remove drywall to take out the box. 

An old-work box will have two screws that can be used to remove the box. For an old-work outlet box, use a screwdriver to turn the two screws counterclockwise until the box is loose. Once it’s loose, pull it from the wall while still leaving it attached to its wires.

Since you are installing your sconce near an electrical outlet, you should see a 14/2 wire inside the light box hole that you created earlier. Grab this wire out and fish it down to the switch box hole. Cut the wire so 8 to 10 inches extend from both holes. 

Take the top end of the 14/2 wire and put it into one of the holes of the light box. Place the box into the light box hole you carved earlier, and use a screwdriver to screw the box into the wall.

Use a wire stripper to cut off the outer casing of the 14/2 wire to strip the wire ends. Take the metal mounting hardware that came with your sconce and screw it into the light box. Ensure that the three wires are threaded through to the hardware.

Take a look at the sconce wires. They should already be stripped and ready to attach. Attach the sconce wires to the 14/2 wires, making sure to connect the same color of wires. 

The hot wires attach to the hot wires, the neutral to the neutral, and the ground to the ground. Use wire nuts to cap off each connection, then screw the sconce onto the mounting hardware.

From the switch box hole, run a 14/2 wire to the outlet. 

• If you have an old-work box, run the wire from the switch box hole to the open outlet hole.

• If you have a nail-in outlet, starting from the back of the outlet box, slide the wire upward to the switch box hole using fish tape. Make sure 8 to 10 inches of wire extends from each hole.

Take the two 14/2 wires and insert them into the back of the switch box. Next, place the switch box in the hole and attach it to the wall with a screwdriver.

To wire the light switch:

1. Attach the line black wire to one end of the light switch and the load black wire to the other. The load black wire will be the one running toward the sconce. 

2. Attach the white wire to the other white wire. 

3. The two bare copper wires should be left, attach these two together. Then add a third copper wire that's five to six inches long and twist all three together. Cap these off with a wire nut. 

4. Take the loose end of the third copper wide and attach it to the green screw of the light switch.

5. Use a screwdriver to screw the light switch onto the box and add the faceplate.

To complete your sconce wiring, use wire cutters to remove the cable sheathing and paper on the 14/2 wire exposed from the outlet. Strip the wire ends. Next, determine if the outlet ends a run of outlets or is in a group of outlets. 

If the outlet ends the run of outlets: 

• On the unused side, attach the black wire to the gold terminal and the white wire to the silver terminal.

• Remove the bare copper wire from the outlet. 

If the outlet is within a group of outlets:

• As both sides of the outlet are attached to wires, do not try to add extra wires under the terminals.

• Remove the line wires from the outlet and attach a third, pigtailed wire.

• Connect the black wire to the black wire of the 14/2 cable and add another black wire.

• Twist the three wires together and use a wire nut to cap them off. 

• Take the end of the third black wire you added and attach it to the gold terminal on the outlet.

• Repeat these steps for the white and bare copper wires.

With the wiring complete, push all the wires back into the box. Screw the outlet back on, remembering to add the faceplate.

Turn the power for the room back on and test the sconce by turning the light switch on and off. If you’re experiencing any issues after the installation, it’s best to contact a professional electrician to help out.