It’s important to ask an electrician a few questions before you commit to hiring them so you can make an informed decision as a consumer. If you’re getting estimates or considering hiring an electrician, ask them these questions:

• Are you a full-time electrician?

• Are you bonded, licensed, and insured?

• What level of experience do you have as an electrician?

• Can you please share three references?

• Do you do residential or commercial electrical work?

• What kinds of electrical work are you most familiar with?

• Will any subcontractors be performing the work?

• Are permits and inspections required?

• Who is responsible for obtaining permits and inspections?

• What is your schedule?

• Do you offer a guarantee or warranty on your work?

• Will you sign a do-not-exceed clause to keep the job within the budget?

Typically, under-cabinet lighting costs about $265 on average, ranging from $230 to $300, depending on the type of lights, fixtures, and amount of electrical work required. Additional cost factors include the removal of old lighting, energy costs related to the type of light bulbs, and the replacement of light bulbs as they burn out.

Here are the average lighting costs by type:

• LED Puck Lights: $25 per fixture

• LED Strip Lights: $20 per 8-foot strip

• Xenon Fixtures: $50 per unit

• Fluorescent Lighting: $12 to $50 per unit

Recessed lighting installation costs about $360 on average, with a typical price range between $100 and $480, depending on labor cost in your area, required wiring, and the type of bulb. The cost to hire an electrician to install recessed lighting is typically $200 to $250 per fixture. If your electrical pro charges per hour, expect to pay $85 to $105 per hour for this service. Other cost factors include:

• Ceiling material

• Housing type

• Trim type

• Bulb type

• Materials

• Accessibility

• Permits

Yes, you should get a quote or an estimate from an electrician. Most electricians offer free estimates or quotes. When getting quotes, do your research and verify each electrician’s license. Get quotes from three different electricians to compare. If the prices or items listed appear different on the quotes, ask the electrician to clarify. Learning as much as you can about the electrical work you want done will help you get the most accurate estimate. 

Qualified, licensed electricians will charge from $50 to $100 per hour. The cost to hire an electrician for emergency visits may range from $100 to $200 per hour because this urgent service usually takes place during off hours and may require an electrician to leave or reschedule jobs they’re currently working on. Scheduling work on holidays or during periods of high customer demand, like after a major storm, will also lead to higher rates or extra fees.