How to Install Recessed Lighting

Installing recessed lighting involves cutting holes in your ceiling, running electrical wire, and mounting the fixtures. Most installations take 4-6 hours and require basic electrical knowledge.

  1. Map the Perfect Light Grid. Measure your room and mark where you want each light. Space recessed lights 4-6 feet apart for general lighting, or 2-3 feet apart for task lighting. Keep lights at least 3 feet from walls to avoid creating harsh shadows. Use a stud finder to locate ceiling joists and mark their positions on your layout plan.
  2. Kill Power, Verify It's Dead. Shut off power at the circuit breaker for the area where you'll be working. Use a voltage tester to confirm power is off. Determine if you need to run new electrical cable or if you can tap into existing wiring. Check your local electrical code requirements for the type of wire and circuit capacity needed.
  3. Test Cut First, Then Commit. Hold your recessed light housing against the ceiling and trace around it with a pencil. Use a drywall saw or hole saw to cut the opening. Start with one hole to test your measurements and make sure your housing fits properly before cutting the remaining holes.
  4. Thread Wire Room to Room. Run 14-gauge or 12-gauge electrical cable from your power source to each light location. If working from above in an attic, drill holes through ceiling joists and thread the cable. If working from below, you may need to cut access holes in the drywall to fish wire between fixtures. Leave about 8 inches of wire hanging from each hole.
  5. Lock Housings Into Ceiling. Connect the electrical wires to your recessed light housing following the manufacturer's instructions. Typically, you'll connect black to black, white to white, and ground to ground using wire nuts. Push the housing into the ceiling hole and secure it with the mounting clips that swing out to grip the back of the drywall.
  6. Flip Power On, Light Up. Once all housings are installed and wired, push the trim rings up into the housings until they click into place. Install the appropriate LED bulbs for your fixtures. Restore power at the breaker and test each light to ensure proper operation.