Last updated October 16, 2026
We have installed low-voltage LED lighting on patios, desert yards and the decks around existing pools across the Phoenix Valley since 2012, and cost is almost always the first question. There is no flat per-yard price in the desert: what you pay depends on how many fixtures light the scene, how far the cable has to run through caliche, and whether you want simple timer or smart app controls. Here is how pricing actually breaks down by scope, and what moves the number.
How much does landscape lighting cost in Phoenix?
Most low-voltage LED landscape lighting in the Phoenix metro runs about 200 to 400 dollars per fixture installed, which covers the fixture, its share of the transformer and cable, and the labor to trench and aim it. That per-fixture number is the honest way to budget, because the total comes down to how many fixtures a design needs. A few accent uplights on a front entry cost far less than wrapping a whole property. The table below shows the scopes we see most often. Treat these as directional planning ranges, not quotes: your real figure depends on fixture count, cable runs through caliche, transformer size and controls, which we confirm on a dusk walk of the property.
| Project scope | What it covers | Typical fixtures | Directional installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter path set | Entry path, steps and a few accent uplights | 6 to 10 | About 1,500 to 3,000 dollars |
| Full yard | Front and back: paths, plant uplights, wall wash and hardscape lights | 15 to 30 | About 4,000 to 9,000 dollars |
| Estate layout | Large lot, multiple zones, trees and the deck around an existing pool | 35 plus | About 10,000 dollars and up |
What drives the cost of a landscape lighting system?
Four things move a landscape lighting quote more than anything else. First, the fixtures: sealed, heat-rated brass or copper fixtures cost more upfront than the cheap cast-aluminum units in big-box kits, but they survive 115-degree sun, monsoon dust and driving rain for years instead of fogging and corroding in a season. Second, the transformer: we size it with headroom so you can extend the system later, and a larger multi-tap transformer adds cost. Third, cable runs: Phoenix caliche is cement-hard, and the longer and deeper we have to trench low-voltage cable across a property, the more labor the job takes. Fourth, controls: a basic photocell or timer that switches the system on at dusk is inexpensive, while a smart Wi-Fi controller with zones and color tuning you run from your phone costs more. If you want the deck around an existing pool lit, that adds fixtures too. We light the deck and surround, never the pool itself, and we do not build or install pools.
| Cost driver | Lower-cost choice | Higher-cost choice |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures | Fewer accent lights, standard finishes | More fixtures in brass or copper |
| Transformer | Single small transformer | Larger multi-tap unit with headroom |
| Cable runs | Short runs, soft soil | Long, deep trenching through caliche |
| Controls | Photocell or basic timer | Smart Wi-Fi zones and color tuning |
How much does it cost to run landscape lighting each month?
Running cost is where LED earns back its price. A full yard of low-voltage LED fixtures draws only a small fraction of the power an old halogen system used, so even 20 or 30 fixtures add just a few dollars a month to an APS or SRP bill rather than the noticeable bump halogen caused. A photocell or timer runs the system only from dusk to a set hour, so nothing burns power in daylight, and quality LED fixtures typically last many years before anything needs replacing, which keeps maintenance cost low. In the desert that matters: fixtures that survive the heat instead of failing each summer are cheaper over their life even when they cost a bit more on day one.
Can you add landscape lighting to a yard that is already finished?
Yes, and it is usually cheaper than people expect. Low-voltage lighting is one of the easiest systems to retrofit, so we regularly add it to finished patios, mature desert planting and existing paver work without tearing anything up. The buried line is shallow low-voltage cable, not high-voltage conduit, so a retrofit on an established yard often costs less per fixture than people assume because there is less to disturb. The transformer plugs into an existing exterior outlet; if a new outlet or panel work is needed, that is a licensed electrician's scope and a separate cost. Most Valley HOAs and dark-sky communities limit glare and uplight, so we design with shielded, warm-white fixtures aimed down or across surfaces, which keeps the system both compliant and good-looking.
