How To Install a Ceiling Light Pendant Light

Install a Ceiling Light

Even though installing your own light fixture might seem like an intimidating task, we’ll break it down into easy steps. Become a DIY-er in minutes with our guide on how to install a ceiling light.

How to Install a Hanging Light
How to Install Recessed Lighting
How to Install Track Lighting

 How to Install a Hanging Light

Follow these instructions on how to install a chandelier, pendant, or flush/semi-flush mount.

 What You Will Need

Phillips head screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver
Wire caps
Electrical tape
Wire stripper
Safety glasses
Wire connectors
Friend to help lift the light
Step stool or ladder
Lightbulbs

 Step 1: Turn Off Power
Find your electrical circuit panel and turn off the power to the room by switching off the circuit. If the circuits in your panel aren’t labeled, switch on the existing lights in the room, and switch the circuit off until the correct room's lights go out. Be sure to turn off the light’s wall switches off as well.

 Step 2: Remove the Old Fixture
If you’re replacing an old fixture, remove the cover, shade, or mounting plate, then detach all the current wire connections. Remove the lightbulbs, then remove the base/trim from the old fixture. You’ll have your hands full here, so have your friend nearby to help hand you things while you’re working!

 Tip!

If you are installing a ceiling light for the first time rather than replacing an old fixture, consult an electrician. They’ll need to find a nearby power source for your new light to attach to.

 Step 3: Secure Screws
Check the stability of your current electrical box and mounting bracket where the fixture will be attached. If the screws feel loose, tighten them using your screwdriver.

 Step 4: Connect Wires
It’s important to follow your product’s specific manufacturer instructions for matching the wires on your new fixture. Generally, wires of the same color connect to each other – so the black wires connect to each other and the white connect to each other. The grounding wire, which is typically green, connects to the grounding screw on the grounding bar. Use your wire stripper to remove about an inch of the protective coating on the new light fixture’s wires. Wrap the bare part of the fixture wire to the bare section of its corresponding wire. Then screw on the wire connectors and connect the grounding wire. For added protection, wrap the wire caps in electrical tape.

 Step 5: Secure the Base
Bundle the wires into your light’s electrical box. Use the hardware that’s included with the light fixture to attach its base to the electrical box.

 Step 6: Install Bulbs
Use the recommended wattage when choosing lightbulbs for your light fixture. Consider LED bulbs for better efficiency and reduced bills.

 Step 7: Attach Trim and Cover
Install the trim and cover that came with your fixture. Adjust the length of the chain if necessary.  

Step 8: Turn on Power
Test and make sure everything is working properly by turning on the power at the circuit board and the light switch. You did it!

 How to Install Recessed Lighting

What You Will Need

Stud finder
Hole saw
Tape measure
Drill
Drill bits
Recessed light housings
Recessed light trims
Wire connectors
Electrical tape
Lightbulbs

 Step 1: Understand Your Setup
In the ceiling above the recessed lighting, check to see if there is insulation. If there is insulation, buy insulation-compatible lighting or the lights will overheat. If you are installing lights that are between two floors, you will need at least 8" of vertical space above the ceiling. To check this, drill a small hole and poke a wire through. Mark how deep it goes in before touching an obstruction. Use a stud finder to mark any joists in your ceiling. Make sure not to place a light over a joist.

Step 2: Turn off Power
At the electrical circuit box, turn off the power to the room you will be working in. Be sure to turn off the light switch as well.

 Step 3: Prepare Location
Use the included mounting templates to mark where the lights will be placed on your ceiling. Remember not to place one over a joist. For placement and spacing recommendations, check out our "How to Measure for a New Ceiling Light" guide.

 Step 4: Make Openings
Use your hole saw to create the appropriate size housings for the lights.

 Step 5: Disconnect Old Fixture
If there’s an existing fixture in place, disconnect it from its power source.

 Step 6: Set Up Connections
Pull the cable from the power source to the first recessed light and thread it through the opening. Leave around 18”of wire hanging. This allows enough slack to wire the rest of the fixtures. Also, most ceilings have strapping under the sheetrock, which leaves a gap under the ceiling joist, allowing you to run a wire snake down to get wires from one light to another. Repeat this step for the rest of the lights. If it’s an attic above the ceiling, run the wire through the attic. If it’s finished above the ceiling, use a flexible drill bit to drill through the framing and run the wires that way.

 Step 7: Connect Fixtures
Open the light’s junction box and run the cable into the box. Connect the black wires together, the white wires together, and the green ground wires together. Place a wire cap over the connected wires and twist it to tighten the connections. Wrap each wire cap with electrical tape. Repeat this step until you’ve connected all fixtures. Fold the wires into the box and replace the cover.

 Step 8: Mount the Light
Recessed-lighting housings typically have four clips that clamp the light to the ceiling. Pull the clips in so they don’t protrude outside the housing. Put the light housing into the hole you made, then push the light into the hole until it’s flush with the ceiling. Using your fingers, push each clip up and outward until it clicks into place and clamps the light fixture.

 Step 9: Attach the Trim
Recessed lighting trims are usually mounted with coil springs or rod springs. If your light has coil springs, hook each spring into its assigned hole inside the housing. Pull out each spring and hook it onto the trim, carefully guiding the trim into position. If your light has rod springs, squeeze and place both ends of each spring into their assigned positions. Push the trim up into position until it feels secure.

 Step 10: Screw in Lightbulbs
Install the lightbulbs, keeping in mind the wattage recommended by your fixture’s manufacturer.

 Step 11: Turn Power On
Check to see that everything is working by turning the power on at the circuit board and flipping on the light switch.

 There are two types of track lighting: plug-in lights and hardwired track lights. Plug-in tracks do not require any wiring, but need to be close to an outlet. Hardwired lights require an electrical box to be wired. Our steps assume that there is already one present, otherwise, we recommend consulting a professional to install them for you.

 What You Will Need

Screwdriver
Drywall screws
Tape measure
Wire nuts
Track and track heads
Electrical cable
Bulbs

 Step 1: Turn Off Power
As always, the first step should always be to turn the power off at the circuit board. Again, don’t forget to turn the light switch off too!

 Step 2: Look at Wiring
Take a picture of how your current fixture is wired. Sketch the structure of them and their corresponding colors. This will make your life easier in future steps.

 Step 3: Remove Old Fixture
Remove the existing light fixture from the electrical box you plan on using. The wiring for your track lighting will be the same as the old fixture.

 Step 4: Attach the Mounting Plate
Screw the mounting plate into the ceiling junction box. Use wire nuts to connect the mounting plate lead to the house wires. Connect the ground (green) wire to the plate. Push the wires into the electrical box. Screw in the mounting plate to the box.

 Step 5: Mark the Ceiling
Measure to see how far the sides of the track will be from the nearest walls. Mark the ceiling with pencil so that the track will be easily lined up later on.

 Step 6: Attach the Track
Attach the track to the mounting plate. Have someone help you hold the track in place against the ceiling. Make sure it is centered on the mounting plate.

 Step 7: Secure the Track
Use a stud finder to locate joists. If your track is longer than 4”, have your helper hold one of the ends while you work. Snap the track onto the mounting plate and insert a screw into every joist possible. If there aren’t any joists, drill holes every foot, and insert plastic anchors into them. Then insert screws into those anchors.

 Step 8: Place the Live End Connector
Twist on the live end connector and turn it 90 degrees until it snaps into place. Align the connector’s two copper tabs with the two copper bars that are inside of the track. Snap it into place over the track and mounting plate.

 Step 9: Insert Lights and Lightbulbs
Twist the lights into place along track. Be sure to use the correct wattage in your lightbulbs to ensure your fixture doesn’t get damaged.

 Step 10: Turn Power On
Turn the power back on to test that everything is working correctly.