Installing commercial landscape lighting feels like a big project, and you probably have questions about costs, permits, and whether you can handle some of the work yourself.
At GS Light, we ensure your lighting project is successful from start to finish. We’ll guide you through each step of the installation so everything is clear and easy. By the end, you’ll have the full picture of what will be needed and done: tools, a step-by-step process, and a cost estimate.
Let’s begin right away.
Before installing any commercial lights, you need to prepare these tools: wire strippers, a voltage meter, a shovel or a trenching tool, and waterproof wire connectors.
Here’s what each tool is for:
You may also need to have:
Now, get these tools ready 1 week before you start the installation. You don’t want to start the installation only to realize you don’t have a wire stripper. So, being fully prepared makes the process safer for you and your team.
Let’s get into the actual installation process.
Installing commercial landscape lighting systems involves:
Sounds too technical? No worries, we’ll break it down step by step.
Start by designing your landscape lighting layout. Which areas of your property do you want to highlight? What kind of ambiance do you want to create? Map out your lighting zones so you don’t end up choosing the wrong fixtures, leaving dark spots, or creating uneven lighting.
Here’s our tip: Take photos of your outdoor space during the day and mark them up digitally so you can easily picture your property with lights. You can also share this plan with your team or contractor for feedback and brainstorming.
At night, walk the area and identify the spots you want to illuminate, like pathways, entry points, trees, or signage. Once you have a clear layout, select the fixtures and accessories you’ll use.
Choosing the right lighting equipment for your installation involves matching each fixture to its specific job.
The best way to do this is to pick fixtures based on the lighting you’re using. For example, if you want to highlight your trees or architectural features, use LED landscape spotlights because they give focused illumination (100-300 lumens) and cut energy costs by 60‑80%. For building facades, these IP66 wall washer lights give you even lighting and are weatherproof.
Now, think about your bulbs and power source. Halogen offers a warmer color temperature, but LED lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts longer, which means fewer replacements and lower electric bills over time.
If you care more about aesthetics than energy savings, halogen might be your choice, but for most commercial properties, they go for LEDs, solar, or wired lighting systems.
Once the planning is done, it’s time to start installing your lighting system.
A transformer safely converts standard voltage to low voltage, so it needs to be mounted in a safe, dry location. Ideally, place it near your main power source and at least 12 inches off the ground to protect it from water and debris. Make sure it’s also close enough to reach your first set of fixtures without excessive wire runs.
For best results, choose a transformer that can handle at least 25% more than the total wattage of all your lights. For instance, if all your lights add up to 400W, select a 500W or above transformer (400 x 1.25 = 500).
On top of that, test the transformer output with a voltmeter before connecting your fixtures. It only takes 2 minutes but saves you days from troubleshooting later.
After finalizing your transformer needs, installing cables is next.
If your lighting solution is wired, you need to dig trenches of about 6 to 8 inches deep and roughly 3 inches wide for your cables. This keeps cables protected from foot traffic and landscaping work.
As you do this, plan your cable routes to follow the shortest path between your transformer and fixtures. Be sure to avoid areas where heavy equipment might roll over them. If you hit underground utilities or irrigation lines, call a licensed electrician to reroute your cable safely.
With all the steps mentioned, get ready to install your lighting fixtures.
Install landscape lighting where you marked them in your layout plan.
Here’s how to do it: connect each fixture to your main cable. Using waterproof wire connectors, strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from both wires, twist them together, and secure them with the connector.
For specific fixtures like LED in-ground lights and recessed ground lights, keep the housing flush with the ground, and the drainage holes face down. This is to channel water away and prevent pooling inside your fixture, which later avoids corrosion and early failure.
Pro Tip: Keep lighting connections tight without stretching cables. Work your way from the transformer outward, and test each fixture as you go. This way, if something doesn’t light up, you know exactly where the problem is.
Once all your fixtures are connected and working, bury the cables and fill in your trenches to protect your wiring from damage and restore your lighting design.
To do this, lay the cables flat at the bottom of each trench before you backfill. There should be no loops or kinks that could get snagged later. For underground landscape lights, double-check that all your connections are properly sealed before covering them up.
Lastly, fill the trenches with soil and pack it down as you go. You want it firm enough that it won’t sink later, but not so compacted that grass won’t grow back.
At this final step, you need to conduct a system test to confirm that everything works exactly as your lighting plan specifies. Fixing small issues now saves you from digging things up later.
So turn everything on and check voltage, fixture alignment, and timers. Make sure each light hits the right spot, and every connection feels solid.
A slow, careful final check gives you a cleaner and more reliable system.
Commercial landscape lighting installation usually costs between $2,000 and $15,000, depending on your property size and the fixtures you choose. Basic setups with standard LED fixtures run on the lower end, while advanced systems with smart controls and premium fixtures cost more.
But if you hire a lighting professional, it usually doubles the cost compared to DIY (about $50 to $100 per fixture in labor alone), but you get cleaner wiring and fewer issues long term.
For detailed pricing breakdowns, see our commercial landscape lighting pricing guide.
Electrical codes vary by location, but most areas require permits for commercial outdoor lighting installations. Check with your local building department before you start. Some municipalities also have restrictions on light brightness, direction, and hours of operation to prevent light pollution.
A 12V or 24V LED low-voltage lighting is the most reliable for commercial spaces. Low-voltage landscape lighting offers energy savings, safer wiring, long fixture life, and steady brightness across large layouts with many fixtures.
Long cable runs can cause a voltage drop, which makes your lighting dim or uneven. Use thicker wire, shorter runs, and stronger transformers to keep brightness consistent across your entire system.
Take a nighttime walk to adjust your fixture angles and note any dim spots. Coming from our own experience, it’s best to monitor your system for a week straight and keep an eye out for connectors so nothing loosens over time.
Ready to upgrade now, but need help in choosing the best landscape fixtures?
GS Light is a trusted commercial landscape lighting brand for manufacturing high-quality LED lights since 2009. Our expertly engineered lighting systems feature IP65+ sealed housings that resist moisture and corrosion, which helps you save on frequent maintenance visits.
For a tailored 1×1 consultation, contact GS Light today!
