M-204 Home Systems
Pot lights planned room by room, wired to code
Pot lights in a finished ceiling typically cost $150 to $300 per light installed in Toronto and the GTA, before HST. Open ceilings cost less and concrete condo ceilings more.
- Typical cost
- $150–
$300 per light - Timeline
- 1 day for 6–10 lights
- Permit
- ESA notification
- Prices checked
- 2026
- Licensed electrical contractors
- ESA notification on every job
- Free on-site estimates
Free, no-obligation estimate. We typically reply within 24 hours.
M-204.1 Why MKC
Why choose MKC for pot lights
From below, a pot light is a small disc in the ceiling. Above it, each one is a cable run, a connection and, under an attic, an opening that has to be sealed. We plan the layout room by room and agree the switching and dimmers before any holes are cut. We only use ECRA/ESA-licensed electrical contractors to perform any electrical work. The contractor files the ESA notification, and our crew patches and paints the ceiling after, so the room is handed back finished.
Old wiring gets checked first
Many older Toronto houses still have knob-and-tube or aluminum circuits in the ceilings, and those may need repair before new lights are added. The electrical contractor checks what feeds the room at the estimate, so the quote states plainly whether any wiring work is included with the lights.
M-204.2 Scope
What’s included
- M-204.1Retrofit pot lightsLights cut into a finished drywall ceiling, with cable fished between the joists.
- M-204.2Open-ceiling installsLights wired while the framing is exposed, in a basement finish or a gut renovation.
- M-204.3Condo concrete ceilingsLights in a dropped ceiling or bulkhead, or fed by surface conduit, under a concrete slab.
- M-204.4Dimmers and switchingDimmers, three-way switches and separate circuits so each group of lights is controlled.
- M-204.5Insulated ceilingsInsulation-contact, air-tight fixtures sealed at the ceiling below an attic.
- M-204.6Patching and paintAccess holes patched and the ceiling repainted by the same company, after inspection.
M-204.3 Cost guide
What it costs
in Toronto & the GTA
Four publishers print $150 to $300, or $150 to $350, per light for a retrofit into a finished ceiling. Prices are per light installed, before HST.
Retrofit into a finished drywall ceiling, fixture and labour included
Six to ten lights in an existing ceiling take about one day, and a whole-house retrofit two to three days. The electrical contractor files the ESA notification. Jobs of up to ten outlets are filed when ready for the final inspection. Patching and paint follow once the wiring is done.
Every project is different, so your estimate comes with its own written schedule, and we aim to beat the usual industry timeline on every job.
| Level of work | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| New work or open ceilingCeiling framing exposed in a basement finish or gut renovation; LED fixture, cable and switch leg. | $100– |
| Retrofit, finished ceilingCut-in through drywall, cable fished, fixture and basic patching at the holes. | $150– |
| Condo concrete ceilingRetrofit price plus a published concrete-ceiling extra; a dropped ceiling or surface conduit is usual. | $250– |
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Insulated ceiling under an attic, extra | $30– |
| Vaulted ceiling, extra | $50– |
| Retrofit of 15 lights or more | $150– |
| Dimmer switch added | $50– |
Worked examples
- Example 1
Living room in a finished house, 8 lights
$1,200–$2,400 - Example 2
Basement with the ceiling open, 12 lights
$1,200–$2,400 - Example 3
Condo with a concrete ceiling, 6 lights
$1,500–$3,000
What moves the number
- 01Ceiling access
Open framing is the least work, at $100 to $200 a light. A finished ceiling adds cutting and fishing, at $150 to $300 a light.
- 02Ceiling type
An insulated ceiling under an attic adds $30 to $50 a light, a vaulted ceiling $50 to $150, and a concrete ceiling $100 to $200.
- 03Number of lights
The price per light falls with volume. One Toronto contractor was reported at $150 to $180 a light for 15 or more in a retrofit.
- 04Fixtures and dimmers
A basic LED fixture is about $20 and an adjustable gimbal $40 to $60. Each dimmer adds $50 to $150 per circuit.
- 05Patching and paint
Basic patching at the cut-outs is normally included. Larger drywall repairs are often extra, at $4 to $6 per sq ft.
Per-light prices include the LED fixture, wiring, labour and basic patching at the cut-outs, before HST. Painting, larger drywall repairs and repairs to old wiring are extra. The condo range rests on one source. Prices checked in 2026. Not a quote: your estimate is built from your own measurements and choices.
Where these numbers come from
- 2026 Wiring Fee Guide, Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) (Effective April 1, 2026)
- Notifications and Inspections: What You Need to Know, Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) (2026)
- Hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) (2026)
- Knob and Tube Wiring, Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) (2026)
- Published 2026 price guides and GTA contractor price pages (2026)
G-003 How we work
How we deliver your lighting project
- 1
Free Estimate
Tell us what you have in mind. We review your space and goals and give you a clear estimate at no cost.
- 2
Design + Permits
Our in-house designers model your project in 3D so you can see it and settle every choice. Our in-house engineering team prepares drawings, engineering letters and permit applications.
- 3
Material Procurement
We order cabinets, tile, stone, pavers and decking from trusted suppliers such as Unilock, Techo-Bloc, TimberTech and Trex, and schedule deliveries around the work.
- 4
Construction Process
Our crews build to code with site supervision and regular updates, so you always know where things stand.
- 5
Project Completion
Final inspection, walkthrough and clean-up. On time, within budget and beyond expectations. That is the MKC Guarantee.
Plan your project
with a free estimate.
We review your space and goals and give you a clear estimate at no cost.
M-204.4 Questions
Questions about pot lights
Don’t see your question? Call (647) 637-6052 or ask in your estimate request.
How much do pot lights cost per light in Toronto?
Typical cost in Toronto and the GTA: $150 to $300 per light (Retrofit into a finished drywall ceiling, fixture and labour included). By level of work: New work or open ceiling: $100 to $200 per light; Retrofit, finished ceiling: $150 to $300 per light; Condo concrete ceiling: $250 to $500 per light. Ceiling access moves the price most: open framing is the least work, a finished drywall ceiling adds cutting and fishing, and concrete adds more again. The number of lights, the dimmers and the patching make up the rest. These are typical ranges, before HST, with prices checked in 2026; your estimate is built from your own measurements and choices.
Do pot lights need a permit or inspection in Ontario?
Yes. Almost all electrical work in Ontario must be reported to the Electrical Safety Authority by filing a notification, and light fixtures count as outlets. For a licensed contractor, the 2026 ESA fee is $46 for 1 to 10 outlets and $92 for 11 to 30, and it is normally inside the quote. Electrical work is regulated by ESA, not by the City’s building department.
Can pot lights go in a ceiling below an attic?
Yes, with the right fixture. In an insulated ceiling the lights are insulation-contact, air-tight units, and each one is sealed where it passes through the ceiling. Published prices add $30 to $50 a light for that work. If the attic insulation is thin, it is a good time to top it up.
Can you install pot lights in a condo with a concrete ceiling?
Usually, but not by cutting into the slab. The lights normally go in a dropped ceiling or bulkhead, or are fed by surface conduit. One published guide puts the extra at $100 to $200 a light, so we show $250 to $500 a light as a guide only. Your condo corporation may have its own rules, so check them before work is booked.
Will there be holes in my ceiling to patch?
A retrofit means one cut-out per light, and sometimes a few access holes to fish cable past joists or blocking. Basic patching at those holes is part of a normal retrofit price. Larger repairs and repainting the whole ceiling are quoted separately, and published drywall repair rates run $4 to $6 per sq ft.
My house has knob-and-tube wiring. Can I still add pot lights?
Possibly, but the wiring is assessed first. ESA says knob-and-tube wiring is safe when it is properly maintained by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and it recommends having one assess the system. Old circuits may need repair or replacement before new lights are connected, and the quote will say so.
How many pot lights do most projects have?
One Toronto guide puts a typical project at 8 to 15 lights and $1,500 to $4,000. Another prints $1,500 to $5,000 or more for 10 to 20 lights. An eight-light living room in a finished ceiling works out to $1,200 to $2,400 before HST.
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