Exterior lights are one of the cheapest curb-appeal upgrades on a DMV home, and as the days get shorter in fall, they matter more for safety too. Most people buy fixtures that are too small. Here's how to get size, height and features right.
SIZE: GO BIGGER THAN YOU THINK
- Beside a front door: each fixture about 1/4 to 1/3 the height of the door. For a standard 80-inch door, that's 20 to 27 inches tall.
- Single fixture beside the door: go toward the larger end.
- Garage doors: fixtures about 1/4 the height of the garage door, one on each side or between doors.
Fixtures look much smaller from the street than they do in the store.
MOUNTING HEIGHT
- Center of the fixture roughly 66 inches above the threshold, or slightly above eye level.
- Keep both sides of the door at the same height.
- Hanging lanterns on porches need at least 7 feet of clearance.
FEATURES WORTH IT
- Dusk-to-dawn sensor: lights turn on automatically at night.
- Motion sensor for side yards, garages and back doors.
- Integrated LED or LED bulbs in warm white (2700 to 3000K).
- Wet-rated fixtures for exposed walls; damp-rated is only for covered porches.
- Dark-sky friendly shielded designs that point light down.
DURING REPLACEMENT
- Siding may have an outline of the old fixture; a larger new fixture or a mounting block covers it.
- Seal the top and sides of the fixture to the wall, leaving the bottom open for drainage.
- Older exterior boxes are often loose or not sealed; replace as needed.
TYPICAL COSTS
| Job | Typical DMV Cost (labor) |
|---|---|
| Replace one fixture on existing box | $95 – $175 |
| Each additional fixture, same visit | $60 – $110 |
| Add mounting block on vinyl siding | add $40 – $90 |
| Add motion or dusk-to-dawn switch | add $60 – $150 |
Pair new exterior lights with a freshly painted front door and new house numbers for a one-day curb-appeal refresh.
RELATED READING
CURB APPEAL UPGRADES THAT ACTUALLY PAY OFF
Front doors, paint, lighting, washing and walkways — what each costs and what it returns.
LIGHT FIXTURE UPGRADES: COST & WHAT TO EXPECT
What light fixture upgrades cost in the DMV, which ones make the biggest visible difference, and what requires a licensed electrician.
EXTERIOR DOOR REPLACEMENT: PREHUNG VS. SLAB
When a slab door works, when you need a prehung unit, and installed costs for each.
Planning a project? See our Light Fixture Installation service page for scope, process and recent work.
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