Under-Cabinet Lighting Cost in Orange County: 2026 Numbers
An under-cabinet lighting quote is priced line by line: the fixtures along the cabinet run, the fitting labour, the per-linear-foot rate the run is measured on, and the power scope behind it -- plug-in at an existing outlet, or hardwired to a switch. Published 2026 figures put professional installation at $200 to $800 with an average of $400, and most of the spread around that band is fixture lane and power scope.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by installer and scope
Fixture lanes: LED strip, puck, and light bar
| Fixture lane | Fixture pricing, published | Priced as |
|---|---|---|
| LED strip / tape | $5-$15 per linear foot | continuous run, by the foot |
| Puck lights | $30-$70 per set of 3-6 | per bay, by the set |
| Light bar | $20-$40 per foot; $33-$70 per fixture | rigid fixture, by the unit |
| Any lane, fitted | about $265 per fixture | Angi per-fixture average |
Published fixture reporting puts LED strip or tape at $5 to $15 per linear foot for mid-range product, with aluminum channels and diffusers adding $3 to $8 per foot where the strip is priced bare. Puck lights price as sets, and light bars as rigid fixtures at about $33 to $70 for a 12-inch to 24-inch unit at retail. Angi blends fixture and fitting time at about $265 per fixture.
Power scope: plug-in runs and hardwired runs
| Power scope | Published 2026 band |
|---|---|
| Plug-in strip scope, low end | from $50 |
| Plug-in options generally | $20-$100 |
| Hardwired installation scope | $200-$500 and above |
| Custom hardwired systems | $1,500 and above |
A plug-in run draws on an existing outlet, so its priced scope is the fixtures and the fitting time alone. A hardwired run is priced as electrical scope -- a switch position, a wiring run, and a driver where the fixtures are low-voltage. The two scopes are compared line by line on the hardwired vs. plug-in cost guide, and the gap between them is wider than any fixture-lane gap here.
The cost lines inside every quote
| Cost line | Typical 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Fixtures and parts | $20-$50 per standard fixture |
| Electrician and fitting labour | $50-$150 per hour; minimums $75-$150 |
| Run rate, installed | $20-$100 per linear foot |
| Electrical and control add-ons | priced line by line; see the add-ons guide |
The fixture is the line shoppers pick; the other lines are set by the house and the run. Labour carries a visit minimum in most published reporting, which is why a short run still produces a full-size fitting bill. The run is measured per linear foot, so a long L-shaped run prices apart from a short straight one at the same per-foot rate. The fourth line is conditional -- dimmers, drivers, outlets, circuits, patching -- priced in detail on the electrical and dimmer add-ons cost guide.
Worked run lengths: what a kitchen run totals
| Worked example | Published 2026 total |
|---|---|
| 8-foot plug-in strip run | $150-$250 |
| 10-foot hardwired bar run | $400-$600 |
| 12-foot run with smart controls | $800-$1,000 and above |
| Two fixtures fitted | $300-$600 |
| Three or more fixtures fitted | $700-$1,200 |
Run length turns the per-foot rate into a total. Most projects in wider reporting total $200 to $600. A run broken by a sink or a range prices as separate sections, each with its own fitting time.
The Orange County framing: the kitchen-remodel wedge
Much local under-cabinet work attaches to a kitchen remodel already under way, when the electrician is already on site and the backsplash is already open; priced then, the run is one line inside the remodel's electrical scope. A standalone run carries the same lines on their own, plus the visit minimum and any patching the wiring path needs. Older kitchens more often price the added outlet or circuit work as well.
The lane boundary: under-cabinet runs, not ceiling layouts or a remodel
This cluster prices one lane: light fitted under wall cabinets, along the counter run. That is a different lane from recessed lighting, which prices ceiling fixtures and layouts, and from a kitchen remodel, which prices whole-room scope with the lighting as one line among many. Neither neighbour isolates the under-cabinet run, its per-foot rate, or its plug-in and hardwired split -- this cluster does.
- Fixture lane and run length in feet on every quote
- Power scope stated: plug-in or hardwired
- Labour shown as its own line, with the hourly rate
- Per-linear-foot rate named, not only a lump sum
- Dimmer, driver, and outlet lines shown apart
Frequently asked questions
How much does under-cabinet lighting cost in 2026?
Published 2026 figures put professional installation at $200-$800 with an average of $400. The low end is $50 for basic plug-in strips, and custom hardwired systems run $1,500 and above.
How is an under-cabinet run priced per foot?
Angi puts the installed rate at $20-$100 per linear foot, depending on fixture type and wiring scope. Strip materials alone run $5-$15 per foot.
What does one fitted fixture average?
About $265 per fixture on Angi reporting, blending the fixture and the fitting time. Task-lighting reporting prices a fitted fixture at $230-$300 including labour and materials.
What pushes a quote above the standard band?
The hardwired scope and the layer behind it: a new switch position, a dimmer and driver, an added outlet or circuit, and patching. Those lines are priced on the electrical and dimmer add-ons guide.
Is an under-cabinet run the same project as recessed lighting or a kitchen remodel?
No. This guide prices light under wall cabinets. Recessed lighting prices ceiling fixtures on its own cluster, and a kitchen remodel prices whole-room scope on its own hub.