National Average Improvement and Repair Cost
Pro
DIY
Hours:
1.6
4
Cost:
$ 619
$ 205
Would you do this project? According to our survey, 28% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.
The average price to Install a Ceiling Fan noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.
What’s the cost of an installed ceiling fan? An electrician charges $619 to install a ceiling fan vs. doing it yourself for $205 and saving 66 percent.
When you want to install a ceiling fan in a room, you’ll find a dazzling array of styles, shapes, and sizes sold at lighting retailers and home centers. Before you choose a fan, measure the room’s length, width, and ceiling height.
Those dimensions will help you select the correct size fan that will do the best job of cooling the room. Interior designers tell us a common mistake they see is a ceiling fan that overpowers a room. For safety’s sake and fan efficiency never install a ceiling fan lower than 7 feet from the floor. In a room with minimal headroom, choose a low-ceiling mount that hugs the ceiling. A fan should compliment the décor of a room, but it shouldn’t be so large that it dwarfs the furnishings.
According to the Alliance to Save Energy a ceiling fan will reduce your energy bills by providing additional cooling and better circulation so you can cut down air conditioning costs. When you’re looking at fans, choose one that’s Energy Star-certified because it’ll move air up to 20 percent more efficiently than a conventional model.
An electrician will charge $619 to install a moderately priced 52-inch fan in a room with an existing overhead light fixture in the correct position. This includes labor and material. If the electrical box is not designed to support a fan you must install a fan bracket that is secured to the ceiling joists. You cut a hole in the ceiling just large enough to slip the bar through the framing and then secure it to the joists so there’s something to attach the fan to. For about $20 bucks, it’s a good solution. Assuming you have experience with electrical projects, you can buy the fan and bracket for $205 and install it yourself, saving 66 percent.
A ceiling fan should be sized for the square footage of a room. For a room less than 50 square feet, use a 29-inch fan, for a room 75 square feet, use a 36-inch fan, for a room 100 square feet, use a fan 42-inch fan and for a room 225 square feet, use a 52-inch fan.
If there is no overhead light fixture you need an electrician to run a new electrical line, not a job for a do-it-yourselfer.
You can get an idea of what’s involved by attending a DIY seminar at a home center where “How to Install a Ceiling Fan” is a popular class. Or watch this video at Delmar Fans.
That sums it up. Knowing the average cost to install a ceiling fan lets you compare doing it yourself with what you can expect to pay a contractor.
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