Cost to Install A Motion Sensing Switch – 2021

| Last Updated: August 24, 2021

National Average Improvement and Repair Cost

Pro

DIY

Hours:

1.1

2.3

Cost:

$ 263

$ 75

Would you do this project? According to our survey, 74% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.

Photo credit: vasttechwork.com

The average price to Install a Motion Sensing Switch noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.

What’s the cost to install a motion sensing switch? The contractor cost to install a motion sensing switch is $263 vs. doing it yourself for $75 and saving 72 percent.

Make your light switch a motion-sensing switch and enjoy the safety of having instant lighting. Just walk in a room and the light goes on, so there’s safe footing and no surprises. Stand on a staircase to walk down a dark stairwell and instantly the basement is illuminated.

It’s not magic, it’s a light switch with a sensor that turns on when it detects motion. It’s easy for anyone to replace an existing switch with one of these motion-sensing devices because there’s no additional wiring to install. Even if you normally shy away from electrical projects, this is easy and you’ll appreciate your effort every time you use the switch.

An electrician will charge $263 to install one of these devices. That includes labor and material. You can buy the device for $75, install it yourself, and save 72 percent. It’s well worth your time and effort. It’s a simple job of turning off the power at the circuit breaker, removing the old switch and cover plate, and then replacing it with the new one. Adjust the control panel of the new device and it’s good to go.

Don’t be surprised if you end up installing these devices throughout the house, especially at both ends of a long hallway or at the top and bottom of the attic staircase. They work with both regular incandescent lighting and rapid-start fluorescent fixtures.

Here’s Nerd Techy’s take on the Best Motion Sensor Light Switch Outlets.

That sums it up. Knowing the average cost to install a motion sensing switch lets you compare doing it yourself with what you can expect to pay a contractor.

Welcome! We hope you’ll find the job costs of home improvement projects useful when you’re deciding whether to do a job yourself vs. hire a contractor. We’re the authors of 20 home improvement books, most notably Home Improvement for Dummies©, Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies©, Carpentry for Dummies©, Plumbing for Dummies©, and Painting and Wallpapering for Dummies©. Our most recent book Fix It and Flip It is in its second edition. We’ve appeared as home improvement experts on television programs such as CNN, Dateline, the Today Show, HGTV and many others.