How Much Does Ceiling Fan Installation Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $144 - $353
Standard ceiling fan installation costs $249
on average, depending on the number of fans.
Bringing a cool new look to your home? A new ceiling fan comes with a price tag between $85
and $620
without complex wiring. With labor included, the average cost for the whole project for most breeze-seeking homeowners is around $249
. You'll fall on the higher end if adding your new fan involves a challenging installation. See what your actual cost might be with our quick guide.
Ceiling Fan Installation Cost Breakdown
Unless you already know how to install a ceiling fan, you’ll have to factor installation labor costs into your budget for this project. Let's cover some of the costs of getting a fan to fit perfectly on your ceiling.
Wiring Type | Average Cost |
---|---|
Basic, wiring in | $100 – $500 |
Basic, no wiring | Up to $2,000 |
Fan/light combo | $100 – $300 |
Switches | $100 – $200 |
Remote control fan | $150 – $300 |
Basic Installation With Existing Wiring
If you're replacing a ceiling fan, you may be able to simply attach the new fan to the same wiring. If this is the case, a professional installation may cost between $100 and $500.
Installation Without Existing Wiring
Starting with a blank canvas? Adding wiring where no ceiling wiring exists means your electrician will have to start from scratch by opening up walls, running wires, installing boxes, and hooking up your junction box. This is a big job that might cost up to $2,000.
Installing a Ceiling Fan With a Light
If you're replacing a light/fan combo with a new light/fan combo, there's a good chance you won't need to add new wiring. If you're replacing an ordinary light or fan with a new fan-light combo, be prepared to pay between $100 and $300 for the extra wiring necessary.
Installing Switches
If you've decided to have your new fan installed on your existing lightbox, you may not be able to have your fan and light on the same switch. To fix this, you’ll either need to learn how to wire a ceiling fan with two switches or ask your electrician to sync the power switches by running another line, adding a bigger box, and installing the switches. Expect to add another $100 to $200 on top of installation costs for this very convenient touch.
Selecting a Fan With a Remote Control
If you don't mind spending another $150 to $300, you can purchase a fan with its own remote control that allows you to control your light and fan speed at the same time. While this is often an alternative to paying to have your wiring switched around by an electrician, it's a temporary fix.
Number of Fans
While installing more than one fan is more expensive, bundling installations can save you money on labor, time, and materials in the long run if you're doing a larger makeover. Why is that?
When charging hourly fees, most electricians include travel costs for the first hour only. It’s also cheaper to run wires in the same room because you're only opening one set of holes for both of your new fans. You can also use one set of switches with a single box for both fans.
Ease of Access
If your electrician needs to cut holes due to limited access to wires, boxes, and switches, this will require extra costs in labor and materials.
Cost of Ceiling Fans by Type
You'll find several types of ceiling fans on the market, from the standard five-blade model you recognize in most homes to dual-motor rotational fans for large spaces. Here are the ceiling fan installation costs for each common variety:
Ceiling Fan Type | Average Cost |
---|---|
Standard | $50 – $300 |
Low-profile | $50 – $300 |
Hanging propeller | $150 – $550 |
Directional | $150 – $800 |
Rotational | $200 – $1,500 |
Standard
Standard ceiling fans cost between $200 and $650 to buy and install. You'll find five blades made from wood, fiberboard, plastic, or metal, and they are highly customizable to your space. Many will also include a light fixture and connect to a downrod between 2 and 10 inches long.
Low-Profile
Low-profile fans are ideal for rooms with ceilings under eight feet high. These models, which also cost between $200 and $650 to buy and install, do not have a downrod. This feature allows the fan to hug the ceiling and connect directly to the mount on the ceiling—which is where they also get the nickname "hugger" fans or "flush-mount" fans.
Hanging Propeller
Costing between $300 and $900 to purchase and install, hanging propeller fans cool off larger rooms with ceilings over nine feet high. The blades hang on a downrod in order to circulate air closer to the living space. Downrods will typically hang around two to four feet but can go much longer for vaulted ceilings and large outdoor pergolas.
Directional
The more complex and often stylish directional ceiling fans cost between $300 and upwards of $1,200 with installation and purchase factored in. The final price depends on the fan’s size and design. You will find models that look like traditional table fans mounted on a movable arm. Other fans include an adjustable cage at the end of a downrod. In either case, the ceiling fan’s direction is easily adjusted to the area where you need the air most.
Rotational
The most complex ceiling fans will cost between $350 and $1,850 (for both purchasing the fan and having it installed) due to their power and custom design options. Rotational fans may include a dual motor with two fans facing opposite directions, both of which can be adjusted and turned for greater coverage. The design is ideal for large spaces and adaptable for oddly shaped rooms and porches.
Additional Costs To Consider
Ceiling fans can be as unique as any other major fixture in your home, but alternatives can affect the ceiling fan installation cost as well.
Accessories
There are infinite ways to customize the look of your ceiling fan, from the color and style of the blades to the casing around the light fixture. Specialty pieces include chain extenders, shades, finials, cages, decorative downrods, and complex light fixture kits.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Fan Installation
Outdoor fan installation often costs more than indoor ceiling fans due to their ability to handle moisture. You'll pay anywhere from $70 to over $4,000 for outdoor fan installation, depending on existing wiring, the placement of the fan, and its moisture rating. Classification and rating systems designated by each company will specify if the model can handle indirect or direct contact with rain, snow, and humidity.
Costs of DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you're just swapping one ceiling fan for another, the DIY price may not be much more than the retail price of your new fan. However, you may need to factor in materials like a special ladder if you're mounting your fan to a vaulted ceiling. For simple DIY ceiling fan replacement, you can save between $50 and $200 on the cost of labor by taking on the job yourself. However, calling a local handyperson for the basic hookup can cost as low as $60 for the job. In other words, learning how to replace a ceiling fan yourself costs between $100 and $275 total.
What if you need wiring done? In addition to being dangerous, rewiring your home on your own if you're not a licensed electrician could be a code violation, even if you know how to wire a ceiling fan. If you need to rearrange or add wiring, this goes from a simple DIY Saturday project to a task that requires professional installation. You can also damage your ceiling (and everything below it) if there's not enough support for the weight of your new fan. It's a good idea to have the situation assessed by a pro, even if you're pretty sure you can tackle it on your own. An assessment is a lot less expensive than a ceiling restoration.
6 Ways To Save on the Cost of Installing a Ceiling Fan
Even if your contractors charge a flat rate for ceiling fan installation, there are some general ways to cut costs overall and from your operational costs—no matter who you call to install your ceiling fan. For example:
Install more than one ceiling fan at once to capitalize on the lower hourly rate of the contractor after the initial hour.
Choose an installation area with or close to existing wiring.
Call a handyperson for basic installation or replacement within existing wiring.
Speak with at least three contractors to compare installation quotes.
Purchase your fan off-season for lower prices and installation deals.
Consider an ENERGY STAR-rated fan for long-term savings on your utility bills.
Ginny Bartolone contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here's what you'll need to do to install a new ceiling fan, provided you have the requisite knowledge and skill and aren’t rewiring:
Turn off power to your home's breaker box.
Remove any existing lights or fans in the area where you'll be installing your new fan.
Remove the existing wiring.
Add any supports needed to hold the weight of the new fan you've selected.
Add new housing to the current box.
Finish with wiring based on all of your local codes.
Install the fan per the instructions provided in the fan box.
After restoring power at your breaker box, ensure that your fan works.
This is assuming you already have wiring because you're replacing a fan. If you don't, you'll need to cut through your ceiling to get the installation done. The real scoop? It's pretty much time to call a pro at this point.
If you're paying an electrician to install your ceiling fan, it's worth paying just a little more in supply costs to choose a bigger fan that also has lighting built in. This is a great way to add more overhead light to a room without taking up more space.
Pay attention to the weight and width of a fan—a ceiling fan size guide is your friend when making this decision. If your new fan is substantially heavier than the fan you're replacing, you may need to have a pro come in to add supports to prevent your ceiling from collapsing.
If you're adding one ceiling fan, adding additional fans makes sense if you're working on a larger room because you're already paying your electrician’s travel costs. While you're altering your ceiling or walls, you might also consider removing a popcorn ceiling, repairing any ceiling damage, or getting your hands dirty with some drywall repair.
The square footage of your room will dictate the correct ceiling fan blade size. For example:
Rooms smaller than 75 square feet require a fan that is 29 to 36 inches.
Rooms up to 175 square feet require 42 to 48-inch fans.
Rooms up to 350 square feet require 52- to 56-inch fans.
Expansive spaces over 350 square feet need a fan larger than 60 inches.
Basic fan ceiling installation with existing writing will take only about one to two hours to complete. If the placement requires new writing, switches, and panels or involves a difficult installation—such as in a room with high ceilings, in the attic, or on a large porch—it could take three to four hours to install the fan. If you’re short on time and know-how, it’s not a bad idea to contact a local fan installation company to get some extra help.