How Much Does A Street Light Cost?

Among all things urban infrastructure, street lights are the most crucial project. And rightly so, as from illuminating the streets and walkways to ensuring safety to adding nighttime aesthetics, the benefits of street lighting are endless. 

In fact, the over 50 million street lights (and counting) installed across the country speak to this. 

But the one question that you might find yourself asking as a city planner is, ‘How much does a street light cost?’

After all, it’s the cost of each lighting unit that determines the overall investment that a municipality or county will have to make. Not to mention that the cost of street lights will also help you determine the number of lights that can be installed in a certain budget. 

And that’s exactly why I’ve created a complete list of street lighting cost averages. Also, I’ve listed a price breakdown based on individual components, lighting type, size, and more. 

So, read on to find exactly how much you can expect to pay for street lighting installation. 

How much does a street light cost? 

Based on the latest market estimates, you can expect to pay between $2000 and $3000, on average, for every street light module. Also, you should factor in installation labor, which can cost you an extra $1000 given the complexities involved in installing these lights. 

Nevertheless, when it comes to the total cost of street lighting, there isn’t a fixed price tag. That’s because there are a lot of factors that decide the overall pricing. 

For instance, installing high-intensity lights at city squares, major streets, highways, etc., can cost you on the upper end of the average cost. At the same time, the low-intensity lamps for sidewalks, service roads, etc., will cost you on the lower end. 

Furthermore, you’ll witness price variations based on the lighting materials you choose. For instance, although LED street light fixtures are cost-efficient in the long run, they can be more expensive upfront compared to HID fixtures. 

Now, if you’re wondering how much do street lights cost to install, replace, operate, or maintain, I’ve discussed the price break-up in detail. So, let’s have a look. 

How much does a street lamp cost to install? 

The average cost of installing brand new street lights ranges between $2500 and $4000 for each unit. And this is after factoring in professional installation charges. 

However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula to calculate the cost of installing a street lamp. That’s because the average cost can vary significantly, depending on the type of lighting, light pole, and installation costs.

For instance, the total amount you pay for both procuring and installing street lights will vary for HID, LED, and solar-powered LED lighting.

Here’s a complete cost breakdown of different street lighting modules: 

1. HID street lights 

HID lights are the most affordable option on the market, and installing a brand-new module can cost you between $1500 and $2500. 

However, it goes without saying that HID lights are outdated, and their long-term costs can be much higher. 

You see, not only are HID street lights energy-intensive, but they also lack the longevity of LEDs. And that means from higher energy charges to frequent maintenance and replacements, they can be an expensive affair. 

2. LED street lights

The cost of installing LED street lights ranges between $2500 and $3500. And this includes installation labor, which is usually in the range of $500 to $800 but can go up to $1000.

But although their upfront cost is higher than HID lights, LEDs bring guaranteed savings in the long run. That’s because a typical LED lamp is at least 5X more energy efficient than HID lights.

Also, in terms of longevity, you can rest assured of an exceptionally long service life of 50,000 to 100,000 hours. 

3. Solar LED street lighting 

Solar-powered LED street lights are the new favorite among urban planners, thanks to their quick ROI and zero running costs. 

But how much is a solar power street light price? 

Well, as per the latest market estimates, solar street light price ranges between $3000 and $4000 for every lighting unit. This includes the installation fee, which is typically $1000. 

Now, there are three types of solar street lights, and the actual cost will be determined by the type of solar lighting you purchase. This includes: 

1. Solar LED lights with panels mounted on poles (has higher installation cost and needs frequent maintenance). 
2. Solar LED lights with PV panels/cells integrated into poles (solar PV panels are wrapped around the pole itself, thus lowering installation and maintenance costs). 
3. Solar LED lights with PV panels/cells integrated into lamps (feature easy and quick installation, but might not be as effective).

Curious about the street lighting installation process? 

You can go through our blog – Light Pole Installation: A Step-by-step Guide. 

How much do street lights cost to replace? 

The cost of replacing street lights varies significantly depending on the extent of replacement.

For instance, switching from HID to LED street lighting only needs lamp replacement, which is not as expensive. Nevertheless, replacing your HID lamps with solar-powered LEDs will also need a pole replacement, and this can cost you the price of a brand-new installation. 

As such, it’s difficult to calculate the average replacement cost for street lights.

But I’ve detailed the price break-up of replacing different street lighting modules, and here’s what it looks like: 

1. Replacing HID with LED lights

This is by far the most cost-efficient replacement available, as changing the lamp is all you need to do. 

You see, an LED street lamp costs between $150 and $500, depending on the brand, lumens, energy loading, etc. Similarly, installation labor can cost you between $200 and $300. 

As such, you can expect an average cost of $400-$800 to replace your HID street lamps with LEDs. 

2. Replacing HID with solar-powered LEDs

The cost of replacing HID lights with solar LED street lighting modules is the same as installing new solar street lights. 

Why, you may ask? 

You see, based on the type of solar technology, your street lights can either have PV panels mounted on top of the light pole or wrapped around it. 

However, the traditional HID light poles aren’t designed to support solar panels. And that means you’ll have to remove the existing light pole and replace it with a new solar street light. 

So, HID replacement with solar-powered street lights can cost between $3000 and $4000.

3. Replacing traditional LEDs with solar-powered LEDs

The cost of replacing a traditional grid-powered LED street light with an independent solar-powered LED module is between $2500 and $3500. 

Herein, while other components of the street light, such as the pole, electrical wirings, etc., will need replacement, you can still keep the existing LED lamps. 

Nonetheless, the installation charges will remain the same as with brand-new solar street lights. That’s because the installation process is pretty much the same here.

Looking to replace existing street lights with solar ones? 

You might want to read our blog – The 8 Best Solar Street Lights. 

How much does a street light cost per month to operate?

When it comes to street lighting, operational costs are a huge consideration. After all, it is based on the average operational cost that you decide on your monthly street lighting budget. 

So, you might find yourself asking, ‘How much does a street light cost to operate?’

The operational costs are determined by two main factors, namely, the energy loading of your light and energy charges per kW/h. 

Now, based on the national average energy price of $0.12 per kW/h, here’s how much you can expect to pay every month for running a street light: 

1. The average monthly cost of running a HID street lamp

A usual HID street light can have an energy loading of 500 watts or 0.5 KW. So, running this light for an hour will cost you $0.06. 

0.5 KW x $0.12 per kW/h = $0.06

Now, a street light is typically operated for 12 hours every day, which brings the average daily cost to $0.72. 

$0.06 per hour x 12 hours = $0.72

As for the monthly operational expense, you can expect to pay $21.6, on average, to operate each HID street light. 

$0.72 daily cost x 30 days = $21.6

2. The average monthly cost of running an LED street light

As we discussed earlier, LED lights are around 5x more energy-efficient compared to HID lamps. As such, a typical LED lamp doesn’t need more than 100 watts or 0.1 KW energy loading. 

So, the hourly energy expense of operating one such light shouldn’t be more than $0.012. 

0.1 KW x $0.12 per kW/h = $0.012

For a 12-hour daily operation, at the same time, you can expect to pay $0.144. 

$0.012 per hour x 12 hours = $0.144

Talking about the monthly operational cost of an LED street light, it is $4.32 on average.

$0.144 daily cost x 30 days = $4.32

3. The average monthly cost of running a solar street light

As you might already have figured out, solar street lights offer free-of-charge operations. Meaning you can take the street lighting system completely off the grid and need not pay a penny in energy charges. 

$0 daily cost x 30 days = $0

You see, even though solar lights are more expensive upfront, you can save up entirely on operational costs and recover the initial investment. 

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?