Landscape lighting basics for homeowners: How to space, wire & plan low voltage outdoor lights
Location: Dix Hills, NY.
Landscape lighting can completely transform the way your home looks and feels after dark. Beyond adding curb appeal, properly installed outdoor lighting improves safety, highlights landscaping, and extends your enjoyment of outdoor spaces into the evening.
For most homeowners, low voltage landscape lighting is the best option. It’s energy-efficient, safer than line voltage systems, and easier to install and maintain. However, common questions arise: How far apart should landscape lights be? How many lights can I put on a transformer? What gauge wire is best? How do I waterproof the connections? And most importantly, how many lights do I actually need?
This comprehensive guide walks you through these essential topics – providing clear, practical answers and explaining why working with a professional lighting designer and installer is the key to lasting, beautiful results. Whether you’re considering a DIY project or professional install, this post will help you plan your outdoor lighting smartly and confidently.
How far apart should landscape lights be?
One of the most important aspects of landscape lighting design is fixture spacing. Proper spacing ensures your outdoor areas are evenly lit without glare, dark spots, or wasted fixtures.
General spacing guidelines for common fixtures:
Pathway lights: The most common outdoor fixtures, path lights are usually spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. This distance balances safety and aesthetics, guiding guests without creating harsh or uneven light.
Spotlights and uplights: These fixtures focus on highlighting trees, architectural features, or garden sculptures. Their spacing varies widely based on beam angle, light intensity, and focal points. Typically, these lights are placed 8 to 12 feet apart or more, depending on how broad or narrow the beam is.
Step and stair lights: For safety, step lights are spaced more closely, about 3 to 5 feet apart, ensuring every step is visible and reducing tripping hazards.
Wall wash lights: These fixtures illuminate vertical surfaces like walls or fences and are usually spaced 5 to 8 feet apart to create a smooth, even wash of light.
Why spacing can’t be “one size fits all”
Every property is unique. Your home’s architecture, landscape features, and your lighting goals all influence how far apart fixtures should be placed. For example, a narrow walkway lined with low shrubs may require more frequent lighting than a wide open garden path.
The value of a lighting designer
Many DIYers rely on guesswork or follow generic spacing rules, which can lead to over-lighting or dark patches. A professional lighting designer visits your property and analyzes your outdoor environment, selecting fixture types and spacing that complement your home’s features and your vision. This results in a balanced, elegant lighting layout that enhances your space and minimizes wasted energy.
Location: Dix Hills, NY.
How many landscape lights do I need?
Determining the right number of landscape lights depends on several factors beyond just the size of your yard.
Key factors affecting fixture count:
Property size and layout: Larger yards with multiple pathways, garden beds, and focal points naturally require more fixtures than small front yards or patios.
Lighting purpose: Are you seeking ambient lighting to create mood, accent lighting to highlight features, or safety lighting to illuminate pathways and steps? Each purpose requires different quantities and placements.
Fixture brightness and beam spread: Fixtures with narrow beams focus light more intensely in one spot and may require fewer units. Broader beam fixtures provide softer light but usually need to be spaced closer together.
Typical fixture counts:
Small yards or front walkways: 12 to 19 fixtures
Medium-sized yards with multiple lighting zones: 20 to 30 fixtures
Large properties with extensive landscaping: 30+ fixtures
Why professional assessment matters
A lighting designer can provide an accurate fixture count tailored to your unique landscape. This avoids the common DIY mistakes of installing too few lights (leading to dark, unsafe areas) or too many lights (wasting energy and causing harsh glare).
Location: Lake Success, NY.
How many lights can I put on a low voltage transformer?
Low voltage landscape lighting systems rely on a transformer to convert your home’s standard 120 volts down to a safe 12 volts. However, transformers have wattage limits, which determine how many lights they can power.
How to calculate transformer load:
Check each fixture’s wattage: Most LED low voltage fixtures consume between 5 and 20 watts each.
Add up total wattage: Multiply the wattage by the number of fixtures you plan to install.
Add a safety margin: Choose a transformer rated at least 20–30% higher than your total wattage to prevent overload and allow for future additions.
Example:
If you have 15 fixtures rated at 15 watts each, total wattage is 225 watts. A 300-watt transformer would be a safe, efficient choice.
Why you shouldn’t max out your transformer
Running a transformer at or near full capacity can cause it to overheat or shorten its lifespan. Additionally, lights farthest from the transformer may appear dimmer due to voltage drop.
Professional-grade transformers
Professional installations often include transformers with advanced features such as:
Built-in timers
Dusk-to-dawn sensors
Weatherproof housings
Multi-zone controls
These features add convenience and increase the system’s durability, which DIY kits usually lack.
Want to dig deeper into transformer types and how they affect your setup? Check out our guide: “Dusk to dawn outdoor lighting: What to know before you install.”
What gauge wire is best for low voltage landscape lighting?
Choosing the right wire gauge is crucial for delivering consistent power to all your fixtures and avoiding voltage drop, which can cause dim or flickering lights.
Wire gauge basics:
Wire gauge refers to the thickness of the wire: lower numbers mean thicker wire.
Thicker wire has less resistance, reducing voltage drop over long distances.
Recommended wire gauges:
DIY kits often come with 14 or 16 gauge wire, which may be too thin for longer runs or larger systems, leading to dimming and wire deterioration.
Why professional installers use thicker wire
Professionals calculate the total load and distance to select the correct gauge wire, ensuring consistent brightness and longer system life. Thicker wire also withstands outdoor conditions better and reduces maintenance needs.
How to wire low voltage landscape lighting
Wiring low voltage lighting correctly is key for safety and performance. Here’s a basic overview of the steps involved:
Step-by-step wiring process:
Mount the transformer securely near a grounded outdoor electrical outlet.
Plan your lighting route, considering pathways, garden beds, and focal points.
Lay the main low voltage cable along the route, leaving some slack near each fixture location.
Tap into the main cable for each fixture using gel-filled waterproof connectors or clamps.
Connect each fixture securely to its lead wire, following manufacturer instructions.
Test the entire system before burying the wires to confirm all fixtures work correctly.
Bury cables approximately 6 inches underground for protection and aesthetics.
Check out the video below to see how we install in-ground well lights and how we safely bury the cables to protect your system long-term.
Common DIY wiring mistakes:
Using cheap or non-waterproof connectors that corrode quickly.
Skipping voltage drop calculations, resulting in uneven lighting.
Overloading transformers.
Leaving wires exposed to water or damage.
Why professional wiring matters
Professional installers use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated wiring and connectors designed to withstand weather and soil conditions for years. They ensure safe, neat, and code-compliant installations that minimize repairs and power issues.
How to waterproof landscape lighting connections
Waterproofing your landscape lighting connections is essential to prevent corrosion, shorts, and flickering.
Common waterproofing methods:
Gel-filled connectors: These seal moisture out and are easy to use.
Heat-shrink tubing: When heated, it shrinks and forms a tight seal around the wires.
Silicone-filled wire nuts: Provide a durable, waterproof seal ideal for outdoor environments.
Why waterproofing often gets overlooked in DIY kits
Many DIY kits rely on basic connectors without proper sealing, which fail quickly when exposed to rain, irrigation, or humidity.
Professional installations ensure every connection is properly waterproofed, significantly extending system lifespan and reducing maintenance.
Why low voltage landscape lighting is the best choice for homeowners
Low voltage systems are preferred for residential landscape lighting for several compelling reasons:
Benefits of low voltage lighting:
Energy-efficient: Consumes less power, especially when paired with LED fixtures.
Safer: Operates at just 12 volts, reducing the risk of electric shock.
Flexible: Easier and less expensive to install or expand than line voltage systems.
Long-lasting: Low voltage LED fixtures often last 25,000+ hours.
Compatible with smart controls: Many transformers and fixtures can integrate with timers, motion sensors, or smartphone apps.
Location: Garden City, NY.
DIY kits vs professional installations
While DIY kits may seem cost-effective upfront, professional installations deliver superior appearance, durability, and peace of mind — especially in areas with harsh weather or complex landscaping.
Thinking about going the DIY route? Before you do, check out “Why DIY outdoor lighting fails (and how to do it right)” to avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes.
Conclusion: Plan smart, light right
Low voltage landscape lighting is the safest, most efficient, and most flexible way to illuminate your home’s outdoor spaces. Proper spacing, wiring, transformer sizing, and waterproofing are the keys to a system that’s not only long-lasting but also visually stunning.
A well-planned design goes beyond simply adding light; it creates an inviting atmosphere, complements your home’s architecture, and adds a touch of elegance that’s noticeable day and night. The right fixture style, placement, and beam angles can dramatically enhance curb appeal and make your property feel warm, welcoming, and secure.
Hiring a professional lighting designer and installer removes the guesswork and ensures your lighting highlights your property’s best features with minimal hassle and maintenance. While DIY may seem tempting, the quality of materials, attention to design detail, and expertise you get from pros make all the difference – both in how your home looks now and how your system performs for years to come.
Ready to brighten your home the right way? Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s design the perfect outdoor lighting system tailored just for you.