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Upgrading Old Downlights to LED in Auckland: Costs and What to Choose

  • Aug 7
  • 3 min read

Replacing old halogen downlights with modern LEDs costs about $100–$180 per fitting supplied and installed in Auckland, cuts each fitting's power use by around 80%, and — the part nobody mentions — removes one of the most common fire risks hiding in older ceilings. Here is what to choose and what the job involves.

Count your downlights and text the number to 021 889 770 — we'll price the whole-house swap on the spot.

Why old halogen downlights are worth replacing

  • Heat and fire risk — old halogen fittings run extremely hot and many require gaps in ceiling insulation. Modern IC-rated LEDs can be safely covered by insulation, closing the thermal holes in your ceiling at the same time.

  • Running cost — a 50W halogen replaced by a 9W LED. Across 20 fittings running four hours a night, that's real money every year.

  • Bulb chasing ends — quality LED fittings are rated for tens of thousands of hours; the ladder goes back in the garage.

  • Better light — modern LEDs dim smoothly and come in warm tones that suit living spaces instead of the cold blue of early LED retrofits.

What does a whole-house LED upgrade cost?

At $100–$180 per fitting supplied and installed, a typical 15–25 downlight home lands between $1,800 and $4,000 + GST for quality fittings — done in a day. Batching the whole house into one visit is far cheaper per fitting than doing rooms piecemeal. Premium tiltable, low-glare or smart fittings cost more; hallways and wardrobes can take standard fittings and keep the budget honest.

Choosing right: the three decisions

Colour temperature

2700–3000K (warm white) for living rooms, bedrooms and character homes; 4000K (neutral) for kitchens, laundries and garages where you work. Mixing them room-by-room is correct — one temperature everywhere is the classic rental look.

Dimming

Dim living and dining zones — it changes how the room works at night. Old dimmers usually need replacing with LED-compatible ones or the lights flicker; that's part of the quote, not a surprise.

Beam and glare

Wide beams for general rooms, narrower for benches and art, low-glare deep-set fittings above beds and couches where you look up. In character homes, fewer well-placed downlights plus wall or pendant lighting beats the grid-of-holes look.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just swap the bulbs to LED?

Sometimes a retrofit lamp works, but it keeps the old transformer and fitting — the parts that fail and the parts that run hot. Replacing the complete fitting is barely more expensive installed and solves the insulation-gap problem properly.

Do new downlights need an electrician?

Yes — replacing fittings on lighting circuits is electrical work for a licensed electrician, and hardwired installations get certified. It is also the moment to check the circuit and insulation clearances above the ceiling.

How long does a whole house take?

Usually one day for a standard home — room by room, furniture protected, holes matched to existing cutouts wherever possible.

Ready for better light?

ECD swaps whole houses to LED in a day across Auckland, with lighting advice that has beaten the retail shops more than once.

EWRB-registered electricians · Certificate of Compliance on every eligible job · Based in Remuera, working Auckland-wide

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