Lighting control cost — actual 2026 Marin numbers, by tier.
Lighting control system costs span $1,800 (entry retrofit) to $80,000+ (estate scope) depending on tier, home size, and integration depth. Most Marin residential projects land $5K-$30K. Here's what drives the variance and what's actually included.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
Lighting control system pricing varies massively by tier: Lutron Caséta $1,800-$4,200 (small homes), RadioRA 3 $4,800-$12,000 (mid-size), HomeWorks QSX $18,000-$50,000+ (estates), Crestron $25,000-$80,000+ (estates with AV/security integration). What's in the price: hardware, install labor, programming, permits, and follow-up tuning. What drives variance: home size, keypad count, scene complexity, motorized shade integration.
01Cost by tier.
| Tier | Marin cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Lutron Caséta (basic retrofit) | $1,800-$4,200 | 6-12 smart dimmers, app + voice, basic scenes |
| Lutron RadioRA 3 (mid-tier) | $4,800-$12,000 | 10-25 keypads, full scenes, processor-based |
| Lutron HomeWorks QSX (estate) | $18,000-$50,000 | 25-100+ keypads, motorized shades, deep integration |
| Crestron / Savant (estate AV) | $25,000-$80,000+ | Full home AV/lighting/security integration |
| Vantage / Control4 (mid-estate) | $15,000-$45,000 | Mid-large homes, integrated AV |
02What drives variance within each tier.
Home size is the biggest variance driver — bigger homes need more keypads, more dimmers, more wire. Roughly: $300-$500 per keypad point installed (including dimmer + keypad + wiring + share of processor). A 2,500 sq ft home might have 12 keypoints (~$4,800-$6,000 install at RadioRA 3 tier). A 6,000 sq ft estate might have 45 keypoints (~$22,000-$32,000 install at HomeWorks tier).
Other drivers: motorized shade integration (adds $1,200-$3,400 per window for Lutron Sivoia), AV integration (adds $2,000-$8,000 for processor-level integration with Sonos/Crestron), exterior lighting integration (adds $800-$3,200 depending on scope), and ongoing service contracts ($1,200-$3,600/year for estate accounts).
03What's in our scope.
Hardware (dimmers, keypads, processor)
Lutron or equivalent components at MSRP. We don't mark up hardware.
Install labor
Replacement of existing switches/dimmers, install of new keypads, processor mounting and wiring.
Programming (scenes, schedules)
Initial scene programming per design narrative. App setup and customer training. Voice assistant integration.
Permits + inspection
AHJ permit for electrical scope. Inspection coordination.
30-day tuning visits
2-3 follow-up visits in first 60 days to adjust scenes based on real use.
Common questions.
Why such a big range between tiers?
Each tier serves different scope. Caséta is single-room or small-home control — basic and reliable. RadioRA 3 is mid-home coordinated control — substantial scope, full scene capability. HomeWorks is estate-grade with programming depth and integration that Caséta and RadioRA simply don't support. The 10× cost difference reflects the 10× scope difference. Right tier depends on your home and what you want lighting control to do.
Can I start small and expand later?
Yes, with some constraints. Caséta is expandable up to ~50 devices, then you'd typically migrate to RadioRA 3. RadioRA 3 expandable across the home — start in main rooms, add bedrooms and secondary spaces later. HomeWorks designed for whole-home scope from the start; phased install within a HomeWorks project works fine. Cross-tier migration (Caséta → RadioRA 3 → HomeWorks) means replacing devices since they're different systems; possible but not free.
Are there ongoing costs?
Minor for residential. Caséta and RadioRA 3 have no subscription fees. HomeWorks QSX no subscription required. Most cloud-connected features (app, voice) are free. Ongoing service contracts for estate accounts ($1,200-$3,600/year) are optional — semi-annual visits, priority response, firmware management. Hardware lasts 15-25 years typically with no maintenance cost.
Will I see ROI from lighting control?
Not financially — lighting control is a quality-of-life and home-value investment, not an energy savings investment. LED lighting itself drives most energy savings; control system on top adds convenience without major additional energy savings. The ROI is in daily use: how much more enjoyable your home is, how much you appreciate scenes and easy control. For some households, this is hugely valued; for others, regular dimmers are fine. Both views are valid.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Talk to a licensed electrician in Marin.
Family-run, C-10 #989290, 20+ years in the trade. Honest scoping, fair pricing, work that lasts.