How much does it cost to install a ceiling fan?

As anyone who has lived through an Albuquerque summer can tell you, ceiling fans are worth their weight in gold. Well, not literally. Ceiling fans are actually relatively inexpensive to buy and install. In the sections below, we break down just how much a new ceiling fan will cost to install, along with what factors will ultimately influence your installation costs.

Why install a ceiling fan?

When considering upgrades to a home, many homeowners neglect ceiling fans. Yet, adding a ceiling fan to each room of the home can add significant value and help the home feel far more comfortable.

Contrary to popular belief, fans don’t actually lower the temperature of a room—you’ll need an air conditioner to do that. But, they do make you feel cooler by allowing your body to more rapidly release heat energy. As the air from the fan hits your skin, it sparks an evaporative cooling effect. By sitting under a fan, you’ll feel as though the room is several degrees cooler than it actually is.
Obviously, one of the benefits of a new ceiling fan is comfort. But, you’re also likely to save money. Homes with ceiling fans don’t have to keep their home as cool as those without them. That ultimately means your air conditioner runs less and uses less energy, which, in turn, results in lower utility bills.

Most people associate ceiling fans with cooling in the hot summer months. But, ceiling fans are actually year-round appliances. With reversing the direction of your fan with the changing of the seasons, you can help heat your home. As we all know from fourth-grade science, hot air rises. A fan that runs clockwise—instead of counter-clockwise like in the summer—pulls hot air down from near the ceiling and into the living spaces of your home.

How much does ceiling fan installation cost?

According to data collected by the home improvement website Bob Vila, the average ceiling fan installation project costs about $250, with about half of all projects running under that price point and the other half running over it.

What factors into installation costs?

First and foremost, there’s the fan itself. Take a walk through your local hardware store, and you’ll see for yourself that not all ceiling fans are priced the same. Larger fans, fans with light kits, or fans with downrod mounting kits—designed especially for vaulted ceilings—typically cost more than a “standard” ceiling fan. If you’re looking to figure out just how much your new fan will cost you, start by picking out a fan. That will be the largest portion of your installation costs.

Replacing an older ceiling fan is often less expensive than installing a new one. If your ceiling already has a brace and electrical wiring for the fan, installing it just involves our electricians disconnecting and then removing the current fan, and then hoisting the new one up to the ceiling. In contrast, if you’re installing a fan in a new location, our electricians will need to work through how to install wiring there, and then put a mounting kit into the ceiling. This can add to your installation costs.

You’ll need to take a few other factors into account. Unless you’re looking to control your fan exclusively through remote control or smart home controls, you’ll probably want wall switches that turn the fan and / or its lights on-and-off. If you don’t already have connected switches—as is the case in the scenario where you’re installing a new fan somewhere for the first time—your electrician will need to plan for this so that they can run electric wiring down to a place that makes sense.

Finally, you should tell your electrician where your fan is going. Harder-to-reach places—such as the top of a vaulted ceiling in your home—may mean a little more in installation costs.

Watch: How to install a ceiling fan

In this video from the team at This Old House, electrician John Barros walks viewers through the ceiling fan installation process.

How much do different types of fans cost?

Not all fans are the same. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of ceiling fans and how much it will cost you to install each:

Standard Ceiling Fans

This is probably what comes to mind when you think of a “ceiling fan.” This is the most-common type of fan, and fits in most rooms of your home. These fans can either come with lights, or are compatible with light kits you can install at a later point. On average, these fans cost anywhere between $50-$300, according to data collected by bobvila.com.

Hanging Fans

Also known as “propellor fans,” these fans hang from a downrod suspended from the ceiling. These are most often used in rooms with high ceilings, and especially in spades with vaulted ceilings. Power for the fan and its lights travels through the downrod. These fans are generally more expensive than standard ceiling fans, running homeowners about $150 to $500 on average.

Directional Fans

Much less common than the other types discussed here, directional fans are fully adjustable and can be angled to fan a certain area of a room. They’re particularly useful for cooling down large spaces. They come with a higher upfront cost than either standard or hanging fans, however: a directional fan will cost you anywhere between $200-$800, on average.

Do I need to hire an electrician to help me with this?

Yes. Even if you’re just replacing one fan with another, you’re still dealing with electrical rewiring while working on a ladder—not DIY-friendly conditions. If you’re installing a new fan in a location where there isn’t already a fan, you need extensive rewiring and mounting. It’s a job that needs to be done right so that your fan both works and stays securely in place. You’ll need the assistance of a licensed electrician who has experience installing ceiling fans.

At Wagner, our electricians are up to the task. Our team of electrical experts are some of the most qualified professionals in Albuquerque. They can help you get your new fan—no matter what type you’ve purchased—installed and running. Contact us to get started on a quote.

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