Linear lighting · Budget
What drives the cost of custom linear lighting
Custom linear lighting is priced as a system, not by the foot. Knowing what moves the price tells you where to save without losing the design.
Short answer
Custom linear lighting is priced as a system: the profile and optic, light output and colour quality, the run layout (lengths, corners, joints, feeds), drivers and dimming, controls, mounting hardware and finishes, plus certification and lead time. Per-foot prices vary widely between a simple surface profile and a trimless, high-CRI, DALI-dimmed run with corners. To compare or save, fix the performance requirements first, then look at layout, driver strategy and options before changing the product.
Key takeaways
- Price follows the system, not just the length.
- Corners, short sections and many feed points add cost quickly.
- Drivers, dimming protocol and emergency options are a large share of the total.
- Finishes, special colour quality and trimless details are premium options.
- Value-engineer layout and drivers first; protect visible design intent.
Priced as a system
A run of custom linear lighting is more than a length of profile. A quote includes:
| Part of the system | What drives its cost |
|---|---|
| Profile / housing | Size, mounting type (surface, suspended, recessed, trimless), material |
| Optic | Opal, microprismatic, louvre, asymmetric wall-wash; low-glare optics cost more |
| LED and output | Lumens per foot, efficacy, number of LEDs |
| Colour quality | CRI 90+, high R9, tight colour consistency, tunable white |
| Run layout | Section lengths, corners, joints, end caps, number of runs |
| Power | Integral or remote drivers, number of feeds, voltage (347V options) |
| Dimming and controls | 0-10V, DALI, phase, wireless; emergency options |
| Mounting | Suspension kits, plaster-in kits, brackets, channels |
| Finish | Standard white, black, aluminium vs custom RAL colours |
| Documentation | Run drawings, certification for the system, submittals |
Where the price jumps
Corners and short sections
Each corner, joint and short section adds parts and labour in the factory and on site. A layout with many short runs costs more per foot than a few long ones.
Drivers and feed points
Every driver and every power feed costs money, and so does the wiring to it. Long runs at higher voltage (for example 48V low-voltage systems) or a smarter driver layout can reduce driver count. See 24V vs 48V and LED driver sizing.
Dimming protocol
DALI and other addressable drivers usually cost more than 0-10V. Deep dimming and emergency drivers add more. Specify what the controls really need.
Trimless and special finishes
Plaster-in details, custom colours and special lengths are premium options. They are often the point of the design, so cost them knowingly.
Where value engineering works
- Simplify the layout: fewer corners, longer sections, fewer feeds, where the architecture allows.
- Driver strategy: group runs on fewer, correctly sized drivers.
- Options nobody sees: finishes inside coves, upgraded optics in back-of-house areas.
- Comparable alternates from other manufacturers, presented as documented equals. See or-equal substitutions.
Where it backfires
- Visible continuous runs: cheaper optics or looser colour consistency show as hot spots and colour bands.
- Glare in offices and classrooms: a cheaper lens can fail the glare target. See UGR below 19.
- Wrong voltage or dimming to save on drivers: costly on site.
Get an accurate number quickly
Send the run layout (or plans), mounting type, output, CCT/CRI, optic, voltage, dimming and finish. Our quote checklist lists everything a supplier needs. Then compare quotes line by line; see how to compare lighting quotes.
How SuppLux quotes custom linear
SuppLux quotes custom linear lighting as complete systems: sections, corners, feeds, drivers and hardware as separate lines, with alternates where a different layout or driver strategy saves money. See custom linear lighting in Canada or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How is custom linear lighting priced?
Usually per run or per system: sections by length, plus corners, joiners, end caps, power feeds, drivers, controls interfaces, mounting hardware and options. A per-foot figure is only meaningful for simple straight runs.
Is custom linear lighting more expensive than standard lengths?
Often a little per foot, but custom lengths can avoid gaps, filler pieces and field cutting, and fit the architecture exactly. On visible continuous runs the difference in the result is usually worth it.
Where can I save on custom linear lighting?
Simplify the layout (fewer corners and feeds), use longer sections, choose a driver strategy that reduces driver count, and question options that are not visible or needed. Avoid saving on optics and colour consistency in visible runs.
Why can't I get a price per foot over the phone?
Because the system details change the price: output, optic, colour, dimming, layout and mounting. A short list of these details gets an accurate quote quickly.
References
Keep reading
- Custom linear lighting Custom linear lighting in Canada Custom and architectural linear lighting for commercial projects in Canada, specified per project and supplied made to length. Suspended, recessed, surface, continuous runs, cove and wall wash, with drivers, controls and run layouts. →
- Guide · Quoting What information is needed for a custom linear lighting quote The information a supplier needs to quote custom linear lighting accurately, split into must-haves and nice-to-haves, from run lengths and mounting to voltage, dimming and delivery, plus what happens when you only have part of it. →
- Procurement · Quotes How to compare commercial lighting quotes line by line Commercial lighting quotes rarely compare on the bottom line: one leaves out drivers, another quotes a different lumen package or misses a run length. A line-by-line method and checklist to compare lighting bids on equal terms. →
- Guide · Drivers How to size an LED driver for linear lighting Size an LED driver in three steps. Work out the connected load from length and watts per foot, add headroom so the driver runs at about 80% of its rating, and split long runs into zones. Worked examples for 24V and integral drivers. →