How Much Does Uplighting Cost?

Uplighting pricing ranges from under $200 to over $2,000 depending on how you get it done. The biggest factor is whether you rent the lights and set them up yourself, or hire a professional lighting company. Here is a transparent breakdown of both options.

Option 1: DIY Rental

Rent professional LED uplights, set them up yourself, and ship them back when you are done. This is what we do at Pro Lighting Rental.

Setup	Lights	Cost	Best For
Small (accent lighting)	6 to 8	$102 to $136	Restaurant, small room, accent behind head table
Medium (most events)	10 to 16	$170 to $272	Banquet hall, hotel ballroom, typical wedding reception
Large (full room coverage)	20 to 30	$340 to $510	Large venue, all walls covered, gymnasium
Wireless upgrade	Add per light	+$10 to $40 per light	Areas with no nearby outlets, clean cable-free look

What is included in the rental price:

Professional DJ quality LED par cans (the same lights a lighting company would use)
Free shipping to you (arrives 2+ days before your event)
Free return shipping with a pre-paid UPS label
15 foot power cord per light (linkable, so you need fewer outlets)
5 day rental period

What is NOT included:

Setup labor (you do it yourself in 10 to 15 minutes)
Extension cords (usually not needed since lights chain together)
Gaffer tape for cord management (optional, bring your own)

Option 2: Hire a Professional

A DJ, event lighting company, or production company brings their own equipment, sets it up, and takes it down. Pricing varies widely by market and vendor.

Service	Typical Cost	What You Get
DJ add-on (basic uplighting)	$300 to $800	8 to 12 lights, usually set to one color, basic placement
Lighting company (standard)	$800 to $1,500	12 to 20 lights, color consultation, professional placement, managed all night
Lighting company (premium)	$1,500 to $3,000+	20+ lights, color changes throughout event, gobos, pin spots, custom programming
Wedding planner add-on	$500 to $1,200	Varies, often subcontracted to a lighting vendor

Side-by-Side: Same Event, Two Approaches

Scenario: Wedding reception in a standard banquet hall, 16 uplights, single color all evening.

	DIY Rental	Professional
Equipment	16 x Slim Par 56 at $17 each	Same or similar lights
Light cost	$272	Included in service fee
Shipping	$0 (free both ways)	N/A (they bring it)
Setup	You (10 to 15 min)	They do it (included)
Takedown	You (5 min, pack into boxes)	They do it (included)
Total	$272	$800 to $1,500
Savings	$528 to $1,228

When DIY Rental Makes Sense

You want to save $500 to $1,000+. The lights are identical. The only difference is who places them on the floor and picks the color.
You want a single color all night. Most events use one color. Set it once and you are done. No need to pay someone to manage lights that do not change.
Someone in your group can spend 15 minutes on setup. Delegate it to a groomsman, bridesmaid, family member, or venue coordinator. It is genuinely easy.
Your budget matters. The $500 to $1,000 you save on lighting can go toward food, music, photography, or anything else.

When Hiring a Pro Makes Sense

You want color changes throughout the event. If you want blue during dinner, purple for dancing, and amber for the last dance, a lighting tech can manage that live. (You can also pre-program changes yourself, but it takes more planning.)
You want a complex setup. Uplighting combined with gobo projection, pin spots on centerpieces, moving lights on the dance floor, and DMX programming. That level of production benefits from a professional.
You truly have no one available to set up. If every member of your group is occupied on event day, a professional handles everything.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

"Per light" pricing from professionals. Some vendors quote $50 to $100 per light, which adds up fast. Always ask for the total cost, not just the per light rate.
Minimum order fees. Some companies have a $500+ minimum even for small setups.
Travel charges. Professionals may charge extra for venues outside their local area.
Overtime fees. If your event runs longer than expected, some vendors charge by the hour.

With a DIY rental, the price is fixed. No minimums, no travel charges, no overtime. You pay for the lights and that is it.

What About Buying Uplights?

Consumer LED par cans are available on Amazon for $20 to $50 each, but they produce significantly less light than professional fixtures. You would need 2 to 3 consumer lights to match one professional rental light in brightness and color accuracy. For a one-time event, renting professional lights is usually cheaper than buying enough consumer lights to get the same result. If you host events regularly, buying may make sense long term.

Ready to Rent?

Browse our uplighting rental options starting at $17 each with free shipping both ways. Not sure how many you need? Check our room size guide. Want to see all your options? Visit our how it works page.