are you looking for basics or higher quality stuff? I believe all the lighting for my 2700 sq ft home was around $2,000 but that was VERY basic stuff and did not include any fans/chandeliers. We went and bought lights/fans to replace the cheap ones and our foyer Chandelier alone was $500 and that was being conservative.

how can anyone answer this? light fixtures can cost $25 or $25,000. all depends on what you want to use.

Can't you price out light fixtures yourself??

you could just do recessed lighting in all of the bedrooms, unless you want a single, center light.

any fans?

My builder gave a $3000 allowance for a 2000sqft build (3bed/ 3 bath). I wound up using that allowance for other things and purchased light fixtures on my own over several months. I wound up spending around $5k but that included porch ceiling fans, lanterns for garage, outdoor foyer pendant, etc

Lighting (along with everything else) has gone up a lot in the last few years. Go online, or to your local lighting store, and price out fixtures that look good to you. Some fixtures look expensive and are priced well ... some fixtures look very simple/modern and have crazy high prices!

As others have said, it really depends on what you need and what you pick. Is this a custom build or are you building in a development? If it's custom then you should do a walk through with the electrician to know exactly what you need. Our bathroom fixtures ranged from 150-400 per light and some bathrooms needed 2 lights. There was a huge range in prices for the kitchen fixture and the lights over the island totally busted the budget but I love them. Ceiling fans? Chandeliers? Outdoor lights? Only you know the number of these that you need.

1800 sf

On the ocean: $10-20K

In a tract: $1-2K

Custom?

Rarely seen a client stay within any budget, spending the entire allowance on a single fixture in the high end while all use more recessed lights that cost less than the labor to hang a fixture.

Go to local lighting store and pick fixtures for Everything. Outside lighting, all rooms, all closets, all special lighting like under cabinet lighting and stairway step lighting. Fans and light kits. Recessed lighting. Bulbs. Everything. Add it up. That your least cost. Add about 20-30% contingency and that’s your allowance amount. I know this takes a lot of time, but very key to hitting budget.

3-4k

This is impossible to answer with no context. IMO with a standard builder get the builder fixtures and change them out over time to what you want.

I usually agree with Patricia but in this case, if you know what you want, get them in your deal and get the builder’s electrician to install. Getting installation done later can be tough and expensive. They are in high demand and don’t want to do small jobs. Lighting is also critical for me to have the look and feeling I want in a home. Very important.

If the builder is willing to do recessed lights and installations of fixtures you prefer, then get them to do it. Hanging ONE new fixture will barely get the attention of a handyman-type person. Get as much done now as you can.

You’re better off listening to Flo and those who suggest pricing what you like and presenting it to the laborers you have working on your house. Later will not be better.