ArcaMax

Take a walk down the aisles of the “Bathroom Lighting” section in any home or bath center and you’ll see a staggering selection of bathroom light bars designed for topping a mirror and vanity. Who knew replacing an ordinary bathroom light fixture could involve so many choices? You’ll find styles that complement any decor, from sleek contemporary chrome to textured rust and iron scrollwork finishes with clear glass, frosted, alabaster and Tuscan-like shades. Three-light bars, ranging from 22 to 36 inches wide, are a popular choice because they fit nicely over a typical single sink vanity cabinet.

An electrician will charge $160, which includes labor and material, to remove an old bar fixture and replace it with a new, quality 28-inch wide three-light bath bar. Assuming you have experience with electrical work and tools, you can buy the new fixture for $65 and make the swap yourself, pocketing a 59% saving. But electrical work is serious, so if you have any doubts, hire an electrician whose work will pass inspection.

You may face a problem if the base of the old light bar is larger than the new one, and the new fixture won’t cover the opening in the wall. In that case, you’ll have some wall repair work to fill in the area around the hole with drywall and finish the surface before the new fixture is installed. To avoid that extra work, choose a new light bar with a base the same height and width (or larger) than the old one.

Pro Cost: $160 — DIY Cost: $65 — Pro time: 2.0

DIY Time: 2.5 — DIY Savings: $95 — Percent Saved: 59%

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To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

©2026 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.