Should You Choose Can Lights or Recessed Lights? A Comparison

When designing a lighting plan for your home, one of the key decisions you'll need to make is whether to go with can lights or recessed lights. Both offer stylish ways to provide focused task lighting, ambient lighting, or accent lighting. But there are some important differences between these two popular downlighting options that you'll want to understand before making a choice for your space.

recessed lights. With the right information, you can determine which type of built-in lighting is the best fit for your unique needs and style.

Defining Key Differences Between Can Lights and Recessed Lights

First, it helps to understand exactly what can lights and recessed lights are and how they differ.

Can Lights

Can lights, also known as canister or caned lights, are a type of recessed downlight that gets their name from the outer metal "can" that houses the light fixture. The can is what mounts into the ceiling and contains the junction box, light housing, trim, and lightbulb.

With can lights, the trim and the light itself are separate pieces. The outer trim attaches to the can to cover its utilitarian metal housing. Popular trim styles include baffles, reflectors, or lenses. The inner lighting component then attaches inside the can.

Recessed Lights

Recessed lights are also a type of downlight installed into a ceiling. However, recessed lights do not have a separate external can. Instead, the light and trim are integrated into a single piece that mounts flush into the ceiling as one streamlined unit.

Many recessed lights today are "canless," meaning the LED lighting element, trim, and housing are combined in a self-contained fixture you simply install into the ceiling cavity. The integrated trim comes in various styles like reflectors, wall wash lenses, or adjustment eyeballs.

Comparing Installation and Placement

Ease of installation and flexibility in positioning are other key differences between can and recessed lighting to consider:

Can Lights

Installing can lights takes a bit more time and effort since you must mount the housing can into the ceiling, run wiring into the can, and then attach the trim and bulb. However, one benefit is that the trim is easily removable. This allows you to easily change trim styles or replace components if needed.

Cans come in different sizes and trim rings, providing some flexibility. But in general, can lights have a more fixed position since you cut a hole in the ceiling to fit the can's frame.

Recessed Lights

With recessed lights, the entire fixture gets mounted into the ceiling in one piece. Wiring connects inside the fixture before it's installed. This typically allows for faster and simpler installation compared to can lights.

One downside is the trim is not as easily changed or replaced since it's integrated into the entire light fixture. But install position tends to be more flexible since many recessed lights have adjustable heads that can pivot and tilt to direct light.

Evaluating Light Quality and Performance

There are also some notable differences in how can lights vs. recessed lights perform:

Light Distribution

In general, can lights offer wider beam spreads, ranging from flood to spot distributions. This makes them ideal for providing even ambient lighting across a larger area. Recessed lights tend to have narrower beam spreads resulting in more focused pools of light.

Dimming Capabilities

Both can and recessed lights are commonly available as dimmable versions. This allows you to adjust the light brightness to create the perfect ambiance. However, with cans you may need to purchase special trims rated for use with dimmers.

Task vs. Ambient Lighting

While both can provide task or ambient lighting, recessed lights are better suited for intense task lighting needs. Can lights tend to work better for general ambient illumination across a broad space.

Assessing the Costs of Can Lights vs. Recessed Lights

Another big consideration is the cost difference between these two popular downlighting options:

Can Lights

Can lights tend to have a lower upfront cost, with basic white models starting around $10-$25 per fixture. This is because the housing cans utilize simple, affordable materials like galvanized steel.

However, the additional trim piece and bulb are an extra expense. And while cans themselves are inexpensive, the installation and wiring costs add to the overall price since they take more time and effort to install properly.

Recessed Lights

Recessed lighting costs start a bit higher, with basic models often $25-$50 per fixture. Higher-end designs with integrated LEDs and trim options can run $75-$200+. The integrated trim and light source result in a higher upfront cost.

But recessed lights require less wiring, components, and installation time which helps balance out costs. Higher energy efficiency also leads to long term cost savings.

Reviewing Trim and Housing Options

The choice between can and recessed lights also comes down to the aesthetics of trim styles and housings:

Can Light Trim

One advantage of can lights is the wide selection of interchangeable trims. You can customize the look by choosing between open reflectors, baffles, solid lenses, and adjustable eyeballs. Finishes like white, black, brushed nickel, or bronze let you match your decor.

The housings also come in different shapes like round, square, or rectangular. This allows cans to coordinate well with various ceiling types and designs.

Recessed Light Trim

Recessed lights don't offer as many trim pieces, but the selection continues to grow. Choosing between recessed lighting brands gives you options like wall washing lenses, open reflectors, or gimbal trims that pivot to direct light.

The integrated trim and housing give recessed lights a very streamlined, modern appearance. This complements contemporary design styles well.

Considering Codes and Safety Factors

Proper installation that meets building codes is essential for any recessed lighting. Key codes and safety differences include:

Insulation Contact Rating

Cans and recessed lights must have an IC rating if they will contact insulation. This ensures safe heat dissipation. Cans come in both IC and non-IC versions. But many recessed lights have universal IC ratings since they sit flush to the ceiling.

Fire Safety

Fire rated cans and trims that maintain the ceiling's fire barrier rating are essential. Recessed housings also come in fire-rated versions. Proper installation is key for fire safety with both options.

Codes

All electrical codes must be followed, like proper junction boxes, wire gauges, connectors, and securing the fixtures. Certified electricians should handle installation of any recessed lighting.

When deciding between can lights vs. recessed lights, here are some final tips to choose the best option:

Can Lights

• Go with cans for basic ambient lighting across a broad area
• Choose cans when you want bold, dramatic beams of light
• Consider cans if you want interchangeable trim styles
• Select cans when working with a limited budget