How Much Does a Photometric Plan Cost? 2026 Pricing Guide

Most commercial photometric plans cost between $300 and $2,500, depending on the number of lighting zones, site complexity, jurisdictional code requirements, and turnaround time. A single parking lot with straightforward municipal codes falls near the low end. Multi-area sites, dark sky jurisdictions, or projects requiring California Title 24 energy code documentation push toward the high end-or beyond it for large campus or sports lighting projects.

Those numbers may surprise you if you've seen manufacturers advertising free photometric plans. Both pricing models exist for good reasons. This guide breaks down what determines cost, what should be included in a professional plan, and when free plans make sense versus when they don't.

What determines the price of a photometric plan

Photometric plan pricing is driven by the labor and technical complexity involved-not by a fixed rate card. An experienced lighting designer using AGi32 or DIALux EVO typically bills $75-$150 per hour, and the scope of the calculation work varies significantly by project.

The primary cost drivers are:

Number of calculation areas. Each distinct lighting zone-parking lot, drive aisle, building perimeter, pedestrian walkway, loading dock-requires its own calculation grid and compliance verification. A single parking lot might take 2-4 hours of design time. A site with six separate calculation zones could take 10-20 hours.

Site geometry and obstructions. Rectangular, flat sites are fast to model. Sites with grade changes, irregular property lines, existing buildings that cast shadows, or canopy structures (gas stations, car washes, drive-throughs) require more detailed modeling to produce accurate results.

Jurisdictional code complexity. A straightforward municipal code that references IES RP-8 illuminance minimums adds little overhead. A jurisdiction with dark sky ordinances, BUG rating requirements, curfew-hour dimming mandates, and property-line trespass limits adds meaningful compliance documentation work. California Title 24 projects require additional Lighting Power Allowance calculations and NRCC-LTO compliance forms, which can add several hours.

Fixture conditions. If the architect or engineer has already specified fixtures and can provide IES files, modeling is faster. If the designer needs to source IES files from multiple manufacturers, evaluate fixture options, or specify from scratch, it takes longer.

Turnaround time. Standard delivery for most firms is 3-7 business days. Same-day or 24-hour rush delivery commands a premium-typically 25-50% above standard pricing.

Revisions. Most professional plans include one or two revision rounds in the base price. Projects with multiple stakeholders, complicated review cycles, or significant design changes after the initial submittal may require additional rounds at incremental cost.

Typical pricing by project type

The following ranges reflect current market conditions for manufacturer-agnostic photometric plan services. Prices assume standard turnaround, one round of revisions, and compliance documentation for the applicable jurisdiction.

Project Type	Typical Price Range	What's Typically Included
Small parking lot (under 50 spaces)	$300-$600	Point-by-point grid, fixture schedule, compliance summary
Large parking lot or multi-lot site	$600-$1,500	Multiple calculation areas, uniformity analysis, trespass calcs
Gas station with canopy lighting	$400-$800	Canopy and site calculations, dark sky documentation if applicable
Warehouse or industrial exterior	$400-$900	Perimeter, loading dock, and parking calculation zones
Car dealership lot	$600-$1,200	Display area and general parking zones, often higher illuminance targets
Full commercial site (building + parking + landscape)	$1,000-$2,500	All zones, full compliance package, energy code calcs if required
Sports field or recreational area	$1,500-$5,000+	High-mast aiming calculations, multiple illuminance planes, IES sport-specific standards

These ranges are anchored in the economics of the work: designer hours multiplied by billing rate plus overhead. A basic 40-space parking lot in a standard jurisdiction might require 3-4 hours of design time. A full commercial campus with Title 24 compliance documentation might require 15-25 hours.

For context, one industry source estimates photometric plan costs ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 for complex projects, though those figures include large-scale commercial and industrial facilities with dozens of calculation areas.

What about "free" photometric plans?

LED fixture manufacturers and distributors-companies like LED Lighting Supply, US LED, Jarvis Lighting, and HTM Lighting Solutions-routinely offer complimentary photometric layouts. This is a legitimate and widely used service model. Understanding how it works helps you decide whether it fits your project.

How the free model works. When you request a lighting plan from a manufacturer, their design team (or lighting rep) creates the layout using that manufacturer's fixture catalog. Every pole, fixture, wattage, and optic in the plan is a product they sell. The photometric plan is a sales tool-a way to demonstrate that their products meet your project's requirements and to move the procurement process forward.

When free plans work well:

The project is straightforward-single calculation area, standard municipal code, no dark sky or energy code overlays
You're already committed to that manufacturer's products or open to them
The jurisdiction has minimal photometric submittal requirements (some accept basic layouts without full compliance documentation)
Budget is the absolute top priority and the risk of plan review rejection is acceptable

Where the limitations show up:

The plan uses only that manufacturer's fixtures. There is no cross-manufacturer optimization to find the best combination of performance and cost.
Architects and engineers who have already specified fixtures from a different manufacturer are often excluded. LED Lighting Supply, the dominant player in this space, explicitly states it does not provide plans for professionals who need a lighting plan without purchasing their products.
Compliance documentation for stricter jurisdictions-dark sky BUG rating verification, Title 24 Lighting Power Allowance calculations, property-line trespass calculations-may not be included or may not meet the plan reviewer's expectations.
The plan carries no professional design accountability. It's a marketing deliverable, not an engineering document.

This isn't a criticism of the manufacturers. They're offering a valuable service tied to their business model. But the distinction matters when the stakes of plan review rejection are high.

The hidden cost of a rejected plan

A "free" photometric plan that fails plan review isn't free. The costs accumulate quickly:

Resubmission fees: $50-$500 depending on the jurisdiction
Project delays: 2-6 weeks per rejection cycle, as the plan goes back into the review queue
Contractor schedule impacts: Electrical rough-in delays that cascade into other trades
Rush fees on the replacement plan: If you now need a professional plan under time pressure, you'll likely pay a premium

A $500 professional plan that passes on first submittal is almost always cheaper than a free plan that fails twice. The arithmetic is simple, but it catches a surprising number of project teams off guard.

What should a professional photometric plan include?

Regardless of the provider, these are the deliverables that a permit-ready photometric plan should contain:

Point-by-point calculation grid with foot-candle values at each grid point, calculated at a spacing acceptable to the plan reviewer (typically 10-foot or 20-foot spacing, though some jurisdictions specify)
Fixture schedule listing manufacturer, model, wattage, lumen output, CCT, mounting height, and optic distribution type for every fixture on the plan
Site plan overlay showing fixture locations, pole positions, and calculation area boundaries
Photometric summary statistics: average foot-candles, minimum foot-candles, maximum foot-candles, uniformity ratios (max:min and avg:min) for each calculation zone
Light trespass calculations at property boundaries, showing foot-candle values at the property line
Compliance summary mapping each applicable code requirement to the plan's demonstrated performance
IES file documentation confirming that calculations are based on manufacturer-verified photometric data, not generic approximations

Additional deliverables-energy code calculations (ASHRAE 90.1 LPD, Title 24 LPA), 3D renderings, iso-footcandle contour lines, DWG/CAD source files-may be included or available as add-ons depending on the provider and project requirements.

How to evaluate a photometric plan quote

Before committing to any provider-free or paid-ask these questions:

What software was used? AGi32 and DIALux EVO are the two industry-standard photometric calculation engines. Plans generated by simplified proprietary tools may not produce the calculation detail that plan reviewers expect.
Are IES files from the actual specified fixture included? Generic or surrogate photometric data produces inaccurate results. The plan should be built from the fixture manufacturer's published IES files.
Does the price include revisions? Fixture substitutions, layout changes, or plan reviewer comments often require recalculation. Know what's included upfront.
Is a compliance summary included for your specific jurisdiction? A point-by-point grid alone may not satisfy a plan reviewer who wants to see each code requirement addressed individually.
What format are the deliverables? PDF is standard. DWG or CAD source files may be needed if the photometric plan must be integrated into the architect's drawing set.
Does the plan account for Light Loss Factors? Calculations should use maintained lumens-accounting for lumen depreciation, dirt accumulation, and temperature factors-not initial lumens. Initial lumen calculations overstate performance by 15-30%.

Frequently asked questions

Is a photometric plan the same as a lighting design?

Not exactly. A photometric plan is the calculated documentation-the foot-candle grids, uniformity ratios, and compliance data. A full lighting design may include aesthetic considerations, control strategies, energy modeling, and specification development. Photometric plans are one component of a broader lighting design, but for permit purposes, they're often the only component required.

Can I do a photometric plan myself?

Technically, yes-AGi32 and DIALux EVO are commercially available. In practice, the software requires training, the calculations require knowledge of IES standards and local codes, and the deliverable format must meet plan reviewer expectations. Most project teams find that the time investment exceeds the cost of hiring a specialist.

Why do some companies offer free photometric plans?

Because the plan is a lead generation tool tied to fixture sales. The manufacturer profits from the product purchase, not the design work. This is a reasonable business model for projects where the customer is buying those fixtures anyway.

How long does a photometric plan take?

Standard turnaround is 3-7 business days for most professional services. Simple single-area projects can often be completed in 48 hours. Rush delivery (same-day or 24-hour) is available from most providers at a premium.

Do I need a photometric plan for a renovation or just new construction?

Most jurisdictions require photometric documentation whenever exterior lighting is being added, replaced, or significantly modified-not just for new construction. If a building permit is being pulled and the scope includes lighting, a photometric plan is almost always required.

What if my plan gets rejected by the plan reviewer?

Professional plans typically include revision rounds to address plan reviewer comments. If a plan is rejected, the designer recalculates based on the reviewer's feedback-adjusting fixture locations, wattages, or mounting heights as needed-and resubmits. This is a normal part of the permit process, not a failure of the plan.

If you want a quick sense of how different project scopes are typically priced before requesting a permit-ready package, review the pricing page.