how to install can lights in existing ceiling

One popular school of thought is to use half the ceiling height as the distance between the lights. I also drew my room in Sketchup so I could model my options to make the decision a little bit easier. I’m not an expert so I searched to find out what the recommendations are.

Make sure you get the correct rating for your specific situation. IC rated means insulation contact, so if you have insulation in your ceiling that should be fine. The LED lights I purchased were 3000 Kelvin and they are IC rated. I was able to get a pack of six lights for $60, or a pack of 12 lights for $110. You can see that the LED wafer light fit in easily. This is exactly what happened in one of the holes I drilled. In contrast, LED wafer lights are very thin and can typically slip in right underneath a stud.

As a result, you have to figure out where the studs are in your ceiling and avoid them. Can lights are large and they take up more space above your ceiling. One major disadvantage with can lights is their size. I’m using 6” LED ‘wafer’ lights in my room which are a HUGE improvement over older can lights.

How to install can lights in existing ceiling