How to Install Track Lighting

Ceiling mounted track lighting offers a stylish and customized look to any room’s design. It’s also relatively easy to install, especially when replacing an existing ceiling light with a track lighting system. We put together this guide to get you started on installing track lighting in your home.

Types of Track Lighting

When it comes to learning how to install track lighting, it’s important to keep in mind that there are different types of ceiling mounted track lighting. The basics of installing a ceiling fixture may be similar between the fixture types, but they can require different steps. It’s always a good idea to check the manufacturer instructions for any lighting fixtures you install.

Here’s a quick look at the different types of track lighting to choose from:

Track lighting - Track lighting is built with lengths of track that power the multiple track head lights that are attached to it. These can be paired with pendant lights or spotlights to create a custom design, or can be found in complete track lighting kits that include everything needed.

Cable lighting - Cable lighting is suspended from low-voltage conductive cables under tension between walls or other features of the room. The adjustable cable heads can be installed and aimed individually to cover lighting for different areas from the same cables. This lighting style can also be found in complete cable lighting kits.

Fixed rail lighting - Fixed rail lighting is installed on the ceiling or wall and attached to the electric wire junction box the same as a standard ceiling light. The track head lights are generally fixed in place on a bar (or track) and can be swiveled to aim the angle of the light. If you’re looking for how to install track lighting on a wall, you can quickly get the same look and functionality with fixed rail lighting.

Rail lighting - Monorail lighting, or rail lighting, allows for the customization of track lighting without the limitation of straight lines because the rail hangs down from the ceiling and can be curved to create different designs. When considering how to install flexible track lighting, look for complete rail lighting kits that include all the matching pieces, rails, and track heads to create your custom look.

For more information on choosing the perfect track lighting for your home or office design, read our guide to understanding track lighting.

How to Install Track Lighting

If you can change a ceiling light or a ceiling fan, installing track lighting will be a quick and easy DIY project. It’s helpful to have some experience dealing with your home’s electrical wiring, and a second set of hands to help as needed, but with the right safety precautions installing track lighting is something anyone from a beginner to a home improvement expert can do.

Tools

• Electrical tester
• Wire strippers
• Drill
• Tape measure
• Stud finder
• Ladder

Materials

• Track light kit
• Wire connectors
• Electrical cable
• Electrical tape
• Junction box

Working With Electricity

Installing track lighting, like any lighting installation, requires accessing the home’s electrical wiring. Don’t hesitate to call in professional electricians or contractors for electrical projects you’re not familiar with or are not comfortable attempting.

Before you begin installing track lighting, it’s important to appropriately plan the electrical load of the light fixture. Too many lights on the track can overload the capacity of the electrical circuits.

• First, add up the amperage rating of the appliances and lights on the house circuit that the track lighting will be tapped into. Do not let the total amperage exceed the home circuit’s electrical capacity.
• Do not let the number of track heads or the amperage of the lights exceed the track’s electrical capacity.

It’s also a good idea to check for any applicable local construction codes to keep your track lighting projects within regulation requirements. Again, consult a contractor or electrician for any project that might be more complicated than your experience level.

Here are some basic instructions on how to safely work with the electrical wiring in order to install track lighting:

• Start by turning the lights off at the lightswitch on the wall in the room you’ll be working in. Leave it in the “off” position while you work.
• Turn off the power to the room you’ll be working in at the circuit breaker box.
• To correct any fraying wires and avoid friction in the circuit, trim the home’s electrical wires as needed and strip the insulation off of the ends before connecting them to the wiring on the new light fixture.
• When connecting the electrical wiring to the new light fixture, connect the wires by matching color wires to complete the circuit. There’s some color variance depending on the age of the wiring, but in general that means connecting white wires to white wires and black wires to black wires. The grounding wire is often either green or copper wire, so it should be connected green to green wire, or green to grounded wire or screw.

Remove Existing Light Fixture

Often the first step is to remove the existing light fixture from the ceiling. The light fixture base will either unscrew into the ceiling or can twist-and-turn to catch in the junction box. 

Disconnect the wires from the light fixture by twisting the wires apart. Leave the wires inside the junction box accessible. Trim the ends and strip some of the insulation off the wire if necessary.

Installing Fixed Rail Lighting

For a fixed rail lighting system, it can be connected to the wires and installed in the same way as the existing fixture that was removed. This is similar to how to install track lighting on a wall, with the fixed rail track light replacing the base of an existing ceiling light or wall sconce. 

• Connect the wires to their matching color wires in the junction box. 
• Tuck the wires back inside the junction box. 
• Mount the base to the ceiling or wall per the fixture’s instructions.

Once the fixed rail lighting is installed and secure, turn the power on at the circuit breaker and then test the lights with the flip of the wall switch.

Installing Track Lighting

In order to install more complex track lighting systems, there are a few more steps. Keep in mind, you’ll need a ladder that can be easily moved, and a spotter on the ground to help with placing the tracks and other tools as you go.

Prepare the Ceiling for Installation

Depending on the type of light fixture and your choice in layout, some installation steps may require installing a decorative cover plate over the hole left behind by the original fixture. This can influence the track lighting layout. 

• The track may need to stop short of the cover plate and connect the wires to the track from the end cap. 
• The track may be installed to the side of the cover plate, with a floating feed over the side connecting it to the electricity.
• The track may be installed over the cover plate entirely, which can influence the location of the junction box that the track will attach to. 

Consult the light fixture installation instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure the wires are secured correctly to the new track before the exposed junction box is closed off behind the cover plate.

Plan the Layout

It’s important to measure and plan the lighting layout based on the size of the room and the amount of light you need.

1) Measure the Track.

Use a tape measure to get the room dimensions and find out the amount of space available for the placement of the track lights. Don’t install the fixture near other lights or permanent features that could interfere with the track or the headlights. From there, determine the lighting layout and the necessary lengths of track. 

• The tracks come in set lengths, with straight pieces usually between 4 and 8 feet long. 
• Purchase the track in longer lengths than necessary so it can be cut down to the precise length needed for your layout. 
• Track lighting utilizes flexible corner pieces to change the angle of the light fixtures in your design layout.

2) Plan the placement of the track within reach of the power source. 

Know what kind of power source the lighting will need. Some track lights are hardwired and some are powered by an electrical cord going to a standard wall outlet. Hardwired tracks utilize the electrical wiring of most standard ceiling light fixtures.

If it’s a standard electrical cord, plan to place it within reach of an outlet, or install an outlet on the ceiling or wall within the cord’s reach. The cord can then be mounted to the wall to keep it out of the way.

3) Assemble the track to check that the pieces and layout fit the design correctly.

• Install the corner pieces to create the design shape and install the end-fittings, as needed, to close/lock the track ends.
• Measure the distance between the pre-drilled mounting holes or brackets in the track. 
• Mark the layout on the ceiling with pencil. Include marks to indicate the measured points at the mounting holes in the track.
• This may require assistance from a helper to properly support the weight of the track while assembling pieces or working overhead to mark the ceiling.

Install the Track

Once the preparation work is completed, the next step is to secure the track to the ceiling before installing the lights.

1. Pre-drill pilot holes in the ceiling at the marked locations that line up with the mounting holes. When possible, screw directly into solid wood supports.
2. Use toggle bolts or drywall screws to mount the track to drywall or plaster. 
3. With a helper holding the track flush to the ceiling in line with the guidelines, install the track to the started pilot holes.

Connecting to the Electric

Follow manufacturer instructions on connecting the electrical circuits to the track or power source. This may include attaching wires to terminals located inside the track, an end-cap live-end connector, or a floating feed which inserts into the track from the open side of the track and locks into place the same way the light fixtures are installed.

Installing Lights in the Track

Whether you choose the utilitarian look of a spotlight or the artistic customization of a hanging pendant, the lighting should connect to the matching tracks with the same basic method. It’s important to be aware that there are different track designs, so make sure you choose the right light fixture to fit the grooves that house the polarity lines to supply the electricity.

To mount the lights in the track:

1. Check that the polarity lines in the track can make contact with the fixture base in the correct direction. This could be tested with the lamp fixture mount itself or the power source. The wired grooves of the base should line up with the one in the track and sit snug and secure. 
2. Install the lights by sitting the base up into the track and rotating until the base grooves line up with the grooves in the track.
3. Arrange the lights along the track and angle them to where the light is most needed according to your design layout.

When the lights are arranged perfectly, turn the power on at the circuit breaker. Then flip the wall switch to test out the lights.