How to Install a Plug-In Wall Sconce or Hardwired
To install a plug-in wall sconce, mark the spot within reach of an outlet, screw the mounting plate into a stud or drywall anchors, attach the sconce, and plug it in. No electrical work is needed. A hardwired sconce connects to a wall junction box instead: turn off the breaker, attach the mounting plate, connect ground, white, and black wires, then mount the fixture.
Key takeaways
1. Two options: Plug-in sconces are easy, renter-friendly, and need only an outlet. Hardwired sconces are permanent and connect to a junction box, usually with a wall switch.
2. Placement: Sconces are commonly mounted about 60–66 inches from the floor to the center of the fixture, or lower beside a bed for reading.
3. Plug-in steps: Mark the placement, drill pilot holes, set anchors if there's no stud, screw on the mounting plate, attach the sconce, and route the cord to the outlet.
4. Hardwired steps: Turn off the breaker and test the wires, attach the mounting plate, connect ground to ground, white to white, black to black, then secure the sconce.
5. New wiring: If there's no junction box where you want the sconce, adding one and running new wire is a job for a licensed electrician.
Source: Rowabi.
What is a wall sconce?
A wall sconce is a light fixture mounted on a wall rather than the ceiling. Sconces add ambient or task light in bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, hallways, and staircases, and they free up space on nightstands and tables.
Uninstall the old fixture
If you're replacing an existing hardwired sconce, remove it safely first.
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Turn off and test for power
Turn off the breaker that controls the sconce. Once you can reach the wires, confirm they're dead with a voltage tester.
Take off the wall sconce
Remove the bulbs and any shades. Find the screws or nuts holding the fixture to its mounting plate, usually at the base or sides, and remove them while supporting the sconce.
Disconnect the wiring
Pull the sconce gently away from the wall to expose the connections. Take a photo, then unscrew the wire nuts and separate the fixture wires from the house wires.
Detach the ground wire and mounting plate
Disconnect the ground wire from the mounting plate's green screw, then unscrew and remove the plate. If you're not installing a new sconce right away, cap the hot and neutral wires with wire nuts and cover the box with a blank plate.
How to install a plug-in wall sconce
A plug-in wall sconce is a simple way to add light beside a bed, sofa, or desk without opening the wall. It's a good choice for renters, since you only need an outlet nearby.
A plug-in wall sconce adds flexible light without electrical work. Source: Rowabi
Looking for one? Try the Tidal Concrete Plug-In Wall Lamp, or browse Rowabi's wall sconce collection.
| Total time | Level | Electrical work |
| Under an hour | Easy | None |
Materials needed
- A plug-in wall sconce
- A pencil
- A level
- A measuring tape
- Screws and anchors (usually included with the sconce)
- Screwdriver or drill
- Cord clips or a paintable cord cover (optional)
Steps to install a plug-in wall sconce
Step 1: Decide on sconce placement
Choose a spot where the cord can reach the nearest outlet. Beside a bed, aim for a height that lets you read comfortably, often about 30 inches above the nightstand. Elsewhere, 60–66 inches to the center of the fixture is a common guide.
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Step 2: Mark, drill, and set anchors
Hold the mounting plate against the wall, check it with a level, and mark the screw holes. Drive screws into a stud if possible. In drywall, drill pilot holes sized to the anchor's instructions and tap the anchors in flush with the wall.
Step 3: Screw in the mounting plate
Line up the plate with the anchors or stud holes and secure it with the screws provided.
Step 4: Attach the sconce to the mounting plate
Fit the sconce onto the plate and tighten the set screw or clip it into place.
Step 5: Add a bulb and plug it in
Add a bulb at or below the sconce's maximum wattage and plug the cord into the outlet. Use cord clips or a paintable cord cover to guide the cord neatly down the wall. See our guide on how to hide wall sconce cords for more ideas.
Source: Rowabi.
How to install a hardwired wall sconce
A hardwired sconce connects directly to your home's wiring through a junction box in the wall, usually controlled by a wall switch. The steps below assume a junction box is already in place.
Materials needed
- A hardwired wall sconce
- A pencil
- A level
- Wire nuts and electrical tape
- Screws (usually included with the sconce)
- Screwdriver or drill
- Voltage tester
- Wire stripper
Imagine this light in your living room. Shop the look.
Steps to install a hardwired wall sconce
Step 1: Turn off the power and attach the mounting plate
Turn off the breaker and confirm the wires are dead with a voltage tester. If you're replacing a sconce, remove the old one and check that the wiring is in good condition.
Screw the new mounting plate to the junction box, checking that it's level.
Step 2: Connect the ground wire
You'll usually see three wires: black (hot), white (neutral), and green or bare copper (ground).
Source: Rowabi.
Connect the house ground wire to the green ground screw on the mounting plate and to the sconce's ground wire, joining them with a wire nut if needed.
Step 3: Connect the wiring
Join the white wires with a wire nut, then join the black wires the same way. Check that each connection is snug and no bare wire shows.
Step 4: Attach the sconce to the wall
Fold the wires neatly into the box, then secure the sconce to the mounting plate with the screws or nuts provided.
Attach any shade, add bulbs at or below the maximum wattage, restore power at the breaker, and test the light.
Wall sconce installation checklist
- Plug-in: an outlet is within reach of the cord.
- Hardwired: breaker off and wires tested dead.
- Height marked (about 60–66 inches to center, or lower for bedside reading) and checked with a level.
- Mounting plate screwed into a stud, anchors, or the junction box.
- Hardwired wires connected ground to ground, white to white, black to black.
- Bulbs at or below the maximum wattage; cords tidied with clips or a cover.
FAQs
How do I install a plug-in wall sconce?
- Mark a spot within cord reach of an outlet, screw the mounting plate into a stud or drywall anchors, attach the sconce, add a bulb, and plug it in.
How do I install a plug-in wall sconce without existing wiring?
- No wiring is needed. Mount the sconce near an outlet and hide the cord with clips or a paintable cord cover.
Can a plug-in sconce be hardwired?
- Only if the manufacturer says it is designed for both. Converting a plug-in sconce yourself isn't recommended, so ask a licensed electrician.
How high should a plug-in sconce be mounted?
- About 60 to 66 inches from the floor to the center of the fixture, or about 30 inches above a nightstand for reading.
How do I hide a plug-in sconce cord?
- Use a paintable cord cover, cord clips along the trim, or run the cord behind furniture. See our guide on how to hide wall sconce cords.
Do you need an electrician to install a wall sconce?
- Not for plug-in sconces. Hardwired sconces at an existing box are a common DIY job; new boxes or new wiring need a licensed electrician.
Can you hang sconces without wiring?
- Yes. Use plug-in sconces or battery-powered and rechargeable sconces.
Can I install a sconce myself?
- Yes. Plug-in and battery sconces are simple DIY projects. For hardwired sconces, you'll need basic electrical knowledge and the power off at the breaker.
What is a plug-in sconce?
- A wall-mounted light with a cord and plug that runs on a standard outlet, so no wiring changes are needed.
Can I add a plug to a hardwired wall light?
- It's safest to choose a fixture sold as plug-in, or a UL-listed plug-in conversion kit made for that fixture. Avoid splicing cords yourself.
Does a plug-in sconce need a wall switch?
- No. Most have an inline or on-fixture switch, and you can plug into a smart plug for app or voice control.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a plug-in or hardwired wall sconce, both can transform the look and feel of a room. Plug-in sconces are the quickest, renter-friendly option, while hardwired sconces give a permanent, switch-controlled finish.
Find your next sconce in Rowabi's wall sconce collection.
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