Here we share our canless recessed lighting guide including what they are, different features, ceiling types, and how they contrast with can recessed lights.

Recessed lighting has been a part of the real estate industry since the 1950s. It’s nearly impossible these days to enter a house without them.

They typically form a path walk of lights by being arranged in a row along the sides of the ceiling or floors. Canisters or housings to hold the bulb are not included with canless recessed lighting.

They use LED light that is built into the system and are thin, if not ultra-thin. They can squeeze into small spaces because they are small.

Continue reading for more details.

Pros of Canless Recessed Lighting 

Here, we discuss the benefits of installing a canless recessed lighting system in your house.

Effortless Installation

Despite having a less substantial junction or electrical box, the single-unit canless recessed system is simple to install. Only a few inches of ceiling depth are required.

A j-box is not required with some canless versions, allowing you to connect the wires directly to the disk.

You can skip poking your ceiling to install your lighting if you’re remodeling or moving into a completed home.

Simply drill a hole in the drywall or mount the canless recessed lights using the existing cans to complete the installation.

Energy-efficient Lighting System

You’ll find LED in the majority of the canless recessed lighting on the market. LEDs are more suitable because they maintain their coolness over extended periods of use despite not having protective canisters.

Additionally, LEDs have an 80 percent longer brightness. They are a popular option among homeowners who want to reduce their electric bill because they can last anywhere between six and eleven years. You can get six years out of an LED light if it is used continuously.

Smart Options Available

Wi-Fi-connected canless LED lights that you can control with a remote control or your smartphone are the result of innovative technology. At the touch of a button, you can dim them or even change their color.

Do you have Google Home, Siri, or Alexa? These work with other Smart LED models, enabling you to go about your daily activities without difficulty. You can even change between party mode and relaxation mode.

Wider Beam Spread

The bulb is housed in a canister in traditional recessed lighting, which also has an electric box on top for the electrical wires. The light coming from the bulb can be more or less directional depending on the trim you select.

But because canless recessed lighting is so thin, the LED light has a wide beam radius. This kind of recessed lighting is a good option if your ceilings are high.

Cons of Canless Recessed Lighting 

Recessed lighting without cans is advantageous for a variety of reasons, but there are also some disadvantages. The following are drawbacks to selecting this type.

Different Installation Methods

The canless versions for various brands do not install according to a set of guidelines like can recessed lights do. Their functions also vary, with some being more high-tech than others.

Not Available in Incandescent Lighting

Economical and adaptable LED lighting. They have a range of warmer colors that are reminiscent of incandescent lighting.

They don’t, however, increase the heat in your space. If so, you can always use genuine incandescent bulbs and recessed lighting.

Replacing Lights is Not as Simple as Switching a Light Bulb

Canless recessed lighting’s compact design works against you when it comes time to replace it.

The bulb must be changed while the entire system is still in place with a recessed lighting system that uses a canister, in contrast. The unit needs to be replaced with the canless version, though.

When looking for an item after years of use, especially for high-quality models, keep in mind that technology innovates quickly.

More Expensive Than Can Recessed Lighting

Lighting systems that are small and handy typically have a higher initial cost than conventional systems. With installation not included, the cost of canless recessed lights is between $20 and $50.

Selecting Smart canless LED recessed lights will increase your costs.

DIYers can effectively lower their costs by using less labor. The handling of wirings, however, can be challenging and troublesome for those who are not experienced.

Expect to spend, on average, between $240 and $480 per fixture. It is much less expensive and takes less time to install canless recessed lighting in new construction.

Even though the entire setup may be expensive, canless LED lighting fixtures have longer lifespans, making them more cost-effective overall.

Types of Canless Recessed Lights

Shapes, sizes, and installation styles for canless recessed lights vary. The sizes of the recessed lights range from four to six inches.

Wider diameters emit more light, while smaller sizes are suitable for small ceiling spaces.

Depending on your aesthetic preferences, you can choose between square, oval, and round recessed lights for the design.

If you love chandeliers but have recessed lights in your home, we’ll show you how to convert a recessed light to a pendant. 

Is Can Light Type of Recessed Lighting?

Recessed lights and can lights are similar, as I said.

Among recessed lights, can lights are one type. Let’s define both terms for clarity.

A ceiling is where recessed lighting is located.

This does not imply that the light is entirely recessed; the LED diode or bulb may sit flush with or even just below the ceiling.

The primary fixture, however, is located inside the ceiling.

Since they sit neatly against a ceiling, recessed lights, which have been around for a while but are now regaining popularity as lighting design trends change, give off a clean appearance.

They’re also common in areas like kitchens, where you might want to steer clear of lower-hanging pendants that might obstruct cooking or attract grease before any fumes are extracted.

Recessed lighting includes canned lights.

They got their name from the ceiling fixture, which is a cylindrical object that resembles a metal can.

Instead of having a pendant with a lower hanging light bulb that you would install, this can serves as the light bulb’s actual holder.

In conclusion, all can lights are recessed lights. But not all recessed lights are canned lights…

Final Words

It’s fairly simple to mistakenly mix up canless and can lights because there are so many different terms used in the lighting industry.

Just keep in mind that any light that is recessed can be referred to as recessed lights.

Then you should understand that recessed lights come in a variety of forms, including can, canless, and other options.

Do you have a can light or another recessed light in your house?

Have you given any thought to replacing the outdated recessed can lights in your house with something more contemporary?

FAQs