Why don't you publish fixed prices?

Because access, rigging and distance change the cost more than the gear does. A package that's simple at one venue can be a full working-at-heights install at another. Instead, we quote every job individually and return quotes within 24 hours, so you get a real number, fast.

Is delivery and installation included in the price?

Yes. Every Lume Hire quote includes delivery, professional installation and packdown across the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane and Northern Rivers. There's no surprise labour line added later.

What's the cheapest way to light an event?

A single installed festoon run or a small uplighting package gives the most transformation per dollar. Overhead light changes how the entire space feels, which is why it's our most recommended starting point for tight budgets.

Do you charge more for remote or difficult venues?

Sites with long travel, no power or difficult access can cost more because they take more crew time, and occasionally need generator hire. We'll always flag this in the quote up-front — tell us about the site honestly and there'll be no surprises on the day.

Does hiring an operator for the night cost extra?

Yes — DMX shows, projection and lasers include a technician in the quote because that gear needs professional operation. Static lighting like festoon and standard uplighting doesn't need anyone on site, so most weddings and private events skip this cost entirely.

Pricing Guide

How much does event lighting cost?

The honest breakdown of what lighting hire costs across the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane and the Northern Rivers — what drives the price, where the money actually goes, and how to get more look for less budget.

The Real Drivers

You're paying for labour and logistics, not globes

Here's the thing nobody tells you: the gear is rarely the expensive part. What drives event lighting cost is labour, access and time. A festoon run over a flat courtyard with power nearby is quick; the same run rigged through trees on a sloping Byron Hinterland property is a working-at-heights job needing two crew, rated rigging and half a day. Distance matters too — we service everywhere from Ipswich to Ballina, and remote sites add travel and sometimes generator hire. The final driver is operation: static lighting is set-and-forget, while DMX-programmed colour changes, projection or lasers need an operator on the night. When you compare quotes, check what's included — our pricing always covers delivery, installation and packdown, because that's the whole point of our service.

Crew installing event lighting rigging on site

Typical Ranges

Ballpark figures by lighting type

Rough guide, based on 10+ years of quoting: a simple installed festoon package for a small venue or backyard event sits in the hundreds. A layered wedding look — canopy over the reception, uplighting in your palette, a feature piece or two — typically lands in the low thousands. Corporate gala lighting with branded uplighting and a properly washed stage is similar, scaling with room size. Festival stage rigs, laser shows and projection mapping are quoted per production because stage size, run time and content requirements vary enormously. Every event is genuinely different, which is why we quote per job rather than publishing a rate card that's wrong for half the people reading it. Send your venue, date and inspiration photos through our contact page and you'll have a real number within 24 hours.

Uplighting and DMX lighting package installed at an event

Spending It Well

How to get more look for the same budget

A few tricks from the inside. First, prioritise overhead light — a festoon or fairy canopy transforms a space more per dollar than anything else, because it changes the whole ceiling line of the venue. Second, use uplighting instead of extra decor: washing existing walls, trees or marquee poles in colour makes the venue itself the styling. Third, be flexible on non-Saturday dates if you can — demand pricing is real. Fourth, choose a venue with decent access and power; the savings on install labour can fund another lighting layer. Finally, book everything with one supplier. Split your lighting between a hire shop, a stylist and an AV company and you pay three delivery fees and three minimum charges. One crew, one truck, one invoice — it's cheaper and it looks more cohesive.

Festoon canopy delivering maximum visual impact at an event

Frequently asked

: Because access, rigging and distance change the cost more than the gear does. A package that's simple at one venue can be a full working-at-heights install at another. Instead, we quote every job individually and return quotes within 24 hours, so you get a real number, fast.
: Yes. Every Lume Hire quote includes delivery, professional installation and packdown across the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane and Northern Rivers. There's no surprise labour line added later.
: A single installed festoon run or a small uplighting package gives the most transformation per dollar. Overhead light changes how the entire space feels, which is why it's our most recommended starting point for tight budgets.
: Sites with long travel, no power or difficult access can cost more because they take more crew time, and occasionally need generator hire. We'll always flag this in the quote up-front — tell us about the site honestly and there'll be no surprises on the day.
: Yes — DMX shows, projection and lasers include a technician in the quote because that gear needs professional operation. Static lighting like festoon and standard uplighting doesn't need anyone on site, so most weddings and private events skip this cost entirely.

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