Most recessed lights have a diameter of 4 inches, so you will need a hole saw with a 4 inch diameter. There are two types of hole saws: standard and carbide-tipped. Standard hole saws are made of high speed steel and are less expensive, but they require more frequent replacement because they dull quickly.
Carbide-tipped hole saws cost more initially, but they stay sharp longer and therefore require less frequent replacement.
When it comes to recessed lighting, the size of the hole saw you need will depend on the trim size of your light. For example, a 4” recessed light will require a 4 3/8” hole saw.
Not sure what size trim your recessed light is?
No worries! You can easily measure the trim by removing the lens or baffle from the housing. Once you have removed the lens, simply measure the diameter of the housing.
This measurement will be equal to your hole saw size.
Now that you know what size hole saw to use for your recessed lighting project, be sure to check out our selection of high-quality hole saws!
What Size Hole Saw for Light Box
We often get asked, “what size hole saw do I need for a light box?” The answer to this question is not always cut and dry (pun intended). It really depends on the application.
In general, you will want to use a hole saw that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the light fixture. This will allow for easy installation and will provide a snug fit. However, if you are working with a very small light fixture, you may need to use a smaller hole saw in order to get a tight fit.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution and go with a slightly larger hole saw. It’s much easier to make a larger hole smaller than it is to make a small hole larger!

Credit: www.homedepot.com
What Size Hole Saw Do You Need for Recessed Lighting?
There’s no definitive answer to this question as the size of hole saw you’ll need for recessed lighting will depend on a few different factors, such as the type and size of recessed light fixture you’re using, the thickness of your ceiling material, and whether or not you’re using an old-work electrical box. However, in general, most recessed light fixtures will require a hole that’s at least 3-1/2 inches in diameter.
If you’re installing a new construction recessed light (one where there’s no existing hole), then you’ll need to use a hole saw that’s the same diameter as the outer housing of the recessed light (usually between 5 and 6 inches).
The depth of the cut will be determined by the thickness of your ceiling material – just make sure the hole is deep enough so that half of the housing is flush with the ceiling surface.
If you’re installing a remodel recessed light (one where there’s already an existing hole), then you’ll need to use a hole saw that’s slightly smaller than the inner housing of the recessed light (usually between 4 and 5 inches). This is because remodel recessed lights have an integrated metal collar that helps secure them to Ceiling materials from ½” to 1” thick.
So, if your Ceiling material is ½” thick, then you would need a 4” inch holesaw. If it were ¾” thick then you would need a 4 ½ “inch holesaw etc…
In terms of which type of hole saw to use, we recommend carbide tipped models as they tend to stay sharper longer and are less likely to overheat than their bi-metal counterparts.
Just be sure to use one that has variable speed control so that you can adjust according to the specific needs of your project.
How Do You Space Out 4 Recessed Lights?
There are a few things to consider when spacing out recessed lights. The first is the size of the room. The second is the height of the ceilings.
And the third is the amount of light you want to illuminate the space with.
When it comes to sizing a room, general lighting should be about 30-40% of the total wattage used in that space. So, if you have a 200 square foot living room with 8-foot ceilings, you would need approximately 60-80 watts worth of recessed lighting fixtures.
But this number will increase or decrease depending on how bright or dim you want your space to be.
As for ceiling height, most experts recommend spacing recessed lights about 2 feet apart for ceilings that are 8 feet tall or less. If your ceilings are taller than 8 feet, then you can space them out further apart – about 3 feet apart should do the trick.
Just keep in mind that higher ceilings will require more light fixtures to adequately illuminate the space.
Finally, when it comes to choosing how many lumens (a unit of measurement for brightness) your recessed light fixtures should emit, it really depends on what type of atmosphere you’re going for in the space. A brighter light will create a more cheerful and energetic vibe while a dimmer light will create a more relaxed and intimate feel.
Ultimately, it’s up to you!
How Far Apart Should 4-Inch Recessed Lights Be?
When it comes to recessed lighting, there are a few general rules of thumb to follow. For 4-inch lights, they should be placed about 2 feet apart. This will ensure that the light is evenly distributed and that there are no dark spots in the room.
Of course, you may need to adjust this depending on the size of the room and the amount of light you want.
How Big of a Hole for a 6 Can Light?
Can lights, also called recessed lights or downlights, are a type of lighting fixture that is installed into a hollow opening in a ceiling. These fixtures provide ambient or task lighting in a room and are often used in conjunction with other types of light fixtures. Can lights come in various sizes, and the size of the hole needed for installation will depend on the particular model.
For example, most 6″ can lights require a hole that is at least 7″ in diameter. However, there are some models that only require a 6″ hole for installation. It is important to consult the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the minimum hole size required for each specific model.
Cutting a hole for 4" Recessed Lighting
Conclusion
In order to determine what size hole saw you need for 4 recessed light, you will need to know the diameter of the hole that is required. The most common size for this type of light is 3 inches, but there are also other sizes available. Once you have determined the size of the hole, you can then purchase a hole saw that is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole.
This will ensure that your recessed light will fit snugly into the hole and not be loose.