How to Drill a Hole in Joists When Installing Recessed Lighting

Find the joist using a stud finder in the vicinity of the ceiling where you want to install the recessed lighting. Lightly mark the ceiling with a pencil. Cut a hole to the proper width and length for the recessed lighting near the joist, as per instructions provided with the fixture.

Hold the recessed lighting fixture up just beneath the hole you made in the ceiling. Note the location where the wires attach to the lighting fixture. Mark the joist in the spot nearest to this wire attachment. Depending on the location of the hole, the nearest spot in the joist may be on either the bottom or a side of the joist.

Place a bit 1 to 2 inches longer than the width of the ceiling joist onto a drill if you plan to wire through the ceiling. If the bottom of the joist is exposed, drill directly up through the bottom of the joist where you marked it. If only the side of the joist is exposed, place the tip of the drill at the mark on the side, and drill at an angle toward the surface above the joists.

Put a drill bit the size that the manufacturer of the recessed lighting recommends to make a hole in the joist, if you need to attach the fixture to the joist. Drill into the joist in every spot where a screw hole lines up with it to the depth listed in the paperwork.