Mounting a Light Fixture With a Stud Finder

Find the ceiling joist closest to the place you want to install the light by holding a stud finder against the ceiling and moving it along until it indicates a joist. Depending on the model you're using, this may be indicated by a beep or by lights illuminating. Mark the location of the joist onto the ceiling.

Place the electrical ceiling box against the ceiling next to the joist and trace the outline of the box.

Cut a hole in the ceiling with a drywall saw, following the outline of the box.

Run an electrical cable between the hole in the ceiling and the location in the wall where you're installing the light switch.

Remove one of the knockout holes in the electrical box and slide the cable through it.

Slide the electrical box into the ceiling and screw it to the side of the ceiling joist.

Connect the crossbar to the top of the light fixture, raise the fixture to the ceiling and screw the crossbar to the electrical box.

Attach the wires from the light fixture to the wires leading from the electrical cable with twist-on connector caps. Match the wires by color (black-to-black, white-to-white and green-to-green).

Slide the wiring into the electrical box and screw the canopy to the ceiling over the box.