This one comes up a lot. And honestly, it’s a fair question.

You’ve got brass, path lights and up lights on one site going for $13, and others that climb north of $300. On the surface, they all claim to light up a tree or guide a path. But under the hood, the story changes.

The Real Cost of “Cheap”  

Let’s start with the low end. Fixtures in that $13-$40 range? They're often made from thin gauge aluminum or lightweight brass. They’ll go in the ground looking halfway decent. But give them a few seasons of heat, moisture, weed whackers, and mulch build-up and you’re replacing parts (or the whole thing) by year three. By year five, the whole system is begging for a redo.

And here’s the thing no one talks about: landscape lighting isn’t easy. You’re trenching through roots, tunneling under sidewalks, and wiring in the dirt. It might look simple on a diagram, but the install is real work. If you’re going to do that job, do it once—not every few years.

What About the $300 Fixtures?  

On the other extreme, you’ve got high end fixtures backed by marketing empires, luxury branding, and layers of distribution. Sure, some offer incredible precision and features—but ask yourself: do you (or your client) really need a 99 CRI with remote calibration and a smartphone app?

Many pros don’t. What they need is something that works, lasts, and doesn’t flinch when it’s 98 degrees and the install has to be perfect.

Where Hearthstone Fits  

At Hearthstone, we set out to fill the space in between. Our gear isn’t the cheapest. It’s not chasing design awards or app integrations. What we are chasing is tough, clean, and made for people who want to do the job right the first time.

We build professional outdoor lighting fixtures that:

• Accept drop-in lamps for flexibility and future-proofing

• Use solid brass and robust components that don’t quit

• Skip the gimmicks to keep costs focused on what matters: durability, simplicity, performance

We don’t add frills that drive up the price. We don’t water things down to cut corners. We’re here for pros who want gear that just works—and keeps working.

The Bottom Line  

Whether you’re just getting started or leading a team with 500 installs under your belt, Hearthstone is built for you. Drop in ready. Field tested. Built like a tool, not a toy.

No fluff. No failures. Just the right fixture at the right price.
Explore the lineup that earns its place in the truck.