Did your old light bulb just stop working? Well, then you’ve to get it changed as soon as possible. But it can be problematic if your ceiling is too high. If you keep the light bulb, you won’t be able to work at night. Now that’s a bummer, isn’t it? But, if you do find a way to change it, all your problems will be solved. You can go back to doing your work in a well lit room again.
So, why not check our fantastic guide on how to change light bulb in high ceiling?
Throughout the guide, we have introduced two ways to get your job done- using a ladder or using a bulb grabber. You start off turning the electric connection off, and then you either use the ladder to take the light off and put a new one, or you use a bulb grabber.

So, after checking out the essentials for this job, we’ll jump right into the job and get it done.
Grab These Essentials
Rubber Gloves
These will provide you with protection from electricity as rubber is an insulator. Make sure it fits your hands and palms.
- We Recommended: SteadMax Professional Rubber Latex Gloves
A Tall Ladder
You’ll need a ladder of the right height for a high ceiling. So take the measurements accurately before buying the ladder.
- We Recommended: Hailo Pro 8-Ft Aluminum Step Platform Ladder
Bulb Grabber
This is needed for the alternative to using a ladder. But this only works for bulbs facing downwards.
- We Recommended: High Ceilings 11FT Universal Bulb Grabber
Extension Pole
You’ll need this to reach the ceilings. It’s an extension that can be attached to the bulb grabber.
- We Recommended: 7-24 ft Long Telescopic Extension Pole
Now that we have cleared the essentials, we can move on to the ways of changing a lightbulb on a high ceiling. We’ll start off by using a ladder.
How to Change Light Bulb In High Ceiling With a Ladder
Using a ladder is the most common way of changing a light bulb in a high ceiling. But you might have to face your fears if you’re scared of heights.
We have laid out the whole process into 6 steps for you to understand more clearly.
Step 1 Of 6: Turn Off the Lights
You’ll start by turning off the lights because all lights become hot when they are being used. So, for the safety of your own hands, turn them off.
You might want to turn off the supply of electricity all together for extra caution. You can do this by flipping the right switch on the circuit board.
Once you’re done with that, move on to the next step.
Step 2 Of 6: Place the Ladder
You’ll have to position the ladder now. Start by opening up the ladder thoroughly and put it flat on the ground.
Putting it up against the wall would be better for reinforcement. Now, the positioning is essential to make sure you reach the bulb correctly.
Now, move to the next step in our process.
Step 3 Of 6: Ask Someone to Help
Before getting up on the ladder yourself, call someone like a friend or family member over to help. Tell them to stick around and make sure that no accidents happen.
All their work here is to hold the ladder for you and keep it steady mainly so that you don’t fall off and hurt yourself.
Once someone has responded to your call, move on to the next step.
Step 4 Of 6: Get Rubber Gloves
Put on the rubber gloves for protection. Rubber is one of the best insulators. So, the gloves will protect you from the risk of being electrocuted.
Make sure your hands have fit in perfectly, and the gloves are nice and tight. Otherwise, you won’t be able to do the job correctly without a good grip.
Step 5 Of 6: Replace the Bulb
Now, get on the ladder and maintain balance so that you don’t fall off. Be careful of your movements.
Grab the old bulb and start turning it counter clockwise. Don’t put too much pressure on the bulb. You don’t want to break it in your hands.
Once it’s loose, pull it out and hand it over to the person supporting your ladder. Now, take the new bulb in your hand.
Place the bulb into the holder and start turning it counter clockwise in the socket. Keep turning until it’s placed in tight.
Let’s move to the last step now.
Step 6 Of 6: Test the Bulb
Now that you’ve put the bulb in its place. It’s time to test it and see if it works properly.
Flip the switches back on the circuit board if you did turn them off. Then turn on the lights. If it’s glowing bright, you’re good to go.
Now, you might be too scared of the heights. What can you do in this case? Well, if your light bulb is facing downwards, you can use the next alternative.
The Alternative: Using A Bulb Grabber
If you’re incredibly acrophobic(scared of heights) and can’t use a ladder, we have another way of doing this for you. But, it only works if the bulb is downwards.
So, if the criteria match, you can use a bulb grabber to do the job for you.
Here’s how:
Step 1 Of 5: Turn Off the Lights
It’s the same as the way we mentioned in the last method.
You’ll start by turning off the lights because all lights become hot when they are being used. So, for the safety of your own hands, turn them off.
You might want to turn off the supply of electricity all together for extra caution. You can do this by flipping the right switch on the circuit board.
Once you’re done with that, move on to the next step.
Step 2 Of 5: Attach Bulb Grabber
Now, attach the bulb grabber to the extension pole to start with the work. The extension pole will help reach the height you need it to reach.
Once it’s ready, jump onto the next step.
Step 3 Of 5: Lead to the Bulb
In this step, slowly lead the end of the bulb grabber to the light bulb and grab it with the bulb changer. Start turning it counter clockwise until the bulb is off.
Now, remove the bulb and move on to the next step.
Step 4 Of 5: Attach The New Bulb
Get your new bulb and attach it to the suction tips of the bulb grabber. Then, slowly lead the bulb to the socket, set it, and start turning counter clockwise.
Keep turning until it is tight shut. Then use the release string to let go of the bulb. Once this is done, move on to the last step.
Step 5 Of 5: Test the Bulb
Now that you’ve put the bulb in its place. It’s time to test it and see if it works properly.
Flip the switches back on the circuit board if you did turn them off. Then turn on the lights. If it’s glowing bright, you’re good to go. The bulb grabber worked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do light bulbs last?
The lifespan of a light bulb mainly depends on its type. The average incandescent bulb lasts 1,000 hours on average. However, LED light bulbs last as long as 25,000 hours. But even in these types, there are sub types. So you can’t really tell an exact amount. It’s all rough estimates.
What is the highest wattage bulb I can use for a light fixture?
The most common wattage that we found is 60 watts. But all of this depends on the fixture itself. So, we’d recommend you to check the maximum wattage on your fixture before installing a new light bulb. You’ll find the recommended wattage for your fixture on the label or the instructions included with the fixture.
How do I handle light bulbs with mercury?
Light bulbs with mercury are entirely safe for use. It is usually CFL bulbs that have mercury in them. But the amount is reasonably minimal, and no mercury spreads when you use it. But, the situation is different if the bulb breaks. A little bit of mercury might leak out. So handle it with care. Don’t vacuum the mess because mercury vapor might spread throughout. In the case of breaks, recycle it carefully and hand it over to the local waste collection agency.
What are the most eco friendly light bulbs?
The most eco friendly light bulbs are LED lights. They are designed to be energy efficient. Therefore, they consume less energy than any other bulb type. Moreover, many LED bulbs are made especially for energy saving. So, if you want to keep your home eco friendly, LED light bulbs would be your best bet.
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Conclusion
That’s all we had on how to change light bulb in high ceiling. We hope the 2 methods that showed you helped you out.
We recommend that you use LED light to use up less energy and save more on electricity bills.
Let us know if we missed something or if you want us to cover something else. You leave your feedback in the comments below. We would love to know.
Till then, stay safe and healthy.