Best Lighting For Garages – Buyer’s Guide

A dark garage is a garage you never want to go into; a bright garage is a great place to work.

Having the best lighting possible in your garage makes everything easier, more accessible, and safer.

If the lights you’re using in your garage aren’t good enough, then improve them. Check out our research and buyers guide below on how to get the best lighting systems and best overall lighting for your garage.

Contents

Best LED Fixtures and Bulbs for Garage in 2021 at a Glance

Preview
BEST OVERALL
5000K LED Shop Light Linkable, 4FT Daylight 42W LED Ceiling Lights for Garages, Workshops, Basements, Hanging or FlushMount, Included Power Cord and Pull Chain, 4200lm, ETL- 1 Pack
RUNNER-UP
GHUSTAR 2-Pack LED Garage Light 60W Garage Lighting - 6000LM 6500K LED Deformable Garage Ceiling Lights, LED Shop Light with Adjustable Multi-Position Panels, LED Glow Light for Garage, Workshop
BEST VALUE
Barrina (6 Pack) LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture, 4FT, 2200lm, 6500K Super Bright White, 20W Utility LED Shop Light, Ceiling and Under Cabinet Light, Corded Electric with ON/Off Switch, ETL Listed
Product
Hykolity 5000K LED Shop Light
GHUSTAR 60W Three-Leaf Garage Ceiling Light
Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture
Type
LED, Fixture
LED, Fixture
LED, Fixture
Wattage
42W
60W
20w
Lumens
4200 lm
6000 lm
2200m
Reviews
-
-
-
Star rating
-
-
-
Price
$25.99
$29.99
$49.99
BEST OVERALL
Preview
5000K LED Shop Light Linkable, 4FT Daylight 42W LED Ceiling Lights for Garages, Workshops, Basements, Hanging or FlushMount, Included Power Cord and Pull Chain, 4200lm, ETL- 1 Pack
Product
Hykolity 5000K LED Shop Light
Type
LED, Fixture
Wattage
42W
Lumens
4200 lm
Reviews
-
Star rating
-
Price
$25.99
Learn More
RUNNER-UP
Preview
GHUSTAR 2-Pack LED Garage Light 60W Garage Lighting - 6000LM 6500K LED Deformable Garage Ceiling Lights, LED Shop Light with Adjustable Multi-Position Panels, LED Glow Light for Garage, Workshop
Product
GHUSTAR 60W Three-Leaf Garage Ceiling Light
Type
LED, Fixture
Wattage
60W
Lumens
6000 lm
Reviews
-
Star rating
-
Price
$29.99
Learn More
BEST VALUE
Preview
Barrina (6 Pack) LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture, 4FT, 2200lm, 6500K Super Bright White, 20W Utility LED Shop Light, Ceiling and Under Cabinet Light, Corded Electric with ON/Off Switch, ETL Listed
Product
Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture
Type
LED, Fixture
Wattage
20w
Lumens
2200m
Reviews
-
Star rating
-
Price
$49.99
Learn More

Best Lighting for Garage – Best Of

1. Hykolity 5000K LED Shop Light – Best Overall LED Lighting for Garage

This LED shop light is engineered to replace obsolete fluorescent lights with highly energy-efficient LEDs, which reduces energy usage by up to 70%.

Since it uses only 40 watts, this LED shop light produces a high brightness level of 4200 lumens at 5000K Daylight White. That is equivalent to two combined lamp fluorescent lights.

The Hykolity 5000K LED shop light is certified by the ETL for excellent quality construction, high safety, and reliability, making it top of our recommendations for the best garage lights.

This shop light has classic LED durability and will deliver 50000 hours (or more!) of light without asking for any maintenance.

What we like about the Hykolity 5000K LED shop light is that it’s linkable. This means that it features a plug connection that helps connect up to four other lights.

So you can use the Hykolity light to illuminate many parts of your garage — storage areas, workbenches, and so on — it’s versatile and connectable.

The Hykolity light comes with a near six-foot power cord. It also offers two mounting options: pendant mount and surface mount, each of which suits specific needs.

PROS

Easy and fast to install
Incredibly durable and multifunctional
Designed with high-quality
Five-year reliable warranty on damages

CONS

Doesn’t come premium packaged

2. Ghustar 60W Three-Leaf Garage Ceiling Light – Runner-Up

Best Garage Lighting Ghustar 60W Garage Ceiling Light

This garage light fixture has three ultra-bright LED light panels that are really good at lighting your garage in multiple directions from only one light fixture.

Besides, the impressive LED technology with 144 pieces of best quality chips produces 6000 lumens of light and 6500K daylight for your garage. And this offers a wonderful indoor lighting experience.

Its unique wide-angle adjustable design has a light coverage of up to the 360-degree area. Because of this, GHUSTAR Garage Ceiling Light provides a multi-position switching ability for the perfect distribution of light in your garage.

The LED garage lights are compelling without diminishing brightness. That’s why they tend to be brighter than other light fixtures on the market. With a low power consumption of 60W, these best lights for the garage ceiling can save up to 60% on your energy bills than a traditional light bulb.

What’s more, these garage lights boast safe, top-quality housing resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. The housing is also made to be durable and stable enough not to get hot after being on for hours. In turn, this ensures that there’s an effective dissipation of heat produced by LED bulbs. It’s safe to use too.

PROS

It’s durable to withstand corrosion and high temperatures
It gives brighter light by consuming less power
The adjustable design makes it highly customizable

CONS

Not suitable for outdoor use

3. Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture – Best Value LED Garage Lighting

Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture Best garage led lighting

The Barrina LED T5 is one of the best LED garage lights available, with an incredible light output of about 2200 lumens for each piece.

This means that this one lighting fixture is enough to illuminate any dark corner of your garage.

As it’s a low-power LED set-up (despite looking like a fluorescent light), this lighting fixture boasts a low power consumption of 20W. You can save quite a bit off your power bills by using this light compared to fluorescent tubes, with the added benefit of durability.

With this lighting fixture, you could connect eight lights using the added 20-inch connecting cord via the built-in connectors. This ultimately lowers installation cost and time, making it highly economical.

We like the Barrina LED T5 because its LED chips and casing are made of high-quality materials — they’re quite well reviewed for being durable. So, this garage light has a long lifespan, and will illuminate your garage for years.

Installation of the Barrina LED T5 lights is a snap — literally. Use the included snap joints to hang the lighting fixture up in your garage, plug it in, and switch it on.

PROS

The bulbs are very bright
Versatile application
Allows for easy mounting
Low energy consumption hence affordable
Outstanding quality that offers a long lifespan

CONS

They emit a bit of noise

More Top Lighting for Garage Options

ZJOJO LED Garage Lights

The ZJOJO LED garage light is a highly energy-efficient and almost maintenance-free lighting option for replacing your current fluorescent and HD metal halide light fixtures.

Its LED technology has 288 premium quality diodes that give a total of 7200 lumens — a huge amount of lighting for one fixture.

Therefore, it gives the best lights for the garage and illuminates large storage rooms, warehouses, workshops, and many others. It’s simply the best utility garage lighting fixture.

What we like most about ZJOJO LED Garage lights is the ease of customization the LED panel comes with. In other words, this panel allows for easy adjustment for a better lighting angle that suits your desire. Plus, these garage lights are effortless to install in your garage.

With 6000K daylight, these lights offer an excellent indoor lighting experience without any dark areas. They only consume 60 watts, saving up to 80% of the money on energy bills than with a traditional garage light bulb.

These garage lights boast a safe premium-quality aluminum alloy casing. So, they are very stable and durable enough to dissipate the heat produced by the LED bulb quickly. This translates to 50000 hours of light and long service life, reducing maintenance costs.

PROS

The bulbs are incredibly bright
They’re easy and quick to install
Designed to last for long without maintenance
Incredibly versatile

CONS

Limited warranty of only two years

Sunco Lighting 2 Pack Industrial LED Shop Light

Sunco Lighting 2 Pack Industrial LED Shop Light

Sunco shop lights have been engineered to meet the highest commercial-grade standards. This means that they are rigorously tested for excellent performance and safety. Besides, they’re Energy Star certified and can produce 4000 lumens by consuming only 40 Watts.

When it comes to installation, these best led shop lights allows for either a direct mount onto the ceiling or suspending it from the ceiling. Whichever choice of mounting, these lighting systems provides instant bright light for illuminating your garage, storage area, basement, and basements.

The best part is, Sunco shop lights are made in the USA with high-quality materials for utmost durability. Plus, they are available at very affordable prices and backed by a 7-year warranty and excellent support. This means that you could get the most out of these great lights for the garage.

Additionally, these led shop lights are easily linkable thanks to the daisy chain that offers an extendable design. They also allow for a seamless connection to 4 LED shop lights with connectors to enhance energy savings for your home, workspace, or office.

PROS

The bulbs are light and much brighter than many comparables
Excellent warranty period
Easy and quick to install
Allows connection to up to four different areas in your home
Designed with safety in mind

CONS

The bulbs are not replaceable
Some users say it’s hard to install using the direct mount

Tanbaby LED Garage Light

Tanbaby LED Garage Light

Manufactured by a company dedicated to the lighting industry, the Tanbaby LED garage light fixture promises many good things. For instance, it comes with LED technology fitted in 144 PCS best quality diodes which produce 6000 lumens of light. They tend to look small but powerful enough to offer 6000K daylight, no dark areas, and an excellent lighting experience.

Its deformable design allows for free modification of light direction within 360 degrees. Therefore, this lighting fixture ensures that you get a brighter garage while enabling you to check for tiny details without having any blind spot. Additionally, it adopts a uniquely broad-angle design with each wing adjustable ton 90 degrees for a great light distribution curve.

What we like about Tanbaby LED Garage Light is that it consumes only 60W to produce 6000K daylight efficiently. Thus, it can help save you up to 60% of energy costs.

Its medium base makes the installation process easy and fast to give your garage a brighter look in no time.

Tanbaby LED garage light has a premium aluminum alloy panel which makes it very resistant to high temperatures and greatly improves the longevity of the led ceiling garage lights. The hollow-out structure ensures increased cooling efficiency for outstanding performance while offering over 50000 hours of constant run-time.

PROS

Easy to install and customize
Incredibly bright
Allows for wide application
The bulbs are replaceable

CONS

No motion sensors

2. Deformable Three Panels Garage Ceiling Light Fixture

Deformable Three Panels Garage Ceiling Light Fixture

This garage lighting fixture is equipped with three highly bright adjustable aluminum LED heads with 576 PCS LED chips. As a result, it produces a total light intensity of 18500 lumens higher than any other garage light in this reviews. It also produces CRI>80Ra color rendering index for clearer vision and reducing visual fatigue.

Deformable Three Panels Lighting fixture provides 6000K that serves as the best color temperature for use during the day. This gives you an excellent indoor lighting environment and experience. Besides that, it consumes 140W to deliver 18500 lumens, allowing you to save up to 90% than a traditional garage light bulb.

The best part is that this lighting fixture has a great heat dissipation, thanks to its hollowed-out panel design. This eventually extends the garage light’s lifespan. Additionally, the solid and premium aluminum alloy construction ensures maximum durability to offer endless lighting hours.

With the adjustable design, this lighting fixture provides maximum angular coverage of up to 360 degrees. This ensures the light covers a wider area while meeting your demands for different lighting areas and angles.

PROS

Premium quality and durable light fixture
Installation is easy as no tools are needed
• Excellent customer support and reviews

CONS

Some users complain that the lights interfere with radio frequencies
The screw socket is poorly affixed

Hykolity Linkable LED Shop Light for Garage

Hykolity Linkable LED Shop Light for Garage

This led shop light gives excellent brightness of 4400 lumens and a white daylight source of 5000K by consuming a low power of 42W. And that’s quite a staggering LED efficiency your garage needs. For these reasons, this led shop light for the garage offers a perfect replacement for the conventional fluorescent bulb.

The quality of this light fixture is unquestionable as it gets certified for greater quality, reliability, and safety. What’s more, it’s pretty long-lasting and delivers 50000 hours of light before you can think of maintenance.

It uses a plug connection that allows you to connect about 6 PCS in different home areas. The 59-inch long power cord with an on/off switch facilitates a plug and connection, making the installation pretty easy.

When it comes to mounting this fixture, there are two options: to use the hanging chains or mount it directly to the ceiling using screws included. Asides from that, a 5-year guarantee warranty backs this shop light for the garage.

PROS

Offers a wide arrange of application
The bulbs are quite bright
It comes with everything you need for easy installation
Energy-saving lights

CONS

Some fixtures tend to be warped
Delayed customer support

Deformable LED Garage Ceiling Lights

Deformable LED Garage Ceiling Lights

These are some of the best led garage lights you can find at very affordable costs. It features a high lumen output of 6000 and 6500K daylight; all produced at a low power consumption of 60W. In other words, these lights for garage ceiling are the best as they offers you an excellent indoor lighting experience while saving up to 85% of energy.

Besides, these LED basement lights boast a top-quality aluminum and powerful PC, which guarantees utmost durability. They also dissipate heat efficiently to extend the bulb’s lifespan. Bing resistant to high temperature and corrosion, these garage ceiling lights ensure safe and long-lasting performance.

Installing these lights is very straightforward since no special tools or experience are required. However, remember to change the lampstand and switch off your power supply before installation. These garage lights are highly advanced and convenient to use than light bulbs.

That’s because they can allow you to adjust them to illuminate multiple directions of the garage easily. The best part is that you can use it for a wide range of applications like a basement, garage, workshop, and many others.

PROS

Super bright bulbs
Straightforward to install
Highly cost and energy effective
Designed to be safe and last longer

CONS

It lacks an on/off switch

Read next: Types of Garage Lighting Ideas

PrimeLights T8 LED HighBay

PrimeLights T8 LED HighBay LED Garage Lighting

LED lights are super versatile. The bulbs (or light elements, rather) are energy-efficient and will last forever, reducing the cost of electricity bills and removing the need to ever replace them.

The PrimeLights T8 LED HighBay commercial-grade lights were designed with durability in mind. Its specs are in line with commercial-grade quality standards you would want just for your garage.

Its construction features a steel housing and reflectors ideal for full illumination. You can directly mount these lights to the ceiling or use a chain to hang them.

What we really like about the PrimeLights garage light fixture is that it’s super bright, uses LED lights, and that the bulbs are replaceable. It comes with four lamps that deliver enough light for a garage of any size. This is impressive, considering the low wattage — just 88 Watts. Unfortunately, if you find this light too bright, especially if you have a smaller seven-foot garage or eight-foot garage, you won’t be able to adjust or dim it.

Should one bulb fail, you can easily replace it without buying the whole fixture — this is something everyone likes. Even though LED bulbs last a long time, sometimes an unintentional accident can damage one, and it’s good to know they’re replaceable.

Perhaps the only drawback to this particular product is that the tubes are powered on one end and have no markings to easily point out how to install them. Otherwise, it is a good lighting fixture and highly recommended.

PROS:

The bulbs are super bright
Replaceable bulbs
Can be installed easily on the ceiling or using chains
Burns at low wattage for energy efficiency
Good reviews

CONS

Advertised as made in the USA, but the bulbs are made in China
Are a bit expensive
Accessories are proprietary

Read Next: Best Solar Garage Lights (Outdoor)

LED Lighting Technology LED Garage Vapor Proof Fixture

LED Lighting Technology LED Garage Vapor Proof Fixture

This particular product comes with a design that guarantees the brightest lights and lots of energy saving. It is damp rated, and it requires virtually no maintenance costs. It has a good life and consistent production of glowing white lights. The high end LED lights consumes only 36 watts of power and has a daylight temperature of 5000k.

It comes with mounting brackets for installation, and a customer supplied power cord. The hard wire fixture gives good protection to your lighting system. Unfortunately, the lamps in this fixture are not dimmable. Speaking of which, this LED Lighting Technology LED Garage Vapor Proof Fixture doesn’t come with any bulbs. They are unnecessary as it is fitted with LED strips with a luminous flux of 2700, which means they are brighter than fluorescent bulbs.

The installation is easy. You can mount it directly or hang them using wires. You will find it quicker to use a wire with a small gauge for connection, at least that is how most users find it to be. You should also make sure to be cautious as the connectors might feel a little insecure.

It has a good value for your money and anybody would recommend it to you.

PROS:

The installation is easy
The LED lamps are super bright
Are energy-efficient
Good customer service

CONS

It could do with more quality construction
Some users experience issues after several months of use

FaithSail 4ft LED Shop Light

FaithSail 4ft LED Shop Light Best Lighting for Garage

At 40W, it may be low on power, but this FaithSail 4ft Linkable LED Shop Light outputs a total of 4100 lumens and a daylight temperature of 4000k, which is similar to the natural light.

The fixture comes easy in installation. The process involves only mounting it in a desired position or location or hanging with the included chains and plugging the power cord into the nearest outlet. It comes with a pull cord to switch it on and off. This is both a good and a bad thing. While it is convenient at times, when it is dark, you might find a hard time trying to find the plug switch.

What is even more interesting about the FaithSail 4ft Linkable LED Shop Light is that it is linkable for up to four fixtures. This is a relief for those with few power outlets. It is perfect, but if you are looking for a LED fixture to hardwire into your electrical system, you might want to explore other options.

PROS:

Easy installation
Comes with installation accessories
The light output is very bright
It is linkable if you are low on power outlets

CONS

You may need a cord longer than 5 feet it comes with if your garage is large
Not the best for hard wiring

Lithonia Lighting 4-light Heavy Duty Shop Light

Lithonia Lighting 4-light Heavy Duty Shop Light

The Lithonia Lighting – 4-light Heavy Duty Shop Light is your type of light if you are scouting for lighting fixtures for a wide-space garage and at a minimal cost. It comes with four fluorescent bulbs and a capacity of 32W. Although relatively heavy, it can be hung with hooks and two hanging chains.

The Lithonia Lighting 4-light Heavy Duty Shop Light has passed Energy Star efficiency, which means that regardless of it being a fluorescent and not a LED lighting system, it saves energy and is apt if you want one that is the best compared to others sold on the market.

The four bulbs are protected by a removable wire guard. Detaching it can be easily done without using screwdrivers or other tools. It snaps into place, but if you want extra security for your bulbs, you can purchase more hold-on clips. It also includes a reflector for even distribution of light, and a pull chain power switch if you prefer it more than the traditional wall switch.

What might be a limitation to using this fixture is that the reflector is tilted in such a way that allows light to be directed downwards only. Similarly, the reflectors, instead of white paint, have been painted gray. But with all its benefits, you should have this product if you would rather have a fluorescent lighting system for your garage.

PROS:

4 bulbs for an excellent glow
Lighting is adjustable; you can turn off some bulbs according to your preference
Ideal for both high and low garage ceilings
Easy and hassle-free installation

CONS

Light is unidirectional
The fixture is a bit bulky
Reflector painted gray instead of white

10. Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent Square 2 Lamp

Lithonia Garage Lighting Fluorescent

This recessed panel offered by Lithonia makes for an excellent fixture to keep your garage fully illuminated. The whole system will be a bit difficult for you to install than the other options. You might need a little help here. Fixing it in your garage involves drilling holes and using drywall screws. If your garage ceiling is completed, it is a great way of ensuring that the whole place is fully lit, if installed appropriately.

It comes with a beautiful ballast that allows the lights to do their work without much of an effort. The lights won’t flicker or hum. This fixture also features a hinged construction that allows easy maintenance. With the linear side and bottom prisms, brightness is controlled, and the image of the lamp is reduced. The light levels exuded by the 2 32W T8 fluorescent bulbs are high. The Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent Square 2 Lamp fixture also gives your light bulbs the best protection.

Notably, this fixture only comes empty. The two 32W T8 fluorescent bulbs are sold separately. This is a disadvantage and might make people consider other options, but with the level of energy efficiency and brightness, it gives your home garage, it is worth having.

PROS:

Features a linear fluorescent technology that is energy efficient
Suitable for garages, offices, storage rooms among other places
Comes with a ballast that doesn’t offer room for flickering or humming
Solid metal construction for durability

CONS

Doesn’t come with the bulbs
Installation isn’t easy
Others worry the construction is cheap

Buyer’s Guide

The market is flooded with all sorts of lights for commercial and residential use. Some of them are ideal for use in the garage, others are not. How do you know that you have the best product? Your garage space determines the type, the size, and the brightness of the lighting product you will purchase. The following are key features you should consider before choosing a particular product.

Brightness

The whole point of choosing a garage lighting system is to illuminate the space. This is the most important factor. Traditionally, the brightness of a bulb was measured by how many watts it consumed. The higher the wattage meant more brightness. Nowadays, lumens are used. So, what exactly are lumens?

Lumens are the scientific measurement for the output of true light regardless of the energy consumption. A bulb with the highest number of lumens means it is the brightest. Generally, a light with 3500 plus lumens will do well in your home garage. After considering the lumens, look at the brand and verify the claims to see if the number is truly what it says.

LumensIncandescent light bulb (watts)Fluorescent / LED (watts)
375 lm25 W6.23 W
600 lm40 W10 W
900 lm60 W15 W
1125 lm75 W18.75 W
1500 lm100 W25 W
2250 lm150 W37.5 W
3000 lm200 W50 W
3800 lm250 W60 W
4500 lm350 W75 W
Lumens to watts table

Lifespan

A bulb with a good lifespan will last longer, which means it is the better option. This also means that the replacement costs or maintenance costs are less. You should prioritize a light with an extra-long life. Typically, LED lights have a longer life than fluorescent types.

Energy Efficiency

Saving energy is ideal for you and the environment as well. It minimizes the costs of energy bills. Depending on the number of hours you spend in the garage, lighting can contribute to an increase in household energy bills. This is the reason why you should consider an energy-saving bulb.

LED lights are again the top picks, and they consume less than 60 percent of energy compared to the conventional lighting system. While scouting for the best energy saver lighting system for your garage, look for ones with the Energy Star certification. You will save good money.

Ease of Installation

Some lights come with no installation instructions, or even worse, the instructions are unclear. The last thing you want to do is damage the new product while trying to install it in your home garage. To make things easier, you should look for a product with chains for hanging or one that allows you to easily mount it on a surface. Most importantly, ensure that your purchase comes with all the accessories required for the installation.

Dimensions

Most garage or storage room lights are just under 50” in length. Some have two, while others can take up to four bulbs. The most important thing to consider is the garage setting. This will tell you the type of lighting you require and the size. What you have in the garage affects how many lights you will need.

Normally, about three to four lights should surround the car, and if you have a workbench, have another light for it. This can be solved by lights, which are super bright. You might need less than the number stated.

Protection

Your garage is also mostly your workshop. With lots of activity going on in there, if your lamps are not protected, you will keep replacing them now and then. The housing for the bulb, therefore, is worth considering. It will keep your lights safe and durable.

Switch Types

This is highly dependent on you. Some still prefer the pull-down chains, which are often very convenient, while others think that plugs attached to the switch are better. Whichever the case, it is up to you. There are other sophisticated types that use smart technology; those that have motion sensors.

Color Temperature

Garages are better illuminated with lights that have a Kelvin temperature of between 4000 and 7000K.

At this level, the brightness is sufficient and much more like the sun during the day.

Anything lower than that means it is dim, and your eyes will strain, which is not a good thing for your vision.

Kelvin Temperature Chart


See our full guide to choosing the best color temperature for your garage lighting here.

Garage lighting FAQ

What type of lighting is best for a garage?

According to Garage Master, LED fixtures are the best option for a garage. LEDs are Light-emitting Diodes that operate via a semiconductor to produce what can be a very bright light. The technology is energy efficient, and the lighting is extremely bright. LED housings are most often durable aluminum, requiring little to no maintenance, and the majority come with satisfaction guarantees. Although the bulbs are not replaceable, these lights get excellent reviews for performance and long life.

High-end models like are available with motion sensors with a range of up to 80 feet. These fixtures dim themselves automatically within two minutes after lack of motion. Fixture installation does require hardwiring.

LED testing reports that bulbs have a lifespan up to 60 times greater than incandescent bulbs, 10 times greater than standard fluorescents.

What kind of bulb is best for a garage door opener?

Although LED lights are recommended for garage lighting, the common consensus among the experts is that standard LEDs are not an option for a garage door opener. Standard LED bulbs produce a frequency that can interfere with communication between the door opener and the remote.

Many manufacturers of garage door openers have their own brand of LED bulb specifically designed to:

  • Minimize radio frequency (RF)
  • Fit most garage door opener brands
  • Produce a warm light comparable to a standard 60-watt bulb
  • Withstand high and low temperatures
  • Last longer than Incandescent bulbs
  • Resistant shattering
  • Save energy

What size should my garage lights be?

Calculating your lighting needs will depend upon two main factors:

  • what you’re doing in your garage, and
  • how much natural light is allowed in.

Some believe that you can never have enough light. But if all you’re doing is parking or using your garage for storage, too much can be overkill. If the garage also doubles as a workshop, then you truly can’t have too much light. For a work area, light fixtures that extend the length of the garage provide optimal illumination. The number of fixtures will depend upon the width of the building and, again, the projected use of the structure.

How many lumens do I need per square foot?

Looking at this question from a scientific angle, Sciencing.com offers a calculator.

They began by analyzing how much light you’ll need. Proper lighting is important for both productivity and safety. Higher light levels (lumens) are needed for more detailed tasks. The Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) recommends 300 lumens per square foot for intense visual tasks, 20 to 30 lumens for more standard applications. To calculate your square footage measure and multiply length times width of each individual space.

How many lumens is a 12×12 room?

Recommendations span from 300 lumens per square foot for intense visual tasks to 20 to 30 lumens for more standard applications. Calculate:
1. 12 x 12 = 144
2. 144 x 300 = 43,200
OR
2. 144 x 30 = 4,320

How tall should a post light be?

Del Mar, a well-known Florida lighting company, recommends that a light pole be at least eight feet in length. One and a half feet, minimum, should be buried underground for stability. The remainder of the exposed pole will be at an optimal height to install a fixture on top. Standard fixtures will add 18 to 24 inches to the height of the pole.

Del Mar Fans & Lighting offers an excellent photo diagram on their website.

Can I use indoor LED light bulbs outside?

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an established organization that claims to be “a world leader in product safety testing and certification.” You should never buy a light bulb that is not UL rated. The rating will be listed on the packaging and will include specifications, whether the product is approved for indoor or outdoor use, or both. Packaging should also indicate if the fixtures are able to handle exposure to rain or humidity. Only completely enclosed LEDs have the ability to withstand the elements.

Do outdoor LED lights attract bugs?

The most reliable studies of LED lights attracting bugs were done in Pakistan at the University of Agriculture. The university tested various bulb types and colors. The results showed that most insects preferred blue light to any other form. The fact that LEDs do not emit UV rays did not have any effect on the findings. Bugs are attracted to any form of light, including LED technology.

Are LED bulbs brighter than other options?

Lighting is measured by “lumens per watt.” Fluorescent lights operate at a higher lumen per watt; 61 lumens per watt as opposed to LEDs 57 lumens per watt. Although this would lead you to believe that an LED is less bright, the fact is that the focused technology produces a brighter end product. Incandescent and fluorescent lights are normally installed in recessed housings, which reflect light behind the fixture. LED lights aim where needed without wasting any of the light produced. The result is a brighter light source.

Does extreme cold effect LED light bulbs?

In extremely cold climates, LED technology is the preferred source of lighting for both industrial and personal use. Fluorescent lighting tends to have issues in cold weather, especially below 20 degrees. The lack of glass components in LED lighting allows them to withstand sudden drops in temperature and extreme conditions. LED lights that are Energy-Star certified require no additional energy to operate in any environment.

Does extreme cold affect fluorescent lights?

Fluorescent lights can be inexpensive to install as well as operate, but they do have limitations. Fluorescents are not recommended for unheated areas in cold climates. Standard fluorescent bulbs are not reliable in the cold, and many have failed to test below 50 degrees.

More recently, electronic ballasts have been introduced to the manufacturing process and are reported to withstand temperatures down to 0 degrees. All fixture packaging should include specifications. Fluorescent lighting specs should include ballast information, either magnetic or electronic. For cold climates, electronic ballasts are the only choice, but LED remains a more reliable choice.

How does LED bulb temperature compare to competitors?

The word “incandescent” actually means “emitting light by heating.” Fluorescent bulbs work through a similar process of being heated. As a result of this technology, incandescent bulbs reach a surface temperature between 150 and 250 degrees. Fluorescent bulbs can reach a temperature of almost 180 degrees.

LED bulbs work by passing electrons through a semiconductor to produce light. Due to this process, the average LED bulbs typically only reach a temperature of 87 degrees.

Do LED lights lose brightness over time?

According to Construction Junkie testing, the lumens produced by LED light bulbs do fade over time. LED bulbs do have a longer lifespan than their competitors, but that statistic is comparing the lights actually going out. Unlike incandescents and fluorescents, LEDs do not just fail. LED bulbs normally die slowly by losing brightness over time. LED lights are considered in need of replacement when the lighting output fades to 70% of their lumen measurement when new. A light meter can be used to measure the LED output.

How long can LED lights stay on?

The lifespan of LED bulbs is one of their main selling points. According to Bulbs.com, LED lights are reported to have a life of 50,000 hours. When calculating at that level, LED bulbs can be used 12 hours each day for 11 years or eight hours a day for a whopping 17 years.

Which color is brighter, cool white or daylight?

Light bulb color temperatures are rated with a unit of measure called Kelvin (K), which is equal to the Celsius scale. The lowest number on the Kelvin scale is 0 degrees Kelvin. The higher the Kelvin measurement, the whiter the bulb.

There a three standard light bulb color temperatures:

  • Soft White: 2700K to 3000K
  • Bright or Cool White: 3500K to 4100K
  • Daylight: 5000K to 6500K

What bulb colors are better for which uses?

All bulbs emit light that is rated by color. Each color produces a different effect in the area used. With LED bulbs the choices are Warm White, Cool White, and Daylight. Which choice is “better” depends upon the use of the bulb.

  • Warm White
    A bulb in the warm white range emits soft yellow tones. Warm white enhances the reds, yellows, and oranges in a space. Warm white is an excellent choice for cozy areas like bedrooms and living rooms.
  • Cool White
    Cool White bulbs offer a brighter, mid-range alternative for areas where details are more important. Kitchens and bathrooms are normally a good place for cool white bulbs.
  • Daylight
    A daylight bulb has a clear and cool emission creating a more natural lighting effect. Daylight is a better option for mirrors in bathrooms or spaces used for reading or detailed tasks.

What are the downsides of LED lights?

The greatest disadvantage of choosing LED lighting could be the higher price. But the price can be balanced by the extended lifespan. Other negatives could be the limited color options, the slow degradation of the bulb’s brightness with age, and the fact that changes in voltage can alter brightness. There is also speculation that increased exposure to LED can be harmful to the retina of the eye.

Which light is best for your eyes?

Natural light is always the best choice for eyes. Although direct sunlight produces dangerous UV rays, sunlight through a window is considered safe. Keep in mind that incandescent and fluorescent bulbs have both been proven to emit UV rays.

According to testing conducted by the Australian National University Traditional, excessive exposure to fluorescent bulbs in cool and bright white increases the risk of irreparable damage to your eyes. According to the findings, warm white fluorescents, non-blue LEDs, and halogen bulbs are a safer option when considering eye health.

Can LED light bulbs be used in any fixture?

It is always recommended to buy appropriate fixtures for your lighting choice. Traditional bulbs can be replaced with LEDs in most fixtures. That said, it is not recommended to place LEDs into enclosed fixtures designed for other types of bulbs. Enclosed fixtures seal the light source to protect against weather, including water. This enclosure retains the bulb’s heat, which can cause overheating. The lifespan of the LEDs can be affected, but any danger of malfunction is minimal.

Does the voltage affect LED brightness?

The brightness of LED bulbs is directly connecting to the current levels flowing through them. By increasing voltage, the brightness of the light will increase.

How many volts does an LED light use?

The voltage used by any lighting source depends upon the bulb itself. The voltage used by LEDs depends upon the color of the bulb. Typically LED voltage ranges from 1.8 to 3.3 volts, depending upon brightness emitted.

What does forward voltage on an LED mean?

As pertaining to LED light bulbs, forward voltage refers to the amount of voltage needed to flow current through the diode junction in the bulb. Another way of explaining might be that forward voltage is the range that causes the current to begins its flow in the correct direction to produce light.

Do more lumens mean brighter light?

Lumens are a measurement of the amount of light emitted by a light bulb. To help you understand, the light produced by one birthday candle a foot away is one (1) lumen. A 60-watt light bulb emits approximately 750 to 850 lumens per watt. Light levels of 1000 lumens are recommended for detailed tasks and reading. So yes, more lumens mean a brighter light. Lumens per watt should be listed on the bulb packaging. Keep in mind that brightness and efficiency deteriorate with age.

Do LED lights cause cancer?

Research over the past few decades has produced evidence that artificial light can be harmful. Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs emit low doses of UV rays; LEDs do not. Testing has also found that melatonin production can be reduced, leading to cancer and other diseases.

When comparing types of lighting, the University of Haifa in Israel found that exposure at night to “blue light” was most damaging. White LEDs emit high levels of blue light. There are several other color options in LED lights that may be a healthier choice if you are concerned about blue light. LEDs are available in both Warm and Soft White.

Is LED light harmful to the skin?

LED bulbs have not been found to emit UV rays as with other types of bulbs. In fact, LED Light Therapy has grown popular for its anti-aging and healing effects on the skin. LED yellow light is reported to rejuvenate, decrease fine lines and wrinkles, and heal wounds and scarring. LED blue light is used to kill the bacteria that causes acne. There are risks with any procedure, but the results of LED technology on the skin are having positive results.

Can LED lights cause a fire?

There is always a risk of overheating with any electrical product. There have been cases where LED fixtures have been recalled due to various failures, but the fire risk for LED bulbs is minimal. LED lights may be hot to the touch, but the heat emitted is up to 50% less than any competitor’s option. Properly installed LED fixtures do not emit heat that affects the temperature of the environment where they are used. This makes them an excellent choice for small or confined spaces.

Conclusion

Ensuring that you have the best lights is mandatory for your garage, regardless of how you use it. The above guide and review, hopefully, has enlightened you on what it is you want for your home garage. Whether you want a fluorescent or a LED type, the products will give you satisfaction. There is no major downside to the products, all of them are energy efficient, super bright, and ideal for your home garage.

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5 thoughts on “Best Lighting For Garages – Buyer’s Guide”

  1. Look at Amazon’s Barrina LED lights. I own 6 of the 4ft 6500k ones. I use them to grow indoor plants (not weed), but they’re intended for garage lighting. They’re by far the best bang for your buck and put off greater lumens than most of those on your list for a fraction of the price. Owned them for about 2 yrs now. They’ve been releasing new versions recently though I haven’t tried them yet.

  2. Thanks for your article. It seems LED garage lighting is the mainstream amount metal halide, halogen and fluorescent lamps

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