Garages are notorious for being poorly lit. A handful of incandescent bulbs or flickering fluorescents aren't enough to get the job done. That's why the best garage lighting is done by LEDs, and the best LED garage lights have become the gold standard for superior illumination.
Whether your garage houses hundreds of vehicles or one car and workshop, you need your garage lights to provide consistent, superior brightness, longevity, and energy savings. Because LEDs tick all of these boxes, they're the smart upgrade for any garage setup.
Come with us as we light the way to the best lights for garage usage. We'll break down everything you need to know to choose the right lighting for each area and help you create a well-lit, efficient space.
What To Look for When Choosing LED Garage Lights
A great lighting solution should deliver brightness, efficiency, and durability in equal measure. Whatever your lighting needs may be, it's essential to understand lighting basics before you proceed. Following are the elements of LED lighting to bear in mind as you plan to light your space.
Brightness & Lumens
Lumens are the true measure of light output, and understanding them is crucial when choosing garage lighting. For a well-lit garage, aim for higher lumen counts — especially if you use your garage as a workspace or for detailed tasks. Unlike watts, which measure energy usage, lumens tell you exactly how much light the fixture will emit. Need bright, uniform coverage? Look for garage lights offering 4,000 to 10,000 lumens, depending on your garage size.
Energy Efficiency
It's easy to assume that the brightest lights will make the best LED lights for your garage, but energy efficiency is just as important. LED lights are known for consuming significantly less power while delivering superior brightness compared to traditional options. The best LED garage lights illuminate your space with optimal efficiency to save you money on your energy bill. High-efficiency lighting means you won't have to choose between superior light output and cost savings.
Durability & Temperature Tolerance
Garages are versatile spaces, but they can also experience extreme temperatures, depending on what part of the country you're from. Whether you're dealing with summer heat or winter cold, you need lighting that holds up under all conditions. LEDs designated for garages offer excellent durability and perform well in both cold and warm environments, ensuring consistent performance year-round.
Color Temperature
The right color temperature can impact how functional and comfortable your space feels. Measured in Kelvins, LED garage lights typically range from cool to warm tones. For garages, a neutral to cool light (4,000K to 6,500K) works best, offering clear, crisp illumination that's ideal for workspaces while maintaining a comfortable environment.
Types of Garage Lights
Choosing the right lighting for your garage means considering every part of your space, whether you're servicing vehicles, illuminating parking spaces and walkways, or installing a fixture over your workbench. Here are some of the most effective LED lighting solutions for garages:
LED Low Bay Lights
For parking garages with ceilings under 15 feet, low bay LED lights are the go-to solution. These fixtures are designed to distribute light evenly across the space, ensuring clear visibility and safety. Mounted on the ceiling, low bay LED lights are perfect for commercial parking garages where consistent, uniform illumination is essential. With their efficient design, they provide optimal lighting without overpowering the space.
LED Canopy Lights
LED canopy light fixtures can be mounted on walls or any flat surface, offering uniform light coverage. Built with weatherproof, sealed diecast housings, they're perfect for outdoor use, especially in areas exposed to the elements. Optional features like motion sensors, photocells, and emergency backup batteries further enhance their functionality, making them a versatile choice for residential and commercial applications.
LED Strip Lights
If your garage space is tight but you still want powerful, modern lighting, LED strip lights are your best bet. These slim, efficient fixtures bring a sleek aesthetic to both home and commercial garages. The best LED strip lights for your garage are made to be mounted easily on walls or ceilings. They're perfect for task lighting — whether you're fine-tuning a project on your workbench or illuminating a small garage. The low-profile design makes them virtually disappear into your space, delivering the brightness you need without any visual clutter.
LED Vapor-Tight Fixtures
In parking garages where dirt, dust, and moisture are part of the daily environment, LED vapor-tight fixtures are the perfect defense. These sealed and gasketed fixtures are built to withstand harsh conditions and provide reliable, high-quality lighting. Ideal for ceiling mounting, they ensure that your garage stays brightly lit while keeping out debris and moisture. For added convenience, optional lighting controls can be integrated, offering even greater efficiency and control over your lighting setup.
Wall Packs
Wall packs are the workhorses of commercial garage lighting. They're engineered to illuminate large, high-traffic areas, making them indispensable for commercial garages. They cast bright, wide-reaching light that guides drivers indoors and out. With their weatherproof construction, wall packs provide reliable performance in all conditions.
Portable LED Work Lights
Sometimes, the light needs to go where you go. That's where portable LED work lights shine. Whether you're under the hood of a car or tackling repairs in your home garage, these mobile lights offer unmatched flexibility. Lightweight, durable, and intensely bright, they provide the freedom to illuminate any task, wherever it may be. Ideal for commercial and residential use, portable LED lights ensure you're never left working in the dark.
Benefits of LED Garage Lights
Making the switch to LED garage lights is a smarter, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective solution:
- Energy Efficient: LED lights use a fraction of the energy consumed by traditional bulbs, leading to impressive cost savings.
- Long Lasting: These lights are designed to last up to 50,000 hours, so you can enjoy reliable, maintenance-free lighting for years. Plus, they're built tough. Resistant to vibrations, shocks, and extreme temperatures, LED lights are perfect for garages that face heavy use or fluctuating conditions.
- A Greener Choice: LED garage lights consume less energy, reducing your overall carbon footprint, and they don't contain harmful substances like mercury, which is found in older lighting technologies.
How To Determine the Right Number of LED Garage Lights
Once you've decided on the best LED garage lights for your property, you'll need to determine how many you need to properly illuminate the space. Here's how to make sure you're not left in the dark.
Evaluate the Size of Your Garage
Start by assessing the area's square footage to calculate the required lighting. Typically, you'll need roughly 50 to 100 lumens per square foot, depending on how the space is used. For larger garages or those with intricate workspaces, more lumens will ensure every corner is properly lit.
Lumens Over Watts
High-lumen output ensures that your garage gets the bright, uniform light it needs, whether you're working on vehicles or heavy machinery – or simply moving around the space. Forget wattage — it's an outdated measure when it comes to LEDs. Focus instead on total light output and select fixtures that can flood your space with the right amount of brightness to support daily operations.
Prioritize Task-Specific Lighting
Commercial garages often serve multiple functions, from vehicle maintenance to storage, and each requires a different lighting approach. General overhead lights are important, but task-specific lighting is critical in areas where detailed work is being done. Consider adding LED strip lights over workstations or portable LED work lights for mobile tasks.
Plan for Shadow-Free Lighting
Dark corners and shadows can be a major hazard in a commercial garage. To keep your operations running smoothly, ensure your lighting plan eliminates potential blind spots. Even light distribution is essential, particularly in large, busy environments where safety is a priority. A combination of high-output ceiling lights and strategically placed wall packs can create a well-lit space with minimal shadows.
LED Canopy Lighting Review
Check out this review on our LED canopy lights. They're rugged, efficient, and reliable.
Rely on Revolve LED for the Best LED Garage Lights
Now that you know what it takes to select the best LED garage lights for your commercial space, it's time to upgrade at Revolve LED. Whether you need canopy lights, vapor tights, low bays or the best LED strip lights for your garage, we have the expertise and product lineup to meet your needs. We can even help you with a plan that ensures you get the best garage lighting for your setup. Order yours today!
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