What is High Bay Light?
In general, high bay light is a fixture that installed on a high ceiling. Compared to low bay lights, the high bay suits the rooms having above 14 to 20 ft ceiling height. This kind of fixture is very useful to light up the broad areas thanks to their high lumen output and wide beam angle. Since high bay light is the powerful lighting equipment, it is widely adopted in commercial or industrial settings such as warehouse, factory, garage, cold storage, grow room, airport hangar, indoor horse arena, and so on.
Why Do We Need High Bay Light?
Compared high bay light with household light bulbs, the LED high bay usually has over 100W, which is around 10 times higher than the LED bulbs. It is very difficult to light up the entire garage by just a few 6W LED bulbs. That’s the reason why we need such the powerful, bright high bay lamps.
Another reason is that those high bay LEDs usually has the special optics that control the light beam travelling direction. The residential light bulbs emit lights from 360°; thus, some of the lumen output is wasted. As we seldom need lights on ceiling. Instead, the high bay light has the narrower beam angles, says 60°, 90°. The light emitted by the high bay can be concentrated so as to further enhance the central brightness.
After looking at the brief introduction on high bay, let’s take a look at the top lighting products below.
Best High Bay LED Lights
1. Hykolity 150W UFO LED High Bay Light – Best UFO High Bay
Energy saving high bay LED lights
The selling point is that this 150W UFO LED high bay is able to replace 250W to 400W metal halide or high-pressure sodium lights. It means that the 150W LED can generate the more-or-less the same brightness of these conventional lighting fixtures that has higher power! By replacing the MH or HPS to LED, we can save the electricity cost in the long run.
Versatile installation options
The LED high bay is easy to install. Since the fixture includes the hook, we can just hang it from the ceiling to achieve pendant mounting. This hassle-free installation has become the trend nowadays as we can save much time, and it wouldn’t be so painful to install the lighting fixture.
However, if you ask me the limitation, I will say the power cord is only 5 ft long, so we may need to install the extension cords if there are no electrical outlets near the luminaires.
Good construction & heat dissipation system
Although this high bay LED light has a cheap price, the outer casing is made of quality die-casting aluminum, which is designed for industrial applications. Therefore, the fixture should be very durable when we apply it in the household garage or warehouse. The fins extended from the casing helps dissipates the heat generated by LED lights away.
How many high bay lights do I need?
When getting the new bay lighting, determining the number of fixtures cause headache for many householders. If you get the unnecessary lamps, it is just a waste of money. On the contrary, too few lights may not be bright enough.
Fortunately, Hykolity provides us with the estimation on how many LED high bay do we need. The general idea is that one 150W LED high bay can cover around 40 x 40 sq. feet area. For instance, if your workshop is around 160 x 160 sq. feet, we will need 4 high bay lights. We can divide the room into 4 individual regions, and put one lamps in the middle of each small area. In this case, the recommended ceiling height is 14 feet.
If you have an exceptionally high ceiling height says 20 ft or even 30 ft, we will need to add more lights, perhaps putting one high bay lights in each 30 x 30 sq. feet, so as to compensate the light loss due to the longer travel distance of the light beam.
Moreover, if you need bright lights for vehicle maintenance or DIY projects, sometimes we may need to have brighter illumination, which requires more high bay lights, says 20 x 20 sq. feet per fixture.
Pros
- Bright UFO bay lighting for warehouse and workshop
- Easy to install, we don’t need to spend much time on installation
- High energy efficiency to reduce electricity bill
Cons
- Relatively short power cord
2. AntLux 2ft LED Shop Light – Best Linear High Bay Lights
Number of linear high bay light required
As for the lighting specification, the wattage of this linear high bay is 165W (gives out around 21,000 lumens). If you own a small garage, be careful not to buy dozens of fixtures the first time otherwise, it will turn your workshop into a football stadium for night matches. Similarly, we can put one linear shop light in each 40 x 40 sq. feet or 50 x 50 sq. feet area. It should give you the satisfactory brightness. If you want to reduce the shadow caused by high bay lights, we can install them in different corners, and in the middle, so we can have the lighting coming out from different directions.
Energy-saving LED high bay
Do you know? Compared with fluorescent or metal halide lamps, LED is much more energy saving because of higher luminous efficacy, which is measured by lumens per watt. It is common for the LED to have 120 to 140 lumens per watt, while fluorescent has 75 to 90 while incandescent is around 5 to 15. Thus, we can see under the same power consumption, LED high bay generates the brighter lights, that’s why we should always go for LED.
See also: Lumen vs watt
Dimmable function
Another merit of this high bay light is that it is compatible to 0 to 10V dimming, so we can have different brightness according to the surrounding light level. This feature is particularly useful for half-opened warehouse and aircraft hangar. If the warehouse is utilized for storage purpose, we can dim the lights a little to save energy as we don’t need the blinding lights. On the contrary, if we want to do the maintenance and repair work in the shop, we should use maximum brightness, so we can see the delicate parts easily. In order to perform dimmer, we have to get the LED dimmer separately.
Easy to install
The best thing is that it supports pendant mounting. If the garage workshop has the very high ceiling, we can lower the high bay light a little to help reduce the light loss. By keeping the long distance between the lamp and the ceiling, we can ensure that there is enough space for ventilation, so the heat won’t be easily trapped inside the lighting fixture.
Pros
- Linear high bay light that improves lighting uniformity
- Bright lighting thanks to the high lumen output
- Dimmable LED for flexible brightness control
- Approx. 50,000 hours life span
Cons
- Not suitable for small rooms because of the exceptional brightness
3. GRANDLUMEN UFO LED Light – Best 5000K High Bay Lights for Warehouse
High bay reflector with versatile functions
Similar to the first product, it is a UFO high bay having the circular LED disc. The interesting part is that the reflector can also assist the heat dissipation. This is because the aluminum reflector is connected to the heat sink above the LED chips. In this setup, there is larger surface area for heat transfer.
It is not recommended to touch the lamp shade and reflector after the high bay light is turned on for a long period of time. As the surface of the reflector can be quite hot.
The shade can also reduce the glare of the high bay bulbs as it blocks the light when we look from the certain angles.
5000K high bay for warehouse
5000K is sometimes regarded as the best warehouse high bay lighting because 5000K mimics the natural daylight feeling. Compared with the 3000K (soft white) and 6000K (cool white), the 5000K is less tiring and doesn’t have too much blue lights. Thus, 5000K high bay is better for intense work in the warehouse or garage. The interesting phenomena is that people may prefer 5000K over other color temperature as shown by the popularity of the 5000K high bay lights in the market. We can easily find the 5000K LED lights.
Large beam angle for greater coverage
The characteristic of this high bay lighting is that it has large beam angle – 110°. Larger the beam angle, better the coverage of the lights. The coverage range is around 2.5 x of the ceiling height. For instance, it we install this LED high bay to the 14 ft ceiling, the lights can cover around 35 ft. Thus, we can have one lights per 35 x 35 sq. feet. However, it is not recommended to use this fixture to the extra high ceiling says over 25 ft. This is because the light will spread to the wall, which reduce the lux (brightness) level on the floor.
Suitable for commercial use
Thanks to its characteristic lamp shade and antique style, this high bay light is suitable for commercial space such as restaurant, café and supermarket. It would add some industrial style and provide bright lighting that makes the cuisine more appetizing.
Pros
- Bright illumination provided by this 150W LED high bay – you will be impressed by the super bright lighting fixture
- 5000K color temperature that gives natural daylight feeling
- The lamp is made of quality aluminum
Cons
- A relatively short power cord
4. ROUENOK Deformable LED Lights – Best High Bay Light for Garage
Deformable high bay lights to adjust tilting angle
If you look at the shape of this high bay light, you can see there are three arms – each arm has a LED unit on it. Why do we need this deformable design on the high bay fixture? This is because we can tilt the arm, so we can have various tilting angle of the lights.
For instance, if we want to have wider light beam, we can tilt up the light heads, so we can mimic the semi-spherical light spread. However, the central brightness will be reduced. We can try different tilting angles to achieve the best lighting in the workshop.
Direct replacement of E26 CFL bulbs
Unlike the conventional high bay floodlights, this deformable 3-head lights have the E26 screw base. It means we can just screw it into the existing E26 socket, which is like replacing the CFL light bulbs. Now, we can have the ultra-bright lighting in the shop! This design can save the effort and time to replace the light bulbs. If you don’t have any wiring or electrical knowledge, this high bay LED would be your best choice.
Pros
- No wiring required because this LED high bay has the E26 base, we can just screw it into the socket
- Deformable light heads – support tilting
- Bright LED lights
Cons
- Can’t use this light if there are no E26 sockets in the shop
5. Osunby LED High Bay – Best For Grow Room
Red, blue, UV and IR high bay lights for grow room
Why do we need to use so many colors in the grow room high bay light? This is because each color constituent has their functions on assisting the plant growth.
For instance, the red lights can enhance the blooming and fruiting state, so the edible plant can grow fast. Blue lights can improve the health of the leaves and stimulate the growth. UV light is also important because it has the sterilization effect, so as to reduce the harmful bacteria on the leaves, branches and soil. Last but not the least, the IR lights provide an optimal environment for the flower and fruit.
Mounting height of high bay grow lights
To avoid burning the leaves and fruits, we should maintain 4 to 12 inches clearance between the plants and light source. Hanging the high bay grow light in a proper height is importance. This is because if the lamps are too high, the light intensity will be weakened, which reduce the function of the lights. One grow light should cover around 3 x 3 sq. feet.
Pros
- Energy saving LED lights for growing plants
- Red and blue lights help increase the growth rate
- Long life span of approx. 50,000 hours
Cons
- This high bay is not waterproof, so it is designed for indoor grow room only.
- Small effective coverage area, so we may need to get several pieces if you have a large indoor greenhouse.
6. NS LED Temporary High Bay Light
Bright LED temp lights
Despite its compact size, it has the 100W LED which emits around 13,500 lumens. Which is around 20x brighter than the conventional incandescent bulb. Moreover, we can see the small LED units have the tampered arrangement, so we can have lighting in almost all directions (except ceiling). Therefore, we can put this temp light in the middle of the room. Although this high bay is originally designed for mining site or other industrial space, it is a good idea to have the super bright fixture in the shop.
Easy installation & Linkable high bay light
This high bay temp LED light is very easy to install – we can just hang it onto the hook. However, this work lamp doesn’t have built-in battery, so we need to ensure the availability of the electrical outlet near the fixture.
In my point of view, the best part of this high bay light is that it has the linkable design. It means we can connect another same temp light together. Thus, we can power up all temp lights by using just one electrical outlet slot.
Pros
- Resistant to impact and shock, so this high bay is suitable for heavy-duty use
- Linkable design, so we don’t need to have dozens of electrical outlets if you need to have more than one lights
- Very high lumen output of 13,500lm (100W LED)
Cons
- If you ask me what would be the drawbacks, I will say it doesn’t have the built-in battery, so the portability of this light is reduced.
7. TREONYIA 100W LED UFO High Bay Light – Best 400W Equivalent High Bay
No warm up time
If you are using the metal halide lights, you will have to wait for around 5 to 10 minutes to reach the maximum brightness. LED doesn’t require the warm up time as it can instantly get the maximum brightness within a second. This instant on ability of LED high bay has become the standard of the garage or warehouse lighting.
Long-lasting LED high bay
Another advantage of LED is that it has much long life span. For instance, this LED UFO high bay has the 50,000 hours service life. Thus, it is so long-lasting that we don’t need to replace the lights frequently.
Large beam angle for wide coverage
Similar to other products, this high bay has a large beam angle for 120°, so it gives the nearly omni-directional illumination in the shop. The die-casting aluminum housing gives the effective heat dissipation. In fact, the heat generated from this 100W LED high bay light is much smaller than the 400W metal halide. This is because LED converts over 90% input to lights, while metal halide converts only 20 to 40%.
5000K daylight
As for the light color temperature, this high bay light has 5000K lighting output, so it should give the daylight feeling. It is especially practical for garage workshop, warehouse and sports facilities. Some reports also show that the eye strains can be reduced when using the 5000K instead of 6500K lighting.
Pros
- Bright 400W equivalent high bay light that saves energy
- Built-in hanging ring for quick and easy installation
- IP65 waterproof ability
Cons
- Relative short 5’ cable, so we probably need the extension cords
8. HYPERLITE 4000K 250W LED High Bay Light
Good high bay light heat dissipation system
As the power consumption of this high bay is very large, it would emit more heat than the 100W or 150W models. Fortunately, this LED fixture has a good heat dissipation, which assist the heat conduction from the LED chips (heat source), to the aluminum fins, and then to surrounding. So, we don’t need the intrinsic fan to cool down the lights.
4000K warm white color
If you want to create the cozy feeling in the house, we can think of getting the 4000K high bay. Compared to 5000K, the 4000K light is more yellowish, which is best to create relaxing atmosphere in the garage. Besides, the blue light content is lower for the 4000K color temperature, so it doesn’t cause eye strain easily. Therefore, it is preferred by many DIYers.
Easy and safe installation
Similar to most high bay fixture, this Hyperlite high bay also has the hook at the top, so we can easily hang it to the pillars or the ceiling of the shop. Safety waist is also included so that it reduces the chance of falling off. As for the installation height, this 250W LED high bay light is suitable for 13 to 20 ft ceiling height. If the ceiling height is too low, the light intensity would be too intense for eyes.
Restore the real colors of the objects
Another merit of this lamp is that it has the high color rendering index (CRI) of 80. Why CRI is so important? This is because under the high CRI lighting, we can see the real color of the object. So, it is especially important in the supermarket, boutique or garage paint booth. This is because the high CRI high bay light can reveal the real colors of the fruit, clothes, as well as the color of the paint.
Pros
- Very bright bay lighting
- Long life span of 50,000 hours
- Excellent heat dissipation system that protects the lights
Cons
- This 250W LED is more expensive because of the high power and lumen output
9. RuggedGrade Motion Sensor LED High Bay Light
- Low electricity utilization
- Better illumination
- Two-step dimming
- Automated operation
With all these features, this high bay light is one of the best options in our list. Now that you know the advantages of a motion-sensing lighting, it is time to understand where it is best suited. The answer is in a warehouse. We would highlight some reasons why it is the perfect light for warehouse below.
- Not every area in the warehouse is always functional. The motion-sensing light will only illuminate when there is movement in a particular area. That is why; there is excellent conservation of electricity.
- This light offers ample illumination. That is why, when someone moves into that area, they can see their way around quite easily.
- The motion-sensing feature, as well as the remote control (not included), ensures that they can control the lighting within that area. That is why; it is not cumbersome to illuminate that part of the warehouse again and again.
- The two-stage dimming procedure ensures that the light does not go out immediately. That is why; the person who is in the vicinity will get proper illumination to get out of that area.
- Due to all of these reasons, it is the perfect light for a warehouse. However, these are not the only features that this high bay light offers. Other features include
High illumination
While this light comes in many variants but the one which we are speaking about now has illumination output of approx. 35,000 lumens. Along with the motion sensor, you can be sure that it can illuminate the larger area easily. You can be sure that there will be no dearth of illumination.
Small size
You might be thinking that since it has so much illumination and also a motion sensor, it would be big. However, this is not true. The diameter of this light is just around 280 mm. You will be hard-pressed to find a smaller light or equivalent light with the same amount of illumination.
High beam angle
The wider the beam angle of the high bay light, the more area it can cover. This one offers a beam angle of 113.5°. Considering the fact that these lights are installed at tens of feet high, the area which it can cover is quite high. As a result, the efficiency of this light is undoubtedly on the higher side.
Rugged construction
If the high bay light is not up to the mark, you would have to replace it anytime soon. However, this one is not only durable but comes along with a heat sink. That is why; the wear and tear are on the lower side. The aluminum housing does not disappoint. Coupled with that, it has an IP 65 rating, which is another reason to go for it.
So, with these features, it is one of the best high bay lights which you can find.
Pros
- Incorporates motion sensor
- High illumination
- Rugged construction
- IP65 waterproof rating
- Large beam angle
Cons
- Power cord could be longer
10. Sunco Lighting 2 Pack UFO LED High Bay – Best Cheap High Bay Lights
If yes, this one will be the perfect choice for you. You can use it in exhibition halls, gymnasiums, manufacturing units and even highway toll stations. Also, the features which it has on offer certainly makes it an excellent choice.
Durable construction
The durable metal body construction ensures that wear and tear is not a problem. It offers IP65 waterproof rating, which is another reason to buy it.
Easy to install
You get to choose between 3 different installation methods. It comes along with a guide that makes installation easy. You can opt for a hook mount, ceiling mount or pole mount. That is why; mounting is not going to be a problem either.
High light output
The light output is of 28,000 lumens. The life span is 50,000 hours or more. That is why; a large area can be illuminated quite easily.
Affordable price
One thing which you will instantly realize about this high bay light is that it is very affordable. It provides great value for money because
- Long lifespan
- The output of over 28,000 lm
- Highly durable construction
- Waterproof
It is very difficult to get this combination of features at this price.
If you’re trying to save money while buying these lights, there are a few tips to keep in mind like
- You have to look at the price and the illumination levels and then take a call on the light, which provides maximum illumination at a lower price.
- You have to choose a light that is not only affordable but has heavy-duty casing as well. It will ensure that in the longer run, you will not have to spend money again in a replacement. Lights with heavy-duty metal casing certainly can have a life span of years.
- If you want to save money while buying such a light, it is a good idea to buy a versatile one. When you can use it on any premises, you will be able to shift it from one premise to another if there is no use for it in the earlier premises. It will allow you to avoid spending on a new light altogether.
Going by these three tips while buying a high bay light can undoubtedly help you save a lot of money.
The easy installation and the ample illumination mean that it is undoubtedly an excellent option to go with. You get all of this in a case of approx. 14.17 inches in diameter. That is why, if ease of use and versatility is your requirement, you cannot miss this one.
Pros
- Versatile
- Ample illumination
- Highly durable
- Easy to install
Cons
- Packaging needs improvement
11. Abodong 100W LED High Bay Light – Best Dimmable High Bay Fixture
- You can easily control the illumination as per your preference.
- You can save electricity by opting for the right level of lighting.
- You can simply lower it down to the lowest light level when the area is not under active use. It will provide you with the necessary illumination without consuming a lot of electricity.
Since garages only require ample light when an automobile is being worked on, dimmable high bay light is the perfect option for garages. In addition to being dimmable, this light has quite a few other features that help it stand out. These features include
High illumination
The illumination level is 13,000 lm. That is why; it is perfect for commercial applications, including garages.
High beam angle
The beam angle is critical when buying such a light. This one offers a beam angle of 120°. That is why; it can cover a significant area as well.
Excellent heat dissipation
The heat dissipation will determine the durability of the light. If the heat dissipation is not proper, the wear and tear will be on the higher side. However, this one comes with a robust heat sink. Due to this reason, the life span is of 60,000 hours or more.
Long lifespan
When buying such a light, it is better to go with one that can last the test of time. This one consists of anti-corrosion aluminum housing. Also, the ultra-thin design certainly makes it efficient. The aluminum casing also works as a heat sink. Also, due to the aluminum casing, it has IP65 waterproof and dustproof rating as well. As a result, it is suitable for any weather.
The dimmable levels, along with excellent heat dissipation, provides it with an edge over other options.
Pros
- Long lifespan
- Ample illumination
- Dimmable
- Long lifespan
- Waterproof
Cons
- Cord design can be better
12. Four-Bros Lighting 8-bulb Linear LED High Bay Fixture (600W Equivalent)
If yes, this one is it. You might be thinking, how it does so? We will explain it below.
The power rating is 176W
You might be thinking that the power rating is on the lower side. However, the construction and efficiency of this high bay light are such that it is equivalent to 600W conventional light, like HID. That is why; it certainly provides you with excellent value for money. With the illumination of approx. 25,600 lm, it delivers much better than a 176W light. That is why; we mentioned that it punches above its weight.
Numerous LED tube lights incorporated
The bay light incorporates over 8 LED tube lights. That is why; there will be no dearth of illumination. Since it consists of LED tube lights, there is energy conservation as well, which is another reason to go for it.
Wide-field angle
Another advantage of the tube lights is that the area which they can cover is pretty high. Also, the light consists of a reflector as well. That is why; the maximum amount of light is directed in the right direction. Due to this very reason, the amount of illumination which you get and the area which it covers is much higher than other options.
Three configurations available
The best thing is that it offers customization, as well. You can light up four tube lights or six tube lights or eight tube lights according to the level of illumination which you need. In a way, you can consider it to be a dimmable light as well.
With all the necessary features on offer, there is no reason why you shouldn’t go for it.
Pros
- Highly efficient
- Three different configurations
- Ample illumination
- Wide beam angle
- Energy-saving design
Cons
- Packaging can be better
13. HYPERLITE 2FT LED Linear High Bay Light
Available in different variants
The variant that we are speaking about now has an illumination level of 14,300 lm. The length of the lamp is around 2 feet. However, there are other variants. That is why choosing the one according to your requirements is undoubtedly possible.
See also: High bay lighting layout guide
Antiglare design
As we mentioned above, it offers an antiglare feature as well. It is done by installing aluminum strips in the middle. It reduces the light diffusion and ensures that you get proper beam direction as well.
Heavy-duty construction
With the help of aluminum casing, the durability is on the higher side. The aluminum material works as a heat sink as well. That is why; the temperature of this light is always maintained.
Easy to install
With 3-step insulation, installing it won’t be a problem ever. It comes with a guide that can help you in installing it quickly. So, whether you have used such a high bay light before or not, this one is easy to install.
The rugged construction and easy installation process certainly make this one probably the perfect choice for you.
Pros
- Long lifespan
- Easy to install
- Antiglare design
- Available in different variants
Cons
- Cables could be longer
14. ANTLUX 80W 4ft LED Shop Lights
Long lifespan
The LED light units inside ensure that it can last for 50,000 hours. There is no maintenance needed during this time. Also, the heavy-duty construction ensures that it is not only durable, but you need not worry about flickering or any other problems.
Highly versatile
The construction is such that you can use it in garage, storerooms, utility rooms, gymnasiums, warehouses, work areas, and various other premises. That is why; if you’re looking for a versatile one, this one will meet the requirement.
Wide beam angle
With the beam angle of more than 120°, you can be sure that the area which it can cover is higher than others. The wider the beam angle of the light, the lesser number of lights you will need to cover certain premises. That is why; it certainly makes it easy for you to illuminate bigger premises.
Pros
- Highly versatile
- Wide beam angle
- Highly efficient
- Durable construction
Cons
- Limited installation instructions
15. ACI 80W Deformable LED Garage Ceiling Light
Adjustable light
It consists of 3 LED panels in each lamp. Also, the design of the LED panels is such that they are encased in 3 aluminum casings. You can adjust it anywhere between the horizontal position and the vertical position. That is why directing the light is possible.
Ample output
When you look at the output, it consists of 8000 lm of light output. It is more than enough to illuminate a large area within premises like supermarket, basement, garages, warehouses, and so on. That is why it is suitable for most of the bigger premises.
Highly durable
The aluminum construction certainly does not disappoint. The aluminum construction has a dual advantage. The 1st advantage is that it makes the light last for years together. Since it uses aeronautical aluminum, it is heavy-duty in construction. Secondly, it can work as a heat sink. As a result, you need not worry about heat dissipation any longer.
The excellent heat dissipation means that wear and tear of the light are on the lower side. Due to this reason, the durability is undoubtedly pretty high.
The construction of the light is such that the life span is more than 50,000 hours. Many of us like to opt for a high bay LED light for garage, which does not require much maintenance and does not require its replacement anytime soon. If your requirement is the same, you need not look any further.
Pros
- Heavy-duty aluminum construction
- Adjustable light direction
- High output
- Versatile
Cons
- After-sales support is limited
16. Exlenvce Full Spectrum Indoor High Bay Grow Light
Three different channel options
As it is a grow light, you get to choose between 3 different channel options. The VEG channel provides you with a full spectrum of colors. It is suitable during the germination process.
You get the bloom channel as well. As the name itself suggests, it can simulate the late summer light. It is suited for plants that are in the flowering stage.
You can use both of these channels together to encourage the growth of the plants in the grow room. These three channels allow you to certainly customize the operation of this light according to your requirements.
High coverage
When you look at the coverage, it is around 58″ x 58″. As a result, we can install a smaller number of high bay light in the grow room. At the same time, the ample light output means that you can easily look after the plants in the grow house.
Smart construction
When you look at the construction of this high bay light, you will realize that it consists of tiny LED bulbs. With the help of many 15W Bridgelux Triple chips incorporated into the design, you can be sure that the light output is on the higher side. At the same time, LEDs consume less power as well.
Since LEDs have a long life, you need not worry about replacing them anytime soon as well. The power cord of 5 feet makes it easy to connect it as well.
The intelligent construction, as well as the three different operating modes, ensure that you have nothing to worry about the usability of this light.
Pros
- Smart construction
- Three different operating modes
- Ample light
Cons
- Limited applications (mainly for plant growth)
When you’re looking for high bay lights, instead of comparing hundreds of options, you may refer to our top 16 list above. These bay lights are not only efficient, but also have many amazing features. Once you go through the list, you can save hours on research. They can simply illuminate your premises in the best way possible.
What are the Types of High Bay Lighting?
High bay lights are designed to offer lighting needs for spaces where the ceiling height is very high. To ensure efficiency, the manufacturers of high bay light have differentiated it into various types to ensure they cater to all needs and requirements in the lighting industry. Some of the renowned brands of high bay lights available for use include round or UFO, linear, temporary, and explosion-proof.
See also: Why do we need high bay light?
1. Round/UFO
UFO high bay lights are round in shape. The existing fixture configuration of the area determines the lighting source that suits them best. Since many of the traditional lighting sources were constructed in a round shape, UFO high bay works best in their replacement. However, in the case of a new building, UFO is best applicable where the ceiling height is far higher because it is useful in the production of a sufficient beam of light.
Besides, it serves best in open areas such as market areas, airports, and factory floors. Round high bays have a clear advantage because it cuts the installation budget. It requires only one drop for perfect installation and attains aimed illumination for the room. Consequently, it saves the time needed by an electrician to complete installation tasks. Round high bay lights benefit from the supportive ecosystem already in place in the form of standardized fitting and thus increase their longevity.
2. Linear
These are lights installed by either hanging in the ceiling, or mounting them on a wall or ceiling. Linear high bay light is the most popular type for its wide light distribution. Most of the warehouses choose it as the best option. It is designed to illuminate expensive areas where a lot of light is required. Linear serves as the best option in warehouses, retail aisle, indoors, and outdoor lighting. They offer great lighting with a great look and, most importantly, at a low cost.
Linear high bay light is recommendable because it suits any light angle and color of a particular area. Besides, it is cost-effective and energy saving. It is available with the option of choosing either bright, natural, or warm white. It can be used where the ceiling height is not very high, fixtures are far apart, and also on cold storage areas.
LED Linear high bay light eliminates operational delays cause by bulb warm-up, cuts maintenance cost, and free from safety concerns from poor lighting conditions. It works well with sensors and thus it can be easily customized. Linear high bay light is designed to suit bet in demanding environments with tough conditions because of its powerful illumination strength. Additionally, it is characterized by high efficiency, instant lighting without delays, and bright lighting.
3. Temporary
It is a particular type of high bay light that replaces traditional metal halide with its capability of illuminating a large area when mounted on height above twenty feet above the ground. Temporary high bay light is a source of light that combines professional brightness intensity to produce a portable work light. It offers long-lasting and steady lighting solutions with efficient brightness at a lower cost. Some of its unique features include:
- Ultra-bright that fulfills all the lighting needs for both industrial and professional areas while saving energy. It has instinct protection against unnecessary damages from unstable currency or wet surfaces hence suitable for outdoor lighting.
- Temporary high bay light has a long lifespan under low maintenance. Besides, it is designed with a stainless-steel cage that adds to its durability and ideal for carrying around. It is made with a unique standard with no harmful emissions, making it eco-friendly.
- The luminary is also strong, light-weight, and flexible and thus making applicable for use on both permanent and semi-permanent structures. It has a simple installation procedure, thus making it possible to use high bay light on temporary grounds.
4. Explosion-proof
Explosion-proof lights are lighting fixtures with the capability to contain sparks that could ignite flammable and explosive gases in the atmosphere. The explosion-proof lighting is essential for business operating in hazardous environments where dangerous gas and vapor are present. Its use guarantees the safety of employees who are highly exposed to risks of explosion.
Explosion-proof lighting use is a sign of taking precautionary measures to curb any accidental explosion. It has a long life cycle with high mobility. Explosion-proof’s flexibility nature allows relocation of the source of light from one place to another when necessary. Besides, the use of an explosion-proof light source saves operation and production costs. Since it does not emit heat or any gasses, it is environmentally friendly and safe for utilization in any industry.
See also: Safety precautions of high bay light
Factors affecting the choice of the best type of bay light
Lighting is the last thing to think of before settling in an office or store. With the availability of different lighting sources, the following are some of the factors to consider to choose the best high bay light source.
- The fixture configuration, illumination area, the angle of ceiling elevation, and the cost of installation. Besides, the nature of activities taking place in the illumination area is worth consideration to ensure the safety of any person who works under it.
- An Eco-friendly lighting source with energy savings technologies and has long lifespan under low maintenance is suitable where cost saving is critical.
- On the other hand, you can easily choose or settle on one type of high bay lighting source depending on the height to be installed. There are different watts and brightness intensity levels ideal for various heights.
Overall, all types of high bay lights are designed to suit high heights ceilings covering massive areas. Their focus brightens a powerful illumination with natural-like light from a long-range, making it the best fit for commercial and industrial use. The main disadvantage associated with high bay light is the fact that it is expensive to shift from one type to the other. This is so because a full installation cost has to be re-incurred due to the nature, style, and technique of installation. Therefore, it is imperative to make a detailed analysis of the pro and cons of any lighting source before making any decision. It is costly to remedy problems resulting from decisions made at haste.
High Bay LED Light Buyer’s Guide
Everyone would like to get the best high bay light that suit their needs. However, it is not an easy task if we don’t have any lighting knowledge, as there are many traps and common mistakes when selecting and using the high bay fixture. Fortunately, we are going to share with you the informative buyer’s guide that help you decide which high bay LED is best for you. You would acquire the basic knowledge about the lighting.
1. Power and lumen of high bay
First and foremost, we need to decide the brightness required. You may ask, how to measure “brightness” in lighting industry? There are two major terms.
What is lumen?
First, we use “lumen” to describe the output of the lights. For instance, a 100W LED can have around 12,000 to 15,000 lumen output, but a 100W metal halide light only has approx. 6,500 to 9,000 lumens. In this case, 100W LED is brighter than 100W metal halide light because 100W LED has higher lumen. Therefore, when comparing two LED lights having the same power, we should firstly look at their lumen output. Higher the better.
What is lux?
Knowing the lumen output of the LED high bay only is not enough, as we also need to know how bright is the floor. We can’t use lumen to describe the floor brightness because lumen indicates the output of the lamp. Instead, we will use “lux”, the SI unit of illuminance. In the lighting industry, we frequently use “how many lux” to describe how bright the floor. For instance, 200 lux is brighter than 100 lux.
Now, the question would be how many lux do we need? It depends on the applications. For reading newspaper and magazine in the room, we will need around 150 lux, it should be bright enough to see the words clearly. For car maintenance and DIY works, we may need around 350 to 500 lux. This is because we need to have bright lighting to see the delicate parts. In some extreme situations, such as FIFA football field lighting, we will need up to 1000 to 2000 lux.
What high bay light should we buy?
You may now ask, what is the relationship between lumen and lux? How many wattages of high bay light do we need? The general idea is that larger the area, higher the wattage. For instance, if we need 500 lux in the workshop and the area is 300 sq. feet (~28 sq. meter), the minimum lumen required is 500 lux * 28 sq. meter / 0.7 light loss factor = 20,000 lumens. Thus, we need the high bay lights having the total lumen output of 20,000 lumens. In this case, we can have two 10,000 lumens LED high bay. In other words, we need around 2 x 100W LED lights.
When estimating the wattage needed for the high bay lights, we need to make sure that we are using sq. meter in the formula; otherwise, there is a 10x difference in the results. Besides, if you ask me having 2 x 100W LED or 4 x 50W is better? I’d says getting 4 lights is always better because we can have the light source coming from each corner. This arrangement can eliminate the shadow on the floor.
2. Beam angle & high bay reflector
Beam angle is another paramount specification of a high bay lighting. It basically reflects the coverage area of the lamp. We can imagine that the lights coming out from a source has the conical shape. If we have the side view, we can see an isosceles triangle. The angle between two equal side is called beam angle. So, if the beam angle is larger, the coverage would be greater because the lights can spread further. The beam angle selection depends on the following factors.
Number of fixtures in the shop
Sometimes we can only install one high bay light in the garage because of the space and the availability of light socket. In this case, we can select as large beam angle as possible, says 120°, and put the light at the center of the room. Thus, a single light fixture in the middle can light up the 20 x 20 sq. feet to 30 x 30 sq. feet area. Depending on the actual size of the shop, sometimes we may need to have higher power and lumen output in order to maintain sufficient ground lux.
Ceiling height
Another factor we need to consider is the ceiling height. The common ceiling height of warehouse or storage unit is around 14 to 20 ft. In these situations, we don’t need to have special arrangement, we can use 90° to 120°. However, if the ceiling height is over 30 ft, we can’t use such the large beam angle because a considerable amount of light beam will travel to the wall instead of the floor, which decrease the central brightness. For the ceiling height above 30 ft to 40 ft, the beam angle of the high bay LED light should not exceed 90°. Besides, we should have at least 3 to 4 fixtures in the room in order to cover the whole area.
3. Color temperature
In lighting industry, we describe the light color by “color temperature”. It is basically a Kelvin scale starting from 0K. We usually describe the household, commercial or industrial lights in a scale from 0 to 10,000K. What does it mean? As we all know, the common light bulb color includes soft white (or warm white, yellowish), and cool white (bluish).
2700 to 3500K: Warm white lights that create cozy feeling
If you want to have yellowish-orange lights in the garage, we can select the high bay having the light color temperature of 2700 to 3500K. The advantage of using soft white light is that it creates the relaxing atmosphere. It is particularly suitable for residential application. Besides, yellowish light is also better for eyes because of less blue light intensity.
5000K: Natural daylight
If we happen to browse the high bay lighting products online, we can see majority of the fixtures have the color temperature of 5000K. This light color is quite popular because it creates the natural daylight feeling. Some people may also refer it is white lights. The 5000K light is particularly suitable for work and study.
6000 to 6500K: Cool white light
Cool white light is suitable for commercial setting areas as paint booth, showroom, art studio and even hospital. The cool white light gives customers a professional impression. Besides, some researches also show that the blue light help improve the concentration, so the workers’ productivity can be enhanced. However, intense blue light may cause eye strain and affect sleep quality, so we shouldn’t use too bright cool white lights.
4. Weight of luminary
Yes, weight does matter when it comes to installation. If the fixture is too heavy, the beam or ceiling might not be able to support the weight, which increase the chance of falling. It is advised to select the high bay lamp with aluminum housing because the material is strong but relatively light weight.
For your information, the average weight of a 100W LED UFO high bay is around 5 to 9 lbs; for some 250W LED, the weight is up to 10 to 13 lbs. If you think the ceiling can’t hold such the heavy fixture, we can consider getting deformable garage lights, says those having the 3 adjustable lamp heads.
5. Linkable high bay
If you intend to install several lighting fixtures in the shop, it is recommended to buy the products with the linkable functions. It means we can connect the power plug of one fixture to another fixture to form a chain. The advantage is that the ceiling cables can be less messy as we can reduce the number of extension cable used. However, the maximum number of connections is usually limited; so, we need to carefully check your product specification to avoid overloading.
Truly speaking, not may UFO high bays have linkable function. If you really want to achieve this, we need to use the 4ft or 8ft tube lighting fixture. We can easily find the linkable shop lights that supports interconnection between them. Your family members will be impressed by them because it is so convenient to install.
6. Life span
Compared with CFL and incandescent bulbs, LED makes a huge improvement on the life span. Generally speaking, the CFL, or fluorescent tube can only last for 8,000 to 10,000 hours. Thus, it is necessary for us to replace the fixtures within 2 to 3 years. Nonetheless, many LEDs nowadays have 50,000 to 80,000 hours life span. We can save much money on buying the new lights in the future. Moreover, the running cost of LED high bay is lower than other conventional fixture, because we can use smaller wattage fixture to give the same brightness!
7. Warranty
Warranty is an important factor as well. The good high bay manufactures would give around 5-year guarantee on the product quality. If the lights go off naturally within the warranty period, they can repair or replace the new one for you. However, different companies have their own policy. If you have any doubt about the written guarantee, we should ask them before purchase.
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Hykolity 150W LED UFO High Bay (19500lm) – Replace 250W to 400W MH/HPS
Color temperature: 5000K |
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AntLux 165W Linear LED High Bay (21000lm) – Replace 600W conventional lighting fixtures
Color temperature: 5000K |
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GRANDLUMEN 150W LED UFO High Bay Fixture (21000lm) – Replace 600W HID
Color temperature: 5000K |
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ROUENOK 60W Deformable LED Garage High Bay Light (6000lm)
Color temperature: 6000K |
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Osunby LED High Bay Grow Light
Light emitted: Red, blue, IR, UV |
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NS 100W LED High Bay Temp Light (13500lm) – Replace 300W metal halide
Color temperature: 5000K |
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TREONYIA 100W High Bay UFO LED Lamp (15000lm) – 400W Equivalent
Color temperature: 5000K |
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HYPERLITE 250W UFO LED Lights (33750lm)
Color temperature: 4000K |
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RuggedGrade 240W Motion Sensor UFO High Bay LED Light (35000lm)
Color temperature: 5000K |
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Sunco Lighting 200W UFO LED High Bay Fixture (28000lm) – Replace 800W HID
Color temperature: 5000K |
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Abodong 100W LED High Bay (13000lm) – Replace 400W MH or HPS Lights
Color temperature: 5700K |
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HYPERLITE 110W Linear High Bay Lighting Fixture (14300lm) – Replace 250W Fluorescent
Color temperature: 5000K |
Best High Bay Lighting Brands
If you know a thing or two about interior designing, then you know that lighting plays a vital role in the aesthetics of a room. Apart from this, you need good lighting to see every corner of a room unless you are trying to set a mood.
High bay lighting works just like its name suggests. Use it to illuminate any place that happens to have a high ceiling. That could be a lofted apartment, a warehouse, a factory, or even a gymnasium. If you have an indoor space with a lot of vertical and horizontal room, then high bay lighting is a must-have item. If you need a well-lit space, then you will need to consider the brand you choose very carefully. Luckily, there are several choices including;
1. Hykolity
Hykolity is a name that is becoming very popular when it comes to LED lighting companies supplying commercially in the US. The very name, Hykolity, comes from the words & ‘high quality’. Their goal is to provide high quality LED lighting for affordable prices. One of their most significant products is their high bay lights which come with several options you can choose. Some of their options include
LED linear high bay light
Several linear options are ranging from 2-4 feet long. They have a capacity of 110W – 750W depending on the size of the bulb, and an input voltage of 110-227V. Most importantly, they all have a correlated color temperature of 5000K. Their prices lie at an affordable range.
LED UFO High bay light
Unlike the linear option, UFO options are rounded to distribute light evenly. They have a capacity of 100W-2400W, an input voltage of 100-227V depending on the individual light. UFO bay lights come in both old and new version.
Hykolity high bay lights come with accessories including reflectors for a light beam with a sharper angle. Since they are all LED, they consume less energy, tend to be low maintenance and have a long life. With this brand, you have about five years of warranty guaranteed for all the products.
2. Hyperlite
Hyperlite high bay lights have been reviewed as some of the best high bay lights there are on amazon which says a lot about them. Some of the best options they offer include
The white hero series
At a beam angle of 120 degrees, these lights produce much light to cover a wide. They have a power potential of 60W-250W, input voltage of 100V-227V, and a correlated color temperature of 4000K-5000K.
The Apollo series
The Apollo series comes in black color with easy installation and accessories. Their lights have a compact size to make a compelling commercial light. They also have a light beam angle of 120 degrees, an input voltage of 100-227V and a power potential of 100W- 200W.
Tale series
While these lights have a beam angle of 120 degrees like the others, they seem to be more powerful at a power of 200W to 250W.
Hyperlite uses aluminum alloys for their bay lights for efficiency, giving them an edge. Their bay lights are all rounded for equal light distribution, and they have a wide beam angle at 120 degrees. However, they only make a reflector for the hero series and don’t have a wide range of lights in terms of size.
3. Ruggedgrade
Ruggedgrade is another company that puts its primary focus on commercial quality lights. The most significant edge they have is that they have been around for long. They have had years to try new technologies and improve on them to give you some of the most high-quality, high bay bulbs out there. They make use of high-end components made by companies like Phillips and epistar, which means their quality is assured. Some of their best high bay lights are
100-watt Titan
The most outstanding feature of this light is that it has an efficiency of around 145lm/w, which is pretty impressive, but it does not stop there. They have CCT of 5000K, a power potential of 100 watts and are dimmable at 14,500 lumens.
150 watt UFO
They are also dimmable at 20,000 lumens, have a power potential of 150 watts, and they have CCT of 5000K.
High Bay Rigel Series
The Rigel series bulbs are small, but surprisingly, they are more efficient than the others. At a power of 150 watts, they have an efficiency of 135lm/w and are dimmable at 20,000 lumens.
All of rugged grade high bay lights are American made and verified with the DLC.
4. Sunco lighting
The most significant edge Sunco Lighting offers is that their lights are the most color-correct lights found out there based on customer reviews. They seem to offer a wide range of products with their main focus being on indoor lights. However, that is not to say that their high bay lights are any less effective.
Unlike other companies, Sunco Lighting seems to offer the same series of high bay lighting with different capacities in power.
240w UFO LED fixture
As the name suggests, it is a rounded high bay light with a power of 240 watts. It seems to be a powerful light with 5000K CCT, offers 28000 lm for bright light, and 100V-277V.
150w UFO LED fixture
This one has the power of 150 watts. Like the 240 watt option, it is dimmable, offers 28000 lm of bright light, and a voltage of 100V-227V.
All of Sunco’s high bay lights are waterproof, are produced in the US. They are also durable because they are made with an aluminum alloy housing, and dissipate heat well.
They, however, don’t have a wide range of choice when it comes to high bay lights.
5. Treonyia
Treonyia have an edge in the market because they go above and beyond to produce tested and approved lighting choices. Their high bay lights are ETL/DLC approved with some like the 200W UFO LED high bay light being UL approved.
LED High Bay Frequently Asked Questions
1. How may high bay light do I need?
High bay lights are reserved for indoor areas with high ceilings. These lights are ideally used for industrial and commercial use. But using too many lights can lead to high energy consumption while less bay lights can affect their performance. So, determining the exact numbers in high bay lights is important, let’s start from the beginning.
Introduction to high bay light
High bay light is designed especially for large areas with 14′ or higher ceilings. The lights are highly preferable for illuminating the large indoor spaces. It includes spaces like
- Warehouses
- Gymnasiums
- Workshop
- Manufacturing facilities
- Factories
- Large department stores
- Sports fields
It is used mainly in spaces which require more coverage and height for lightning in the whole area. Also, the height of the ceiling might range from 20 feet to 45 feet approximately.
High bay lights are hung with the help of hooks, pendants, or chain from the ceilings. Or, these lights can be fixed directly to the ceiling. For setting up high bay lights, there are different types of fixtures you get, such as LED lights, metal halide lights, induction lights, and fluorescent lights.
See also: LED vs fluorescent vs metal halide high bay light
Applications of high bay lamp
There are different industries and facilities which uses the light beside warehouse and manufacturing, some are:
Commercial And Retail
Mostly used in big box stores, casinos, grocery stores, shopping malls, and retail showrooms. The lighting is selected as it helps in enhancing the setting and quality. Also, it reduces energy consumption.
Garage
These areas require high quality for getting efficient work and confront the challenges which can be caused by lower grade setups. High bay light is mostly recommended for the suitability, where it delivers the minimum glare and needed color rendition.
Loading-bay
These areas work round the clock, and they require a lighting solution, which is an integral part of the whole working process. High bay lights meet the exact requirements when it comes to covering multi-space. With this, the chances of getting injured or damaged reduces with its better lighting.
How many high bay lighting fixtures do we need?
Choosing the numbers of high bay light installation is a crucial point to consider. It’s also includes the spacing and height like factors to determine how many lights you are going to need.
For example: If you have a warehouse of 40 x 70 with a height of 17 feet to the ceiling. Also, this place is used detailing on vehicles, and you want to turn it brighter lighting with lower cost and energy consumption.
For this, you can go with 100 watts or 150 watts along with a 120 wide-angle, this will allow the better lighting in the warehouse. Also, make sure to put the 8 – 14 feet spacing between each light. Here, you can follow the 6 x 3 (18 lights) pattern for basic lighting, 7 x 3 (21 lights) for medium brightness level, and high brightness, you can follow 8 x 4 (32 lights).
However, there are some variables that affect lighting designs. It includes a number of fixtures, light angle, height, brightness, run wiring, etc. So choosing the right numbers in high bay light may require you to consider all these points too.
What will happen if we use few bay lights?
High bay light covers more than, and regular lighting options can do. If you are using too few, there are chances that the lighting performance can be affected. Also, using fewer numbers can cause less brightness, which causes discomfort in working.
The use of high bay lights is commonly for illuminating the indoor areas with high ceilings. Using this light helps in filling more space and also gives comfortable lighting to process the work. Apart from that, there are more points to consider, including:
- Longer lifespan: As compare to regular lighting, High bay lights have more lifespan. With this light, you can use it for more than 50,000 hours. On average, you get ten times the longer working lifespan. Also, there is no heat generation, which saves the cost of cooling for the spaces.
- Wide application: With the lights, you get more areas to use, such as Mine, supermarket, warehouse, exhibition hall, shipyard, gas station, workshop, plant, gymnasium, highway toll station, etc. Using the traditional lights have their own limitation in the application.
- Low rate in failure: High bay lights have lesser than 20% chances of light failure after the use of 5,000 hours of usage. Also, it reduces the chances of extra cost on maintenance and energy consumption.
What will happen if we use many high bay lights?
Despite the fact that high bay lights give better results in lighting, there might be some common issues in case of using too many lights. Well, it includes:
Costing more energy
The range in high bay lights goes from 175 watts to 1000 watts. In general, using higher wattage means the higher consumption in light output. Also, it includes factors like the overall are for lighting, the height of the ceiling, and fixture mounting. All of these factors help in deciding how much wattage is going to be used. Using more numbers in high bay light cost unnecessary amount, which might inflate the energy cost as well.
Performance
In areas like warehouse and manufacturing, lighting performance is crucial. Not just it helps in avoiding the chances of errors but also plays a vital role in safety. Using too many high bay lights can cause a low Color rendering index (CRI). Also, it depends on what type of lights you are using in your facility.
Maintenance & Cost
The high bay light is usually set up in the height of 15 feet, and to change the lights will require something to reach that much height. Most of the buildings don’t have such things, and for that, they need to hire contractors from outside. Especially the maintenance cost rises up in areas like warehouse, commercial, and gym.
Bay lights are very efficient when it comes to effectively lighting your space. They provide white light and when it comes to energy consumption, they are efficient.
2. What is the mounting height of high bay lights?
High and low bay lights can be used in a variety of applications including in residential, commercial and industrial applications. For instance, they are mounted in factories, gymnasiums, athletic facilities, warehouses and large retail stores to illuminate large areas from standard height and/or from height ceilings far above normal height. In fact, high bay lighting is used for any height between 14 and 45 feet. For heights that are below 14 feet, a low bay is used.
They are also used to illuminate facilities such as municipal centers and recreational centers.
This does not mean high bay lights cannot be used at lower mounting heights. They can. An example is where narrow to wide light distributions are needed. This will, however, depend on the application and what kind of or extent of vertical illumination is needed.
High bay light in harsh environment
High bay lights are also mounted on areas where there are more harsh environments such as more air-bone dust and oil particles. In contrast, low bay lights are used to match modern indoor decors for instance in commercial lighting applications. They are also used in less challenging environments in terms of dust and air-bone particulate matter.
Consider the required lux level
However, various specifics may be needed for specific environments to be lighted. For instance, retail stores require bright light to attract more customers. In this case, you need a minimum of 500-800 lux on the ground. Warehouses do not need lots of lighting and 500 lux is enough to provide adequate working conditions for supervisors. 300 lux is also enough for storage facilities.
Beam angle and mounting height
The height to mount a high bay light will also depend on the design and shape. For instance, a round high bay light, which is saucer shaped and easiest to install since it can be hung at one point. This type is best for higher ceilings and the average of 120 degrees from it fits perfectly for a height of above 12 to 14 feet.
Linear lighting with new LEDs may not be recommended for heights above 14 feet but can work best at 2ft, 4ft and 8ft.
3. How many wattages do I need?
It is important to understand that if a given wattage for LED high bay light does not work, there are many options. The wattage to choose will depend on the height and vice versa. However, it is the lumens one needs to focus on. LEDs are getting more efficient and less wattage is now required for particular heights that could require higher wattage before.
Wattage required vs ceiling height
If you are intending to illuminate a 10-15 feet space, the ideal wattage would be between 10,000 to 15,000 lumens. Lights of 16,000 to 20,000 lumens are more preferable when working with 15 to 20 feet while 25 to 35 feet require 33,000 lumens.
How many watts of high bay light do I need? For example, if you need 15,000 lumens, the power required of LED high bay = 15,000 / 130 = 115W; or if you need 33,000 lumens, the LED should have around 33,000 / 130 = 254 watt. In the above calculations, we assume the high bay LED has 130 lumens per watt luminous efficacy, which means the light can generate 130 lumens for each watt consumption. The lumens per watt varies between different brands, the normal LED light should have around 100 to 150 lumens per watt.
Power of high bay vs luminary spacing
The other factor that can influence the choice of wattage or lumens in relation to height is the spacing between high bay lights. For instance, normal lighting is achieved with a spacing of 12 feet horizontally between the bulbs when the height is 15 feet. Essentially, higher wattage may be needed to produce normal bright light when spacing is larger than that.
For a 20-feet height, one can keep 15 feet spacing between the bulbs may be ideal to produce bright light while 18 feet apart may be alright for normal lighting. Otherwise, you would have to buy more wattage bulbs to produce the same lighting effects if the spacing is larger under the same conditions. 20 feet spacing appears to be ideal for producing brighter light with high bay lights when working with a height of 30 feet. At that height, 25 feet will be ideal spacing for normal light.
Lumens determine the wattage too. For instance, with lumens being off, high bay lights may not provide the best lighting possible.
Conclusion
High bay lighting is a common practice in extremely large vertical height and horizontal spaces where outdoor illumination is needed – in factories, large departmental stores, warehouses and gymnasiums. Even in challenging environments, high bay lights provide foot-candle level to adequate illumination while hanging off the ceiling through chains, pendants and hooks.
Further, there is an option for LED high bay lights instead of other conventional types of high bay lights such as fluorescent and metal halide. They have less maintenance requirements, provide improved lighting quality, and have high energy efficiency.
The wattage to select may depend or even determine the height of the building or space, the number of lights to buy, and also the amount of spacing in between the lights. All of these are influenced by the quality of brightness you need and the size of the space.