Warehouse Lighting Layout Design: Spacing, Height & Fixture Guide
How to design warehouse LED lighting layout. Covers fixture spacing by ceiling height, aisle lighting, racking areas, loading docks, and energy code compliance.
Designing a warehouse lighting layout requires balancing light levels, uniformity, energy efficiency, and cost. This guide provides practical formulas and real-world spacing recommendations.
Spacing by Ceiling Height
UFO High Bay Spacing (120° Beam Angle)
| Ceiling Height | Wattage | Recommended Spacing | Coverage per Fixture |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-20 ft | 100W (15,000 lm) | 15×15 ft | 225 sq ft |
| 20-25 ft | 150W (22,500 lm) | 18×18 ft | 324 sq ft |
| 25-30 ft | 200W (30,000 lm) | 20×20 ft | 400 sq ft |
| 30-40 ft | 240W (36,000 lm) | 22×22 ft | 484 sq ft |
Linear High Bay Spacing (60°×120° Distribution)
| Ceiling Height | Wattage | Row Spacing | Along Row Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-20 ft | 165W | 12-15 ft between rows | 8-10 ft apart |
| 20-25 ft | 220W | 15-18 ft between rows | 10-12 ft apart |
Rule of Thumb
Spacing ≤ 1.0 × mounting height for 50 FC Spacing ≤ 1.2 × mounting height for 30 FCLayout by Warehouse Type
Open Warehouse (No Racking)
- Use UFO high bays in a grid pattern
- Uniform spacing across the entire floor
- Example: 50,000 sq ft × 25 ft ceiling → 125 UFO 150W fixtures at 20×20 spacing
- Cost: Contact for volume pricing on 125+ fixtures
Racking Warehouse (Narrow Aisles)
- Use linear high bays aligned with aisles
- Mount directly above the center of each aisle
- Aisle width 8-12 ft → one row per aisle
- Example: 10 aisles × 200 ft long × 12 ft spacing = 170 linear high bays
- Important: Vertical illumination on rack faces needs directed light
Mixed Use (Open + Racking)
- UFO high bays for open areas (shipping/receiving, staging)
- Linear high bays for racking aisles
- Transition zones: overlap coverage by 10-15%
Special Areas
Loading Docks
- Requirement: 30-50 FC at truck bed level
- Challenge: Fixtures must handle temperature swings and door openings
- Solution: Auvolar Vapor Tight 4ft 40W or UFO High Bay 100W (see product page for current pricing)
- Placement: One fixture per dock door, centered
Cold Storage / Freezer
- Temperature: -20°F to +40°F
- Requirement: Fixtures rated for cold storage operation
- Solution: Auvolar Vapor Tight IP65 — rated to -40°F
- Spacing: Same as standard warehouse (LED is not affected by cold)
Mezzanine / Office Areas
- Requirement: 40-50 FC
- Solution: LED Troffers or Panel Lights (see product page for current pricing)
- Ceiling height: Typically 9-10 ft
Energy Code Compliance
Maximum Lighting Power Density (LPD)
| Standard | Warehouse LPD |
|---|---|
| ASHRAE 90.1-2019 | 0.45 W/sq ft |
| IECC 2021 | 0.45 W/sq ft |
| Title 24-2022 (CA) | 0.40 W/sq ft |
Will Auvolar Fixtures Pass?
50,000 sq ft warehouse with 125 × UFO High Bay 150W:
- Total wattage: 125 × 150 = 18,750W
- LPD: 18,750 ÷ 50,000 = 0.375 W/sq ft ✅ Passes all codes
Get a Free Warehouse Lighting Layout
Auvolar's engineering team creates professional photometric layouts for warehouses at no charge. Send us:
We'll deliver a complete layout with fixture placement, foot-candle calculations, and a product quote within 48 hours.
Contact: sales@auvolar.com | (626) 364-9198 | auvolar.com/tools/photometric-requestNeed Help With Your Lighting Project?
Auvolar provides free lighting design, photometric layouts, and rebate assistance for commercial projects.
Auvolar Engineering Team
City of Industry, California
Our engineering team has 15+ years of combined experience in commercial LED lighting design, photometric analysis, and energy-efficient building systems. We hold DLC QPL listing expertise and work directly with California utilities on rebate qualification. All technical content is reviewed by licensed electrical engineers.