How many watts do you need? Find the right LED wattage by ceiling height, mounting height, and application type.
For warehouses, manufacturing, gyms, retail big-box, and indoor sports facilities.
| Ceiling Height | Typical Application | Recommended Wattage | Lumens | Spacing | Fixture Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-20 ft | Small warehouse, retail | 100W | 15,000 | 15-20 ft | UFO High Bay |
| 20-25 ft | Medium warehouse, gym | 150W | 24,000 | 20-25 ft | UFO High Bay |
| 25-30 ft | Large warehouse, manufacturing | 200W | 30,000 | 20-25 ft | UFO High Bay |
| 30-40 ft | Distribution center, arena | 240W | 36,000 | 25-30 ft | UFO High Bay |
| 20-30 ft | Racking aisles (narrow) | 165W | 24,000 | 15-20 ft | Linear High Bay |
| 25-40 ft | Assembly line (wide aisle) | 220W | 33,000 | 20-25 ft | Linear High Bay |
Based on 50 foot-candle target (general warehouse). Higher-precision tasks may require additional fixtures. Use LightSpec AI for exact calculations.
For parking lots, pathways, campuses, and outdoor commercial areas.
| Pole Height | Application | Recommended Wattage | Lumens | Pole Spacing | Target FC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-20 ft | Pathways, walkways | 75-100W | 10,000-15,000 | 40-60 ft | 1-2 fc |
| 20-25 ft | Residential parking | 150W | 22,000 | 60-80 ft | 1-2 fc |
| 25-30 ft | Commercial parking | 200W | 30,000 | 70-90 ft | 2-5 fc |
| 30-35 ft | Retail/hospital parking | 300W | 45,000 | 80-100 ft | 3-5 fc |
| 30-40 ft | Car dealership | 320W | 48,000 | 70-90 ft | 5-10 fc |
FC = foot-candles per IES RP-20. Spacing assumes Type III or V distribution. Actual layout depends on lot geometry.
For building perimeters, entrances, loading docks, walkways, and security lighting.
| Mounting Height | Application | Recommended Wattage | Lumens | Coverage Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-10 ft | Doorways, entries | 20-30W | 2,400-3,600 | 15-20 ft radius |
| 10-12 ft | Loading docks, walkways | 40-60W | 5,000-8,000 | 20-30 ft radius |
| 12-16 ft | Building perimeter | 80-100W | 10,000-13,000 | 30-40 ft radius |
| 16-20 ft | Large facades, warehouses | 120W | 16,000 | 40-50 ft radius |
Number of Fixtures = (Area × Target FC) ÷ (Lumens per Fixture × CU × LLF)
For precise calculations with real photometric data, use our free LightSpec AI tool.
LightSpec AI calculates precise fixture recommendations using real photometric data — not estimates.
Try LightSpec AI — Free100-150W LED high bays. A 150W fixture at 150 lm/W produces 22,500 lumens, sufficient for 30 FC at 20 ft mounting height.
150W LED. The MH draws 460W with ballast, so you save 67% energy while maintaining light levels.
150-200W LED area lights. A 200W fixture covers ~80×80 ft at 2 FC average per IES RP-20.
0.5-0.7 W/ft² for 30 FC. A 10,000 sq ft warehouse needs ~5,000-7,000W total LED.