How Many LED High Bay Lights Do I Need?
When you’re planning a lighting upgrade or new fit-out for a warehouse, workshop, or any large commercial facility, lighting is one of the most important factors to get right. It influences everything from safety and productivity to your long-term energy costs. LED high bay lights are a go-to solution for many commercial and industrial settings, valued for their energy efficiency, brightness, and long-term reliability. But how many LED high bay lights do you need?
It’s a common question and understandably so. You can simplify lighting calculations by focusing on a few essential factors to understand exactly what’s required. This guide breaks it all down so you can make confident, informed decisions about lighting your space.
What are LED High Bay Lights?
LED high bay lights illuminate large, open spaces with high ceilings, typically between 4 -12 metres, depending on roof heights. Their purpose is to deliver consistent, bright light across large areas.
LED versions have largely replaced older technologies because of their excellent efficiency, lower maintenance demands, and improved performance.
Understanding Lighting Specifications
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by lighting specs, but you don’t need to be an expert to understand the basics:
- Wattage shows how much energy a light uses.
- Lumens tell you how bright it is.
- Lux measures how much light reaches a surface. This is especially important in task-specific areas, where poor visibility can impact safety or precision.
- Beam Angle affects how light spreads in your space.
For instance, if your facility has ceilings over 8 metres, a narrower beam angle (e.g. 60°) is more effective at pushing light down to working level. In contrast, a 90° beam might suit lower heights where broader coverage is more important.
What Affects How Many Lights You Need?
Several factors influence how many LED high bay lights you’ll need. While each space is unique, these are the key things to keep in mind:
- Space Size: A larger floor area needs more lighting coverage. But it’s not just about square metres; how you use the space also plays a role.
- Ceiling Height: The higher the ceiling, the more powerful and focused your lighting needs to be. Narrower beam angles direct light precisely where it’s needed, making them ideal for taller ceilings.
- Lux Level Requirements: Different areas require different levels of brightness. Storage zones may only need 100–150 lux, while production or inspection areas might require 300–500 lux.
- Layout and Obstructions: Space fixtures to account for shelving, equipment, or walls that might block or reflect light. An open layout will light more easily than one filled with structural features.
- Wattage and Lumen Output: LEDs come in a range of power levels. A 150w fixture might emit around 22,000 lumens, a good starting point for many applications. But it’s the total lumen coverage and distribution that matters most.
- Beam Spread: Wider beam angles suit lower ceilings by distributing light broadly. Narrower beams concentrate light in taller spaces, reducing shadows and improving efficiency.
Real-World Setups
Warehouse Lighting
Warehouses are one of the most common applications for high bay lighting. With expansive dimensions and high racking, they present challenges for even, shadow-free illumination.
LED high bays are particularly well suited as they offer not only brightness, but also long lifespans that reduce maintenance in 24/7 operations. The right lighting plan can help reduce errors, improve safety, and keep energy costs under control.
Workshops and Industrial Facilities
In production spaces, safety and precision go hand in hand. LED high bay lights deliver full brightness instantly and work well with sensors, giving you greater control in high-use areas.
Whether you’re managing machinery, assembly zones, or technical workstations, a tailored lighting setup ensures visibility and compliance without wasting power.
Gyms and Sports Halls
In active environments, glare-free, consistent lighting is essential. LED high bays provide even coverage that supports safety, performance, and visibility for both staff and patrons.
Their high colour rendering improves the experience, while the long lifespan means fewer disruptions for facility managers.
Retail and Showrooms
Lighting influences how customers see and experience your products. In larger retail spaces or showrooms, a mix of high bay fixtures and targeted accent lighting can create a welcoming, well-lit environment. LEDs also provide superior colour rendering, helping merchandise stand out while keeping running costs low.
Agricultural and Shed Lighting
Durability and dependability matter in rural and industrial sheds. LED high bays offer resistance to dust and moisture, strong lumen output, and minimal upkeep. Whether you’re caring for livestock outside or maintaining your equipment, good lighting supports safe and efficient work in all conditions.
Why It Matters to Get It Right
Lighting isn’t just about seeing clearly. The right setup influences:
- Workplace Safety: Poor lighting can increase the risk of accidents.
- Efficiency: Proper visibility improves output and accuracy.
- Energy Consumption: Overspecifying lights means wasted energy; underspecifying compromises performance.
- Compliance: Many commercial spaces must meet AS/NZS 1680 standards for lighting quality and uniformity.
When to Call a Licensed Electrician
Understanding how many LED high bay lights you need is just the first step. For reliable results that meet Australian Standards, a licensed electrician is essential.
A qualified electrician, like any of our team at PWA Electrical Services, will assess your site, factor in all relevant lighting conditions, and design a solution that meets both your operational needs and Australian safety standards.
Trying to guess the number or placement of fixtures can lead to poor visibility, high energy costs, or even non-compliance. A tailored plan saves you time, money, and hassle.
Light It Right with PWA Electrical Services
Choosing the right number of high bay lights is only part of the picture. At PWA Electrical Services, we go further. Our licensed electricians specialise in designing, supplying and installing commercial LED lighting systems that are compliant, efficient and built to last.
Whether you’re upgrading an existing setup or starting fresh, we’ll tailor a lighting plan that fits your space, usage and budget — all with expert care and precision.
Get in touch today for a no-obligation assessment and quote. Let’s take the guesswork out of lighting and get it right the first time.