LED fixture for garage: what do you need to consider?
A good rule of thumb is to aim for 100 to 150 Lumens per square meter. So, if you have a garage of around 20m2, you should consider at least 2000-3000 lumens.
If you have a workshop or a garage where you do a lot of work, you should aim for 4000 – 5000 lumens. If you're polishing cars, you need at least 5500 lumens, preferably 6000 lumens or more, and ideally mounted at an angle to highlight any scratches and holograms that may appear.
You should also look at Kelvin, usually written as 4000k as an example, where K stands for Kelvin. Here, you should look for a fixture with 4000 – 5000 Kelvin to get as close to natural daylight as possible.
IP-rating (protection against dust and moisture)
Which IP-rating do you need to choose the right LED fixture?
At least IP44, preferably IP65 if you have a cold garage, moisture, or do mechanical work.
IP65 = dust-tight and water-resistant – perfect for garages in exposed environments.
When choosing fixtures, it is also important to select the right type of fixture to get the right kind of light for your garage. So, we'll go through some different examples here to provide a broader picture for those who are choosing LED fixtures.
- Ceiling fixtures (flush mounts or LED strips): Good general lighting.
- Linear lighting / LED fluorescent tubes: Wide coverage, popular in larger garages.
- Work lighting / spot lighting: If you work at a workbench or on a car.
- Floodlights / Work lamps: If you need a lamp you can move around with an extension cord or that is rechargeable.
Series connection / Plug & Play
If you have a larger garage, you should choose fixtures that can be daisy-chained.
Quick connectors (Daisy Chain) = easier installation and cabling.
What else do you need to consider when choosing LED fixtures for a garage?
- Minimum temperature the fixture can withstand – If it gets colder at times, you don't want the fixture to break down. You want to sleep well at night knowing you chose a fixture that can withstand cold.
- Lifespan and warranty for the fixture – Fixtures from well-known brands usually have a very long warranty period because they manufacture their products with pride. If you choose quality, it rarely doesn't pay off in the long run. – Choose a fixture with at least 25,000–50,000 hours lifespan. –2–5 year warranty is standard for quality manufacturers.
Dimmable or sensor, what should you choose?
This is more of a personal choice rather than a must-have for your fixtures.
- Motion sensor – Practical if you come in with your hands full.
- Dimmable light – Can be nice if you want different light intensity at different times; you control the light's strength.
Some examples of popular models/types that many choose
IP65 LED fixture – Cold garage/humid environments
LED flush mount – Small garage/ceiling lighting
Workshop lamp – Spot lighting over workbench
Also consider the energy consumption of the lighting you choose; generally, many LED fixtures consume less than fluorescent tubes.