How to Choose LED Factory Lights by Ceiling Height and Floor Area

Choosing LED factory lights with the right wattage and quantity gives workers enough light without wasting electricity. This article sums up how to choose lights by ceiling height, floor area and type of work, making it easy for dealers and contractors to advise their customers.

Step 1: Determine the required illuminance (lux)

Illuminance is the amount of light falling on the floor or work surface, measured in lux. Commonly used reference levels:

• Storage warehouses: about 100–200 lux
• General production workshops: about 300 lux
• Detailed assembly and product inspection workshops: about 500 lux or more
• Parking lots, outdoor yards: about 50–100 lux

Step 2: Choose the light type by ceiling height

Mounting height directly determines which type of light and beam angle to use:

• Below 6 m: linear bar-type industrial lights, suitable for low workshops and racked warehouses
• 6–12 m: UFO industrial lights rated 100–200W with a wide beam angle
• Above 12 m: high-power lights with reflectors or narrow beam angles so light reaches the floor

For warehouses with tall racks and narrow aisles, DOB linear lights mounted along the aisles give more even light than round fixtures.

Step 3: Estimate the number of lights

A simple formula based on the lumen method:

Number of lights ≈ (Illuminance × Area) ÷ (Luminous flux per light × utilization factor × maintenance factor)

Where the luminous flux of one light = wattage × efficacy (lm/W). The utilization factor is usually about 0.55–0.75 depending on ceiling height and wall color, and the maintenance factor about 0.8 to compensate for lumen depreciation over time.

No need to calculate by hand: use the factory lighting calculator, enter the factory dimensions and height, and instantly get the number of fixtures, the layout and monthly energy consumption.

Common mistakes when choosing factory lighting

• Choosing very high-wattage lights but spacing them too far apart, causing glare and uneven bright and dark spots
• Ignoring the water and dust rating in factories with steam, wood dust or cement dust
• Using lights with poor heat dissipation in factories running 2–3 shifts, causing rapid brightness degradation
• Ignoring electricity costs – high-efficiency lights save significantly when run many hours a day

Get Lighting Plan Advice

The Vua Ánh Sáng factory helps dealers and contractors calculate lighting plans based on the actual floor plan. See more solutions for factories & warehouses or send your drawings to receive a project quotation.