Garages are usually multipurpose for parking cars, as a workshop, a storage hub, or all. Since they tend to be built in a way that natural light is scarce within, they need artificial light just like that in homes.

Garages are used for DIY projects or storage, and not having proper lighting leaves an open end for accidents.

The essential factor your garage needs to carry out these tasks comfortably and efficiently is good lighting. A proper lighting setup in a garage increases the safety, visibility and efficiency of the tasks that are supposed to be carried out there.

Garage lighting Plan

Garage lighting plan is not that much of a task as artificial lighting is done in several ways depending on the garage’s requirement and layout.

Artificial lighting has three basic categories: 1. Ambient 2. Task 3. Accent

Ideally, a multipurpose garage requires all three as:

Ambient lighting

Ambient lighting or general illumination is for ease of access and visibility. Flush mount lights or linear panels are used for this linked with motion sensors.

Task lighting

Task lighting is for focusing more light on detail-oriented projects such as building or remodelling. Mostly linear or circular lights accompanied with wire and hooks are used to be carried anywhere where the task is carried out. These lights are positioned a few inches behind the work area so that light reflects away rather directly on the surface as then it will be blocked.

Accent lighting

Accent lighting is lighting bright enough to shine on surfaces, which need light such as tool shelves, inventory etc. They can either be surface or wall-mounted. Sometimes pendants are also used.

The recommended measure of light output is 50 lumens per square foot for residential garages and 300 lumens per square foot for workshop garages.

As per the general rule, ambient lighting fixtures require around 50 lumens, while for task lighting, 300 lumens are suitable and 75-80 lumens for accent lighting is normal.

Layering allows the right light for parking, work, storage, and display.

To determine the lighting required, the area of the garage is an essential factor.

The garage layout is considered an exterior-access door, storage area, and the working area need supplemental lighting.

LED garage lighting

LED lights have taken over their traditional counterparts for several reasons despite their high initial cost.

They are efficient, have a longer life span, little to no maintenance cost and support most fixtures setting remarkable lighting technology standards.

LED lights are available in varying design and compatible sized fixtures.

For example, a minimum of one 8-foot fixture for one vehicle space is expected. LED garage lights are available in 4-8 foot sizes with adequate luminous efficacy.

For workshop garages, it is essential that light is bright and imparts the original colour of different surfaces, especially when the task on hand is detail-oriented. LED bulbs are available with the best CRI rating above 80 and correlated colour temperatures to enhance the lighting quality without straining the eye.

Types of LED Garage lights

For Ambient lighting

LED suspended linear lights

These are inexpensive, hard-wired light fixtures that can be surface-mounted, but they mostly hang through pendants. Suspended lights are generally linear and used for ambient lighting or placed near garage doors. Their size ranges from four to eight-foot, and they are the go-to choice of most garage owners.

Wraparound lights

Wraparound lights are multi-directional as they impart light from sides or bottom and have an excellent overall uniform light spread. They are best for garage spaces with lower ceilings. Since installed on ceiling surfaces, they do not suspend through the ceiling like other fixtures. This design is efficient as it directs light efficiently without blockage or coinciding with any other surface like shelves or goods.

High bay lights

High bay fixtures are the best fixtures for overall illumination for large garage spaces reaching 20 feet. Multipurpose garage unit requires the use of led high bays. LED high bay lights to have broad beam angles with high lumen output, so using them might also reduce the subsequent use of smaller fixtures in the same area.

Canopy lights

Canopy lights are compact light fixtures used in large spaces. They are available in a variety of round or rectangular designs. They can be surface-mounted and have a protective glass or plastic outer covering, which makes them suitable for garages and workshops.

Led panel lights

LED panel lights being the most advanced and versatile led fixture, are also fair use in garages to replace troffer lights. Led panel lights are available in varying sizes and shapes (rectangular, square or circular). They are both recessed into ceilings or suspended from it.

Task lights

Task lighting or overhead lighting is to direct light on work areas. Light sources should not be directly focused overhead; instead, they should be placed a bit behind to disperse uniform glare-free light at the task on hand.

Clamp-on lights

Clamp lights can be supplemental light sources as they are portable. They are suitable for small projects or detail-oriented tasks.

Vapour tight lights

Vapour tight lights are highly efficient, durable light fixtures as they have a gasket surface. These protective features make them suitable use in garages, as they are IP rated for water, dust and toxic chemical intervention, which means they are safe to use in places where such factors are present.

For Accent lighting

LED tubes

Led tubes can retrofit fluorescent tube fixtures. They are highly efficient explicitly designed to retrofit fluorescent tubes, as they are a much safer, durable and cost-effective replacement. Fluorescent lights are prone to damage and inefficiency due to varying temperature conditions, whereas led tubes operate on lower temperatures without any problems.

Wall packs

Wall packs are light fixtures that mount on walls and are of general use and supplemental lighting. They are available in various compact designs in which a bulb is present, caged inside a covering or diffuser through which bright, uniform light is imparted.

These are a few of the led garage lights for individual or supplemental use for light layering in garages to enhance garages’ safety and work environment. Few of these lights can be coupled with motion sensors as garages are of frequent use and do not need lights on at all times of the day.