Garage Lighting Buying Guide

Your climate will affect the types of lights you can use in your garage. For example, many fluorescent lights won’t work below 50 degrees Fahrenheit because of the limits of the magnetic ballasts. If you live in a cold climate and want to use fluorescent lights, you’ll need ones that use electronic ballasts, which can function at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if your winter weather includes days that drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, consider using incandescent or LED garage lights instead.

If your garage is prone to built-up moisture or dampness, look for lighting that’s rated for wet conditions.

To make sure you’ll have enough light in your garage, measure your space. You’ll need to choose lighting based on the square footage of the area you intend to illuminate. Lumens are the units of measurement for light output. We suggest having 50 lumens per square foot for ambient lighting, such as over a parking bay or doorway, and 300 lumens per square foot for task lighting, such as over a work bench or gardening table. Once you know your square footage, calculate how many lumens you’ll need and look for lights that fit that requirement.

Additionally, you’ll need to consider ceiling height and angle. A low ceiling will require different lights than a high ceiling, and a gabled ceiling will require different lights than a flat ceiling.

When choosing the best garage lighting, consider the main purposes of your garage. Is it simply a place to securely park your car, or do you use it as a work area? Do you use it for storage? Task lighting requires more lumens than ambient lighting, so different parts of the garage may need different levels of light.

LED lights are one of the best options available. While they’re initially more expensive than incandescent and fluorescent lights, LED lights are more cost effective over time because they use less electricity and last significantly longer. Another benefit is that they turn on at full illumination versus needing time to brighten up. Additionally, unlike many fluorescent lights, you can use LED lights at any room temperature. LED garage lights are a great choice for those seeking energy-efficient, long-lasting lighting. All the following types of garage light fixtures are available in LED options, so no matter your preferences, you can illuminate your garage with LED lights.

Shop lights are an affordable, easy-to-install option for task and ambient garage lighting. They typically hang from the ceiling and are available with a single tube or with two, four or eight side-by-side tubes. They offer more flexibility than mounted lights since you can lower and raise them to transition between task and ambient lighting. While shop lights have traditionally operated with fluorescent bulbs, they’re now also available with LED bulbs. One drawback of shop lights is that in garages with low ceilings, the hanging lights can be hazardous obstacles for people moving long tools or equipment around.

Strip lights are similar to shop lights in that they also operate with fluorescent or LED tubes. However, unlike shop lights, strip lights usually mount directly on the ceiling. They’re affordable and functional and come in different colors. Strip lights are a good choice for garages with low ceilings or if you don’t want to worry about snagging equipment on low-hanging lights, such as shop lights.

Wraparound lights, which diffuse light sideways and downward, work well for ambient lighting in garages with low ceilings. Because they illuminate spaces more evenly than other options, you may need fewer lights in your garage. Wraparound lights are also available with LED bulbs, which you don’t need to replace as often.

High bay lights are ideal for commercial spaces with high ceilings, but they’re also an excellent option for tall garages. Usually operating in rooms with ceilings over 15 feet tall, these garage light fixtures are powerful enough to light large spaces. Available in both LED and fluorescent varieties, high bay lights provide strong ambient lighting.

For flexible task lighting, especially if your garage doubles as a workshop, consider keeping work lights on hand. Work lights are a flexible type of garage lighting because they’re portable and available in a variety of styles. For example, clamp lights attach to various surfaces, and many have full rotational ability. Stand lights are freestanding and easy to move. String lights are functional, easy-to-install additions to primary garage light fixtures. These are just some of the work light options that can supplement task lighting for more detailed work. As with other options, work lights come in fluorescent, incandescent and LED varieties.

For another supplemental lighting source, consider under cabinet lights, which can provide both task and ambient lighting. Opt for a row of puck lights (small, circular lights), tape lights (easy-to-install light strips) or LED rope lights (a larger version of tape lights).