How to Choose the Best Lighting for Your Garage Workshop

When evaluating different garage lighting ideas consider what you use it for and when you use it.
Here are some general guidelines for choose which garage lighting ideas fit your needs best:

• Think about where you need task lighting and where you need overhead illumination. Calculate the square footage of your space by multiplying the length times the width. Use around 300 lumens per square foot for a garage workshop area that requires task lighting. For ambient or accent lighting, aim for 50 to 75 lumens per square foot. Consider different fixture styles for different areas.
• If your craft requires great attention to detail or colors, you’ll want to choose bright lights. Lighting your workshop for use at night may require different lights than you would install for daytime use.
• Fluorescent lights are traditional choices but may not work in colder climates. If your garage often falls below 50 degrees, consider another type of garage ceiling light.
• Check the color temperature of your lighting. Color temperature is measured in Kelvins (K). Light bulbs over 5000K, known as daylight, are best suited for workshops and other areas where attention to detail is needed.
• Choose damp-rated, water or moisture certified fixtures for lighting areas in damp environments.
• If you’re working with paints or other tasks that require colors, check the true color rendering index (CRI) rating of a bulb. A rating of 85 or above is best.

While fluorescent bulbs have long been the standard for shop lights, one of the newest garage lighting ideas are LED tube bulbs. Use LED tube bulbs in standard fluorescent fixtures instead of replacing the fixture. While LED tube bulbs require a larger investment than their fluorescent counterparts, they last longer. LED tube bulbs also provide instant-on, evenly spread lighting that’s brighter than traditional fluorescent bulbs. They are also a great choice for ceiling lights for a garage. Some LED fixtures with smart technology even allow you to adjust the color temperature remotely.

The classic ceiling lights for a garage, shop lights are very popular. These fixtures are typically a single-bar light fixture that hang by a chain assembly. Some are also ceiling-mounted. Most of these easy-to-install fixtures just plug into an outlet. Whether you choose LED shop lights or classic fluorescents, both are a budget friendly way to light up a garage workshop. 

Some LED shop lights are designed to be hard-wired. While these require a higher upfront investment, the integrated lighting allows you to add accessories like a motion sensor.

Tip: Choose shop lights that can plug into each other in a “daisy-chain” to free up electrical wall outlets.

One of the best ideas for your garage lighting, strip light fixtures are easy to install and come in several sizes. Fully customizable, strip lighting works well to light up high-ceiling garages. LED strip light fixtures are an energy-efficient lighting choice and supply instant light with no warm-up period. If you currently have fluorescent fixtures of this type, you can upgrade to LED with a retrofit conversion kit.

High bay light fixtures are one of the best garage lighting ideas for large spaces with very high ceilings. The most common high bay light fixtures are round, linear and sealed vapor tight fixtures. They are ideal for a commercial garage or a multi-storage garage with ceiling heights that exceed 15 feet. Plus, LED high bay lights with a wide light distribution pattern will reduce the number of overall fixtures you need. 

LED wraparound lights do a great job of illuminating garages with lower ceilings. Since they’re installed level with the ceiling surface, they don’t hang as low as an ordinary shop light. This keeps them out of the way of ladders, storage and other items. When you choose wraparound ceiling lights for a garage, you get multidirectional light from both sides and the bottom.

The best ideas for your garage lighting start with a plan. Choose your garage lighting with your workshop layout in mind. Just as with all indoor lighting, you’ll need supplemental lighting in addition to what’s overhead.

• Clamp lights are budget friendly and portable. These are very useful for small projects and very detailed work.
• Task lights allow you to focus directly on your work area. Place them so the light won’t shine directly in your eyes.
• Under-cabinet light fixtures give you the option of whether your work calls for tube lights or individual bulbs. In either case, LED bulbs will save energy and they come in a variety of color temperatures.

Create some of the best ideas for your garage lighting by adding supplemental lights to:

• Area above the garage door
• Places on the wall where items hang
• Areas with appliances like a deep freezer or a washer and dryer
• A workbench area
• Seasonal storage areas
• Exterior access doors

Tip: Consider adding a motion sensor in storage areas or near any appliances.

Here are some garage lighting ideas and tips to help you lower your energy bill and your carbon footprint:

• If you spend mostly daylight hours working in your garage workshop, place your main work area close to natural light.
• When possible, use fewer lights or lower-wattage bulbs.
• Only turn on the lights you need for the task at hand.
• Don’t turn LED lights on and off too frequently. This can shorten their lifespan.
• Arrange your garage to optimize lighting. Move any large items from blocking windows or hanging lights.
• If possible, open your garage door on warm, sunny days, and keep the lights off.
• If you keep your garage exterior well-lit, put your outdoor lights on a timer so they automatically come on and off at sundown and sunrise.