Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Led Shop Lights for a Garage

1. Lighting area

Before buying the best garage lighting options, consider the lighting area. First, you must buy an LED shop light setup to meet your lighting requirements. Next, consider which sections of your home require the most illumination. For example, if you merely need additional lighting above a workstation, you may only need a 4 to 6-foot lamp mounted over that area. Conversely, if you want to install comprehensive LED garage lights, you will require additional fixtures. It would be best to choose linkable LED garage light fixtures in this instance.

2. Brightness 

Since garages receive little or no natural light, consider lights that provide a lot of bright light when updating a lighting setup. The lighting industry usually measures brightness in lumens, light units generated during a certain period. The higher the lumen count, the brighter the lighting.

Watts and lumens are not the same things. Watts are units of energy consumption; lumens are units of brightness. However, for instance, a 75-watt bulb provides around 1,100 lumens. As a general rule, the perfect brightness range for garage and workshop lighting is about 3,500 lumens.

3. Bulb life

When buying the best LED shop lights for a garage, you must know that some LED garage lighting doesn’t allow bulb replacement. So, you may need to replace the entire fixtures towards the end of their lifespan. Nonetheless, most models are reasonably priced and should survive for many years.

Some types, however, allow you to replace the LED bulbs. If you don’t want to replace the entire fixture when the bulb dies, choose a model that allows for a bulb change. Besides, the bulb’s life hours are so long that you may never need to replace it.

4. Color temperature 

Color temperature is measured in kelvins (K) and refers to the color produced by light. Temperatures usually range from 3500K to 6000K, with the upper end being colder and bluer and the lower end being warmer and more yellow. Since most garages are drab and industrial, cooler lighting temps are usually the most attractive.

Conversely, warmer temps give the floor a dingy look. So, when buying the best LED shop lights for a garage, look for one with a temperature of about 5000K. A 5000K bulb produces somewhat bluish light but is neither dazzling nor harsh on the eyes. Besides, some lights have changeable color temperatures, allowing DIYers to cycle through the options and select the one that works best for them.

5. Installation & connectivity 

Another crucial factor to consider when buying the best garage lighting fixtures is installation and connectivity. Easy-to-install lighting options offer excellent outcomes for DIYers with little or no electrical knowledge. The quickest and easiest way to upgrade your garage lighting is with screw-in bulb replacements. These multipositional LED lighting fixtures screw into a standard light base, not just bulbs. As a result, they don’t need any additional wiring or work on the installer’s side.

Additionally, there are plug-in systems that you can string throughout a garage to provide a massive amount of light. Conventional outlets power these systems: Plug them in and turn on the light. Conversely, fluorescent lighting needs slightly more effort during installation. Besides, these lights include ballasts that regulate the light bulb’s power and must be hardwired into a garage electrical circuit. So again, though not unduly difficult, it’s a more extensive procedure.

6. Energy efficiency 

A modern lighting fixture will use significantly less energy than outdated incandescent bulbs, regardless of the lighting system for a garage. Fluorescent bulbs may save up to 70% more energy than incandescent bulbs that provide the same amount of light. LED lights are much better, consuming up to 90% less energy than a comparable incandescent bulb. So, when you consider that they last far longer (over 10,000 hours versus 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb), the savings are enormous.

7. Longevity

A quality LED bulb can last 25 to 30 times longer than an incandescent light while consuming less energy. For example, a fluorescent bulb may last up to 9,000 hours, compared to 1,000 hours for an incandescent light. LEDs and fluorescents usually last significantly longer than incandescent bulbs because they lack a sensitive, delicate filament that might break or burn up.

8. Climate

LED lamps are the best solution for unheated garages in places that endure extremely cold winters. These LEDs get more efficient as temperatures drop. Since they do not need to be heated, they become brilliant instantly and offer steady, energy-efficient light even under extremely low conditions. On the other hand, some fluorescent lights cannot work if the air temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, those living in places where temperatures often fall below freezing will benefit from an LED system for the best garage light fixtures.

9. Additional features

When changing an overhead lighting system, it’s good to upgrade the workstation. Consider suspending a chain from the ceiling to attach an LED light below a cabinet or lower a fixture—essentially, create direct task lighting. Several excellent possibilities and systems you can combine to provide optimal conditions. For example, through a standard overhead fixture is enough, adding a lighted, positionable arm can improve the visibility of small parts.

Motion sensors can make garage lights more secure and convenient. Besides, some LED systems have sensors that activate the lights when they sense movement or walking in the garage. These lights not only light up a garage without the user having to struggle for a light switch, but motion sensors may also stop undesirable guests from availing themselves of equipment and other properties.