LED Parking Lot Lights: How to Plan the Right Lighting System

A well-lit parking lot needs more than bright fixtures. The lights must cover the right areas without creating harsh glare or dark spots. Pole height, spacing, fixture wattage, beam distribution, and color temperature all affect the final result.

LED parking lot lights can provide consistent outdoor lighting while using less energy than many older lighting systems. But choosing fixtures based only on wattage can lead to poor coverage. A better approach is to plan the entire lighting system around the parking lot layout.

What Are LED Parking Lot Lights?

LED parking lot lights are for lighting up parking areas, driveways, access roads and walkways. They’re typically mounted on poles and are designed to illuminate a wide area.

Unlike the older days of metal halide or high-pressure sodium lighting, LEDs are light-emitting diodes. They come in all sorts of wattages, brightnesses, beam angles and mounting options.

Wattage tells you how much electricity the fixture is using, but it doesn’t tell you how much light actually gets to the ground. Lumens are a better way of comparing the amount of light that different fixtures will give off.

LED parking lot lights also have different light distributions. The right pattern will ensure the light is where it’s required, reduce light wastage and minimise the number of dark spots between the poles.

These fixtures are commonly used in:

• Commercial parking lots
• Shopping centers
• Office buildings
• Apartment complexes
• Schools and colleges
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Industrial properties
• Public parking areas

The fixture is just one element of the whole system. Pole height, spacing of the poles, location of the poles and surrounding buildings all have an effect on the performance of the lighting.

That’s why you need to plan your lighting layout prior to selecting the actual fixtures.

Why Proper Parking Lot Lighting Matters

Parking lot lighting does more than just enable people to see. It has an effect on how easy it is for people to move around, how well drivers can see vehicles and pedestrians and how uniformly the area is lit.

A good lighting system should provide sufficient light for its purpose without being too bright or causing glare.

Safety for Drivers and Pedestrians

Drivers need sufficient visibility to see parked vehicles, pedestrians, signs, curbs and the road surface.

Pedestrians also need clear ways between the vehicles, the footpaths, the entrances and all the other bits.

The objective isn’t to make every spot absolutely bright. It’s to provide useful, even lighting in the places that people actually need it.

Better Visibility Around Vehicles

Good lighting aids in the identification of vehicles, parking spaces, markings and obstacles.

If the lights aren’t positioned properly then some of the areas around the vehicle can be quite dark. Bright spots can also make it difficult to see in the adjacent darker areas.

That’s why where you position the lights is just as important as how bright they are.

Reducing Dark and Uneven Areas

Dark spots will occur when the poles are too far apart or when the light pattern doesn’t match the layout of the parking lot.

The correct light pattern will cover a greater area. Appropriate pole spacing ensures that the light from one fixture overlaps with the light from the next and thus fills in any gaps.

This gives us much more even lighting and significantly fewer dark spots.

Improving Security and Surveillance

Good lighting will help you to see the entrances, walkways, parking areas and the areas around the buildings.

It also helps security cameras to get a clearer image at night.

But bright lights don’t necessarily equate to better security. Excessive brightness or glare can in fact make it more difficult to see and create very stark contrasts.

Lighting should be practical and useful rather than just as bright as you can get it.

Start With the Parking Lot Layout

Before you go flashing off on the LED lights, take a good hard look at the parking area itself.

A fixture that works perfectly in one lot may well be totally ineffective in another. The reason for this is usually down to the layout of the lot, where the poles are positioned, how high they are mounted and what area they need to cover.

Measure the Parking Area

Start with the length and width of the parking lot.

Also record the location of:

• Parking spaces
• Driving lanes
• Sidewalks
• Building entrances
• Loading areas
• Property boundaries
• Trees and landscaping
• Existing poles
• Signs and structures

These figures are absolutely vital to the creation of a good lighting plan.

Identify Entrances, Exits, and Walkways

Entrances and exits should be well lit as there are often people and vehicles crossing.

Walkways also need to be looked at separately from the vehicle lanes.

A pole which does a good job of lighting up parked cars may well be providing insufficient light to a nearby pavement.

Consider Parking Spaces and Traffic Flow

Look at how the vehicles move through the lot.

Don’t put the poles in places where they’ll be in the way of traffic or parking bays. Consider how tall they are and where the vehicles are parked.

Big trucks, SUVs and the like can obviously block the light from getting to the areas behind them.

Choose the Right Mounting Height

The height of the pole determines how far the light will go.

A taller pole will illuminate a greater area, but simply making the poles taller doesn’t necessarily result in better lighting.

How Pole Height Affects Light Coverage

When you mount a light higher it can cover more area.

The higher the light the more spread out the light becomes. The fixture has to be designed to suit the height at which it’s being mounted.

A good lighting plan looks at both the height of the lights and the amount of light they emit.

Low Poles vs. High Poles

Shorter poles can give you a very bright light over a small area which is ideal for small lots or walkways.

Taller poles will cover a greater area and in some cases you’ll actually need fewer of them.

However very tall poles can be tricky to maintain and may require brighter fittings.

Why Pole Spacing Matters

How far apart the poles are has an effect on how well the lights work in conjunction with each other.

If the poles are too far apart you end up with dark spots between them.

If they’re too close then you may end up using more lights and more energy than you actually need.

There is no single spacing that works for every parking lot. The light pattern, the pole height, the brightness and the amount of light you actually require are all factors.

The best way to work out the correct spacing is to use a photometric layout.

Determine the Right Brightness

Brightness should be matched to the requirements of the area (not just the wattage of the fixture).

Lumens vs. Watts

Watts show how much electricity a light uses.

Lumens are a measure of the amount of visible light that a fixture emits.

For example two LED’s could be using the same amount of power but giving out very different amounts of light.

This is down to differences in LED efficiency, fixture design and the way the various components work together.

So when you’re comparing lights, look at both the lumens and the watts.

Recommended Light Levels for Different Parking Areas

Different areas of the parking lot will require different levels of lighting.

A busy commercial site would probably require a different lighting scheme than a small private site.

Lighting requirements can also vary depending on the number of people going through, the level of traffic, what’s in the vicinity of the lot and local regulations.

Light levels are normally measured in lux or footcandles.

You should set your target light level prior to selecting the fixtures.

Avoiding Overlighting

Brighter isn’t always better.

Too much light will waste energy and cause glare and can spill over onto adjacent buildings or properties.

Aim for sufficient light for the job, spread out evenly.

Choosing a Distribution Pattern for Your Layout

Don’t pick a light just because it’s called a ‘pattern’ light.

The same Type III, IV or V pattern can behave quite differently depending on the fixture.

Check the manufacturer’s lighting data and consider the position of the poles, their height and the shape of the site.

Select the Right Color Temperature

Colour temperature affects how the light appears.

It’s in Kelvin (K).

3000K to 4000K

Lower colour temperatures generally make the light appear warmer.

Approx 3000K gives a softer look outside, 4000K is a more neutral white light.

These options work a treat if you’re after a softer light.

5000K and Higher

Higher colour temperatures tend to make the light appear cooler and whiter.

5000K is widely available for outdoor LED fixtures.

This can give a very crisp look but you should also bear in mind glare, other nearby lights and the surroundings of the property.

Balancing Visibility and Glare

Colour temperature is just one factor in making lighting comfortable to look at.

How bright the fixture is, how high it’s mounted, the optics, the shielding and the angle at which you view it all have an effect on glare.

A good car park layout should allow people to see without necessarily having to shine any direct light at the drivers or pedestrians.

Consider Glare and Light Spillage

If you don’t have good control of the outdoor lighting it can cause problems right outside the parking lot.

Why Glare Can Be a Problem

Glare is when a bright light makes it uncomfortable to see or makes it difficult to see the detail.

A light aimed at the driver can be quite uncomfortable.

Fixtures placed well and using the correct optics will go a long way to minimising glare.

Controlling Light at Property Boundaries

Try and keep the light in your property as much as you can.

This is particularly important if your parking lot is situated right next to houses, roads or other buildings.

Using shields and the correct optics will help to control unwanted light spill.

Using the Right Fixture and Optics

A good optics fixture sends the light where it’s required.

This makes the lighting more efficient and reduces the amount of light spilling outside the area you’re trying to cover.

Photometric files allow the designer to see where the light will go prior to any installation taking place.

Choosing Durable Fixtures for Outdoor Use

Don’t just look at the LED chips.

The driver, the housing, the lens, the mounting parts and the cooling system all have an effect on how well the fixture performs over time.

A good outdoor fixture should also be a good heat dissipater.

Add Lighting Controls

Controls can help to reduce the amount of time the lights are on when they’re not required.

Photocells

A photocell senses the level of light around it.

It can switch the parking lot lights on when it gets dark and off when it’s light again.

This is an easy way to run lights from dusk to dawn.

Motion Sensors

Motion sensors detect movement and can alter the lighting in response to that movement.

They work well in areas where there’s not a lot of night time traffic.

But you’ll need to set the sensors to cope with both cars and people moving about.

Timers and Smart Controls

Timers can be used to switch lights on and off according to a set schedule.

Smart controls allow you to set up sophisticated schedules, monitor the lights and dim them as required.

The best control system will be the one that suits your opening hours and your lighting requirements.

Conclusion

Planning LED parking lot lighting starts with a look at the parking lot itself.

The best lighting system is going to be very much dictated by the layout, the pole height, the spacing, the brightness, the light pattern, the colour temperature and the amount of light you actually require. If you’re just selecting your lights on the basis of wattage you’re very likely to end up with an uneven light and a waste of energy.

A well designed LED system provides good visibility and will help to reduce both energy and maintenance costs.

For bigger parking lots, it’s a good idea to use a photometric lighting plan. This lets you check the fixture and pole locations before you install anything.