On the other hand, garage lighting is also a very important factor to allow better efficiency for the garage, easier accessibility, and increased safety. Choosing the wrong garage lighting can significantly hurt the overall efficiency of the garage.
Here, we will review the top 15 garage lighting products available in the market. Further below, we will also discuss the frequently asked questions (FAQs) surrounding the garage lighting and a buying guide section discussing the various factors that might affect your purchase decision.
Let us begin.
Top 15 Best Garage Lights in 2020
1.Hykolity 5000K LED Shop Light Linkable
Key Features:
- 4200 Lumens brightness, super-bright, great efficiency at 110 lumens/watt
- 5,000K Daylight white color temperature
- Composite aluminum fixture material, very durable, Pull cord on/off switch included.
- Hykolity’s 5-year warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very decent light diffusion
- Great efficiency with 110 lumens/w
- Various options for mounting, versatile application
- Easy installation, hanging hardware included and plug connection can link multiple lamps together
- 5-year warranty
- Can withstand different weather conditions
Cons:
- The fixture might bend rather easily
- Can cause radio frequency interference
Our Verdict
A great, energy-efficient LED garage light with 110 lumens/W efficiency rating. Not the most affordable, but great 5-year warranty. Excellent light diffusion, which, when combined with its high lumens rating, produces a great level of intensity.
The Hykolity 5000K is made using a very durable, composite metal material with an elegant-looking fixture. This alone gave this garage light a unique value compared to its competitors. The inclusion of pull cord and versatile mounting offers us with more flexibility to install this garage light.
Overall, a great choice if you are looking for an energy-efficient, durable LED garage light.
Rating 4.4/5.0
Dolar Rating $$
2. PrimeLights 4 Bulb / Lamp T8 LED High Bay Utility Shop Garage Warehouse Light Fixture
Key Features:
- 88 Watt LED Commercial FIxture, 21,000 lumens rating (brighter than fluorescent T5HO)
- 5,000K color temperature (daylight white color)
- 120-277V, 4 LED T8 Tubes (4 Bulbs Included)
- 50,000+ hours lifetime
- UL certification, fixture made in USA
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Relatively lightweight with only 13 pounds
- Bright daylight white (21,000 lumens, 5,000 K)
- Work well in all kinds of weather and colder climates
- Easy to install and hang
- Great durability and lifetime expectancy, built to last
Cons:
- Might be too bright for your garage, so you might need a diffuser
- Might be hard to figure out the wiring, even with all included diagram
Our Review
The key highlight of the PrimeLights 4 Bulb is its 21,000 lumens brightness, so it’s ultra-bright. Also, it’s only 88 watts in power rating, providing us with an excellent level of efficiency. Great-looking and durable steel housing mirrored reflector, which also adds with light diffusion.
With 238 lumens/W efficiency rating, the PrimeLights 4 Bulb T8 LED High Bay is technically the best LED garage light on this list. However, it is also one of the most expensive, although it does include 4 bulbs in the package.
If you do have the budget available, this is arguably the best possible option in this list.
Rating 4.7/5.0
Dolar Rating $$$
3.STKR Concepts 00342 TRiLIGHT Screw- In Motion Activated Ceiling Light
Key Features:
- Motion-activated with advanced motion sensors. State-of-the-art advance motion sensors can detect the slightest motion
- 4,000 true lumens rating, 5 times brighter than a 60-W fluorescent bulb
- Only 24-watt rating
- 50,000 hours of an expected lifetime with constant runtime
- SGS and UL certified, 100% safe to use
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Motion-activated, one of the best motion-sensor garage lights
- Energy-efficient, 4,000 lumens with only 24-watt power usage
- SGS certified and surpassed UL standards, 100% safe
- Very easy installation, as easy as screwing a light bulb
Cons:
- The motion sensor can be too expensive and can detect through windows, pets, etc.
Our Review
The key highlight of this STKR Concepts TRiLIGHT is the advanced motion sensor, which works really well, although it’s sometimes too sensitive and can detect through windows (which can be a problem sometimes). 4,000 lumens, so nothing very special on brightness, but very good efficiency. at 167 lumens (24-watt rating).
It features adjustable aluminum LED heads, which can brighten the entire room and keep the LEDs cool at all times. The best motion-activated LED light, period, Relatively expensive, but in our opinion, a slightly better option compared to the PrimeLights above, especially if you like the motion-activation feature.
Rating 4.8/5.0
Dolar Rating $$$
4.Sunco Lighting 10 Pack LED Utility Shop Light, 4 FT, Linkable Integrated Fixture
Key Features:
- 10 LED lights included
- 5,000K color temperature,4,100 lumens, 40-watt, 120V
- Linkable to 4 LED garage lights, connectors included
- ETL, Energy Star certifications, USA-based quality product with knowledgeable support specialists
- 7-year SUNCO warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very durable with great quality materials
- Solid 7-year warranty
- Very easy installation, can directly mount to the ceiling or use a suspended fixture from the ceiling
- Very energy-efficient and environmentally friendly
- 10 garage lights included in one package, great overall value
Cons:
- Need to drill holes to flush mount
Our Review
Expensive at first glance but includes 10 lamps in the package, so it’s actually cost-effective. 4,100 lumens at 40-watt. So, pretty decent energy efficiency but nothing special. Great build quality, however, and very durable. The package includes mounting hardware, 5′ cord, and 10″ pull-chain switch, so it’s very easy to install.
Great overall features and a 7-year warranty included. Not very energy-efficient. Also, Sunco’s big name, great warranty and customer service is another interesting factor to consider.
Rating 4.7/5.0
Dolar Rating 189.99 ($$$)
5. LEONLITE 4ft Linkable LED Motion Activated Utility Shop Light
Key Features:
- 4,100 lumens, great for laundry rooms, garages, kitchens, workshops, utility rooms, warehouses, and other commercial and residential areas
- Motion-activated, built-in motion sensor can detect in 16.4 ft radius to automatically turn on or off the light
- Linkable to 4 units
- 40-watt rating, energy-efficient while providing light equivalent to that of 120W T8
- 50,000 hour expected lifetime, Energy Star and ETL certified
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Easy to install especially for flush mount
- Great light output with decent energy efficiency
- Easily linkable to 4 units
Cons:
- Flimsy housing material, not too durable
- Motion sensor is sometimes unreliable
Our Review
The key highlight of the LEONLITE Garage light is its affordability. So, if you are on a tight budget and are looking for a LED garage light, this is probably your best pick.
4,100 lumens at 40-watt, so pretty decent energy-efficiency but nothing special. Also, easy installation since you don’t need any extra wiring whether you want to surface mount this garage light or use suspended fixtures. Great 240 integrated high-quality chips provide even and well-balanced light without glare.
Pretty decent features considering its price.
Rating 4.1 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $
6. Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture
Key Features:
- 2,200 lumens output, 20W, low power consumption
- Can link up to 8 lights together using the included connector cords
- Easy installation with a plug-and-play design
- 3-year unlimited warranty, easy and fast replacement
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Very easy to install with a plug-and-play design
- Linkable for up to 8 fixtures’
- Energy-efficient with an only 20-watt rating
Cons:
- Only 2,200 lumens so you’d need a lot of fixtures to light up a large garage.
Our Review
Not very bright with just 2,200 lumens but pretty affordable and energy-efficient. Also, the Barrina LED Garage Light is made with high-quality aluminum and polycarbonate, so it’s pretty good looking and durable, while also including a rocker switch for easier control.
You can easily link it to up to 8 fixtures, which is another unique feature on its own if you are looking to light a big garage. Also, a pretty decent 3-year limited warranty. If you’re looking for a compact garage light or just want to light up a small garage, probably the best overall choice.
Rating 4.7 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $
7. Linkable LED Utility Shop Light 4ft 4800 Lumens Super Bright
Key Features:
- 4,800 lumens, great for garages, workshops, warehouses, and other commercial and residential areas
- 5,000 K natural daylight white, best indoor garage lighting experience
- Lasts up to 22.8 years for 3hours/day daily usage
- 4-pack led garage lights, easy to daisy chain the lights together.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Relatively lightweight at just 15.4 pounds
- Durable with high-quality (and lightweight) materials
- Easy to install for both flush mounting and suspended fixture mounting
- Easily linkable to 4 units, energy-efficient
Cons:
- The included chain is not very high quality
- Doesn’t last as long compared to its competitors
Our Review
Great brightness with 4,800 lumens rating, pretty solid efficiency with 120 lumens/watt. Great overall build, but the included chain (for hanging purpose) isn’t very sturdy. It does, however, include a built-in cord and receptacle, so you don’t need any additional hardware to install this lamp.
A unique feature of the Linkable LED Utility Shop Light is that it’s easy to install by either suspended mounting or flush mounting, easy plug and play. Made of robust aluminum, impact-resistant lens, and thermoplastic, so it is pretty lightweight by being quite durable.
Rating 4.4 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $$
8. Sunco Lighting 4 Pack LED Utility Shop Light
Key Features:
- 4 LED lights included
- 5,000K color temperature,4,100 lumens, 40-watt, 120V
- Linkable to 4 LED garage lights, connectors included
- ETL, Energy Star certifications, USA-based quality product with knowledgeable support specialists
- 7-year SUNCO warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very durable with great quality materials
- Solid 7-year warranty
- Very easy installation, can directly mount to the ceiling or use a suspended fixture from the ceiling
- Very energy-efficient and environmentally friendly
- 4 garage lights included in one package
Cons:
- Need to drill holes to flush mount
Our Review
Similar to the SUNCO 10-pack garage light we have reviewed above (number 4), but only includes 4 lamps instead of 10. You can check our review above.
Rating 4.7 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $$
9. Freelicht Linkable LED Shop Lights with Plug
Key Features:
- 4 fixtures in one package, 2 bulbs in one fixture
- 4,500 lumens, 45-watt power rating
- 5,000K color temperature, daylight white, best lighting experience for the task and general area lighting
- 50,000 hours of life expectancy
- 5-Year warranty, 7/24 customer service
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great brightness at 4,500 lumens with only 45-watt rating
- Easy installation for both ceiling mounting and hanging fixture
- 4 fixtures included in the package, great overall value
Cons:
- Not very energy efficient with 100 lumens/watt
- Sometimes arrive in poor condition
Our Review
Decent efficiency with 4,500 lumens at 45-watt (100 lumens/W), but nothing too special in this department.
Easy installation for both flush mounting and ceiling mounting, you can easily install it in less than 5 minutes. Also, a great 5-year warranty with 7/24 customer service.
Not the most affordable on this list, although it includes four fixtures in the package, so it’s cost-effective. Overall, pretty decent value with a decent set of features and a long warranty.
Rating 4.7 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $$
10. Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent 1233 RE
Key Features:
- Energy-efficient fluorescent (T8 technology)
- Requires two 32-watt T8 fluorescent bulbs(sold separately)
- 120-volt electronic ballast
- Steel construction with glossy white fixture
- Surpassed US and Canadian safety standards
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very affordable, being a fluorescent garage lighting fixture
- Durable
- User-friendly and easy to install
- Safe choice if you want fluorescent garage light
Cons:
- Not energy efficient
- May Need reflector/redirection
- Bulbs not included
Our Review
The first fluorescent garage light in this list, and the most important highlight here is affordability. Very affordable, but also pretty efficient and durable for a fluorescent garage light option. The package doesn’t include fluorescent bulbs (you’d need two), so you’d need to purchase them separately.
Easy to install, and a safe overall choice if you want a fluorescent garage light. Again, it’s very affordable and pretty decent overall.
Rating 4.0 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $
11. Vapor Proof Led Light Commercial Lights 2700lm For Barber Light
Key Features:
- 2,700 lumens brightness output, 36 W
- 5,000K natural daylight white color temperature
- 25,000 hours average lifetime
- Easy installation, can be easily suspended or surface mounted (hanging chain not included)
- 2-year limited warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very affordable for a LED garage light
- Decent brightness/watt with 2,700 lumens brightness
- Durable with decent materials
- Screw terminals are great and easy to use
Cons:
- Need a rubber club if you want to install in the second grommet
- Only 2,700 lumens, so you’ll need a lot to light a big garage
Our Review
The Vapor Proof LED Light offers 2,700 lumens brightness for a 36-watt power rating, so it’s not very energy efficient compared to others in this list.
It is easy to install for both flush mounting and suspended mounting, especially due to its compact design, and overall, decent build quality and good-looking fixture.
Overall, however, there are better LED garage lights in this list for almost all kinds of applications.
Rating 3.9/ 5.0
Dolar Rating $
12. Lithonia Lighting SB 232 120 GESB Fluorescent Wraparound 2-head
Key Features:
- Energy-efficient fluorescent (T8 technology), not included, Fixture wattage 58 watt (max)
- 2 lamps in 1 fixture with square-basket wrap
- Lightweight with 11 pounds acrylic material
- 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Easy to install, channel cover snaps into place without any tools, don’t need help from professionals
- Side prisms on the diffuser, can help control brightness
- Instant-on ballast, eliminates humming and flickering
- Continuous diffuser support to prevent accidental opening
Cons:
- Not very good safety measures and certifications
- Relatively expensive for a fluorescent fixture
Our Review
Another fluorescent bulb, but not very affordable compared to the Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent reviewed above. Again, the fluorescent bulb is not included in the package so you’d need to purchase it separately. Maximum wattage is 58-watt, and it’s pretty bright. Decent energy efficiency for a fluorescent garage light.
Pretty lightweight, and is made from 11-pounds acrylic material. However, in virtually every aspect, Lithonia is the better pick if you want a fluorescent garage light, mainly due to the fact that Lithonia is significantly more affordable.
Rating 3.9 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $
13. Deformable LED Garage Lights Motion Activated
Key Features:
- Energy-efficient fluorescent (T8 technology), not included
- 6,000 lumens output, super bright LED bulb
- Natural white color temperature (6,000K), best lighting experience for task and general area lighting
- Motion-activated with microwave motion sensing that can quickly detect any movement. Can detect motion within 26.24ft~32.8ft and sometimes through windows
- 60-watt power rating
- Three adjustable aluminum LED heads, can be folded up to 90 degrees.
- 7/24 customer service
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Can cover 360 degrees area
- Great brightness with 6,000 lumens brightness rating
- “Colder” color temperature at 6,000K compared to others in this list
- Easy to install and minimum maintenance cost
- Corrosion and high-temperature resistant
Cons:
- Motion sensor not very reliable
Our Review
Another motion-activated LED with a very bright 6,000 lumens rating. 100 lumens/W rating. So, it is not very efficient compared to others. However, it is brighter than most options in this list, so it’s a great option if you only want to light a small garage or if you don’t want too many fixtures in your garage.
However, the motion sensor is not very reliable, especially when compared to the TRiLIGHT. Overall, if you are looking for a motion-activated LED garage light, the STKR Concepts 00342 TRiLIGHT is the better pick.
Rating 3.8 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $$
14. 48W Linkable LED Wraparound Flushmount Light 4ft
Key Features:
- 4,000 lumens, 5,000K natural daylight white, 48-watt power rating
- Steel base white powder coating housing
- Easy to install, can be surface-mounted to walls and ceilings. Mounting hardware included
- 5-year limited warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great build quality with thermal-formed diffuser, minimal lamp image
- 5-year limited warranty
- Easy to install
- Steel-base white coating housing
Cons:
- Not very energy efficient (48-watt for only 4,000 lumens)
- Not user-friendly instruction
Our Review
Great build quality with a 5-year limited warranty, and comes with a very affordable price tag for an LED garage light. The thermal-formed diffuser is made of highly-transmissive material to minimize lamp image, which is another great value.
4,000 lumens with a 48-watt power rating, so it’s not very energy-efficient. However, it is easy enough to install with its integrated LED wraparound lights and cab be surface mounted easily (mounting hardware included).
Still a pretty decent LED garage light overall. Just, there are better options on this list.
Rating 4.5 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $
15. Adiding LED High Bay Light, UFO High Bay LIFUD Driver Dimmable
Key Features:
- 13,000 lumens, 100-watt high-bay light, 130 lumens/watt efficiency rating
- 5,000K bright white color temperature
- 60,000 hours expected lifetime with 6 hours/day use
- 6 years limited warranty for your 100% satisfaction
- ETL DLC CE ROHS certified
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Cost-effective since it can produce 13,000 lumens with just one fixture
- Ultra-lightweight at just 10.67 pounds
- The best energy efficiency on this list with 130 lumens/watt rating
- Dimmable function (purchased separately)
Cons:
- Rather difficult to install
- Lights may burn out due to brightness
Our Review
Great efficiency (130 lumens/watt) with 13,000 lumens rating at 100-watt. So, although it’s quite expensive, it’s actually pretty cost-efficient. The Adiding LED features a high-bay technology with built-in 288 pcs SMD LEDs chip for energy efficiency and low decay, so if you want long-term efficiency, this might be the best choice for you.
Made of an impact-resistant die-cast aluminum housing with ultra-thin light-emitting surface and hollow design, so it’s lightweight and durable while allowing a more efficient light dissipation. A great choice if you don’t want too many fixtures in your garage, or if your garage simply needs a lot of brightness, and 6-year limited warranty.
Rating 4.7 / 5.0
Dolar Rating $$$
Garage Lighting FAQs
1. What Type of Lighting is Best for a Garage?
The answer to this question will ultimately depend on your needs, especially how you are going to use the garage.
Nowadays, however, LED lights are almost always the better option. When LEDs were first introduced, LED garage lights were very expensive, and the stigma has somewhat stuck to this day. Yet, nowadays LEDs are more affordable to everyone and so they are almost always the best option in most cases (more about this further below).
The cost for LED garage lighting has dramatically come down in the last decade and LED has proven itself to be very energy-efficient and adaptable for many different situations, and also long-lasting with significantly better average lifetime than fluorescent bulbs.
There are, however, cases when fluorescent light bulbs can be a better choice, especially if your garage is fairly small and is only used by yourself (i.e. for DIY projects). Fluorescent bulbs with its omnidirectional light (more on this below in the buying guide section) can allow more efficient lighting in a small space.
Below, in the buying guide section, we will also discuss some of the important factors you should consider when choosing the right type of lighting for your specific garage.
2. What Is the Best LED Garage Light
Based on our reviews and tests, the STKR Concepts 00342 TRiLIGHT is the best LED garage light in most situations. It has a rich set of features while being relatively affordable for what it offers.
It does feature adjustable aluminum LED heads, and so you will need the help of a professional (licensed electrician) to install it. You still can install it yourself (DIY) since it does offer a useful step-by-step guide in its installation manual, but you’d need to be extra careful.
A really useful feature of the TRiLight is that it is motion-activated, equipped with a very sensitive motion sensor that can detect movement and turn the light on automatically. This can help with energy-efficiency and might also assist specific needs in your garage. Worth noting that this is a totally optional feature depending on your needs and the purpose of your garage lighting.
3. Are LED Lights Brighter Than Fluorescent
Yes. An LED light, when compared to a fluorescent lamp with the same watt rating is noticeably better with higher lumens/Watt rating (more on this on the buying guide section below). Also, with LED lighting, we won’t get exposed to the harmful UV rays and harmful substances like mercury.
Brightness and the overall light quality of an LED is one of the most important features, and also one of the main reasons for LED’s popularity in recent years.
However, fluorescent lamps might create the illusion of being brighter in smaller rooms due to their omnidirectional lighting feature (the lights spread evenly to all sides in 360 degrees), so smaller rooms might appear brighter when compared with similar LEDs.
To be objective, make sure to measure lumens rating than relying on your eyes.
4. How Bright Should Garage/Shop Lights Be?
The answer to this question will vary depending on your needs and the purpose of the garage/shop.
In general, however, we’d recommend at least 70 lumens per square foot for a general mechanic garage or woodshop. However, you can increase the brightness up to 100 lumens per square foot if the ceiling is higher than 8 feet (or the fixture’s height).
The lumen output is how bright the garage light can produce light (or the intensity of the light). The higher the lumens, the brighter the room will seem. Calculate the number of fixtures you’ll need for your garage based on how many lumens each fixture offers. We will further discuss brightness and lumens rating in the buying guide section below.
5. How Many Fluorescent Lights Should Be in a Garage?
If you decide to use fluorescent lights, the number of fixtures required to light your whole garage might vary depending on several factors. But, the main principle is you’d need to figure out the best possible layout and avoid blank spots by considering:
- The distance from your main workbench or table to the fixtures (if it’s suspended fixtures), or the ceiling. The more distance, the more lumens (brightness) you need, which can mean more fixtures. We will call this A.
- The distance between different fixtures. In general, this should be equal or no more than A. For example if A is 5 feet, then the distance between fixtures should be between 5’ to 7’6”.Let’s call this B.
- The distance between a fixture and the wall. This should be no more than one third to half of B. So, if B is 6’ then, this distance should be between 2’ to 3’. We’ll call this C.
By using this formula, we can quite easily calculate how many fixtures you’d need based on the lumens rating per fixture. We can use the same formula to calculate how many LED fixtures you’d need for your garage.
Buying Guide: What To Consider When Buying Garage Lighting
Brightness
Different light bulbs can produce a wide variety of brightness levels, and it’s important to understand that the power rating of a lightbulb (or the wattage) won’t necessarily tell us how bright the light bulb will be. It’s a very common misconception to think that the wattage will tell us how much light the bulb can produce.
Instead, the brightness of garage lighting is determined by Lumens (denoted by lm). The higher the lumens rating, the brighter the lamp would be, regardless of the wattage.
So, now that we know that lumens rating is the one telling us about the brightness, we can calculate the efficiency between brightness and energy consumption with a simple formula: lumens per watt (lm/W or lumens/W). In general, we’d want to find a bulb with the highest brightness at the lowest possible wattage rate.
Color Temperature
Again, it’s very important to understand that the term “temperature” in color temperature doesn’t refer to how hot or cold the garage lighting runs. Instead, the color temperature will tell us about the ambiance factor of the lighting. That is, whether the light appears cold or warm.
Color temperature is measured in Kelvins or simply K, ranging around 2,500 to 7,000 K. The bigger the number, the colder the color temperature (which might seem confusing at first since it’s not how we usually understood temperatures).
Light bulbs with color temperatures around 3,000K to 4,000 K are deemed “natural white”, and if you want slight yellow (warmer) tint, you can use 2,700K (warm white) bulbs. On the other hand, if you want “colder” white, you can choose bulbs with high color temperatures of 6500K and above.
Since cold light is considered “brighter” and is suggested to improve human concentration, colder color temperatures are generally preferred for garage lighting purposes.
Energy Efficiency
The efficiency of lighting and electricity is determined by two factors: wattage and brightness (lumens, which we have discussed above).
Wattage rating (measured by Watt or simply W) quantifies the rate of energy transfer: that is, how fast the lighting generates electric energy, and so Watt can also be measured as the number of Joules per second (J/s). In short, the higher the watt rating, the higher the power consumption.
As we have discussed in the brightness section above, the higher the wattage doesn’t necessarily mean the brighter the lighting will be. This is especially because of the newer lighting technology and especially LEDs, that can produce more light while consuming a lot less power.
Again, to measure energy efficiency, we can measure how much brightness per watt, or lumens/watt.
Safety
In garage lighting, safety is a really important factor to consider and there are generally two main factors to consider:
First, make sure the lightbulb has required the right safety certifications, most commonly UL or ETL These two certifications simply mean the bulb was properly tested and have met the safety regulations. The second factor to consider is whether the bulb has been installed properly according to the instructions/suggestions.
So, you might need to look for garage lighting products that are easy enough to install, or alternatively, get a professional to help with the installation.
LED vs. Fluorescent – Which is better?
The short answer to this question is that LED is a more expensive initial investment, but it’s much more energy-efficient in the long run.
However, with the advancements in technology, LEDs are now much more affordable than ever, along with the following benefits:
- Even more efficient. In general, an LED is 30% more efficient than fluorescent bulbs in terms of wattage and lumens/wattage. A 22W LED light bulb is equal, efficiency-wise to a 30W fluorescent bulb.
- Longer lifetime. The average lifetime of today’s LED lighting is 50,000 hours, while for fluorescent, it’s only around 14,400 hours. In general, we can expect a LED bulb to have a 3.5 times greater durability than a fluorescent bulb.
- No heat usage. Fluorescent bulbs utilize heat to deliver light—so they waste energy as some of the electricity is transformed into heat instead of light—. LEDs, on the other hand, convert energy directly to light without producing heat. This also means that LEDs won’t run hot and increase the temperature around them.
- No UV/Mercury Emission. Fluorescent bulbs do contain mercury and will emit UV light. UV light can cause eye strain and fatigue and also might damage fabrics. Mercury, as we know, can be dangerous to our health. LED lights don’t emit both,
So, in most cases (and almost all of the cases) nowadays, LEDs are always better than fluorescent lights.
However, fluorescent light has a unique feature of being omnidirectional (the light spreads evenly in 360 degrees), which can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the garage condition.
If it’s a very small garage, then this can be an advantage since the fluorescent bulb can offer an even distribution of maximum lighting in a small space. If it’s a large space, however, this can lead to significant inefficiency since at least half of the light needs to be redirected (reflected) to the desired area, which will mean more accessory required and less overall intensity.
Installation and Compatibility
While it’s important to choose the right garage light based on other features—as discussed above—-, it is very important to make sure you can install and connect it or at least, there are professionals that can help you with the installation.
Make sure the garage lighting is compatible according to your exact needs. For example, if you want the garage light to cover your working area, you might want to choose a product that can be mounted to the ceiling or can hang. Make sure the hanging mechanism is adjustable and long enough so you can hang it at the perfect height according to the size of your room.
Also, if you need multiple lights, consider whether you’d need to connect them in a series. You might need to consider that the garage light offers with this feature and so the series can support the number of bulbs you need.