Why You Should Choose an LED UFO Light

By far, we recommend UFO High Bay Lights for many commercial, industrial, and sports indoor applications. Here are some of the reasons why we recommend UFOs and why they are extremely popular for indoor applications:

• Design: Compact circular profile with concentrated downward light distribution
• Best Applications: Metal halide replacements, open warehouses, manufacturing floors, gymnasiums, aircraft hangars
• Power Range: 60 to 600 Watts producing up to 96,000 lumens
• Light Pattern: Optic options are ideal for low and high-ceiling applications, allowing for the optimal lighting distribution.
• Durability: IP65-IP69K waterproof ratings with IK08-IK10 impact resistance

How to Choose the Right UFO High Bay LED Light

Selecting the perfect UFO high bay LED light requires understanding three critical performance factors: your space dimensions, lighting requirements, and environmental conditions. 
Based on 17+ years of commercial and industrial lighting experience, here are our thoughts about what you need to know before you select a UFO fixture

UFO High Bay Specifications by Ceiling Height

• 10-15 Foot Ceiling Heights: These are considered low bay heights, and the best approach is to use a light up to 100 Watts, producing no more than 15,000 lumens. A very wide beam angle works best as you want to distribute the light over a very large area. Consider 120° beam angles or more. We also recommend surface-mount canopy lights for this area. They provide a very large and wide light distribution which makes them perfect for these applications.
• 15-25 Foot Ceiling Heights: Our commercial projects consistently achieve best results with 100-200W UFO fixtures producing 15,000-25,000 lumens, spaced 15-20 feet apart with 120° beam angles. 
• 25-35 Foot Ceiling Heights: For medium-height industrial spaces, we recommend 200-300W UFO lights delivering 25,000-48,000 lumens with 90-120° beam angles and 20-25 foot spacing.
• 35+ Foot Ceiling Heights: High-ceiling warehouses and hangars require our most powerful 300-600W UFO fixtures producing 48,000-96,000 lumens with focused 60-90° beam angles, spaced 25-35 feet apart.

Power Requirements & Voltage Compatibility

Our UFO high bay LEDs feature automatic voltage detection across two ranges:

• Standard Commercial: 100-277V with automatic driver adjustment
• Industrial High Voltage: 277-480V for single-phase and three-phase applications

Advanced UFO Adjustments

• Wattage Adjustable Models: Wattage toggle switches provide field-adjustable power settings, optimize energy usage and light output for specific applications.
• Color Temperature Adjustable: Color temperature toggle switch (3000K/4000K/5000K) for flexibility during and after installation
• Beam Angle Adjustable: Rotating lens systems provide 60°/90°/120° field adjustment

Here is what we recommend when trying to select the best color temperature for your needs:

• 3000K Warm White: Retail environments, customer-facing areas. 
• 4000K Neutral White: General commercial applications and mixed-use facilities. A great replacement for fluorescent lighting.
• 5000K Bright White: Industrial facilities, warehouses, and high-precision work environments. A great replacement for metal halide lighting.

Sensor Integration Options

• PIR Motion Sensors: Reliable detection for general applications with standard environmental conditions.
• Microwave Motion Sensors: Advanced technology unaffected by dust, temperature variations, or air movement - ideal for industrial environments

Mounting & Installation Flexibility

• Mounting Options: Eye hook, pendant, surface mount, and chain/cable suspension systems.
• Installation Advantage: Direct replacement for existing metal halide fixtures using identical mounting hardware.

Certifications & Warranty Protection

• Safety Certified: UL/ETL listing for electrical safety compliance
• Energy Qualified: DLC certification enables utility rebate eligibility
• Environmental Protection: IP65-IP69K ratings for moisture resistance, IK impact ratings for durability
• Comprehensive Warranty Coverage: All UFO high bay fixtures include a minimum 5-year manufacturer warranty with direct warranty claim processing through LED Lighting Supply.

Why UFO LED Outperforms Metal Halide, HPS, and Fluorescent Lighting

• Proven Energy Performance: Our UFO LED conversions deliver 50-80% energy reduction compared to metal halide fixtures. When UFOs are equipped with motion sensors, total energy savings reach up to 90%.
• Lifespan: 50,000-100,000+ hours (12+ years of continuous operation)
• Instant Performance: 100% light output immediately with zero warm-up time. That is why they work well with motion sensors
• Consistent Light Quality: Flicker-free operation, 70+ CRI, and no ballast hum.
• Thermal Management: Reduced heat output lowers HVAC loads.
• Environmental Durability: Available with IP65-IP69K for wet locations and IK08-IK10 impact ratings.

Advanced Control Integration

• Motion Sensor Ready: PIR and microwave sensor compatibility for automatic lighting control
• Dimming Capability: 0-10V and 1-10V dimming for task-specific lighting levels
• Emergency Backup: External EMB systems provide up to 90 minutes of emergency illumination

How Much will you Save? UFO LED ROI Analysis & Energy Savings

150W UFO LED vs 400W Metal Halide Replacement

Based on 12 hours/day, 365 days of operation at $0.13/kWh

Single Fixture Annual Savings: $171.35 50 Fixture Installation Annual Savings: $8,567

ROI Timeline: UFO LED fixture investment recovered in less than 13 months

System	Annual Energy Cost	5-Year Total Cost	5-Year Savings
Metal Halide (460W)	$314.23	$1,571.15	-
UFO LED (150W)	$142.88	$714.40	$856.75

Energy Reduction: 67% | 5-Year ROI: 424% | LED Hours: 50,000+ vs 15,000 MH

 

1000W UFO LED vs 1000W Metal Halide Replacement

Based on 12 hours/day, 365 days of operation at $0.13/kWh

Single Fixture Annual Savings: $171.35 50 Fixture Installation Annual Savings: $8,567

ROI Timeline: UFO LED fixture investment recovered in less than 13 months

System	Annual Energy Cost	5-Year Total Cost	5-Year Savings
Metal Halide (1150W)	$653.94	$3,269.70	-
UFO LED (1000W)	$482.59	$2,412.95	$856.75

Energy Reduction: 13% | 5-Year ROI: 132% | LED Hours: 50,000+ vs 15,000 MH

Common UFO High Bay Applications & Performance Data

Warehouses & Distribution Centers

Challenge: Consistent illumination across variable ceiling heights and storage configurations

Solution: 150-400W UFO fixtures with adjustable beam angles and motion sensors ensure optimal visibility

Manufacturing & Industrial Facilities

Challenge: Durable lighting for harsh environments with dust, moisture, and vibration

Solution: IP65+ rated UFO lights with IK10 impact resistance maintain performance in demanding conditions

Aircraft Hangars

Challenge: High-ceiling spaces requiring concentrated, powerful illumination for aircraft maintenance

Solution: 300W to 600W UFO fixtures with focused beam patterns deliver superior light brightness and coverage

Gymnasiums & Sports Facilities

Challenge: Even light distribution without glare for athletic activities and spectators

Solution: UFO fixtures with appropriate beam angles help eliminate shadows and hot spots

Indoor Horse Arenas

Challenge: Even light distribution without glare and shadows for horses and riders.

Solution: Lighting plans ensure bright lighting and balanced distribution across the arena floor.

Need Help? Talk to our LED UFO High Bay Product Specialists!

With so many options and fixtures available, it's hard to decide which option will meet your needs and requirements. The product specialists of LED Lighting Supply are experts in UFO High Bay Lighting. Use our experience and tell us your needs, and we will provide you with the best LED UFO High Bay lighting options for your project or application. We can provide you with a free lighting plan to make sure the area is well-lit and the lighting is balanced.

LED UFO High Bays FAQ

What Are UFO LED Lights?

UFO LED lights are a type of high bay that gets its name from its shape. It resembles a UFO spacecraft. The design emerged about 10 years ago and has been one of the mainstay offerings in high bays ever since. They're round, robust, and impact-resistant. It makes them a perfect replacement for metal-halide high bays. UFO High Bays are the best replacement for Metal Halide High Bays, and can easily replace these high bays one-for-one.

How Many UFO High Bay Light Fixtures Do You Need?

That depends on the building size and your lighting requirements. The best starting place is to figure out your lighting levels needed and engineer a lighting plan. A lighting plan will model your indoor space with lighting software. A lighting plan will detail brightness and balance across the space. From the lighting plan, you will be able to find the number of UFO lights you need to light the space properly. A Product Specialist at LED Lighting Supply can engineer a free custom lighting plan ahead of purchase to meet the needs of your project.

What Benefits Should I Expect if I Convert to Using a UFO High Bay Light?

They're durable, high impact and waterproof fixtures ideal for many applications. They consume 50% to 70% less energy than the same HID fixture. They provide years of bright, high-quality, maintenance-free lighting without bulb and ballast changes. They produce significantly less heat than HID bulbs, reducing HVAC loads. LED Lights offer enhanced energy efficiency benefits when paired with commercial ceiling fans. We pride ourselves as a one-stop shop providing lighting, fan, and pole solutions. Our Product Specialists can engineer a lighting plan with the recommended ceiling fan product to meet the requirements of your space.

How Do I Select Which UFO High Bay Lights To Use?

Start with determining the number of foot-candles you need. Then, have us create a lighting plan for your space. You can find the right combination of fixture and lumen output. This will allow you to create the right amount of balanced lighting in your space. Other information we will need to know: Standard voltage (100-277V) or high voltage (277-480V), the type of mount you need: hook, pendant, or ceiling mount, and whether you need a motion sensor. You should also determine if you need dimming and decide what color temperature you want.

How Many LED UFO Lumens to Replace Metal Halide and HID High Bays?

• 250 Watts Metal Halide: 10,000 to 12,000 LED lumens
• 400 Watts Metal Halide: 15,000 to 24,000 LED lumens
• 1000 Watts Metal Halide: 40,000 to 60,000 LED lumens

The lumens required will depend on the mounting height and light level required.

How High Should You Hang UFO Lights?

Since these are high bays, they should be mounted in ceiling heights above 20 feet. We do have some wattage-adjustable lights that you can switch down to 100 Watts, which will allow you to mount them at around 15 feet. We do have some powerful UFOs up to 600 Watts and 96000 lumens that are designed for ceilings as high as 60 feet tall.

What Types of Controls are Commonly Used on UFO High Bays?

The most common type of control is motion sensors. They will turn the UFO High Bay to full power when motion is detected, and dim the High Bay when the area is void of motion.

What are Wattage Adjustable and Color Adjustable UFO LED Lights?

These lights have onboard toggle switches that allow you to select the light output and the color temperature on the UFO light. This takes the guesswork and risk out of selecting the right power and color temperature.

Are there Emergency Backup UFO LED Lights?

Yes, but the emergency backup units are external. These units can provide up to 90 minutes of power when power is interrupted.