Commercial LED Street Lighting

What are LED Street Lights?

LED street lights are pole-mounted fixtures specifically engineered to illuminate roadways, highways, and urban thoroughfares with precision light distribution. Also known as cobra head lights, these fixtures mount directly to the top of light poles and utilize advanced optics to distribute light evenly across traffic areas. Most installations feature one fixture per pole, though spacing varies based on road classification and local requirements.

Modern LED street fixtures operate across 120V to 480V input ranges with drivers that automatically adjust to your building's electrical system. We typically recommend 3000K to 4000K color temperatures for most municipal applications, though many cities now prefer the warmer 3000K option to reduce light pollution and improve nighttime visibility.

Street light optics follow standardized Type classifications from Type 1 through Type 5, with Type 3 and Type 5 being most common for roadway applications. Optional photocell controls automatically activate fixtures at dusk and deactivate at dawn, eliminating manual operation while ensuring consistent nighttime illumination.

What are the Benefits of LED Street Light Fixtures?

Energy Savings: Immediate electric bill reductions of 50 to 80 percent compared to metal halide and high-pressure sodium systems make LED conversion projects pay for themselves quickly.

High Quality Illumination: Superior color rendering and consistent white light eliminate the orange glare associated with sodium fixtures while improving visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.

Lower Maintenance Costs: Extended operating life eliminates frequent bulb changes and ballast replacements, dramatically reducing labor costs and service calls over the fixture's lifespan.

Safety: Enhanced visibility from quality LED illumination correlates with reduced crime rates and fewer traffic incidents in well-lit areas.

Long Life: Operating lifespans of 50,000 to 100,000 hours far exceed the 10,000-hour typical life of metal halide systems, reducing replacement frequency and disposal costs.

Control Ready: Built-in compatibility with smart controls, dimming systems, and photocells allows for automated operation and energy optimization without complex retrofitting.

Instant On: Full brightness activation occurs immediately upon switching, unlike HID systems that require several minutes of warm-up time.

Rugged: Engineered to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, high winds, moisture exposure, and mechanical stress without performance degradation.

What are Standard Lux Levels and Foot Candle Levels for Street Lighting?

Illumination requirements vary significantly between municipalities and depend heavily on road classification and pavement type. Higher-traffic roadways consistently require greater illumination levels than residential streets. Foot candle measurements provide the most common specification method in North American markets.

Lux and Foot Candle Levels

• Major Roads: 20-30 lux or 2-3 foot candles
• Collector Roads: 10-20 lux or 1-2 foot candles
• Residential Roads: 5-10 lux or 0.5-1 foot candles
• Pedestrian Areas and Sidewalks: 10-20 lux or 1-2 foot candles

What's the Best Way to Design Street Lighting?

Professional lighting design begins with a comprehensive photometric analysis using specialized street lighting software. Unlike indoor lighting calculations, roadway illumination requires precise modeling of light distribution patterns, pole spacing, and uniformity ratios to meet municipal standards. Our design team creates detailed lighting plans that account for road width, traffic patterns, and local code requirements.

Proper fixture selection depends on mounting height, spacing between poles, and required uniformity ratios. We typically recommend starting with a lighting audit of existing conditions, then developing a plan that optimizes both performance and energy efficiency while meeting all applicable standards.

Common Wattages and Applications

Street light wattage selection depends primarily on mounting height, pole spacing, and road classification. Most municipal installations utilize fixtures ranging from 50 watts to 400 watts, depending on application requirements.

Residential streets typically require 50W to 150W fixtures mounted at 20-25 foot heights. Collector roads perform well with 150W to 250W options, while major arterials and highways often utilize 300W to 400W fixtures mounted 30-40 feet high. When replacing existing HID systems, LED wattages are typically 50-60% lower while providing equal or superior illumination levels.

Mounting and Installation Considerations

LED street lights accommodate various mounting configurations, including slip fitter, adjustable arm, and direct pole-top mounting. Standard slip fitter sizes range from 2-3/8 inch to 4 inches to match existing pole hardware.

Installation typically requires minimal electrical modifications since LED drivers accept 120V to 480V input automatically. Photocell integration happens either through built-in receptacles or external mounting, depending on fixture design and local preferences. Most municipalities prefer fixtures with tool-free access to driver compartments for simplified maintenance.

Safety and Performance Certifications

All our fixtures carry essential certifications, including DLC Premium, UL Listed, and ETL Listed approvals. These certifications ensure safety, performance, and energy efficiency while qualifying your project for utility rebates and tax incentives. DLC Premium certification guarantees the highest efficiency standards and maximum rebate eligibility.

Warranty and Warranty Support

All our lights come with at least a 5-year warranty, and all warranty support is based in the USA. We take customer support seriously, and helping you with a warranty claim is important to us. Our experienced support team understands the importance of keeping your lighting operational and will work quickly to resolve any warranty issues.

Expert Support Throughout Your Street Lighting Project

Our lighting specialists bring decades of combined experience in municipal and roadway lighting applications. We provide complimentary custom lighting plans tailored to your specific roadways and infrastructure requirements. Our team performs precise energy savings calculations based on your current system, helping you quantify return on investment and identify available utility rebates. This technical expertise eliminates guesswork and ensures your street lighting upgrade meets all performance standards while maximizing energy savings. Unlike generic lighting suppliers, we understand the unique challenges of street lighting design and provide ongoing technical support throughout your project lifecycle.

Commercial LED Street Lighting Frequently Asked Questions

What Color Temperature Is Best for LED Street Lights?

3000K to 4000K color temperatures work best for most street lighting applications. We recommend 3000K (warm white) for residential areas and environmentally sensitive zones as it reduces light pollution and provides better visibility for drivers. 4000K (neutral white) works well for commercial districts and major roadways where enhanced visibility is priority.

How Much Energy Do LED Street Lights Save Compared to Traditional Lighting?

LED street lights deliver 50% to 80% energy savings compared to metal halide and high-pressure sodium systems. A 150W LED fixture typically replaces a 400W metal halide system while providing equal or superior illumination. These savings translate to immediate utility bill reductions and faster project payback periods, usually within 3-5 years.

What Light Distribution Types Are Used for Street Lighting?

Type 3 and Type 5 optics are most common for roadway applications. Type 3 provides forward throw for roadway illumination with minimal backlight, while Type 5 distributes light in all directions for intersections and wide area coverage. Type 2 works for narrow roads and pedestrian areas, with specific optics selection based on mounting height and spacing requirements.

How Long Do LED Street Light Fixtures Last?

Quality LED street lights operate for 50,000 to 100,000 hours under normal conditions. This translates to approximately 15-25 years of typical nighttime operation, compared to 2-3 years for metal halide systems. Extended lifespan dramatically reduces maintenance costs and eliminates frequent fixture replacements across municipal lighting networks.

What Wattage LED Street Light Do I Need?

Wattage requirements depend on mounting height and road classification. Residential streets typically need 50W to 150W fixtures at 20-25 foot mounting heights. Collector roads perform well with 150W to 250W options, while major arterials require 300W to 400W fixtures mounted 30-40 feet high for proper uniformity and coverage.

Do LED Street Lights Work With Existing Poles and Electrical Systems?

Most LED street lights integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure. Standard slip fitter mounting (2-3/8" to 4") accommodates current pole hardware, while LED drivers automatically adjust to 120V to 480V electrical systems. Photocell integration happens through built-in receptacles or external mounting without complex electrical modifications.

What Certifications Should I Look for in LED Street Lights?

Essential certifications include UL Listed, ETL Listed, and DLC Premium approvals. DLC Premium certification ensures highest efficiency standards and maximizes utility rebate eligibility. These certifications guarantee safety compliance, performance standards, and energy efficiency while qualifying projects for available incentive programs.

How Are Street Lighting Levels Measured and What Standards Apply?

Street lighting uses foot candles or lux measurements with requirements varying by road classification. Major roads require 2-3 foot candles, collector roads need 1-2 foot candles, and residential streets typically require 0.5-1 foot candles. Professional photometric analysis ensures compliance with local municipal standards and proper uniformity ratios.

Why Do Contractors and Municipalities Choose LED Lighting Supply for Street Lighting Projects?

We combine 15+ years of commercial lighting expertise with comprehensive technical support that goes beyond product sales. Our team provides complimentary custom photometric plans, precise energy savings calculations, and utility rebate identification for every project. With 25,000+ completed installations, we understand municipal requirements and provide ongoing technical guidance throughout project implementation and beyond.

What's the Best Way to Design a Street Lighting Layout?

Professional street lighting design requires specialized photometric software to model light distribution patterns, pole spacing, and uniformity ratios. We create detailed lighting plans that account for road width, traffic patterns, and local code requirements. Our design process starts with existing condition audits, then develops optimized layouts that meet performance standards while maximizing energy efficiency.

Can LED Street Lights Be Dimmed or Controlled Automatically?

Modern LED street lights support 0-10V dimming and smart control integration without complex retrofitting. Built-in photocell compatibility enables automatic dusk-to-dawn operation, while advanced control systems allow scheduled dimming and remote monitoring. These features provide additional energy savings and operational flexibility beyond standard on/off switching.