What are LED Billboard Lights?

LED Lighting Supply billboard lights are precision-engineered floodlights designed specifically for outdoor advertising applications. Unlike standard flood fixtures, these lights use specialized optics to project bright, uniform illumination across billboard surfaces of all sizes. Most installations position fixtures at the top or bottom of the sign, typically set back 4 to 8 feet from the billboard face for optimal light distribution.

Replacing metal halide billboard lighting with LED technology delivers immediate benefits in energy costs and maintenance. We typically recommend starting with a lighting plan to map your specific billboard dimensions and mounting constraints. Our photometric analysis determines the precise fixture placement and tilt angles needed to achieve balanced illumination across your entire advertising surface.

Key Advantages of Our LED Billboard Lighting

After 17 years of designing billboard lighting systems, we've identified the most critical performance factors for outdoor advertising applications.

• Energy Efficiency: Expect 60 percent energy savings compared to metal halide systems. Most customers see payback within 18-24 months from utility cost reductions alone.
• Maintenance Reduction: LED technology eliminates ballast failures and frequent lamp replacements common with HID systems. Your maintenance costs drop significantly when fixtures operate reliably for years without service calls.
• Superior Color Quality: Our fixtures use high CRI LEDs rated above 80 to render advertising graphics with accurate, vibrant colors. Brand colors display exactly as designers intended, maintaining visual impact that drives customer response.
• Immediate Full Output: Full brightness activates in under one second without warm-up delays. This instant-on capability proves essential for timer-controlled systems or motion-activated advertising displays.
• Extended Operating Life: Rated for 50,000+ hours of operation with minimal lumen depreciation over time. In typical billboard applications running 12 hours daily, fixtures maintain peak performance for over a decade.
• Flexible Color Temperature: Choose 4000K neutral white for warmer illumination that complements earth tones, or 5000K daylight for crisp, clean light that enhances blues and cooler graphics.

Optimal Illumination Levels for Billboard Applications

Based on hundreds of billboard lighting plans we've designed, illumination requirements vary significantly by location and viewing conditions. We've successfully modeled systems ranging from 20 foot-candles for rural locations to over 100 foot-candles for high-traffic urban intersections. However, 50 foot-candles represents the sweet spot for most applications, providing excellent visibility without excessive glare or energy consumption.

Highway billboards typically require higher illumination levels due to vehicle speed and viewing distance. Urban applications often need more modest lighting to comply with local ordinances while still achieving advertising effectiveness. Our lighting plans account for ambient light pollution, viewing angles, and local regulations to determine your ideal illumination target.

Technical Specifications and Installation Considerations

Our billboard fixtures operate on standard 120V to 277V input with integrated drivers that automatically adjust to your building's electrical system. Available wattages range from 80 watts to 300 watts, depending on billboard size and illumination requirements. Most installations use multiple fixtures to achieve uniform coverage across large advertising surfaces.

Beam angle selection proves critical for billboard applications. We stock fixtures with 60-degree, 90-degree, and 120-degree beam spreads to match different setback distances and billboard dimensions. Narrow beam angles work best when fixtures mount far from the billboard face, while wider beams suit closer mounting positions or shorter billboards.

Weather resistance remains essential for outdoor advertising applications. All our billboard fixtures carry IP65 ratings for complete protection against dust infiltration and water jets from any direction. The robust aluminum housings and tempered glass lenses withstand years of weather exposure without performance degradation.

Mounting Options and Fixture Positioning

Proper fixture positioning dramatically affects both light uniformity and energy efficiency. Top-mounted configurations typically provide the most even illumination, especially for tall billboards with significant vertical graphics. Bottom-mounted installations work well for smaller signs or locations where top mounting creates structural challenges.

Adjustable mounting brackets allow precise aiming after installation. Most of our customers prefer yoke mounts for their flexibility in targeting specific billboard sections. Slip-fitter mounts work well when installing on existing poles, while wall-mount brackets suit direct attachment to billboard structures.

Fixture spacing depends on beam angle and mounting distance. Our lighting plans calculate optimal placement to eliminate hot spots and dark zones across your advertising surface. Proper spacing ensures your graphics receive consistent illumination from edge to edge.

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.

5-Year 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 Consultation for Your Billboard Lighting Project

Billboard lighting design involves multiple variables, including sign dimensions, viewing distances, local regulations, and budget constraints. Our sales engineers bring 17 years of experience in outdoor advertising illumination to every project consultation. Rather than guessing at fixture requirements, we analyze your specific application and provide data-driven recommendations backed by photometric modeling.

We offer free lighting plans for all billboard projects to ensure optimal illumination balance and fixture efficiency. Our computerized models show exactly how light will distribute across your advertising surface before you make any equipment purchases. This eliminates costly mistakes and ensures your billboard achieves maximum visual impact while minimizing energy consumption.

LED Billboard Lights FAQ

Is Using Fewer Higher-Wattage Fixtures Better Than More Lower-Wattage Billboard Fixtures?

Lower-wattage fixtures deliver superior uniform coverage across billboard surfaces. Multiple 150W units typically outperform single 400W fixtures by eliminating shadows and hot spots between mounting points. Our asymmetrical beam angles from 120° to 160° provide exceptional light spread, allowing strategic fixture placement for balanced illumination without over-powering center areas.

Are LED Billboard Lights Dark Sky Compliant?

Bottom-mounted fixtures inherently create light pollution and violate dark sky ordinances. Top-mounted configurations pointing downward achieve dark sky compliance by containing light within the target area. Our fixtures include integrated shields and precise optics to minimize upward light spillage.

What are the Best Optics for Outdoor Sign Lighting - Billboard Lights?

We manufacture specialized asymmetrical billboard optics in two configurations: wide/short for 40' x 14' displays and narrow/tall for 14' x 40' orientations. These custom lens systems deliver Type 3 or 5 light distribution optimized for close-proximity mounting while maintaining uniform footcandles across the entire sign face.

How Many LED Fixtures for a 40 X 14 Billboard?

Four 200W fixtures provide optimal coverage for standard 40' x 14' billboards, delivering 15-25 footcandles uniformly across the surface.

How Far from the Sign Should Fixtures Be Mounted?

Mount fixtures 12-20 feet from the billboard face when possible. Greater distances improve light distribution and reduce hot spots, though our asymmetrical optics perform well even at close mounting distances of 6-8 feet.

Do Billboard Lights Come with Surge Protection?

All units include a minimum 4kV surge protection with optional upgrades to 10kV or 20kV for high-exposure locations. This protects LED drivers and components from lightning strikes and grid fluctuations common in outdoor installations.

Can I use a Flood Light instead of LED Billboard Lights?

Standard floodlights create uneven, spotty illumination on billboard surfaces due to narrow beam angles and symmetrical distribution. Billboard-specific asymmetrical optics project light precisely where needed, eliminating dark zones and hot spots. Floodlights lack the specialized throw patterns required for close-proximity sign lighting applications.

What is the Cost of Lighting a Billboard with LED?

Complete LED billboard systems range from $1,200-3,500, depending on size and requirements. We provide free photometric analysis and lighting plans based on your specific dimensions and mounting constraints. Most installations achieve 60-70% energy savings over HID systems.

What are the Mounting Options for Billboard Lights?

Standard options include slip fitter mounts for pole installation and adjustable trunnion/yoke brackets for structural mounting. All hardware is hot-dip galvanized steel rated for 150+ mph wind loads.

Are LED Billboard Lights Waterproof?

Our fixtures carry IP66 ratings with sealed optical chambers and weatherproof driver compartments. All units undergo 24-hour water immersion testing and include 10-year weatherproofing warranties.

How Hard is it to Install LED Outdoor Billboard Lighting?

Installation takes 30-60 minutes per fixture using standard electrical connections. Auto-sensing drivers operate on 120-277V without adjustment requirements. Simply connect line, neutral, and ground wires—no ballasts or complex wiring needed.

What's the Difference Between Mounting Lights at the Top or Bottom?

Performance remains identical in both positions due to our symmetrical housing design. Top mounting offers better weather protection for optics and improved dark sky compliance. Bottom mounting provides easier maintenance access but may require additional shielding in light-sensitive areas.