Billboard Lights

What are LED Billboard Lights?

Billboard lights are a specific type of LED Floodlights. They use specialized optics to project bright, high-quality light evenly. Billboard lights mount at the top or bottom of the outdoor sign. They are set back usually 4 to 8 feet from the face of the sign.

Can I Replace Metal Halide with LED – 1 for 1?

Yes, but we recommend you create a lighting plan first to determine your exact needs. A lighting plan will model your billboard face. It will set the appropriate tilt angles to optimize the balance of light across the outdoor sign using our LED fixtures.

Why Do I Need Special LED Billboard Lights and Not Use a Flood Light Instead?

The answer lies in the special optics used on our billboard lights. Floodlights use tight beam angles. These do not work well for billboard lighting or outdoor signs.

Our wide selection of LED billboard lights use a special type of “asymmetrical” lens. These provide a special “throw” pattern to get the light where it’s needed. The light patterns can handle both “tall” and “wide” billboards. They work well in conditions where the surface being lit is a close distance from the light.

Using a flood light or a shoebox light in these conditions would not work well. The light pattern on the face of the billboard would look spotty and uneven.

What Other Benefits Do LED Billboard Lights Offer?

There are many benefits of LED billboard light fixtures, here are just a few.

Energy Savings – you can expect a 50% or more reduction in your lighting costs;
High Quality Light Output – this will make the colors on the billboard pop
Instant On/Instant Off – no long start up times or delays associated with conventional lighting
A Long Lifespan and Little to No Maintenance Costs – a clear winner over Metal-Halide lights.

What Does It Cost to Light a Billboard?

That depends on the size of your billboard and your requirements. We have lit billboards up with 2 lights and as many as 5. To start, we offer free lighting plans. That way we can model your billboard to your needs. Given our experience, there’s a good chance we’ve already modeled your billboard. We can give you options, including price.

Am I Better to Use Fewer Higher Wattage Fixtures or More Lower Wattage Billboard Fixtures?

We find that lower wattage billboard fixtures produce better uniform light coverage. When creating a lighting plan, you try to achieve the desired light levels and balance. Balance means there are no shadows between lights. You can remove shadows and increase balance by adding more ‘less wattage’ fixtures. Some of the beam angels we have available provide some incredible light spread.

What Color Temperature Is Best for Billboard Lights?

The two best color temperatures are 5000K and 4000K. The majority of customers prefer 5000K.

Are There Dark Sky Issues with Billboards?

By design, billboard signs with bottom-mounted lights create dark sky issues. Top-mounted lights pointing down help solve dark sky issues.

How Many Fixtures Should We Expect to Use on a 40 X 14 Billboard?

We find 4 fixtures provide the right light levels.

Do You Need to Use Billboard Lighting or Will Standard LED Lighting Work?

The main difference between a standard LED light and a light designed to work on a billboard is the optics. The billboard light has special optics which the standard LED light doesn’t. That will become immediately obvious the minute you install a normal LED light. The light will not be even or well-balanced across the face of the billboard.

Do Your Billboard Lights Come with Surge Protection?

Yes, they come with at least a 4 kVA surge protector with optional upgrades. This is a way to try and protect your lights from surges and nearby lightning strikes.

What Is the Best Optic for Outdoor Sign Lighting – Billboard Lights?

We have special billboard optics that come in two versions. Wide/short, and narrow/tall to accommodate those billboards that are 40 X 14 and 14 X 40. We will match the right optic to your requirements.

How Far Out Should the Fixtures Hang?

Father is better, as it helps with light spread across the face of the fixture.

Is It Better to Mount LED Billboard Lights on the Top or Bottom?

There is no difference. The top mount is more dark sky compliant than bottom mount. Lenses are a little more protected from weather than bottom mounted. Other than that, our lights work in either position.