What are LED Area Lights?

Commercial LED area lights are high-performance outdoor fixtures specifically engineered for illuminating expansive spaces like parking lots, sports facilities, and industrial yards. After 17 years in commercial lighting, we've seen these powerful fixtures transform everything from small retail parking areas to massive distribution centers. Available in wattages ranging from 50W to 1200W, our area lights deliver exceptional lumen output while operating on standard 120-277V or 347-480V building power.

Modern LED area lights excel as retrofit solutions for aging HID systems. The integrated drivers automatically adjust to your building's voltage, eliminating compatibility concerns during upgrades. We typically recommend different fixture styles based on application: shoebox designs work perfectly for parking lot pole mounting, while flood-style area lights provide the flexibility needed for building facades and perimeter security. Most customers choose 4000K or 5000K color temperatures for optimal visibility and safety in commercial environments.

What are the Benefits of Using LED Area Lights?

Energy Efficient: Experience immediate 50 to 80 percent energy savings compared to metal halide and high-pressure sodium fixtures. These reductions translate directly to lower monthly electric bills from day one of installation.

Superior Light Quality: LED technology converts electricity into usable light rather than waste heat. Combined with high CRI ratings above 80, this creates crisp, clear illumination that improves visibility and enhances property appearance.

Utility Rebates: Most fixtures carry DLC Premium certification, qualifying them for substantial utility rebate programs. These incentives often offset 20-40% of your initial investment costs.

Eliminated Maintenance: LED fixtures require no bulb or ballast replacements during their operational life. Since area lights mount at heights requiring lifts or bucket trucks, this eliminates costly maintenance calls.

Precision Optics: Choose from Type I through Type V distributions plus narrow to wide beam angles for exact light placement. Proper optics eliminate dark spots and light trespass while maximizing coverage efficiency.

Enhanced Safety: Consistent, high-quality illumination reduces liability risks and deters criminal activity. Well-lit areas help prevent accidents while creating more secure environments for employees and visitors.

Extended Lifespan: LED fixtures operate for 50,000 to 100,000 hours compared to 15,000 hours for metal halide. This longevity means decades of reliable operation with minimal intervention.

Smart Controls: Integrate 0-10V dimming, photocells, and occupancy sensors for automated operation. These controls can increase energy savings by an additional 20-30% through intelligent scheduling.

Instant Performance: LEDs reach full brightness immediately, unlike HID fixtures requiring 5-15 minute warm-up periods. This instant response proves crucial for security applications and post-outage recovery.

What Different Types of LED Area Lights Are Available?

Flood Area Lighting: Versatile flood fixtures offer power options from 50W to 1200W with multiple mounting configurations. Various optic packages provide beam angles from 15° to 120° for precise light control. These fixtures excel at building facades, loading docks, and irregular-shaped areas requiring flexible positioning.

High Mast Area Lighting: Designed for mounting heights of 60 feet and above, these powerful fixtures illuminate ports, airports, and container yards. High-output models producing 40,000 to 180,000 lumens distribute light across vast areas while minimizing the number of required poles.

Shoebox Area Lights: The standard for parking lot illumination, shoebox fixtures mount on 15-35 foot poles with slip-fitter or arm mounting. Available in 100W to 600W configurations, they provide uniform coverage patterns ideal for rectangular parking areas and roadways.

Pole Top Area Lights: Post-top fixtures create attractive illumination for parks, walkways, and decorative applications. Round and acorn-style housings blend aesthetics with functionality while providing 360-degree light distribution.

Solar Area Lighting: Self-contained solar systems eliminate electrical infrastructure costs in remote locations. Advanced battery technology enables 3-5 nights of autonomous operation while producing up to 20,000 lumens during peak demand periods.

Sports Style Area Lighting: High-performance fixtures designed for athletic facilities and large outdoor venues. These powerful units generate 40,000 to 180,000 lumens with precise beam control to meet demanding illumination requirements for sports and broadcast applications.

Wall-mounted Area Lights: Building-mounted fixtures provide perimeter security and general area lighting. Compact designs with forward throw optics maximize ground coverage while minimizing building glare and light pollution.

Each fixture category serves specific architectural and functional requirements. We help customers select the optimal combination of wattage, optics, and mounting based on site geometry, existing infrastructure, and local lighting codes.

How Many LED Lumens Do You Need To Replace Metal Halide Area Lighting?

Successful LED retrofits require matching both lumen output and light distribution patterns from your existing HID fixtures. Through thousands of retrofit projects, we've developed these lumen replacement guidelines based on actual field performance rather than theoretical calculations. Remember that LED efficiency allows lower lumen outputs to achieve equivalent illumination due to better light quality and distribution control.

• 250-Watt Metal Halide: 9,000 - 12,000 LED lumens
• 400-Watt Metal Halide: 15,000 - 25,000 LED lumens
• 1000-Watt Metal Halide: 35,000 - 50,000 LED lumens
• 1500-Watt+ Metal Halide: 50,000 - 90,000 LED lumens

Actual requirements vary significantly based on mounting height, spacing, and application demands. A professional lighting calculation considers factors like uniformity ratios, foot-candle requirements, and local code compliance. We provide comprehensive photometric analysis at no charge to ensure your retrofit delivers optimal performance and energy savings.

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.

Need Help? Talk to an LED Area Light Expert.

Selecting the right area lighting solution requires balancing performance requirements, energy goals, and budget constraints. Our lighting engineers bring decades of experience to every project consultation. Share your specific needs with us, and we'll recommend fixtures optimized for your application and site conditions. Contact us today for expert guidance and a free lighting plan that ensures proper illumination levels and uniform coverage across your entire area.

LED Area Lights FAQ

What are LED Area Lights?

LED area lights provide high-lumen illumination for large outdoor spaces like parking lots, walkways, and building perimeters. These include shoebox fixtures, high mast lights, wall packs, and flood lights ranging from 50W to 1000W+. Each fixture type uses specific optics—Type 3, Type 4, or Type 5—to distribute light effectively across different area shapes and sizes.

When Should You Use LED Yard Lights / Area Lighting?

Use LED area lights when you need reliable illumination across large outdoor spaces for security reasons or general visibility. These fixtures excel in parking lots, loading docks, walkways, and perimeter lighting where photocell and motion sensor integration enhances both safety and energy savings. The auto-adjusting voltage drivers work from 120V to 480V without manual configuration.

How Can You Replace 400 Watt Metal Halide with LED Area Lights?

Replace 400W metal halide with LED fixtures delivering 15,000 to 25,000 lumens at 120-150 watts. Our LED outdoor fixtures provide 60-70% energy savings with better light distribution and longer lifespan. Most installations use existing mounting hardware with UL Listed retrofit compatibility.

How Can You Replace 1000 Watt Metal Halide with LED Area Lights?

For 1000W metal halide replacement, you need LED fixtures producing 38,000 to 50,000+ lumens at 300-400 watts. High-output area lights deliver superior uniformity ratios compared to HPS and metal halide while reducing energy consumption by up to 65%. The exact lumen requirement depends on mounting height and coverage area.

What is Commercial-Grade LED Area Lighting?

Commercial-grade LED area lights feature robust aluminum housings, precision optics, and industrial-rated drivers designed for continuous operation. These industrial lighting fixtures carry UL, ETL, and DLC Premium certifications with minimum 5-year warranties. They're engineered for demanding commercial environments, not residential applications.

Are LED Area Lights Available for Industrial Environments?

Yes, we offer High-Temperature lights rated for extreme conditions and explosion-proof lights for hazardous locations. These fixtures meet Class I, Division 1 and 2 ratings with reinforced housings and specialized sealing systems for petrochemical and manufacturing environments.

What is a Good Way to Reduce Glare with LED Area Lighting?

Use fixtures with full cutoff optics and optional top/side shields to minimize glare. Type 3 and Type 4 distributions provide better glare control than Type 5 for most applications. Proper mounting height and precision optics direct light downward while reducing unwanted spillage and hotspots.

Are LED Area Lights Wet Weather Rated?

Most commercial LED area lights carry IP65 to IP68 ratings for complete weather protection. These ratings ensure the fixture housings resist dust ingress and withstand heavy rain, snow, and moisture. IP66 rated fixtures handle pressure washing and extreme weather conditions.

Are LED Area Light Dark Sky Compliant?

Dark sky compliance requires fixtures with full cutoff distributions that prevent upward light spillage. Look for area lights with 0% uplight ratings and glare shields. Your local zoning department determines specific requirements, and we help identify compliant fixtures with the right optics for your location.