LED Can Lights and Downlighting
- 15+ years commercial LED expertise with professional installation support
- Up to 40% faster installation reducing business disruption time
- 50,000+ hour lifespan with 5-year USA-based warranty coverage
Get Your Custom Lighting Plan With Product Recommendations
- Professional Layout Designed for Optimal Ceiling Grid Integration & Zone Control
- Precise Fixture Count, Spacing & Dimming Specifications for Task-Appropriate Illumination Levels
- Reduce Operating Costs & Eliminate Frequent Bulb Changes in Hard-to-Access Ceiling Spaces
Our Commercial LED Recessed Lighting and Downlights include complete recessed fixtures, LED retrofit kits, exterior soffit fixtures, and adjustable or directional trims. New fixture assemblies are available for new construction and renovation projects, while retrofit modules fit compatible existing commercial can housings. Common housing sizes include 6-inch and 8-inch cans. Product variations include multiple lumen outputs, beam angles, trim styles, voltages, dimming configurations, pigtail or quick-connect wiring, and 3000K, 4000K, or 5000K color temperatures. Selectable CCT options are available on some models.
Common applications for these fixtures include offices, conference rooms, corridors, lobbies, retail spaces, schools, healthcare areas, airports, transportation facilities, and customer-facing commercial interiors. Adjustable and directional trims are used for accent lighting, wall washing, and display lighting. Recessed fixtures are also available for exterior soffits, damp areas, and wet locations, with environmental and IP ratings varying by model. Selected commercial recessed lights carry UL, ETL, or CSA safety listings, and many models have DLC or DLC Premium listings. Available product specifications may also include fire ratings, IC ratings, sealed trims, dimming compatibility, and indoor or exterior location ratings.
Commercial LED Recessed Lighting for Clean Ceiling Installations
Commercial LED recessed lighting is installed into a ceiling cavity so the fixture sits flush or nearly flush with the finished ceiling. It is commonly used in offices, corridors, lobbies, retail spaces, schools, healthcare areas, airports, soffits, and other commercial interiors where a clean ceiling appearance is preferred.
Recessed lights may also be called can lights, downlights, or pot lights. Soffit lighting usually refers to recessed or surface-mounted fixtures installed in exterior building overhangs. The best fixture depends on ceiling type, housing size, mounting depth, voltage, lumen output, color temperature, dimming, fire-rating needs, and whether the location is indoors, damp, wet, or exterior-facing.
Selection and Installation Note: Product specifications, housing size, trim style, lumen output, wattage, voltage, dimming, selectable CCT, connection method, fire rating, wet-location rating, IP rating, certifications, and warranty coverage vary by model. Confirm the selected product specification before ordering. For recessed fixtures, ceiling cavities, soffit installations, electrical upgrades, fire-rated ceilings, exterior locations, code-sensitive applications, or safety-critical spaces, verify requirements with your local inspector or a licensed electrical professional.
Where Commercial Recessed Lighting Makes Sense
Recessed lighting is best used where the fixture should blend into the ceiling rather than hang below it. It is a good option for finished commercial spaces, lower ceilings, corridors, lobbies, customer-facing interiors, and soffits where appearance and clearance matter.
| Application | What to Review |
|---|---|
| Offices and conference rooms | Ceiling height, glare, dimming, color temperature, fixture spacing, and visual comfort. |
| Corridors and lobbies | Fixture spacing, trim appearance, emergency lighting needs, ceiling depth, and maintenance access. |
| Retail and customer areas | Beam angle, color temperature, product visibility, glare, and whether adjustable trims are needed. |
| Airports and transportation spaces | Long operating hours, fixture access, housing compatibility, durability, and code requirements. |
| Exterior soffits | Wet-location rating, sealed trim, housing protection, drainage, corrosion exposure, and exterior installation requirements. |
| Retrofit can light projects | Existing can size, housing condition, voltage, connection method, heat dissipation, and trim compatibility. |
Recessed Fixtures vs Retrofit Kits
Commercial recessed lighting projects usually fall into two groups: new fixtures or LED retrofit kits. New construction or major renovations often use complete recessed fixture assemblies. Retrofit projects may use LED modules or retrofit kits designed to fit existing can housings.
| Option | Best Used When |
|---|---|
| New recessed fixtures | The ceiling is being built, opened, or redesigned, or the existing housings are not suitable for reuse. |
| LED retrofit kits | Existing commercial can housings are in good condition and compatible with the selected LED retrofit product. |
| Exterior soffit fixtures | The fixture is installed in an overhang and must be rated for the exposure, moisture, and installation method. |
| Adjustable or directional trims | The space needs accent lighting, wall washing, display lighting, or more controlled beam direction. |
Before ordering retrofit kits, confirm the existing housing size, depth, wiring method, condition, voltage, and heat-management requirements. Common commercial housing sizes may include 6-inch and 8-inch cans, but compatibility should be confirmed by the selected product specification.
How to Choose Commercial LED Recessed Lights
The right recessed fixture should be selected around the ceiling and application. A fixture that works in a dry office ceiling may not be appropriate for an exterior soffit, damp corridor, airport ceiling, or fire-rated assembly.
- Ceiling type: Confirm whether the fixture will be installed in drywall, acoustic tile, hard ceiling, soffit, or an existing can housing.
- Ceiling depth: Recessed fixtures need enough space above the ceiling for the housing, driver, wiring, and heat dissipation.
- Housing size: Confirm 6-inch, 8-inch, or other housing compatibility before selecting a retrofit kit.
- Lumen output: Choose output based on room use, ceiling height, fixture spacing, and desired brightness.
- Color temperature: 3000K, 4000K, and 5000K options may be available depending on model. Selectable CCT can help match existing lighting or adjust the space after installation.
- Dimming: Confirm dimming compatibility before ordering, especially when using existing wall controls or building control systems.
- Connection method: Some fixtures use pigtail wiring, while others may include quick-connect options depending on model.
- Environment: Exterior soffits, damp areas, and wet-location applications require properly rated fixtures, housings, and trims.
Exterior Soffit and Outdoor Recessed Lighting
Exterior soffit installations need more review than standard indoor recessed lights. Moisture, temperature swings, wind-driven rain, insects, dust, and building envelope details can affect fixture selection and installation.
For exterior use, confirm that the fixture, trim, housing, gasket, wiring method, and installation location are suitable for the exposure. IP ratings and wet-location ratings vary by model. A fixture used in a protected soffit may not be suitable for harsher exterior exposure unless the selected product is rated for that environment.
Fire Rating, Heat, and Installation Clearance
Recessed fixtures sit inside the ceiling assembly, so heat management and code requirements matter. Some ceilings may require fire-rated fixtures or fire-rated installation methods. Requirements vary by building type, ceiling assembly, occupancy, and local code.
LED recessed fixtures should have proper thermal management and should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Poor ventilation, incorrect insulation contact, incompatible housings, or improper wiring can reduce fixture life or create safety issues. Confirm insulation clearance, IC rating where applicable, fire-rating needs, and installation requirements before ordering.
Certifications, Rebates, and Warranty Support
Commercial LED recessed lights from LED Lighting Supply carry a safety listing such as UL, ETL, or CSA, depending on product. Many models are DLC or DLC Premium listed for utility rebate support where available. Rebate requirements vary by utility, region, and product listing, so confirm eligibility on the selected product specification before ordering.
Most commercial LED recessed lights include a 5-year warranty unless otherwise specified, with USA-based warranty support. Before purchase, review the selected product specification to confirm certifications, DLC status, voltage, dimming compatibility, mounting method, environmental ratings, and whether the fixture is right for your project.
Common Commercial Recessed Lighting Mistakes
- Assuming all can housings are compatible: Confirm housing size, depth, wiring, condition, and trim compatibility before ordering retrofit kits.
- Using indoor fixtures in exterior soffits: Outdoor or damp locations require fixtures and trims rated for the exposure.
- Ignoring ceiling depth: Some recessed fixtures require more plenum space than shallow ceilings can provide.
- Skipping fire-rating review: Certain ceiling assemblies or occupancies may require fire-rated fixtures or installation methods.
- Choosing only by fixture diameter: Lumen output, beam angle, trim style, voltage, dimming, and heat management also matter.
- Mixing color temperatures: Inconsistent CCT can make corridors, offices, lobbies, or retail areas look uneven.
- Ignoring heat management: Incorrect insulation contact, poor ventilation, or incompatible housings can reduce fixture life.
- Not confirming dimming compatibility: Existing dimmers and controls may not work with every LED recessed fixture.
Contact us about your commercial recessed lighting project, and our Product Specialists can help review housing size, ceiling type, lumen output, color temperature, voltage, dimming, environmental rating, fire-rating needs, and product specifications.
LED Can Lights and Downlighting FAQs
Should I Use New Recessed Fixtures Or LED Retrofit Kits?
Use new recessed fixtures when the ceiling is being built, opened, redesigned, or existing housings cannot be reused. Use LED retrofit kits when existing can housings are in good condition and compatible with the selected retrofit product.
What Should I Check Before Retrofitting Existing Can Lights?
Confirm the existing housing size, depth, wiring method, condition, voltage, heat-management requirements, and trim compatibility before ordering. Common commercial cans may be 6-inch or 8-inch, but final compatibility must be confirmed on the selected product specification.
How Do I Choose The Right Commercial Recessed Light Output?
Choose lumen output based on room use, ceiling height, fixture spacing, and the desired brightness. Beam angle, trim style, and visual comfort can also affect the result in offices, corridors, retail areas, and other commercial spaces.
Can LED Can Lights Be Used In Exterior Soffits?
LED can lights can be used in exterior soffits only when the fixture, trim, housing, gasket, wiring method, and installation location are suitable for the exposure. Confirm the selected models wet-location or IP rating, since a protected soffit fixture may not suit harsher exterior conditions.
Do Commercial Recessed Lights Need Fire-Rated Housings?
Some ceiling assemblies may require fire-rated fixtures or fire-rated installation methods, depending on the building type, occupancy, ceiling assembly, and local code. Confirm fire-rating needs, insulation clearance, IC rating where applicable, and installation requirements before ordering.