LED Lights for Basketball Courts

What are LED Basketball Court Lights and LED Sports Court Lights?

Basketball court LED fixtures are commercial-grade lighting systems designed for optimal sports illumination. These luminaires serve both dedicated basketball facilities and multi-purpose sports courts, including tennis, pickleball, roller hockey, and other athletic events.

Outdoor installations typically use pole-mounted shoebox fixtures with Type III optics at heights of 20 to 30 feet. We recommend a 5000K color temperature for clear ball tracking and uniform color rendering. The same fixtures suitable for tennis also work well for outdoor basketball lighting.

Indoor facilities use ceiling-mounted high bay fixtures positioned above the playing surface to provide bright, shadow-free illumination across the court.

What are the Benefits of Using LED Lighting Supply Fixtures for Basketball Courts and Sports Courts?

Professional LED basketball court lighting offers clear advantages over metal halide and fluorescent systems when properly specified.

• Energy Efficiency - Modern LED fixtures use 50%-75% less electricity than metal halide. A typical full-court setup can save $800-2,400 annually on utilities.
• Save Money - Lower monthly electric bills and reduced maintenance costs over the fixture's 10+ year operational life.
• Powerful Lighting - Wattages range from 100W to 750W with outputs of 15,000 to over 50,000 lumens per fixture. This covers residential half-courts to Division I venues, depending on the model.
• Superior Illumination - Precision optics eliminate dark zones and harsh shadows. Type III distributions provide uniform coverage across regulation court dimensions when positioned correctly.
• Enhanced Color Rendering - 5000K daylight color temperature and CRI above 80 ensure accurate color perception and sharp ball visibility.
• Glare Control - Advanced lenses control light distribution. Players avoid discomfort when looking up, and spectators have comfortable viewing.
• Lower Maintenance Costs - Solid-state LED technology eliminates bulb and ballast replacements. Fixtures operate maintenance-free beyond 100,000 hours, model dependent.
• Slow Lumen Depreciation with LED - Metal halide systems lose 30% of brightness within 24 months. LED fixtures maintain consistent output throughout their service life.
• Instant On - Full illumination in one second, with no warm-up. Motion sensors can be integrated for automated control and energy savings.
• High-Quality Lighting - Fixtures are UL Listed and use commercial-grade components for continuous operation. Illumination remains consistent year after year.

What are the Recommended Foot Candles for Basketball Courts?

Indoors

Outdoors

Case Study: Adding 200 Watt LED UFO and 63 Watt Flood Lights to an Outdoor Sports Pavillion in Ruidoso Downs, NM

Before: No lights were installed	After: 180 / 200 / 240 Watt Adjustable LED UFO High Bay

Lighting Plan We Created for the Customer

Lighting Plan	Heat Map

Outdoor Camp Pavillion Installation Plan Metrics

• Mounting height: 28 ft
• Fixture Used: LLS-X-HB8-240/200/180-CC]: 180 / 200 / 240 Watt Adjustable LED UFO High Bay | 27000 to 36000 Lumens | 4000K / 5000K Adjustable | 100-277V
• FC achieved: 61.77 FC
• Uniformity (Avg/Min): 1.62

What are the Best LED Lighting Fixtures for Basketball Courts and Sports Courts?

Fixture selection depends on whether you are lighting indoor or outdoor basketball facilities and your specific requirements.

• Indoor Installations: Use LED UFO high bay lights mounted 20 to 35 feet above the court. These provide powerful, even illumination from overhead, and impact-resistant housings withstand ball contact when specified.
• Outdoor Courts: Require LED shoebox area lights with Type III or Type V optics, or LED flood lights for full-court coverage. Professional setups use 25 to 30 foot poles around the perimeter. Full-size courts typically need 4-8 fixtures (wattage and height dependent), while half-courts need 2 to 4 units, subject to site conditions.

Safety and Performance Certifications

All our fixtures carry essential certifications, including DLC Premium (energy efficiency and rebate eligibility), UL Listed (electrical safety), and ETL Listed (product safety compliance). These certifications help ensure safety, performance, and may qualify your project for utility rebates and tax incentives, as applicable.

DLC Premium certification verifies the highest efficiency standards and maximum rebate eligibility.

Warranty and Warranty Support

All our lights include a 5-year warranty, with USA-based support. We prioritize customer support and will assist with any warranty claim.

Our experienced support team works to keep your lighting operational and resolves warranty issues quickly.

Professional Support from Basketball Court Lighting Experts

LED Lighting Supply's product specialists have designed lighting solutions for hundreds of basketball courts nationwide. Our team provides complimentary custom lighting plans, including fixture placement, mounting heights, and photometric analysis for your court dimensions.

We deliver energy savings calculations comparing your current system to our LED recommendations, showing payback periods and annual cost reductions. Our specialists understand the requirements of athletic facilities and can recommend fixtures that meet IES standards for competitive play, when specified.

This expertise helps ensure you receive a system that delivers uniform illumination, eliminates dark spots, and meets your performance requirements from day one, subject to site conditions.

LED Lights for Basketball Courts Frequently Asked Questions

What are LED basketball court lights?

LED basketball court lights are commercial-grade lighting systems for sports illumination. Outdoor installations use pole-mounted shoebox fixtures with Type III optics at 20 to 30 feet, while indoor facilities use ceiling-mounted high bay fixtures above the playing surface.

What color temperature is best for basketball court lighting?

5000K color temperature is recommended for crisp ball tracking and uniform color rendering, with CRI ratings above 80 for accurate color perception of team uniforms and ball visibility.

How many foot candles do I need for a basketball court?

Indoor recreational courts require 30-50 fc, high school level 40-70 fc, and college or professional level 70-150 fc. Outdoor recreational courts need 10-30 fc, while competitive outdoor play requires 20-60 fc.

What LED fixtures work best for indoor basketball courts?

LED UFO high bay lights mounted between 20 to 35 feet above the playing surface deliver evenly distributed overhead illumination.

What LED fixtures work best for outdoor basketball courts?

LED shoebox area lights with Type III or Type V optics or LED flood lights mounted on 25 to 30 foot poles around the court perimeter. Full-size courts need 4-8 fixtures depending on wattage and height, while half-courts require 2 to 4 units.

How much energy do LED basketball court lights save?

LED fixtures consume 50%-75% less electricity than comparable metal halide installations, with a typical full-court setup saving $800-2,400 annually on utility costs.

What wattage options are available for basketball court lights?

Available wattages span from 100W to 750W with lumen outputs reaching 15,000 to over 50,000 lumens per fixture, depending on the model selected.

What certifications do your basketball court lights carry?

Fixtures carry DLC Premium, UL Listed, and ETL Listed approvals, which qualify projects for utility rebates and tax incentives per the listed certifications.

What warranty do your basketball court lights include?

All lights come with at least a 5-year warranty with USA-based warranty support.

How long do LED basketball court lights last?

Commercial-grade fixtures operate maintenance-free beyond 100,000 hours of continuous use and maintain consistent output throughout their service life, unlike metal halide systems that lose 30% of initial brightness within 24 months. Results may vary by model.

Do LED basketball court lights turn on instantly?

Full illumination activates within one second without warm-up delays, making motion sensor integration practical for automated lighting control.

Do you offer lighting design services for basketball courts?

Complimentary custom lighting plans calculate exact fixture placement, mounting heights, and photometric analysis for specific court dimensions, subject to site conditions.