LED Lights for Soccer Fields

What is LED Sports Lighting for Soccer Fields?

LED light fixtures are high-powered outdoor pole-mounted sport lighting fixtures engineered for professional and recreational athletic facilities. These fixtures deliver 200 to 1200 watts of power while generating 28,000 to 180,000 lumens of bright, uniform illumination.

Multiple beam angle options allow precise aiming to eliminate shadows and ensure balanced coverage across the entire playing surface. Whether you're upgrading an existing metal halide system or installing new lighting infrastructure, these robust football stadium lights provide superior performance for indoor and outdoor venues.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy's research on solid-state lighting, LED outdoor lighting systems can reduce energy consumption by 50% or more compared to conventional metal halide and high-pressure sodium systems commonly used in sports facilities.

What are the Benefits of Using LED Soccer Field Lights?

• Energy-Efficient Performance: Modern LEDs reduce operating expenses by 50-75% compared to metal halide systems by converting more electrical input into usable light instead of heat
• Instant Full Brightness: LED sports lights deliver maximum output immediately with no 15-20 minute warm-up time, eliminating game delays
• Minimal Maintenance Requirements: Solid-state LED design eliminates bulb and ballast failures, reducing maintenance workload and long-term facility costs
• Extended Operational Life: LED fixtures operate for 50,000+ hours, providing long-term reliability and reducing lifecycle replacement costs
• Enhanced Visual Clarity: Flicker-free, consistent illumination improves ball tracking for athletes and enhances spectator visibility
• High Lumen Output: Premium LED sports lights produce up to 180,000 lumens per fixture, often outperforming multiple traditional lights
• Weather-Resistant Construction: IP65+ weatherproof housings and high impact ratings ensure reliable performance in rain, wind, and harsh outdoor environments
• Accessible Driver Placement: Remote drivers mounted at the pole base simplify service access, eliminating the need for lift equipment during maintenance

What are Ideal Foot Candles for a Soccer Field?

• Recreational Soccer: 10-20 foot candles
• Club and Amateur Soccer: 20-50 foot candles
• High School Soccer: 30-60 foot candles
• College and University Soccer: 60-120 foot candles
• Professional Soccer: 80-150 foot candles
• Stadium Soccer Televised: 100-200 foot candles

The Illuminating Engineering Society provides comprehensive guidance for sports lighting design, including IES RP-6 Recommended Practice for Sports and Recreational Area Lighting, which establishes minimum illumination levels, uniformity ratios, and glare control requirements for various competition levels and sports activities.

How to Select the Right LED Sports Lighting Solution

• Lighting Level Requirements: Competition level determines the minimum lighting levels and uniformity ratios. We start with the required foot-candles for your sport and create a free custom lighting plan to help meet compliance requirements when properly specified
• Existing Pole Assessment: Evaluating pole spacing, height, and structural strength ensures they can safely support new LED fixtures. When needed, we provide upgrade recommendations and pole pricing assessments
• Mounting Height Optimization: Mounting height directly affects coverage, glare, and light spill. Most new sports field installations use 30-60 ft poles for optimal balance of performance and visibility
• Current Layout Integration: Working with existing pole locations keeps project costs down. We evaluate existing fixture positions and aiming angles to maintain proper illumination while minimizing installation complexity
• System Balance & Performance: Optimizing all factors-light levels, poles, heights, and layout-helps ensure your field meets safety requirements, performance standards, and budget constraints while delivering professional-grade lighting quality

How to Calculate the Number of Fixtures Needed for a Soccer Field Lighting Layout

Professional lighting design software eliminates guesswork in fixture planning and helps ensure compliance with sports lighting standards. Our complimentary soccer field lighting plans calculate precise fixture requirements, aiming angles, and light distribution patterns. The photometric analysis reveals exact foot candle levels, uniformity ratios, and potential problem areas before installation begins.

Case Study:Outdoor Lebanon Soccer Club Upgraded their Sports Field Lighting with LED Lighting Supply 400 Watt LED Area Flood Sports Light in Lebanon, CT

After: 400 Watt LED Area Flood Light | 56000 Lumens

Lighting Plan We Created for the Customer

Lighting Plan	Heat Map

Soccer Field Lighting Installation Plan Metrics

• Mounting height: 26.5 ft
• Fixture Used: MLLG-AG-LED-IMF-400-5-[Optic]-TR-[V]: 400 Watt LED Area Flood Light | 56000 Lumens | 5000K | 100V-277V or 277V-480V | Optional Marine Grade Finish
• FC achieved:7.88 fc average
• Uniformity (Avg/Min): 1.97

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 sports lighting project for utility rebates and tax incentives. DLC Premium certification guarantees the highest efficiency standards and maximum rebate eligibility.

The Design Lights Consortium establishes rigorous energy efficiency standards for commercial LED lighting, while DLC's Sport Lighting Technical Requirements specifically address performance criteria for athletic facility applications. Additionally, UL's safety testing and certification programs ensure that LED fixtures meet stringent electrical safety and performance standards for commercial outdoor installations.

5-Year Warranty and Support

All our lights come with a minimum 5-year warranty, and all warranty support is provided 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.

Why Choose LED Lighting Supply for Your Lighting Project

Our experienced lighting specialists have designed hundreds of recreational facilities across the country and understand the unique challenges soccer field lighting presents. We provide detailed energy savings calculations that show your exact operating cost reductions and payback timelines before you purchase.

Our photometric team uses professional-grade AGi32 software to create custom lighting plans that meet your specific field dimensions, competition level requirements, and budget constraints. When you call our technical support team, you speak directly with lighting experts who have 15+ years of experience in sports lighting applications. We maintain an extensive inventory of premium fixtures from trusted manufacturers, ensuring your project stays on schedule without delays from backorders or shipping issues.

** Final fixture selection and installation must comply with local electrical codes, OSHA requirements, NFPA standards, and must be performed by qualified, licensed professionals.

Common Installation and Design Mistakes

• Reusing old metal halide pole locations without structural analysis often leads to overloaded poles. Those 1000W metal halide fixtures weigh a lot less than multiple LED units.
• Using integrated driver fixtures forces you to rent a lift truck every time a driver fails. Specify remote drivers at the pole base to keep maintenance costs reasonable.
• Skipping the electrical load calculations can trip breakers when all fixtures are switched on. LED fixtures may draw less power individually, but you're probably adding more of them.
• Choosing the wrong beam angles wastes light and creates glare complaints from neighbors. Asymmetric distributions keep light on the field where it belongs.
• Installing warehouse fixtures in outdoor sports applications guarantees early failures. Soccer fields need real sports-rated fixtures with proper IP ratings and surge protection.
• Ignoring local light pollution ordinances can force expensive retrofits later. Check municipal lighting codes before finalizing your fixture selection.

LED Lights for Soccer Fields Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best LED lights for a soccer field?

LED soccer field fixtures delivering 200 to 1200 watts and 28,000 to 180,000 lumens with IP65+ weather protection provide reliable outdoor performance. Match foot-candle output to your competition level and verify beam angles align with your field layout to prevent glare and light spill issues.

How many lumens do I need to light a soccer field?

Lumen requirements depend on competition level and field dimensions - fixtures range from 28,000 to 180,000 lumens each. A photometric plan calculates precise fixture quantities and aiming angles to achieve required foot-candle levels with proper uniformity across the playing surface.

What is the recommended foot-candle level for soccer fields?

Foot-candle targets vary by competition level: 10-20 FC for recreational, 30-60 FC for high school, 60-120 FC for college, 80-150 FC for professional, and 100-200 FC for televised games. IES RP-6 establishes minimum illumination levels and uniformity ratios for each tier.

How much does it cost to light a soccer field with LEDs?

Project costs depend on competition level requirements, pole heights, fixture quantities, and existing infrastructure conditions. Contact our team for a lighting plan that calculates precise fixture requirements based on your field dimensions and foot-candle targets.

How do I upgrade my soccer field from metal halide to LED?

Verify existing pole structural capacity before installing LED fixtures - weight and wind load requirements may differ from metal halide systems. Specify remote drivers at the pole base to eliminate lift truck rental costs during future maintenance.

What pole height is best for soccer field lighting?

Most soccer field installations use 30-60 ft poles to achieve proper beam control and minimize player shadows. Pole heights under 20 feet create excessive glare and insufficient coverage for full-size fields.

Are LED soccer field lights energy efficient?

LED systems achieve 50-75% energy savings compared to metal halide by converting more electrical input into usable light. Instant full brightness eliminates the 15-20 minute warm-up time required by metal halide systems.

How long do LED soccer field lights last?

LED fixtures operate for 50,000+ hours, and solid-state design eliminates bulb and ballast failures. This extended operational life reduces lifecycle replacement costs and maintenance workload compared to metal halide systems.

What certifications should soccer field LED lights have?

Specify fixtures with DLC Premium, UL Listed, or ETL Listed certifications for safety and performance verification. DLC Premium certification qualifies projects for utility rebates while meeting the highest efficiency standards for sports lighting.

Can LED lights be used for televised soccer games?

Televised games require 100-200 foot-candles with flicker-free illumination that improves ball tracking and spectator visibility. A photometric plan verifies foot-candle levels and uniformity ratios meet broadcast requirements before installation.

Do LED soccer field lights reduce light pollution?

Proper beam angle selection and asymmetric distribution patterns keep light on the field and reduce spill into surrounding areas. Check municipal lighting codes before finalizing fixture selection - local ordinances may require specific controls to avoid expensive retrofits.

What is the best beam angle for soccer field lighting?

Beam angle selection must match your specific field layout and pole locations to prevent glare and light spill issues. Asymmetric distributions direct light onto the playing surface - confirm distribution patterns align with your field dimensions through a photometric plan.

How do I prevent glare on a soccer field?

Use 30-60 ft pole heights for full-size fields to achieve proper beam control and positioning. Confirm beam angle and distribution patterns match your field layout - improper aiming creates glare complaints and compliance violations.

What maintenance do LED soccer field lights require?

Solid-state LED design eliminates bulb and ballast failures that require regular service. Specifying remote drivers at the pole base allows service access without lift equipment when driver replacement is eventually needed.

Are there rebates available for LED soccer field lighting?

DLC Premium certified fixtures qualify for utility rebates and tax incentives. Contact our team for energy savings calculations that show operating cost reductions and help document rebate eligibility for your project.