Buyers Guide to Outdoor LED Wall Packs

LED wall pack lights serve as the backbone of commercial exterior lighting, transforming how businesses illuminate their properties. After 17 years of working with facilities across all industries, we’ve watched these fixtures evolve from basic security lighting to sophisticated, energy-efficient systems that deliver exceptional performance.

Wall-mounted on building exteriors, these fixtures cast broad illumination patterns across parking lots, walkways, and loading areas. Beyond basic visibility, they create secure perimeters while dramatically reducing operating costs compared to traditional metal halide or high-pressure sodium alternatives.

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Most commercial properties still rely on energy-hungry HID bulbs that burn out frequently and consume excessive power. While these older technologies provide adequate brightness, their operational costs and maintenance demands make upgrading to LED technology a compelling investment that pays dividends immediately.

1. Choose the Right Type of Wall Pack For Light Distribution

Different mounting locations and lighting objectives require specific distribution patterns. We typically recommend assessing your site’s unique needs before selecting a fixture type.

Full Cutoff Wall Packs

Directing all illumination downward, these fixtures eliminate upward light spillage. Properties requiring dark sky compliance or located near residential areas benefit most from this controlled distribution pattern.

Non-Cutoff Wall Packs (Flood or Forward Throw)

Maximum coverage comes from fixtures that project light both downward and outward. Security applications and wide-area illumination needs make these our most popular choice for parking areas and building perimeters.

Semi-Cutoff Wall Packs

Balancing coverage with environmental responsibility, these fixtures reduce upward light emission by approximately 50% while maintaining forward throw capabilities. Many customers prefer this compromise between performance and light pollution control.

Dusk-to-Dawn LED Wall Packs

Built-in photocells automatically activate fixtures at sunset and deactivate them at sunrise, eliminating manual switching or complex timer systems.

2. Look at the Lumens – Forget about Watts

Traditional wattage comparisons become irrelevant when evaluating LED fixtures. Lumens provide the accurate measurement for determining actual light output. A 40-watt LED fixture often produces identical brightness to a 150-watt metal halide bulb while consuming 75% less energy.

Why LED Lumens Matter More Than Watts

Visible light output determines actual brightness regardless of energy consumption. A 5,000-lumen LED fixture consistently outperforms traditional alternatives while consuming 60-70% less energy.

LED superiority stems from fundamental design advantages: directional light eliminates wasted illumination, higher quality spectrum improves visibility, and minimal lumen degradation maintains consistent output over time. When comparing fixtures, focus on lumen output matched to your specific coverage requirements.

3. Use Motion Sensors to Turn Lights On and Off

Automated lighting control extends beyond simple convenience. Most of our commercial customers achieve 30-50% additional energy savings by incorporating motion detection technology into their wall pack installations. LED fixtures excel with motion sensors because instant-on capability eliminates warm-up delays.

Unlike HID bulbs that require several minutes to reach full brightness, LEDs respond immediately to sensor activation. Smart dimming options allow fixtures to maintain 10-20% baseline illumination during inactive periods, then boost to 100% output when movement is detected.

Consider your facility’s overnight activity patterns. Loading docks receiving deliveries throughout the night might need different sensor programming than employee parking areas with predictable usage windows.

4. Use Photocell Sensors with Wall Packs To Turn the Lights On and Off at Dusk and Dawn

Daylight-sensing photocells eliminate guesswork in lighting schedules. Rather than relying on timers that require seasonal adjustments, these sensors automatically respond to ambient light conditions. Seasonal daylight variations make manual control impractical for most commercial operations.

Photocells adjust naturally as sunrise and sunset times shift throughout the year, ensuring consistent operation without ongoing maintenance. Combined with motion sensors and LED efficiency, photocell controls create comprehensive automation that minimizes both energy consumption and labor requirements.

5. Make Sure Wall Packs are Wet ( IP ) Rated

Exterior installations demand robust weather protection that goes far beyond basic moisture resistance. We exclusively recommend fixtures with IP65 ratings or higher for reliable outdoor performance. For indoor commercial lighting needs, consider our high bays or shop lights instead of wall packs.

Weather exposure varies significantly by geographic location and mounting position. Fixtures installed in areas prone to driven rain, snow accumulation, or ice formation require IP66 or IP68 protection levels. Coastal properties need additional corrosion resistance to handle salt spray exposure.

Internal components fail quickly when moisture penetrates fixture housings. Proper IP ratings ensure electrical connections, drivers, and LED arrays remain protected throughout their expected lifespan.

6. Understand Why Efficacy ( Lumens Per Watt ) Is Important

Luminous efficacy reveals true fixture efficiency by measuring light output per watt consumed. High-quality LED wall packs typically achieve 120-140 lumens per watt, compared to 50-80 lumens per watt from metal halide alternatives.

Premium fixtures with superior efficacy ratings justify higher upfront costs through accelerated energy savings. While initial investment increases, payback periods often improve due to reduced operating expenses. We recommend prioritizing efficacy when comparing similar fixtures.

A 30-watt wall pack producing 4,000 lumens delivers better long-term value than a 40-watt unit with identical output, assuming comparable build quality and features. Utility rebate programs frequently require minimum efficacy thresholds, making efficient fixtures eligible for substantial incentives.

7. Choose the Right Voltage

Universal drivers in our fixtures automatically accommodate varying building electrical systems without requiring voltage-specific models. Most installations operate seamlessly across 100V-277V ranges. High-voltage facilities running 277V-480V systems receive upgraded drivers designed for these demanding applications.

Industrial complexes and large commercial buildings often utilize high-voltage distribution for efficiency reasons. Driver technology handles voltage fluctuations and power quality issues common in commercial electrical environments. Built-in surge protection and power factor correction ensure reliable operation regardless of building electrical characteristics.

8. Color Temperature Options

Color temperature selection significantly impacts visibility and aesthetic appeal. Based on customer feedback, 90% of our outdoor installations use 5000K fixtures, with 4000K comprising most remaining applications.

5000K produces crisp, bright white light that enhances security camera performance and improves color recognition. This temperature closely matches daylight, making it ideal for areas requiring accurate color perception. 4000K offers a slightly warmer appearance while maintaining excellent visibility.

Properties seeking to balance security lighting with architectural aesthetics often prefer this temperature. Both options significantly outperform the yellow-orange cast of high-pressure sodium or the blue-green tint common in older metal halide installations.

9. Quality of Light ( CRI ) and How it Relates to Outdoor Lighting

Color rendering capability becomes crucial for security applications where accurate color identification matters. Poor color rendering from HID sources creates visibility challenges that LED technology easily resolves.

Enhanced contrast and clarity improve safety conditions around loading areas, walkways, and parking facilities. Security personnel and surveillance systems benefit from improved color accuracy when identifying vehicles, clothing, or other important details. Our wall pack fixtures typically provide CRI 70-85 ratings, though we can source higher CRI options for specialized applications.

Most outdoor commercial applications find standard CRI levels more than adequate for their needs. The dramatic improvement over HID color quality becomes immediately apparent after LED installation, with many customers noting enhanced visibility and a more natural appearance.

10. Combating Light Pollution

Responsible lighting design addresses environmental concerns while maintaining security and safety objectives. LED technology enables precise light control that minimizes waste and ecological impact. Understanding the four components of light pollution helps in selecting appropriate fixtures:

Light Trespass occurs when illumination extends beyond intended boundaries, potentially disturbing neighboring properties or wildlife habitats. Glare from excessive brightness creates visual discomfort and can actually reduce effective visibility by causing eye adaptation problems.

Sky Glow results from upward-directed light that brightens nighttime skies artificially, affecting astronomical observations and natural darkness cycles. Light Clutter develops when multiple bright sources create confusing visual environments, particularly problematic in dense commercial areas.

Municipal ordinances increasingly require dark-sky compliance, especially in areas near observatories, residential neighborhoods, or environmentally sensitive locations. Full cutoff and semi-cutoff fixtures address these requirements while maintaining necessary illumination levels.

Safety and Performance Certifications

Wall pack fixtures should 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.

Expert Support Beyond Product Selection

Our experienced product specialists go beyond basic fixture recommendations to provide detailed energy savings calculations specific to your existing lighting system. These calculations factor in your current energy consumption, utility rates, and maintenance costs to demonstrate precise payback periods and long-term savings.

For larger facilities or complex layouts, we create complementary custom lighting plans that show exact fixture placement, coverage patterns, and compliance with local lighting codes. This service eliminates guesswork and ensures optimal results before you commit to purchasing. Our team’s 17 years of commercial lighting experience means we understand the unique challenges each industry faces and can recommend configurations that address your specific operational requirements.