Warehouse Lighting Guide: Tips, Solutions & Best Practices

Effective warehouse lighting solutions are crucial for creating a well-lit and comfortable working environment. Proper illumination enhances safety and helps reduce employees' errors.

We will cover everything you need to know about warehouse lighting, from optimal color temperature to lighting layout in this post. Let’s dive in.

 warehouse lighting

1. Wattage

The right brightness for a warehouse depends on the space application scenario. Find the recommended wattage according to the ceiling height in the chart below:

Ceiling Height Watts
Less than 15 feet 80-watt fixtures
Between 15 and 25 feet 100 or 105-watt fixtures
45 feet 240-watt fixtures
50 feet 320-watt fixtures

2. Lumen

The lighting lumen is a more accurate unit of measuring brightness. The higher you go, the brighter the light and further the spacing should be.

Here's a table to show the lumens needed for a warehouse of 1000 square feet area:

Lumens Ceiling Height Spacing
32,000 10 feet 10 feet
35,000 15 feet 14 feet
39,000 25 feet 20 feet
42,000 35 feet 25 feet

Wide-beam light can be installed at an angle between 90 and 120 degrees for open areas between shelves and corridors. For shelves and narrower regions, narrow beam light of angle 60 degrees or long beam light of angle 120 degrees to guarantee that the light won't be blocked by top shelves.

3. Lux

Deciding on the lux levels for the warehouse lighting system depends on the specific use of each space. Here are common lux levels and their application:

Lux Use Application
40 lux Rare use Bulky materials storage and less used corridors
80 lux Medium use Loading bays and storage rooms where there's a need to search for goods and materials
160 lux Continuous use General warehouse work including reading labels, packing, dispatching, and storing materials and goods; also suitable for offices, rest areas, and machinery-related corridors
240 lux Continuous use Food preparation and office areas, and some detailed warehouse tasks
300 lux Continuous use Control rooms and generator rooms for visibility of wires and fixtures
400 lux Visually demanding tasks Packing and dispatching of small goods, inspection, spot welding, and general maintenance work
700 lux Visually demanding tasks Tool shop, computer drawing stations, and spots where workers are working on delicate objects and projects

4. Color Temperature

Most warehouses choose 5000K, which provides an optimal balance of brightness, visibility, and comfort, making it well-suited for the diverse needs of warehouse environments. These fixtures emit a bright white light, suitable for large indoor and outdoor spaces.

warehouse lighting

The bright and crisp light enhances detail visibility, boosting worker productivity and reducing the risk of accidents.

5. Maintenance

Effective warehouse lighting bulbs maintenance is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing long-term costs. Start by regularly inspecting fixtures to ensure they are functioning properly and free from damage. Clean lights and reflectors to prevent dust build-up. Additionally, consider upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting and incorporating smart controls to optimize energy use and extend fixture lifespan. Implementing these practices not only improves the working environment but also offers significant long-term savings.

6. Safety and Compliance

Ensure the lighting installation meets all relevant safety standards and regulations, such as OSHA guidelines. Additionally, adequate emergency lighting and exit signage should also be taken into account.

warehouse lights

7. Lighting Layout and Design

Effective warehouse lights should ensure even distribution of light across the warehouse, enhance comfort, and minimize glare, which can reduce eye strain and improve worker productivity. 

The lighting should be stable and flicker-free to maintain high-quality illumination and prevent visual disturbances. Proper placement of light fixtures is also crucial—avoid installing them directly above shelves, as this can obstruct the light and create uneven illumination. Instead, position fixtures centrally along aisles to maximize visibility and ensure consistent lighting throughout the workspace. By addressing these considerations, you can create a well-lit, productive environment that supports safety and efficiency in your warehouse operations.

8. Type of lighting

There are many lights for warehouse in the market, including LED, fluorescent, halide light, etc. It is important to select the appropriate fixtures based on the specific needs of the warehouse. Among these options, LED stands out for their energy efficiency, longevity, and brightness control.

Benefits for led warehouse lighting

● Upgrading the current warehouse system would be a great idea if you want warehouse operations to run safely and smoothly. Here are some advantages for installing proper warehouse lighting.

● Provide sufficient light with the right CRI. This means that in addition to  increasing visibility, the light should be able to show the true details of various objects.

● Offer cool operating temperature. Effective lights have the advantage of not heating up compared to traditional bulbs.

● Reduce heavy equipment accidents. Proper warehouse lighting fixtures can improve employee safety in the warehouse. For example, sufficient glare-free lighting can help forklift drivers drive safely as well as pedestrians.

● Reduce electricity costs. The right warehouse lighting will provide the needed lumens while using less energy and power. It can be reduced by more than 70%.

● The warehouses will be more environmentally-preferable for reducing carbon emissions with less energy consumption and less waste.