High/Low Bay Light Fittings

A bay light is a dedicated form of light fitting which can be suspended and that’s designed to illuminate large, open spaces. A high bay light is a type of bay light that’s made specifically for areas with higher ceilings, typically 20ft (6m) or more from the ground.

The high bay lights that are used today are much different to the more traditional styles used in the past. Originally, high bays were manufactured in a reflector shape, and fitted with metal halide (MH) and sodium lamps. Highly susceptible to control gear failure, early high bays required maintenance and lamp changes to keep them operating as expected. Now, things are different.

Thanks to advancing lighting technology, we now have next generation high bay LED lights that not only look different, but behave differently, too. The classic square shape has been replaced with a more modern rounded look (giving high bays the nickname ‘UFO fittings’), and integrated LED lenses means there’s no longer a need for the specially engineered reflectors. And, of course, high bay LED lights bring all the same cost and energy saving benefits as other lights based on LED technology. 

High bay lights are just one type of bay lighting option. The other is low bay lights. There are a number of similarities between the two. Both promise enhanced lighting with minimal glare in larger spaces, helping to make it easier to effectively illuminate vast, bigger areas.  Yet there are also multiple differences between the fittings.

The primary difference between the two is the height that they’re designed for. While high bays are designed for higher ceilings of more than 20ft, low bay lights are designed to work optimally in large areas with lower ceilings. Most low bays are made to be suspended from ceilings ranging from 12 - 20ft, or 3.6 to 6 metres. 

Lumens refers to the brightness that’s put out by a light bulb, and our range of high and low bay lights covers everything from 10,500 up to 26,000 Lumens. Choosing the right Lumen output means first understanding the height at which the fittings are likely to be mounted. As a general rule, the lower the height, the more concentrated the light is. So it takes fewer Lumens to produce the desired result. As light will disperse more greatly when the fitting is higher, a brighter light may be required.

Our recommendations are as follows:

• 10-15 feet: 10,000 - 15,000 Lumens
• 15-20 feet: 16,000 - 20,000 Lumens
• 25-30 feet: 33,000 Lumens
• 30+ feet: 40,000 Lumens

Bay lights are common fittings in any large area where powerful lighting solutions are essential. This includes many types of industrial environment and commercial spaces.

LED high bay lights are frequently seen in:

• Storage facilities 
• Factories
• Warehouses
• Airport hangers
• School halls
• University gymnasiums
• Loading bays
• Manufacturing facilities

LED low bay lights may be used for the above, but are typically seen in:

• Frozen storage facilities
• Petrol stations
• Department stores
• Restaurants
• Community centres

There is no standard or exact number of high or low bay lights that are needed for a certain area. There are many different factors that can affect the quantity of lights needed, including brightness, spacing, size of the fitting, and the desired results.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for around 12 feet (3.6m) distance between low bay LED lights mounted at a 15 feet height. Or around 18 feet (5.5m) distance for high bay LED lights mounted at a height of 20 feet. These distances will typically produce what is considered to be a ‘normal’ light. However, the lights can be fitted closer together - at a 15 feet distance for high bays, for example - for brighter light.

For high ceilings of 30 feet or greater, the minimum distance between high bay lights should be 20 feet, or 6m. Anything closer can result in an uncomfortable brightness.

At BLT Direct, we always recommend developing a professional lighting scheme to determine the most suitable plan of action for high bays.