LED gymnasium lights
LED GYMNASIUM LIGHTS
Gymnasium lights are judged at floor level: strong, even light over the whole playing surface, and no fixture that blinds a player looking up for a serve or a rebound. LEDCO supplies the LED fixtures for school gymnasiums, sports centres and multi-purpose halls: LED high bays from 85 W to 400 W in 120 V-347 V for the main floor, panels for low-ceiling rooms, vapor tight fixtures for the locker rooms and Bluetooth sensors so only what is needed comes on.
School gym or sports centre: what changes compared with a warehouse
A gymnasium looks like a warehouse in height, not in use. People look up at the ceiling, in volleyball, badminton and basketball, so glare matters as much as the amount of light. The target level depends on the use: 300 lux is commonly quoted for school training and 500 lux for competition. Uniformity matters just as much: a dark zone in one corner puts the team playing there at a disadvantage. Finally, fixtures get hit by balls; hang them out of reach and read the spec sheet before placing them.
UFO LED high bay 90 W to 300 W: the main floor
Under a high ceiling, the LED high bay is the reference fixture. The UFO format, round and compact, hangs from the structure above the court. The 90 W-120 W-150 W UFO high bay suits elementary school gyms and medium-height halls; the 180 W-200 W-240 W UFO high bay and the 240 W-270 W-300 W UFO high bay take over in large double gyms and under very high ceilings. Each model offers three selectable wattages, set at installation.
Linear LED high bay 85 W to 400 W: longer than wide
When the court is long and narrow, or when you want to light rows of badminton courts, the linear high bay spreads the light along the hall. The 85 W-100 W-130 W-155 W linear high bay covers medium-height halls; the 200 W-230 W-270 W linear and the 320 W-360 W-400 W linear light the largest volumes. All run on 120 V-347 V, the usual voltage in schools and community centres.
Bluetooth sensors and wireless switches: light only what is in use
A gymnasium sits empty a good part of the day. The PIR Bluetooth sensor for LED high bays or the microwave sensor turns the fixtures on when the first players arrive and dims them when the hall empties. The 6-button Bluetooth wall switch gives staff ready-made scenes: practice, game, cleaning. To dim 0-10 V fixtures, the Bluetooth 0-10 V wireless fixture controller and the power pack with 20 A relay complete the system, with no control wire to run through an existing ceiling.
2x4 and 2x2 LED panels: dance studio, weight room and classrooms
Under a suspended ceiling 3 to 5 m high, the high bay has no place. LED panel lights give flat, glare-free light, ideal for a dance studio, a weight room or a physical education classroom. The 2x4 LED panel 36 W-40 W-45 W replaces a full-size tile; the 2x2 panel and the 1x4 panel complete small rooms and corridors. Their white adjusts to three temperatures (3CCT), and the same tint can be matched from one room to the next.
Corridors, locker rooms and showers: wraparounds and vapor tight fixtures
The rest of the complex calls for other integrated LED fixtures. In corridors and locker rooms, the 4 ft LED wraparound linear fixture and its 8 ft version surface-mount on the ceiling. In showers and areas washed down with water, the 4 ft 60 W NEMA 4X LED vapor tight fixture withstands humidity and cleaning. Our page on the vapor tight LED fixture covers these models in detail.
Outdoor fields: floodlights from 300 W to 1000 W
For an outdoor field, a rink or a parking lot, the sports field floodlights from 300 W to 1000 W, also in 120 V-347 V, mount on poles. The details are in our page on LED sports field lights.
Which fixture for which room of the complex
- Main floor, high ceiling: UFO or linear high bay, three selectable wattages, Bluetooth sensors.
- Studio, weight room, classroom: 2x4 and 2x2 panels in the suspended ceiling, 3CCT.
- Corridors and locker rooms: 4 ft and 8 ft wraparounds, surface-mounted.
- Showers and washdown areas: 4 ft NEMA 4X vapor tight fixture.
- Outdoor field and parking: pole-mounted floodlights, 120 V-347 V.
Technical tips for gymnasium lights that last
Look at the optics before the wattage. For sports where players look up, a fixture that limits glare beats a more powerful one.
Spread rather than concentrate. More medium-wattage fixtures give a more uniform surface than a few very powerful ones.
Set the wattage at installation. High bays and panels offer three settings: start in the middle and adjust after a first measurement at floor level.
Plan the scenes from the start. Half-hall, game, cleaning: with Bluetooth switches, they are programmed once and used every day.
Confirm the building's voltage. Schools and community centres are often on 347 V; our high bays cover it, but check before ordering.
A training facility lit by LEDCO is in our accomplishments. Send us the floor plan and the ceiling height: our team works out the number of fixtures, their spacing and the wattage to set.
Gymnasium lights FAQ
What high bay wattage does a gymnasium need?
It depends on the height, the area and the target level, training or competition. Since each high bay offers three wattages, you pick the model by height, then set the wattage after a measurement at floor level.
How do you avoid glare in volleyball and badminton?
By choosing a fixture whose optics limit the light seen from an angle, placing it away from the main lines of play and spreading the power over more points. A well-lit gymnasium gives strong light on the floor and discreet light when you look up.
Can gymnasium lights be dimmed for an event?
Yes, with 0-10 V dimmable fixtures and the Bluetooth wireless controller, with no control wire to run. Multi-button Bluetooth switches allow preset scenes: full light for a game, reduced light for a ceremony or cleaning.
Can you work out the number of fixtures for our gymnasium?
Yes. Send us the plan, the ceiling height and the intended use: our team comes back with the number of fixtures, the spacing and the wattage to set for uniform LED gymnasium lights.
