LED high bay lighting
LED HIGH BAY LIGHTING
The LED high bay is the benchmark for lighting large high-ceiling spaces, factories, warehouses, gymnasiums and showrooms, once the mounting height exceeds about 4.5 metres (15 feet). It replaces old halogen, high-pressure sodium and T5HO fluorescent fixtures. LEDCO supplies Quebec businesses with a complete range of high bays in UFO and linear formats, from 85W to 400W, in 120-347V, along with the sensors and controls that go with them. Here is how to choose the format, the wattage and the optic for your building.
UFO high bay 90-150, 180-240 or 240-300W: choosing your range
The UFO high bay, round and compact, spreads light downward over a wide area. It suits mounting heights of about 15 to 40 feet and open areas: warehouse, workshop, commercial garage, showroom. LEDCO offers it in three listings: the 90W-120W-150W UFO, the 180W-200W-240W model and the 240W-270W-300W UFO. Each listing groups three selectable wattages: the higher the ceiling and the larger the area, the further up the range you go. Its aluminum body helps dissipate heat, which is essential for a fixture that runs long hours.
Linear high bay 85-155, 200-270 or 320-400W: for long rows
The linear high bay stretches the light source, which makes it a natural fit above deep aisles, production lines and rows of shelving. Installed in continuous lines, these fixtures create uniform lighting with no dark zones between the racks. The range goes from the 85W-100W-130W-155W linear to the 320W-360W-400W linear, with a 200W-230W-270W model in between. In offices built into the warehouse, ceiling LED panels take over, for a uniform working environment from one zone to the next.
Mounting height and optics: uniformity at floor level
Optic selection matters as much as wattage for floor-level uniformity. The general benchmarks:
- 15 to 25-foot mounting: a 90° optic, the most common compromise.
- 25 to 40-foot mounting: a 60° or 90° optic, depending on fixture spacing.
- Aisles lined with 30-foot racking: a narrow optic, around 60°, that concentrates light on the work surface.
- Gymnasiums and showrooms: a wide optic, around 120°, where uniformity matters more than intensity.
Check the beam angle on the spec sheet of the model you choose, and send us your floor plan and mounting height for a lighting simulation before you order.
Factory, gymnasium and showroom: the right light colour
For industrial spaces, the recommended colour temperature ranges from 4000 K to 5000 K: crisp white light that makes it easier to read labels, screens and colour codes on the production line. In a showroom, colour rendering becomes as important as the amount of light, since customers judge products by eye. In a gymnasium, uniformity and freedom from glare come first for players who look up toward the ceiling; our LED gymnasium lights page covers that case.
Sensors and Bluetooth controls: the LED high bay's complement
In low-traffic aisles, a motion sensor on each fixture cuts consumption without getting in the way of the work. LEDCO offers the PIR Bluetooth sensor for high bays, in white or black, with an L-shaped swivel base, as well as the microwave sensor for high bays and its remote. To organize the lighting into zones, the range also includes a Bluetooth 0-10V wireless controller and Bluetooth wall switches; our team tells you which components to combine based on the fixtures you choose.
Around the high bays: vapour-tight fixtures, wall packs and canopy lights
Under mezzanines, in workshops or in washdown areas, the height does not always justify a high bay. Integrated LED fixtures take over: 2, 3, 4 or 8-foot wraparounds, a linear workshop fixture and vapour-tight fixtures such as the 8' CCT LED vapour-tight fixture or the 4' NEMA 4X model, for dust, condensation or pressure washing, where IP65 is the minimum to aim for. Outside, LED wall packs light the docks, doors and parking, and LED canopy lights go under canopies and at dock entrances. For the other decisions of an industrial building, see our industrial LED lighting page.
Technical tips for LED high bay lighting
Measure the mounting height, not the ceiling height. A fixture hung from a chain or under a beam lights from lower down; that height is what sets the wattage and the optic.
One format per building, several wattages. Listings with three selectable wattages let you adjust each zone while keeping a single spare model.
Linear follows the aisle, UFO covers the area. Above racking, orient the linears along the aisles to avoid shadows cast on the shelves.
Match the sensor colour to the ceiling. The PIR sensor comes in white and black; on a dark structure, black disappears.
Take advantage of 120-347V. High bays connect directly to the building voltage, with no intermediate transformer.
LEDCO high bays already light spaces such as this warehouse fitted with 240W high bays, or at Systelec: two projects to see in our accomplishments. For a lighting simulation and a quote for your industrial project, contact LEDCO.
LED High Bay FAQ
At what height do you switch to a high bay?
As soon as the mounting height exceeds about 4.5 metres, or 15 feet. Below that, integrated LED wraparounds, vapour-tight fixtures or ceiling panels give a better result than an oversized high bay, with less glare for the people working underneath.
UFO or linear for my building?
The UFO covers large open areas, from about 15 to 40 feet high: warehouse, workshop, showroom. The linear follows deep aisles, production lines and rows of shelving, in continuous lines. The two combine in the same building, and the same three-wattage logic applies to both formats.
Which optic should I choose for an LED high bay?
As a general rule, 90° for a 15 to 25-foot mounting, and 60° or 90° from 25 to 40 feet depending on spacing. A narrow optic concentrates light in a tall aisle; a wide optic, around 120°, evens out a gymnasium or a showroom.
Can I add a sensor to a high bay that is already installed?
Yes, the PIR Bluetooth and microwave sensors are offered for our high bays and pair with the fixture. Send us the installed model: we confirm compatibility and the mounting method, with or without a swivel base.
What light colour in a factory?
Between 4000 K and 5000 K: a crisp white that makes labels, screens and colour codes easy to read. In a showroom, also pay attention to colour rendering, since your customers judge products by eye.
