LED lights for pergola
LED LIGHTS FOR PERGOLA
Well-planned pergola LED lights turn the structure into a true outdoor room: dinners, evenings with friends and relaxing long after sunset. But a pergola lives outside, exposed to UV, sideways rain, high winds and freeze-thaw cycles. The foundation at LEDCO is an LED strip in an aluminum profile under the beams, running on 24 V low voltage in 2700K or 3000K warm white, completed with pendants, spotlights and weatherproof wiring.
Pergola LED lights under the beams: strip in a profile
An LED strip set in an aluminum channel mounted under the main beams is the most versatile and refined lighting solution. The profile draws heat away from the strip, spreads the light evenly through its milky diffuser and protects the strip from impacts and weather. For an architectural effect, run a profile under each cross-beam: the repeating lines of light emphasize the structure and create a coherent luminous ceiling.
The right strip depends on the roof. Under a solid roof that keeps it sheltered, an IP65 LED strip housed in the profile is enough. As soon as rain can reach it, between slats or under a bioclimatic pergola with its louvres open, move up to an IP67 strip: see our outdoor LED strips. Profiles and strips can be ordered cut to the length of each beam with our custom design tool.
Over the table: suspended fixtures
For a pergola with a dining table or a lounge area, LED suspended luminaires hung from the ridge or the main beams add a focal point that strips alone cannot create. Hang them 30 to 36 inches above the table, in 2700K, to concentrate the light on the meal. On a pergola longer than 12 feet, a row of 3 to 5 pendants is better balanced than a single fixture. Choose an outdoor-rated model, IP44 at a minimum, and protect its cable in a weatherproof flexible conduit. Under a solid roof, damp-rated LED ceiling downlights can also blend into the pergola ceiling.
Around the posts: in-ground lights and PICO spotlights
Ground-level lighting creates the transition between the covered space and the garden. At the foot of a post, the PAVO recessed light or a #2000 puck light set into the pavers casts a cone of light that rises along the post and highlights the vertical architecture. On a stake, the PICO 12-24V spotlight aims at a tree, a hedge or the climbing plants on the structure. In 3000K, the effect is elegant at dusk. The cables run under the pavers in a conduit to a weatherproof junction box at the edge of the patio.
The house and garden as a backdrop
Seen from the pergola, the façade of the house or the trees at the back of the yard set the scene. Mounted on the posts or on the nearby wall, LED wall washers bathe the façade in even light, a calming backdrop for the evening. Adjustable outdoor LED floodlights highlight a specific tree or hedge. And flex neon LED along the roofline adds a luminous signature visible from the street.
Power and wiring: what to plan for
Pergola LED lights are an outdoor installation: every connection has to stand up to rain, wind and frost. The parts to plan for:
- The transformer: an outdoor model such as the LUVIA 100W outdoor power supply, mounted on a post, feeds the low-voltage lighting.
- The junctions: the IP68 outdoor junction box and outdoor marettes with silicone protect every splice.
- The connectors: the IP68 SP21 2-pin power cable connector joins cable sections in a watertight way.
- The wire: the 100-foot 18/2 outdoor wire runs out to the ground-level fixtures.
- The switching: a 120V photocell turns the whole system on at dusk.
A pergola with no electricity: solar fixtures
No circuit near the pergola? Solar LED fixtures save you from digging a trench. The 15 and 19-inch TULUM solar lights mark the surroundings, the 20W solar post fixture lights the entrance to the yard, and the solar bollard marks the path leading to the pergola.
Technical tips for pergola lighting
IP67 wherever rain can reach. IP65 is limited to a strip sheltered by a solid roof; anything exposed, connectors included, moves up to IP67.
24 V for the strips. Low voltage limits voltage drop over long runs; keep 120 V for the pendants.
A profile is a must on wood. It draws heat away from the strip and protects it mechanically.
Mix whites on purpose. 2700K on the strips and 3000K on the spots create a layered sense of depth.
Plan for a compatible dimmer. A 0-10V or PWM dimmer matched to the 24 V transformer adjusts the intensity by time and use.
Pergola Lighting FAQ
What is the best lighting for a pergola?
A three-layer combination: an LED strip in a profile under each beam for ambiance, a pendant over the table for dining, and in-ground lights or spotlights around the posts. In warm white, the whole system stretches your evenings without glare.
Which pergola LED lights should I choose under a slatted roof?
An IP67 strip, since rain passes between the slats and reaches the profile directly. IP65 is limited to pergolas with a solid roof, where the strip stays sheltered. In both cases, the aluminum profile remains essential.
How do I hide the wires of pergola LED lights?
The strip sits inside the profile, and the low-voltage wires run along the beams to the transformer mounted on a post. For ground-level fixtures, the cable runs in a conduit under the pavers to a weatherproof junction box.
What lighting suits a wooden pergola?
On wood, the strip always goes in an aluminum profile, which draws heat away and protects the strip. A 2700K or 3000K warm white brings out the grain. Whether your pergola is pressure-treated wood, aluminum or vinyl, contact LEDCO to choose the complete solution.
Can you light a pergola without electricity?
Yes, for the surroundings: the TULUM solar lights, the 20W solar post fixture and the solar bollard work without wiring. For complete lighting under the roof, plan a low-voltage circuit with an outdoor transformer.
