LED lights for pergola

LED LIGHTS FOR PERGOLA

The pergola is Quebec's go-to outdoor structure: slatted roof for shade, exposed beams for aesthetics, open posts for natural ventilation. But without lighting, a pergola becomes unusable after 8 p.m. on summer evenings. A well-designed LED lighting system extends your pergola's usability by several hours every night — outdoor dining, relaxation, entertaining guests — while enhancing the architectural character of the structure. The installation constraints are real: a pergola is exposed to UV, lateral rain, high winds and Quebec's freeze-thaw cycles. Every component must be selected accordingly. LEDCO offers all the LED solutions adapted for outdoor pergola lighting, shipped across Canada.

IP65 LED Strips Under the Pergola Frame: Integrated Primary Lighting

An LED strip installed in an aluminum channel mounted under the pergola's main beams is the most versatile and visually refined lighting solution. The aluminum profile dissipates strip heat (essential for longevity in a semi-enclosed wood environment), distributes light evenly through its milky diffuser cover and mechanically protects the IP65 LED strip against impacts and weather. In 2700K or 3000K, this system creates the warm, relaxed atmosphere perfect for summer evenings under the pergola. To maximize the architectural effect, install profiles in parallel under each cross-beam — the repeating lines of light emphasize the pergola's structure and create a coherent luminous ceiling. Plan for a 24V waterproof transformer in an IP67 enclosure mounted on one of the posts, connected to the profiles via IP67-rated connectors. The 24V low-voltage system is classified Class 2 in Canada: no electrical permit is required for the strip installation itself in most provinces.

Suspended LED Pendants: Social Focal-Point Lighting

For a pergola with a central dining table or lounge area, suspended LED pendants hung from the ridge beam or main beams add an architectural and social dimension that strips alone cannot create. An outdoor-rated IP44 pendant in 2700K suspended 30–36 inches above the table concentrates light on the dining area and creates a visual anchor for the living zone under the pergola. For larger pergolas (over 12 feet long), a series of 3 to 5 pendants in a line above the table is better balanced than a single center fixture. The supply cable must be protected by an IP67 flexible conduit between the outlet box in the beam and the fixture to withstand long-term UV and moisture exposure. By combining LED strips under the beams with a pendant at the center, you achieve both general ambient lighting and a focal dining point in a single cohesive system.

Recessed and In-Ground Spots Around the Pergola

Ground-level lighting around and under the pergola completes the overall scheme by creating a gradual transition between the covered structure and the surrounding garden. Very small format (2-inch) IP67 LED recessed fixtures positioned in the pergola roof slats allow discreet downward accent lighting without altering the ceiling aesthetics. For the ground, IP67 in-ground fixtures integrated into the patio stones or decking boards around the posts create upward cones of light that rise along the posts, highlighting the vertical architecture of the structure. In 3000K, these ground-level spots produce a dramatically elegant effect at dusk. They are fed via buried cable in protective PVC conduit under the pavers from a weatherproof junction box at the edge of the patio.

LED Wall Washers and Floodlights for Façade and Garden

To highlight the home's façade as seen from the pergola, or to illuminate the garden and trees in the background, LED wall washers and adjustable LED outdoor floodlights complete the pergola lighting system. Mounted on the outer posts or on the house wall adjacent to the pergola, wall washers create a uniform wash of light across the façade that serves as a calming luminous backdrop when viewed from the seating area. Adjustable stake-mounted or arm-mounted floodlights let you highlight a specific tree, a hedgerow, climbing plants on the structure or a landscaping feature from within the pergola. Using 3000K throughout the entire system gives you perfect color consistency between all light points, from the pergola to the garden. Adding IP67 FLEX NEON LED along the pergola roofline creates a decorative luminous signature visible from the street.

LED Pergola Lighting Technical Tips

Protection rating → IP65 for strips under a covered pergola roof; IP67 for any component exposed to direct rain
Voltage → 24V low voltage recommended for strips (minimal voltage drop over long runs); 120V for pendants and wall packs
Color temperature → 2700K–3000K for evening ambiance; mix 2700K (strips) + 3000K (spots) for a layered depth effect
Aluminum profile → required on wood beams (heat dissipation and mechanical strip protection)
Connectors → IP67 with O-ring gaskets for all outdoor junctions exposed to rain
Photocell sensor → automatic dusk activation for the entire system
Dimmer → 0-10V or PWM compatible with the 24V transformer to adjust intensity by time and use

Contact LEDCO to select the complete LED solution for your pergola — pressure-treated wood, aluminum or vinyl, residential or commercial.