Guide to Choosing the Best Parking Lot Lights

Choosing the best parking lot lights is a critical decision that will impact your property's functionality, safety and aesthetic appeal. For business owners, landlords and maintenance managers, providing well-lit, safe parking areas for tenants, employees and visitors is essential. A dimly lit or poorly maintained lot can negatively affect your image and potentially lead to liability issues. In contrast, the right lighting choices can enhance your property's safety and attractiveness.

This article will help property owners find the best parking lot lights suited to their specific needs. We'll explore various light fixture types, strategic planning for effective illumination and how Warehouse-Lighting.com's LED lighting solutions can meet your lighting requirements.

By Warehouse Lighting

Why Choose LEDs Exploring Your Options Pro Tips LED Parking Lot Light Retrofits Frequently Asked Questions

Why LEDs Are the Best Parking Lot Lights

When upgrading your parking lot lighting, it might seem simpler to just replace the bulbs in your old-style fixtures. However, this approach misses the comprehensive benefits of switching to light-emitting diode (LED) parking lot lights. Here's why LEDs are recognized as the best parking lot lights for modern businesses:

More Cost-Effective: Although the initial investment in LED parking lot lights may be higher, especially when retrofitting old fixtures, the long-term savings are substantial. LED lights typically last 50,000 hours, 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This durability reduces the cost of the lights and the maintenance expenses associated with frequent bulb replacements. Additionally, unlike their predecessors, LED lights usually require only one person for installation.
Higher Energy Efficiency: As the best parking lot lights in terms of energy conservation, LEDs outperform older generations by up to 90%. Moreover, a 1,000-watt traditional bulb can often be replaced by a 300-watt LED, offering significant energy savings.
Better Quality of Light: LEDs provide superior illumination, distributing light more evenly without the buzz and flicker associated with total harmonic distortion (THD). This results in safer, more comfortable lighting conditions.
Safety Assurance: The enhanced illumination of LED parking lot lights contributes to a safer environment. They work exceptionally well with security systems like closed-circuit cameras, ensuring that any incidents in your parking lot are well-documented for legal and insurance purposes.

Considering their lower energy use, impressive longevity and enhanced safety, it's easy to see why LEDs have earned the title of best parking lot lights for businesses that value efficiency, economy and security.

Exploring Your Options for Outdoor Parking Lot Lights

When selecting the best parking lot lights, consider your space's practical needs and aesthetic preferences. While most outdoor parking lot lights feature modern, straightforward designs, there are versatile options available for various settings.

1. Shoebox Lights

Shoebox lights, known for their efficiency in illuminating vast areas, are among the best parking lot lights – though they can also be used for spaces like highways and streets. Shoebox lights are typically mounted on poles and can be adjusted to different angles, allowing for customizable and targeted lighting. This flexibility makes them effective for lighting large areas uniformly. They are also highly energy-efficient, especially when equipped with LED bulbs. Shoeboxes consume less power and have a longer operational life, reducing both energy costs and maintenance needs. A final great feature is their resilience against harsh weather conditions, making them a reliable lighting solution for outdoor environments.

Take a look at some of our best-selling shoebox lights:

2. Security Lights

If you're looking for the best parking lot lights to keep your lot safely illuminated at all hours of the night, you'll want to look into picking up some security lights. Available in models with one, two or three heads, security lights offer excellent coverage and customization for your parking lot. Additionally, many have dimmable features, providing the flexibility to suit different needs.

Here are some top-selling options:

3. Outdoor Wall Lights

Outdoor wall lights are also a great choice for parking lot lighting. These fixtures can complement your lot's main lighting as people transition from the parking area to your building. Perfect as parking garage lighting or for use around building perimeters, outdoor wall lights enhance visibility along walkways and entrances, improving safety. Our durable die-cast aluminum wall packs are designed to withstand harsh weather, ensuring longevity and reliability.

Some excellent choices for complementary wall lights include:

4. Architectural Area Lights

Architectural area lights are crafted with a focus on design, aiming to complement the architectural features of the surrounding environment. They come in various styles, shapes, and colors, allowing them to serve as both a lighting source and a decorative element. These lights, often used for pathways and entryways, provide focused illumination and add an aesthetic element to the space. Their lower mounting height offers concentrated lighting, making them an integral part of finding the best parking lot lights for compact areas.

Here are a few of our best-selling architectural area lights:

5. Additional Components for Parking Lot Lights

When selecting the best parking lot lights, it's essential to consider not only the lights themselves but also the supporting infrastructure, including light poles and various accessories, to ensure a complete and effective lighting solution:

Parking Lot Light Poles: A key component in any parking lot lighting system, parking lot light poles support the light fixtures and elevate them to an appropriate height, ensuring optimal light distribution.
Light Pole Bullhorn Brackets: These accessories are instrumental in enhancing the functionality of your parking lot lights. Bullhorn brackets extend outward from the pole, allowing multiple lights to be mounted on a single pole. This design can significantly increase the area illuminated by each pole, making your lighting more efficient.

Pro Tips for Choosing the Best Parking Lot Lights

Selecting the best parking lot lights involves more than just picking the brightest option. It requires thoughtful consideration of various factors contributing to effective, efficient and durable outdoor lighting. We've compiled some pro tips highlighting a few vital aspects to assist you in this process. These insights will guide you in making informed decisions, ensuring that your parking lot is well-lit and optimally serviced by your lighting choices.

Light Uniformity: When it comes to parking lots, light uniformity is key. This refers to the consistent level of brightness throughout the area. A uniformity ratio of around 3:1 is ideal for optimal visibility in parking lots. Our experts can guide you in selecting lights with the appropriate uniformity rating to meet your needs.
Efficiency and Durability Matters: The best parking lot lights balance cost with performance and longevity. While it's tempting to opt for the lowest-priced options, the real value lies in choosing lights that offer both durability and energy efficiency. Investing in high-quality, commercial-grade parking lot lighting pays off in the long run, both for your team and your business.
Consider Fixture Mounts and Tenons: The compatibility of light fixtures with your existing poles is crucial. Our range includes standard configurations like "Y" and "X" to suit different lighting requirements. The amount and direction of light needed will guide your selection of the right mounts and tenons.

LED Parking Lot Light Retrofits

Retrofitting existing structures with LED parking lot lights is a smart move, even for buildings and lots originally outfitted before LEDs were standard. This process, known as "relighting," is a straightforward way to upgrade to brighter, more efficient lighting.

Our popular LED retrofit kits make this transition easy and effective:

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Parking Lot Lights

If you have any questions or need more information about finding the best parking lot lights for your property, check out the answers to our most frequently asked questions below.

How Do I Choose the Right Brightness for My Parking Lot Lights?

The brightness of parking lot lights is measured in lumens. The required brightness depends on the size of the parking lot and the desired level of visibility. Generally, a well-lit parking lot can range from 15,000 to 30,000 lumens per light. It's important to balance brightness with energy efficiency and to consider any local light pollution ordinances.

How Often Do Parking Lot Lights Need Maintenance?

The maintenance frequency for parking lot lights depends on the type of lights used. LED lights require less frequent maintenance than traditional lighting. Generally, LED lights in parking lots may need a check-up or minor maintenance every 2-5 years, primarily for cleaning or to address any electrical issues.

What Makes LED Lights the Best Choice for Parking Lot Lighting?

LED lights are considered the best for parking lot lighting due to their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and high-quality illumination. They consume significantly less electricity than traditional lighting, have a longer operational life and provide bright, uniform light. Additionally, they are durable and can withstand harsh outdoor conditions, making them ideal for parking lot environments.

You Can Find the Best Parking Lot Lights for Your Property Right Here at Warehouse-Lighting.com

Put your parking lot's safety, efficiency and aesthetic appeal first – find the best parking lot lights for business owners, landlords and maintenance managers at Warehouse-Lighting.com. Our selection of premium LED lighting solutions is designed to meet all your needs, combining state-of-the-art technology with cost-effectiveness and durability. Whether retrofitting an existing setup or installing a new lighting system, our expert team is ready to guide you through every step, ensuring you make the perfect choice for your space. Don't let inadequate lighting compromise the safety and appearance of your property. Shop the best parking lot lights at Warehouse-Lighting.com today.

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