Drop Ceiling Lights 

Drop ceiling lights will ensure your space looks its best every day. They are a great choice for any location in which you need powerful lighting for a large area but also want your fixtures to be out of the way and discreet. We have many attractive drop ceiling lights options such as troffer light fixtures (including LED troffer options), recessed LED ceiling lighting, and other types of drop ceiling lights. Browse our commercial drop ceiling lights products below, and also be sure to read our helpful blog, “Best Drop Ceiling Lights for Suspended Ceilings ”.

Drop Ceiling Lights

Options for Drop Ceiling Lights

There are three main types of drop ceiling lights: troffer lights, recessed ceiling lights, and wafer ceiling lights. Recessed LED flat panels and LED troffers are a very popular choice for many commercial and industrial applications because they provide powerful, even lighting to any amount of space without causing eye fatigue or strain. Powerful light diffusion ensures every inch of space is lit up without a lot of glare.

LED drop ceiling lights are available in a standard of three sizes: 1 x 4, 2 x 2 and 2 x 4. The right size of lights for suspended ceiling fixtures for the application will depend on the size of the space and how widespread the light beam needs to be for proper illumination.

Advantages of Troffer Drop Ceiling Lights

Troffer drop ceiling lights are designed in two basic versions depending on their ceiling fit — recessed grid mount and surface mount. The main difference here is stylistic, but these options also fit into ceilings differently, so make sure you pick the option that matches your space best. These styles are available in options for recessed, surface or grid mount lighting applications.

The advantage of using recessed troffer lighting for drop ceilings is that they provide superior uniform fluorescent and LED lighting in conventional illumination like office, retail spaces, schools, universities, airport lounges, indoor areas, government facilities, libraries and many other similar suspended ceiling lighting options.

Understanding Voltages & Designs of Drop Ceiling Lights

Once you have narrowed down your choice to the correct model for your application, there are many different varieties of drop ceiling lighting options to help you achieve a match for your overall style. Voltages range from 120 to 480 volts, so that you can find the right hardware for your system. With diverse designs utilizing varying quantities of lamps, you can get the proper amount of lighting for any location, whether you need to illuminate a small hallway or a large warehouse floor.

Considering Ceiling Fit, Mount, & Fixtures for Drop Ceiling Lights

Troffer drop ceiling lights are designed in a few basic versions depending on their ceiling fit:

  • Suspended Troffers and Flat LED Drop Ceiling Lighting Panels
  • Recessed Grid Mount 1 x 4, 2 x 2 and 2 x 4
  • Surface Mount

Troffer suspended ceiling lights are further classified into different types, which fall into one of the ceiling mount categories mentioned above:

  • Lensed Static (Recessed and Surface Mount)
  • Parabolic Lens 18 cell, 24 cell, 32 cell (Recessed and Surface Mount)
  • Center Basket (Recessed and Surface Mount)
  • Eco-T Recessed Troffer Lights (Surface Mount)
  • Edge-Lit Flat Panel Troffer Lights (Surface Mount)

Troffer drop ceiling light fixtures are distinguished based on various identifying factors such as:

  • Total watts depending on the lamp or array used
  • Type of Lens: opaque, parabolic, clear or specular
  • Type and Number of Lamps used: LED or Fluorescent, T8, T5 or T5HO
  • Voltage: 120, 208, 240, 277 or 480v
  • Type of Mount: recessed in a grid ceiling or surface-mounted
  • Presence or non-presence of a mirrored or white internal reflector

Frequently Asked Questions about Drop Ceiling Lights

Below are some of the most common questions about modern drop ceiling lighting and suspended ceiling lights. You can also go to our Lighting FAQ page or visit our Resources & Education library for additional information.

What are Drop Ceiling Lights?

Drop ceiling lights are square or rectangular-shaped lighting panels that are placed in what are typically referred to as drop ceilings, T-bar ceilings, grid ceilings or suspended ceilings. They can be laid into a ceiling grid in which they are recessed and sit above the grid but can also be suspended or surface mounted. LED drop ceiling lights illuminate indoor spaces by focusing light down and out from the fixture.

Where are Drop Ceiling Lights Used?

Drop ceiling lighting panels are typically used in commercial and industrial applications. Examples include offices, conference rooms, classrooms, showrooms, hospitals, warehouses, auditoriums, hallways, libraries or retail spaces. Below are examples of how drop ceiling LED lights can be used:

What are the Different Types of Drop Ceiling Lights?

The two main types of drop ceiling lights are troffer lights and flat panel lights. Troffers utilize fluorescent tubes, LED tubes or integrated LED arrays. Flat panels have integrated LED arrays only.

Both types of drop ceiling light fixtures typically come in three different sizes, 1 foot by 4 foot (1x4), 2 foot by 2 foot (2x2) and 2 foot by 4 foot (2x4). These variable sizes allow for flexible installation in ceiling grids and T-bars. The 1x4 and 2x2 sizes can fit more easily in narrow or tight spaces.

Troffers and flat drop ceiling lighting panels utilize lenses, diffusers, baskets, parabolic louvers and reflectors to manage glare or brightness and evenly distribute light.

  • Lenses are designed to direct light into a beam pattern which makes it more focused. They are typically clear or frosted.
  • Diffusers scatter (or spread) the light, which reduces the sharpness of shadows and softens the light. They are often made of acrylic or polycarbonate.
  • Baskets usually placed in the center of a troffer, are used to focus light upwards, bouncing downward off a reflector towards the ground, making it more dispersed and with less glare. They also provide a pleasant aesthetic appearance.
  • Parabolic louvers contain "cells" which help to provide additional direct light output and are also used to provide visual appeal.

What Are the Benefits of LED Drop Ceiling Lights?

LED drop ceiling lighting panel technology has developed to the point that the benefits far outweigh the initial increased cost.

  • Lighting quality is superior in terms of color rendering, color temperature and lumen output (compared to wattage used).
  • LED drop ceiling lights provide a more balanced foot candle in the area below.
  • LED troffer lights are dimmable.
  • LED drop ceiling flat panel light fixtures have a much longer lifespan which means that the lights need to be replaced less frequently than other types.
  • Although modern LED drop ceiling lighting panels are more expensive initially, the additional costs are more than made up for in the long term because they consume much less energy than conventional lights. This saves on utility costs over time. They also don't waste energy emitted as heat.

Find the Best LED Drop Ceiling Lights at Warehouse-Lighting.com

Whether you're interested in purchasing LED drop ceiling lights, troffer lights or drop ceiling flat panel light fixtures, you won't find a better selection than what's offered at Warehouse-Lighting.com. If you need help with drop ceiling lighting ideas or choosing a new drop ceiling fixture for your area, simply contact our customer service representatives. Your satisfaction is our number one priority, and we are always ready to help make your search as quick and easy as possible so you can complete your next project sooner and with less hassle!

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