Best LED Garage Lights for Home Workshop – Ideas, Reviews & Buying Guide

Anyone who has ever spent time in a poorly lit garage can attest to the dangers and inconveniences of bad lighting. At the recommendation of energy experts, many homeowners are replacing their headache-inducing overhead fluorescent and incandescents with brighter, more attractive, and more energy-efficient LED lights.
After countless hours of research, we’ve selected five of the best LED garage lights of 2020. Check them out in the section below!

Five of the best LED garage lights of 2021

Sunco Lighting 16-Pack LED Shop Lights – Best Option for Commercial Garages and Warehouses

This 16-pack of utility lights is perfect for commercial garages and warehouses. The frosted lights are 4-feet long. They emit 5,000 Kelvins, a lighting temperature that is somewhere between direct sunlight and daylight white. A CRI (color rendering index) of 80 means they are excellent options for workshops. Each unit only uses 40 watts of energy to produce 4,100 lumens of light.

Easy to Install

The lights are linkable and easy to install. Users found it easy to follow the provided installation guide. The fixtures come with all the essential mounting hardware, including 5-foot pull cords. The lights can be mounted directly to a ceiling. They do not require hard wiring. You may connect up to four in a single daisy chain.

A Lifetime of Illumination

Each one of these ETL-certified Sunco lights is backed by a seven-year warranty. Plus, they are shatter-, shock-, and vibration-resistant. You’ll find it challenging to find a set of commercial-grade garage lights with a better price point. Split the 16 between a pair of garages to save money.

8-Foot Vapor-Tight LED Light Fixture – Best Overall

If you’re looking for a bright, energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing lighting option for your parking bay or workshop, be sure to check out this set of 8-foot vapor-tight LED light fixtures.

First off, the lights’ casings boast an Ingress Progress rating of 66, meaning they are impervious to water and dust.

Not to mention, the light fixture s withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Given the product’s level of durability, we think it’s a fabulous option for any garage or basement.

Bright Light

These LED light fixtures marry energy efficiency and lighting quality into one perfect bundle. Each light bulb (the set comes with two) produces 11,700 lumens at a rate of 110 lumens per watt. Each light also emits 5,000 Kelvins or a daylight-like white glow. The dimmer-compatible fixtures offer adjustable levels (0-10 volts) of light. If you’re using these as replacements for out-dated fluorescent light fixtures, it won’t take you long to notice the improvement.

An Easy Installation

Customers seem pleased with the ease of installation demanded by these energy-efficient garage lights. The encapsulated LEDs may be mounted to any flat surface. Lucky for consumers, all of the essential mounting hardware comes with the lighting fixtures.

This set of light fixtures also comes with a limited lifetime guarantee. The overhead LEDs are rated to last 50,000 hours. Each lighting fixture is backed by a five-year warranty. Overall, these LEDs do an excellent job of lighting indoor parking spaces and workshops. Plus, they’re incredibly affordable.

Hykolity 4-Foot LED Vapor-Tight Garage Light – Bets Budget Pick

This set of four 4-foot overhead LED garage lights is easily the best budget lighting option on the market. These lights produce 5,000 Kelvins of daylight-like illumination. Plus, they generate an impressive 4,400 lumens for every 40 watts of electricity. This level of efficiency can easily cut an electricity bill by 75%. A set of four lights offers 17,600 lumens of ambient light. As a result, these fixtures almost instantly transform windowless garages into seemingly sun-drenched workspaces.

Lighting for A Nearly Outdoor Environment

While fluorescent lights are traditional lighting picks for garages, these fickle fixtures are not made for cold or moist environments. On the other hand, these LED light fixtures can be placed almost anywhere, including wet locations. Vapor-resistant cases prevent dust, water, and other liquids from deteriorating the internal mechanisms. Plus, these lights are rated to work in temperatures ranging from -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The lights’ temperature resistance automatically cuts down on consumers’ frustrations and wait times.

We love that these LEDs boast frosted cases. They are perfect for areas with dust, dirt, humidity, and harsh temperatures. The bulb and case are permanently connected. As a result, you’ll never have to take the time to replace the ballasts.

Easy Does It

Garage lighting installations don’t have to be overwhelming. These bright white fixtures are easily mounted to or hung from ceilings. They even come with a set of mounting brackets. However, you will need to purchase chains if you choose to hang the lights.

These fixtures are guaranteed for five years.

Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture – Best Plug & Play Option

If you do not to be bothered with wiring, check out this six-pack of Barrina LED light fixtures. The lights are 4 feet long and can easily be linked together. Meanwhile, the bright white lights have a color temperature of 6,500 Kelvins. Each fixture produces 2,200 lumens per 20 watts. That makes them some of the most energy-efficient models on the market.

Super Bright White Light

Customers agree that the super bright white color temperature is ideal for workshops and parking bays.

Many consumers were pleased to see that each light draws just 20 watts of power.

Most consumers agree that these LEDs are a noticeable improvement over the incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

Easy Installation

We love that these lights plug directly into electric outlets. There’s no need for a homeowner to hire an electrician. Don’t worry if one light fixture isn’t enough. You can easily link multiple units together. The kit comes with all the necessary hardware, installation accessories, and connector cords.

Take note that many consumers were concerned with the quality of the brackets. With that said, the units were light enough that they did not interfere with installation. Keep in mind that the short connectors put these lights very close together. Moreover, a few customers complained that the installation brackets were not very reliable. Still, you’d be hardpressed to find a more affordable alternative.

Bbounder Four-Pack of Linkable LED Utility Shop Lights  – Best for Workbench

This four-pack of linkable Bbounder lights is one of our favorite options for garage-based workshop illumination. First off, the lights have a color temperature of 5,000 Kelvins. The light beams extend 240 degrees, making them one of the few options that light up dark corners and peripherals.

A CRI (color rendering index) rating of 80 means they’re an excellent choice for artists and crafters.

Impressive Numbers

The Bbounder LEDs produce 4,000 lumens of light per 40 watts. For many homeowners, an energy rating this good automatically translates to a lifetime of cost savings. The LEDs are backed by a lengthy five-year warranty. The guarantee is several years longer than Energy Star’s base warranty. The light bulbs are perfect for garages, basements, patios, and other areas that do not have climate control. They operate at temperatures ranging from -4 to 104 degrees.

Quick and Painless Installation

We love that Bbounder gives you the option to either suspend or directly mount these LED lights. Plus, the installation guide is easy to follow. The entire process takes just minutes. The lights are very light and easy to lift overhead.

You have the option to mount these directly to a ceiling or extending them from chains.

Keep in mind that the cases and brackets are made from relatively flimsy materials. As long as the lights are out of reach, this shouldn’t be a problem.

How to Choose the Best LED Garage Lights in 2020?

It is important that garage lighting be bright, efficient, and long-lasting. This guide will help you hone in on garage lighting that’s right for you!

Energy Use

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 5% of residential electricity use is dedicated to lighting. Homeowners can save thousands over a lifetime by simply choosing the most energy-efficient lighting options.

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are cost more upfront but save you more money throughout a lifetime.

According to the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA), LED lights only use 25% to 30% of the energy that traditional halogen incandescents use. Not to mention, these fixtures last eight to 25 times longer.

Brightness

Fortunately, consumers do not need to compromise brightness for money savings. LED lights can produce as many as 60 to 140 lumens per watt. They may use anywhere from 2 to 30 watts per fixture while producing as many as 250 to 2,600 lumens. To put it simply, many CFL lights are just as bright as their LED counterparts. However, LED lights tend to use far less energy to generate equivalent levels of brightness.

Lumens are a unit of measurement that is used to determine the brightness of a lightbulb. Simply put, a high lumen rating is going to be brighter. Besides this, light fixtures are given more descriptive temperature classifications. Typical lighting temperatures include soft white, warm white, cool white, and daylight.

According to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), residential garages should have at least 50 lumens of ambient lighting per square foot. Meanwhile, workbenches and storage areas should be equipped with even more powerful targeted light fixtures.

You can easily calculate the number of lumens you need to light your garage.

First, multiply the length and width of your garage to get the square footage. Then, multiply the sum of this equation by your targeted lumen per square foot rating. Divide this number by the number of lumens offered by your protective light source to determine how many lights you need to achieve your lighting goal.

Meanwhile, Kelvins are a unit of measurement that is used to describe the color temperatures of light fixtures. Manufacturers sometimes use descriptive words to communicate the level of brightness offered by a light source. For example, a light bulb that produces 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvins is going to be considered warm or soft white. Meanwhile, a light source that emits 6,000 Kelvins is going to be considered cool.

Most homeowners prefer their indoor lights to offer 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvins of light. Lights with lower Kelvin ratings tend to be warmer or yellower. With that said, most people prefer bright white lights in garages and workshops.

For bright white or daylight illumination, look for a light temperature of 5,000 to 6,000 Kelvins.

According to the home construction experts at Home Depot, homeowners should also consider whether the work they do in their garage requires them to see true colors. They suggest that homeowners look for the CRI (color rendering index) of a light. CRIs above 85 are essential for artists and craftsmen. Lights with these ratings show objects’ true colors.

Life Expectancy

According to the EPA, LED lights last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Most are rated to last as long as 20 years. Take a look at the expected hourly life of an LED light. Many manufacturers say that their lighting fixtures offer as much as 50,000 hours of use. With that said, manufacturers often stretch the truth. Not to mention, products often depreciate with age. In many cases, products fail before their expected lifespan comes to a close.

Still, well-made LED bulbs usually manage to last two to four times longer than CFLs and 25 to 35 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Keep an eye out for qualified Energy Star lighting, as these all come with minimum three-year warranties.

Ease of Installation

Make sure that the light source you choose is easy to install. Most garage lights are mounted or hung from the ceiling, though there are some recessed lighting options with more complicated installation requirements. Keep in mind that each designated parking spot should have at least one 8-foot overhead light. However, you may also wish to have more intricate overhead lights above entry ways, workspaces, and storage areas.

Durability

Choose a light that can hold up to the conditions of your garage. Fortunately, LED lights are the perfect lighting options for cold environments. On the other hand, CFLs often struggle to start up when temperatures fall below freezing. While fluorescent lights are traditional options for basements and garages, these lights also struggle to work when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Vapor-tight lights keep dust and moisture from interfering with the quality of a light source.

For this reason, sealed light sources are essential for exposed areas, like garages, patios, and parking lots.

Furthermore, consider the quality of a light bulb’s housing. Garages are busy places. Choose a light fixture with an industrial-strength metal housing if you want your investment to hold up the pressures of garage life.

Extras

Many consumers fail to realize that LED lights are available with several extra features. Lights may come with built-in daylight shut-off features or even more responsive motion sensors. Meanwhile, many indoor light sources can be dimmed or linked. Lights that turn on instantly are popular in garages, as they keep people from fumbling around these unfinished spaces in the dark. A light that turns off automatically is also likely to lower your electricity consumption.

Wrapping Up

We hope that you found our rundown of the top five LED garage lights to be useful. While it is never easy choosing a favorite product, we have to say that the Sunco Lighting 16-Pack LED Shop Lights is our top pick of 2021.

This 16-pack of overhead LED garage lights offers impressive illumination, energy savings, and durability. Plus, the installation job is easy enough for a beginner. Are you looking to install new garage lighting? If so, let us know what you’re looking for in the comment section below.

Happy lighting!