LED High Bay Lighting: Choosing the Right Wattage for Your Warehouse

Warehouses, gyms, and factories all share the same lighting challenge: high ceilings that swallow light before it ever reaches the floor. LED high bay lighting is built specifically to solve that problem, delivering concentrated, high-lumen output from fixtures mounted 15 to 40+ feet up.

This guide covers the two main high bay styles, how to size wattage to your ceiling height, and what else to look for before you buy.

Linear vs. UFO High Bay Lights

• Linear high bay lights use an elongated, rectangular fixture design, generally throwing light in a more directional pattern. They work well in spaces with rows of shelving or equipment, like warehouse aisles. Our linear high bay fixture offers selectable 160W/240W/320W output in one unit.
• UFO high bay lights use a round, disc-shaped design that spreads light more evenly in all directions — a strong fit for open floor plans like gyms, garages, and general warehouse space. Our UFO high bay offers selectable 240W/300W output and is IP65 rated for damp or dusty environments.

How to Choose the Right Wattage for Your Ceiling Height

As a general rule of thumb, higher ceilings need higher wattage (and higher lumen output) to maintain usable brightness at floor level:

• 15–20 ft ceilings: 100W–150W fixtures are typically sufficient.
• 20–30 ft ceilings: 150W–240W fixtures are the common range for warehouses and distribution centers.
• 30–40+ ft ceilings: 300W+ fixtures, like our 320W linear or 300W UFO options, maintain brightness at the floor from higher mounting heights.

Both of our high bay fixtures ship with selectable wattage settings, so you can adjust output on-site rather than ordering multiple SKUs for different rooms.

Other Specs That Matter

Color Temperature (CCT)

Most high bay lighting runs from 4000K (natural white) to 6500K (cool daylight). Cooler temperatures (5700K–6500K) are common in warehouses and industrial spaces since they read as brighter and support alertness during long shifts.

IP Rating

If the space sees dust, moisture, or washdown cleaning — common in garages, car washes, and some warehouse environments — look for an IP65-rated fixture like our UFO high bay, which is sealed against dust and water intrusion.

Dimming

0-10V dimmable high bay fixtures let you lower output during low-occupancy hours to save energy, without needing to swap fixtures or install separate controls.

Where High Bay Lighting Is Used

• Warehouses and distribution centers
• Manufacturing floors and workshops
• Gyms and indoor athletic facilities
• Garages and vehicle service bays
• Big-box retail and supermarkets with high ceilings

See our full range in the high bay lighting collection.

Installation Tips

• Confirm your mounting hardware (hooks, chains, or yoke mounts) matches your ceiling structure before ordering.
• Plan fixture spacing based on ceiling height — taller ceilings generally need wider spacing between fixtures to avoid over-lighting directly under each one while leaving gaps between.
• For retrofits replacing HID or fluorescent high bay fixtures, check that your existing mounting points will accommodate the new fixture's hook or bracket style.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many LED high bay lights do I need?
As a starting point, space fixtures roughly 1–1.2 times the mounting height apart (a 20 ft ceiling calls for about 20–24 ft between fixtures) for even coverage without dark gaps or over-bright hot spots — exact spacing also depends on the lumen output of the fixture you choose.

What wattage high bay light do I need for a 24 ft warehouse ceiling?
A 150W–240W fixture is typically appropriate for ceilings in the 20–30 ft range, though exact needs depend on desired brightness and fixture spacing.

What's the difference between UFO and linear high bay lights?
UFO fixtures spread light evenly in all directions and suit open floor plans; linear fixtures throw a more directional pattern that works well over aisles and rows of equipment.

How do I wire LED high bay lights?
Most high bay fixtures either plug into a standard outlet or hardwire directly with black-to-black, white-to-white, and ground connections, and many support daisy-chaining multiple fixtures off one feed — see our shop light wiring guide for the full step-by-step.

Are LED high bay lights dimmable?
Many are — look for 0-10V dimming support if you want to adjust brightness by time of day or occupancy.

Can high bay lights be used outdoors?
Only if IP-rated for outdoor or damp exposure; check the specific fixture's IP rating before installing outside or in wash-down environments.