Wondering about the best size and brightness for your exterior garage lights? Here’s what you need to know to illuminate your space perfectly!
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A guideline for light size is to measure one-third to one-fourth of the garage door’s height. Use a tape measure to determine the overall size from top to bottom of the garage door.
The brightness of these fixtures can range from 220 lumens for a smaller area to 1300 lumens for floodlights.
Keep reading to learn about installation tips and how to style fixtures to fit your home!
How do you determine lighting size to garage door size?
If your lights are too small, they’ll get lost on the wall. Too big, and they’ll look out of place. Here’s a tip: cut out cardboard in different sizes and use them as placeholders.
Stand across the street to see which size looks best from a distance.
Single car garage
Most single garage doors will only need one light. This light should be placed on the side of the garage closest to a pathway.
Single light fixture styles may vary by your taste and the aesthetic of your facade. There are options for hanging lights known as pendant lights, commonly used when there is an overhang placed in the center.
Or keep them flush if there is no overhang with regular exterior lights.
Two cars or a larger garage
Any garage bigger than a single should be illuminated with two or more lights. Standard double garages look best with lights on the left and right sides.
Slightly larger double-car garages or multiple single-car garages tend to look crowded with too many lights.
If this is your situation, try spacing hanging lights evenly for large doors and centering them for single doors.
How high should exterior garage lights be?
The rule of thumb for light height is to be above eye level. The center of the light should be anywhere between 66 inches and 72 inches; anything higher than 72 inches may get drowned out in the distance.
Lights situated at eye level could stun you once you step out of your car. If your eyes are already adjusting to the dark and a low light greets you around the corner, you’ll be left outside in a daze.
How many watts should an outside light be?
Growing up, most home lights were incandescent and measured in wattage. With the surge of LED bulbs on the market, the brightness put out is now rated in lumens.
For example, a 60-watt light bulb is typically used around the home for brighter areas, which is 700 lumens. How many watts you need depends on nearby lights and the light’s reach.
400 lumens works well with a front porch light for one exterior garage light. Consider other light sources, such as pathway lights or indoor lights through windows.
For two exterior lights, use 220 lumens each. Longer garages may need 400 lumens for pendant lights.
Check local light pollution policies, especially near water, to protect wildlife and enjoy the night sky. Here’s a tip: turn on your lights at night and check if they shine into your neighbor’s windows.
Do all exterior lights need to match?
While you might think you need matching light fixtures, mixing it up a bit is better. Pairs should match for uniformity, but don’t worry about matching every outdoor fixture.
Take a good look at your home and note what color metal accents you already have. You can pick light fixtures of the same color finish and have different styles throughout.
For example, if you have a bronze door handle, choose fixtures with a similar finish in different styles.
A modern home looks great with clean-lined lights, while a Mediterranean home pairs well with detailed metalwork. If unsure, match your fixtures to your home’s trim.
Are motion sensor lights worth it?
Motion sensor lights pick up heat waves and turn on automatically. They offer two main benefits: security and savings.
These lights startle intruders and help lower your electricity bill since they only activate with movement.
No need to leave them on before you go to work because when you pull up to the garage, they’ll automatically turn on. Of course, you can always keep the front porch light on or have solar-powered path lights if need be.
Solar vs. Timers
Solar-powered lights have a small panel on top that charges in sunlight and turn on automatically at dusk.
They’re also easy to install—you’ll just need to drill them into place—and require only rechargeable batteries, so no wiring is needed.
Another upgrade is a timer feature. Modern timers can be set manually or connected to your phone, allowing you to schedule when lights turn on and off.
More advanced home systems can even let you set different lights at different time intervals.
To summarize
Knowing the correct size will make the process of looking at exterior garage lights much smoother. Garage lights should be one-third or one-fourth the size of the garage door and placed above eye level.
Experimenting with a cutout placeholder will give you the full visual. In terms of brightness, light bulbs are more commonly calculated in lumens than watts.
Smaller areas will only need 400 lumens or 40 watts, while larger garages will need multiple 220 lumens and 700 lumens for floodlights.
Now that your home is lit and visible, it’s time to revamp the rest of the exterior! Check out these articles for inspiration:
100 Fabulous Front Porch Ideas
15 Exterior Garage Ideas To Help Inspire You
