Outdoor lighting serves many important purposes, from illuminating walkways and enhancing security to creating ambiance and highlighting architectural features. When selecting outdoor lights, one of the most important considerations is brightness, measured in lumens. So how many lumens do you really need for effective outdoor lighting? Here is a detailed guide to help you determine the right lumen output for your needs.
What is a Lumen?
A lumen is a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source. More lumens means brighter light. For reference, a traditional 60-watt incandescent light bulb produces about 800 lumens.
Key Factors That Determine Required Lumens
Several key factors come into play when calculating the lumen requirements for outdoor lighting:
Size of the Area
The larger the area you wish to illuminate, the more lumens you will need. A small porch may only require 1000-2000 lumens, while a large backyard could need 5000 lumens or more. Consider the square footage and dimensions of the space.
Type of Lighting Application
Task lighting like a front entryway requires more lumens than ambient lighting like uplighting in trees. Accent lighting individual landscape features needs fewer lumens than uniformly lighting a patio space. Determine your primary lighting goals.
Reflectivity of Surfaces
Luminous surfaces like pale walls will reflect and amplify light, requiring fewer lumens. Darker and non-reflective surfaces absorb light, increasing your lumen needs.
Distance Between Lights
Spacing lights closer together reduces the lumens required. Spreading lights further apart increases the lumen output needed.
Personal Lighting Preferences
Some people prefer bright lighting, while others favor a softer glow. Consider your own lighting priorities and tastes. Brighter usually requires more lumens.
Recommended Lumen Levels by Application
Below are some general lumen guidelines for common outdoor lighting scenarios:
Pathways – 1000-2000 lumens. Illuminates ground-level walkways.
Steps – 600-1000 lumens. Lights stairways and steps. Higher for wider stairs.
Driveways/Alleys – 2000-6000 lumens. Lights longer driveways and alleys.
Building Entrances – 1000-2000 lumens. Lights entryways and doors.
Porch – 2000-4000 lumens. Ambiently lights small porch spaces.
Patio – 4000-8000 lumens. Brightly lights contained patio areas.
Yard/Lawn – 5000+ lumens. Lights open yard areas and lawns.
Sport Courts – 15,000+ lumens. Heavily illuminates sport spaces like tennis courts.
Large Areas – Consult a lighting designer. For big areas, a lighting plan is recommended.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s better to slightly over-light than under-light an outdoor space. You can always dim or turn off lights, but inadequate lighting leaves areas in the dark. The above lumen guidelines provide a helpful starting point for selecting outdoor lighting fixtures.
Factors That Increase Needed Lumens
Several factors will increase the lumen requirements in an outdoor area:
- Large sized spaces
- High ceilings
- Dark or non-reflective surfaces and vegetation
- Wide spacing between light fixtures
- Strong competing light sources like streetlights
- Applications demanding high visibility such as security lighting
- Personal preference for very bright lighting
If many of these factors are present, choosing fixtures with higher lumen outputs will create better lit outdoor spaces.
Factors That Decrease Needed Lumens
Some factors will reduce how many lumens are required:
- Smaller contained areas
- Lower ceiling heights
- Reflective or light-colored surfaces
- Close spacing between light fixtures
- Minimal competing light sources
- Applications requiring lower lighting levels
- Personal preference for soft, subtle lighting
Taking advantage of these factors will allow you to use lower lumen lights and still achieve sufficient outdoor illumination.
Lumens vs. Wattage
In the past, most people looked at wattage, not lumens, when selecting lights. However, with the rise of efficient LED lighting, wattage has become an unreliable indicator of brightness. Depending on the technology, fixtures with the same wattage can emit vastly different lumen outputs. Focusing on lumens gives a truer sense of apparent brightness.
High Lumen LED Lighting Makes Outdoor Illumination More Achievable
The advent of high output LED lighting has put very bright outdoor lighting within reach for residential applications. While metal halide lamps may put out more raw lumens, factors like directional illumination, focused light control, and no warm-up period give LED landscape lighting a functional lumen advantage. With LED flood lights, spotlights, and deck lighting available in 5000+ lumen options, homeowners can now realize bright, attractive outdoor lighting using efficient and long-lasting fixtures.
Strategies to Determine the Right Lumens for Your Space
- Take measurements and map out areas for lighting. Calculate approximate square footage.
- Note surface reflectivity, vegetation, competing light sources, and obstacles.
- Determine primary lighting goals for security, tasks, ambiance, etc.
- Follow lighting guidelines but adjust up or down based on your specific needs and tastes.
- Look for dimmable options to adjust brightness as needed.
- Utilize a mix of lower lumen decorative lighting and higher lumen task/security lighting.
- Try before you buy. Test potential lumen levels with portable work lights.
- Hire a lighting designer for large or complex outdoor spaces.
Sample Lighting Plan for a Medium-Sized Backyard
Here is an example lumen calculation for lighting a medium-sized backyard space:
Patio – 15′ x 20′ area with a stone surface and no overhead cover. Needs fairly bright, uniform lighting for dining/entertaining. Install recessed 5000 lumen LED patio lights spaced 8 feet apart. Total lumens: 5000.
Pathway – 40′ linear bluestone path connecting to deck. Needs low-level illumination for safe travel. Install integrated 1000 lumen LED deck light strips. Total lumens: 4000.
Back Steps – 6′ wide stairway. Needs to safely illuminate steps and landing. Install integrated LED stair lights at 750 lumens each. With 5 steps, total lumens: 3750.
Trees – Two small ornamental trees flanking patio. Needs subtle uplighting for ambiance. Install 50W (900 lumen) LED spotlights aimed up into trees. Total lumens: 1800.
Security – Motion-sensing flood light by back door. Needs to brightly light up entry/exit path. Install 270-degree motion sensor LED security light at 5000 lumens. Total lumens: 5000.
Total lumens needed for lighting plan – 20,550
This example demonstrates how considering the unique needs of different parts of an outdoor space results in a layered lighting plan with varying lumen levels. Combined, the total lumens add up to effectively illuminate the entire medium backyard area for both beauty and function.
In Summary
Determining outdoor lighting lumen requirements depends on a variety of factors including size, surfaces, goals, and personal preference. Evaluate your specific space and lighting priorities, follow the guidelines for typical applications, but adjust up or down to find the right lumen output to meet your needs. With the availability of high lumen LED lighting, you can confidently create a beautifully lit outdoor oasis tailored to your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the brightest outdoor lighting?
The brightest outdoor lights for residential use are high output LED floodlights and spotlights in the range of 10,000 to 30,000+ lumens. However, extremely bright lighting may be excessive, harsh, and energy-inefficient for most homes.
What lumens are equivalent to daylight?
Full daylight conditions are estimated at around 10,000-25,000 lumens. Replicating true daylight lumen levels is challenging for residential outdoor lighting fixtures. However, high output LEDs in the 5000-15,000 lumen range can create effects approaching daylight brightness.
Can too many lumens be bad?
Overly bright lighting can cause glare, eyestrain, and harsh shadows. It can create safety issues and be disruptive to neighbors and the environment. Excessive lumens are also energy wasteful. The ideal is using enough lumens for your needs, while avoiding major light pollution.
Is 3000 lumens bright enough for a porch?
Yes, 3000 lumens is typically enough light for comfortably illuminating a small to medium-sized porch. Adjust the number of fixtures and their spacing to fine tune your brightness level.
How far should 50-watt LED post lights be spaced?
For ambient lighting, 50-watt LED post lights that emit around 1500 lumens can be spaced 15 to 30 feet apart. Closer spacing creates more overlap. For lighting pathways specifically, space them closer at 10 to 15 feet.
Conclusion
Outdoor lighting has many benefits for functionality, safety, and aesthetics. Determining how many lumens you need depends on square footage, lighting goals, surfaces, competing light sources, and personal preferences. Evaluate each area of your outdoor space, follow the general lumen guidelines for typical applications, and select LED fixtures and wattages that meet your unique needs. With the right amount of lumens suited to the size and purpose of your outdoor area, you can create the perfect illuminated backyard oasis for you and your family to enjoy.