High bay lighting has long been a staple in commercial and industrial settings, prized for its ability to deliver powerful illumination in a compact form. With the rise of LED technology, the high bay lighting industry has experienced a major shift. LEDs now dominate the market, offering unmatched energy efficiency, longer service life, and improved colour rendering. These benefits have not only driven down operating and maintenance costs but have also enhanced safety and productivity in work environments.

Despite these advancements, many buyers—whether new to LED high bays or experienced—find the selection process overwhelming due to changes in wattage-to-lumen ratios and the expanded range of available options. To address this, Kinlights has created a thorough buyers' guide designed to make choosing the right LED high bay light easier. Our guide provides comprehensive information to help you find the ideal solution for your specific needs, while also explaining the technical and performance benefits that make LEDs the superior choice for commercial and industrial applications.

LED — Light-Emitting Diode, a solid-state lighting technology that uses a semiconductor diode to emit light when an electrical current is applied. LEDs are one of the growing solid-state electronic devices used in the early 1960s with a large range of applications like lighting and displays, again as indicators (pilot lights) to tell that appliances or equipment were turned on. Advancements in technology have made today's LED lights significantly brighter than any other commercially available light source, with the exception of sunlight.

Lumens — the unit of measure used for determining how much visible light is emitted by a source. In the past, light output was commonly measured in wattage – especially with incandescent bulbs as their power consumption is rather proportional to brightness. But with the rise of LEDs, whose lumen output has a much larger range depending on other factors like colour temperature and CRI lumens have become how we compare one light source to another.

Wattage: The standard unit for measuring power consumption in the lighting industry. It is typically used with a lumen output of light to compare how energy efficient it is. One Watt = 1V * A (this is defined as the power consumed when one ampere of current flows through a potential difference wider than one volt)

Voltage – This represents the electric charge moving potential energy, similar to water pressure in a pipe. Voltage can tell us a lot about how efficiently electrical energy is delivered to and utilized by any given lighting fixture.

DLC Listed – Standing for “Design Light Consortium,” this certification means that a lighting product has been independently tested to meet high standards of energy efficiency and performance, making it one of the best options in terms of output per buck.

Colour Temperature- It describes the colour hue of light and is rated in Kelvins (K) ranging from 1,000K to 10,000K while common backdrops for commercial lighting are between 3000k (warm white )to6000(k cool white), but closest speaking 5000K be natural daylight.

High Bay Lights: These lights are designed to be mounted at high elevations, so they provide the fitting vertical clearance and wide-area illumination. High bay lights usually with a very high lumen out, suitable for industrial or commercial application.

Colour Rendering Index (CRI) — shortened to simply CRI, this is a numerical scale that rates how well a light source renders colours. Using a scale from 0-100, where 100 represents the colour rendition of daylight which is considered an ideal ligh source. A higher CRI score is associated with better colour accuracy, which offers more vivid viewing experiences.

For more information, read our extensive article on CRI and how does it work for lighting up a place.

High bay lights come in various wattages to suit different application and brightness requirements. A traditional measure of light output, wattage made it easy to compare retrofits or new installations side by side. It was easier for buyers because performance scales well in certain wattages.

But in present times, manufacturers have diverged widely based of efficiency. For example, LEDs consume significantly less power than traditional lighting sources such as metal halide and HID. That makes it harder for people who have worked with older technologies to figure out how much wattage an LED high bay should be. So, the chart below can be used to compare common HID wattage ranges with their nearest LED counterparts — helping you zero-in on selecting an appropriate LED high bay.

Low Wattage (30-90 Watts): These are typically small in size and perfect high bay lights for smaller spaces that deliver powerful lighting at less power consumption. Usually 30-90 watts, they are trendy for energy conscious regions. Ideally, a large number of these lights have plug-and-play features for easier installation to existing outlets so as not to disturb extensive rewiring.

Medium Wattage (100-230 Watts) — this is the usual category used in high bay lights found commonly in commercial and industrial settings. Their wattages range from 100 to 230 watts, balancing high lumens-per-watt with relatively low power consumption. Typical applications include warehouses, commercial sites and manufacturing locations where the lights give well down light performance.

High-Output High Bays (280 - 360 Watts) – These high bay lights produce some of the highest levels of illumination possible while still retaining all the energy-saving advantages that LED technology provides. Generally, they are used on large scale surface areas like sports arenas and stadiums or where the mounting heights can go up to 50 ft. which would require high lumens of light output for wide coverage.

It is important you chose the proper lumen rating to maximize your lighting performance and get a return on your investment. The majority of lighting performance is now evaluated by lumen output instead wattage as it was in the past. How many actual lumens is that equivalent to in terms of light output — a concept which may be hard for folks who are used to thinking only about wattage. But until the lighting industry moves beyond lumens — and that process is already ongoing as you will discover in this primer, don't miss it!

Usually in LED lighting, lumens relate to wattage as well but this can change manufacturer by manufacturer. We have compiled a list of typical lumen ranges that can help you establish what type of solution is right for your needs and make the decision easier to choose.

Low Lumens (4,000-20,000) – Created for smaller applications that required ample yet energy efficient lighting these are great for smaller to medium manufacturing and commercial spaces, or non-vital areas that don't require a high light output. These lights are an affordable alternative to the more expensive brands, all while not sacrificing energy efficiency.

Medium Lumens (21,000 to 35,000) Lumens in this range are best suited for larger operations like warehouses and large commercial facilities as they can cover a vast lighting area. Stereo lights are bright in nature as well as great energy savers, and that is why they a more common option to go for. This means that they are, more or less along with the trend, priced understandably—and thus open to a wider field of possible users.

High Lumens (40,000-50,000) – These lights throw out the most light output possible in high bay fixtures for highest levels of brightness. Though still energy efficient as an LED, they draw much more power to generate the large number of lumens. Perfect for places like sports stadiums, arenas and other large areas where strong light is needed that also includes precise lighting allowing these high-powered lights to be considered as the best option.

For your application, it's important to select the proper colour temperature in addition to the optimum wattage and lumen output. The lighting's overall ambience and functionality are influenced by the colour temperature. Differing hue temperatures can improve employee focus and productivity or foster a calm and comfortable atmosphere. The most popular colour temperatures for high bay lighting are listed below to aid in your selection.

5000K — The most common option are LED high bays with a 5000 Kelvin colour temperature. They are perfect for general illumination in industrial facilities, warehouses, and other commercial environments where precise lighting is crucial since they provide a cool white light that resembles natural daylight. High Colour Rendering Index (CRI) lighting is also a good fit for this colour temperature.

4000K - LED light bulbs with a colour temperature of 4000 Kelvin generate a neutral white light that is frequently utilized in workstations. Some facility managers and electrical contractors choose 4000K lights over 5000K high bays because of their warmer tone, which is similar to the hue of classic HID and fluorescent lighting. Consequently, 4000K high bays are a common sight in the LED lighting industry.

3000K - This colour temperature, which generates a warm light, is commonly utilized in homes and other residential and hospitality environments. 3000K LED high bay lights are somewhat uncommon since they are usually made for large business spaces like gyms and warehouses rather than for domestic use.

High bay lights are versatile and widely used across various commercial and industrial settings, including workshops, automotive repair shops, warehouses, manufacturing plants, fitness centers, indoor sports arenas, and large retail stores. Their efficient power-to-size ratio makes them perfect for spaces where conventional lighting falls short in providing adequate illumination. Here is a list of some of the most common types of high bay lighting fixtures available:

UFO High Bays – Characterized by their round, UFO-like appearance, these fixtures are a leading choice for warehouses, workshops, and other industrial environments. Their widespread use can be attributed to their durability, impressive lumen output, and compact design, which simplifies installation and setup. UFO high bays deliver focused illumination while offering high energy efficiency and low maintenance costs, making them an ideal lighting solution for demanding industrial applications.

Linear High Bays – These elongated LED fixtures are ideal for applications needing broader light distribution compared to traditional UFO high bays. Commonly used in commercial facilities and storage areas, linear high bays are favored for their simplicity and cost-efficiency. They offer a wider beam angle than UFO-style high bays, enabling them to cover larger areas with a more diffuse light, making them suitable for environments where extensive, even illumination is needed.  

Yoke Mount Bracket: Perfect for sloped roofs, these brackets fasten UFO-style high bay lights to a level surface while enabling angle changes. Additionally, they work well for installations that are near the ceiling, especially in spaces with lower ceilings that nevertheless require the intense illumination that high bay lights offer.

Suspension Hook Mount: The most popular high bay light mounting technique, suspension hook mounts enable lights to be suspended from the ceiling at different heights according to application requirements. Installing this mounting option is comparatively simple and frequently necessitates little alteration to the mounting location. These mounts, which are usually suspended by cables or chains, can be adjusted to fit different kinds of ceilings as long as a hook is present.

V-Hooks: High bay fixtures are suspended from ceilings or other raised surfaces using these common hooks. These are usually independent parts that thread into the fixture using a conventional electrical conduit. A locking screw is often used with V-hooks to guarantee a tight fit and avoid unintentional disengagement.

Surface Mount: Surface mounts have a low-profile fixed-angle bracket and are perfect for situations requiring maximum vertical clearance. Because of its design, the lamp can be positioned as close to the ceiling or mounting surface as feasible without sacrificing sufficient space for ventilation and heat dissipation.

Rod and Plate Mount: In this mounting technique, which is similar to suspension mounts, a high bay light fixture is attached to a metal mounting plate that is secured to the ceiling using conduit-style rods. It is among the most visually pleasant mounting choices, with the added benefit of hiding wiring inside stylish, adjustable rods. These rods combine utility and a sophisticated look by matching the inside of the facility with their paint job or design.

In commercial and industrial settings, choosing the appropriate high bay LED lights is crucial to maximizing both performance and cost-efficiency. You may take advantage of LEDs' greater energy economy and lifetime by making well-informed decisions by knowing important aspects like wattage, lumen output, colour temperature, and mounting options. The goal of this guide is to make the process of making decisions easier by assisting you in selecting the best lighting options to satisfy your unique requirements and provide long-term value for your money.