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The Best Garage Lighting 2021

Best Garage Lighting

When you are browsing for garage lighting ideas, all the best options will use LED lights as opposed to the fluorescent alternative. Most garages lack natural light, which makes bright lighting an essential feature for any garage.

The best garage lighting is the Hyperikon T8 LED Lights, which offer 45,000 hours of operation at 4,100 Lumens and come with a 5 year limited warranty.

LED garage lights perform far better when compared with the fluorescent alternative. This is due to a longer lifespan, brighter light and reduced energy bills. Most garages will require multiple lights, therefore its important that you find the best.

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LED Garage Lights Comparison

Garage LightingLumensLifespan (Hrs)
Hyperikon LED T84,10045,000
Sunco Lighting4,10050,000
Luceco 36003,60040,000
Hyperikon High Bay14,00045,000
PrimeLights 4 Bulb11,40050,000
French May Fixture4,80040,000
Barrina LED T85,00040,000
AntLux Low Profile LED5,50050,000
Hyperlite Ceiling LED33,75050,000
GRG Motion Sensor Lights6,00050,000

The majority of garages are designed without windows, which makes garage lighting an important factor. Upgrading to the latest and most efficient garage lights will not only improve the appearance of your garage but also save you a lot of money too.

When searching for garage lighting, you will need to choose between fluorescent or LED bulbs. LED garage lights are up to three times brighter, last three times longer and consume 60% less energy without any flickering. LED bulbs are the best option with a range of different styles of lighting available.

Below is a list of the best garage lighting that provide bright LED light output and are available in a range of different styles to suit the decor of your garage.

The Best LED Garage Lights


1. Hyperikon T8 LED Garage Lights – Best Overall

Hyperikon are by far the most popular option for LED garage lighting in the USA. They are simple plug in and play units that require no complex installation and you are able to have them up and running in less than 10 minutes.

The brand promises that these lights will not flicker, buzz or contain Mercury or UV. They only consume 36 watts of electricity and upgrading to these LED garage lights will not only save you money but they also look great.

Other features of the Hyperikon LED Light Tube include:

  • 4,100 Lumens
  • Efficiency of 115 Lumens per watt
  • FA8 base type
  • 140 degree beam angle
  • Lifespan of 45,000 hours
  • Color range from 4,000K to 6,000K
  • Impressive 5 year warranty
  • Constructed of shatterproof materials
  • UL and DLC qualified
  • Available as a 4 or 12 pack

The Hyperikon garage lighting ticks every box and are the best garage lights you can buy. They are slightly more expensive than some of the alternatives but these are the easiest to setup. The Installation requires no special tool and you can easily install these garage lights without requiring an electrician.

Hyperikon also offer a range of alternatives that output less Lumens or use a different base type to best suit your requirements.

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2. Sunco Lighting LED Workshop Lights – Best For The Money


Sunco are a big brand in the lighting industry and these LED garage lights are high performers that are popular throughout the USA. They are best used within a garage or workshop setting but many people do use them for other applications.

The brand state that they are built to the highest of standards to provide optimum performance and safety. These LED workshop lights have been certified by both the ETL and Energy Star standards for peace of mind.

Features of the Sunco Lighting LED Lights include:

  • Energy Star and ETL listed
  • 4,100 Lumens
  • Lifespan of 50,000 hours
  • Low power usage
  • Multiple bulk buy options
  • Impressive 7 year warranty
  • Available in 4,000K or 5,000K colors
  • Easily linkable

If you are looking for “bang for your buck” then these Sunco garage lights are available in various bulk buy options. As they are linkable via a “daisy-chain” configuration, they are great for buying in bulk and transforming your whole garage.

When you consider the performance, durability and price, they are by far the best garage lighting you can buy for the money.

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3. Luceco 3600 LED Garage Lighting

The Luceco garage lights are the cheaper alternatives to the above with very similar performance. They can also be bought in various bulk options but have the major drawback of not being able to be linked together.

Unlike many similar priced garage lights, these come with a 5 year manufacturers warranty that the brand claims is hassle-free for peace of mind.

Other features of the Luceco LED Garage Lighting include:

  • 3,600 Lumens
  • Lifespan of 40,000 hours
  • UL listed
  • Uses 36 watts of electricity
  • Shatterproof construction
  • 4,000K color temperature
  • All mounting hardware included

A potential issue is the lack of protection as there is no housing. However, if they are not going to be subject to any moving objects, this shouldn’t be an issue. On a positive note, this may be an advantage as they will be lighter and easier to install.

They are cheap LED garage lights that come with a 5 year warranty and a durable shatterproof construction. The fact they cannot be linked means that they require a separate power source for each light, which limits the amount of units you can have installed.

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4. Hyperikon LED Garage Light Fixtures

Another highly rated Hyperikon garage light is the high bay light fixture, which provides more light than the tubes. It’s available as a 220, 320 or 480 watt units with the additional power providing extra light, which may be a requirement.

The brand state that per watt, these garage lights produce 130 Lumens and there are a variety of power options to choose from.

Features of the Hyperikon LED High Bay Light Fixture include:

  • 28,000 Lumens
  • 5,000K color temperature
  • 45,000 hours lifespan
  • DLC 4.3 qualified and UL-Listed
  • 5 years warranty
  • Motion sensor technology
  • Various power options

The motion sensor technology is a desirable feature that works from up to 80 feet away. The lights will dim to 10% after 30 seconds of inactivity and then shut off completely. If you don’t want this feature, it can be disabled with a single button.

The Hyperikon LED High Bay Light Fixture is one of the brightest garage lighting available and due to the size, it’s more suited for larger garages.

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5. Prime Lights T8 LED Garage Lighting – Best For Workshop


The Prime Lights brand produce a wide variety of garage lighting, which are all proudly made in the USA.  These T8 LED HighBay lights produced by the manufacturer are UL Listed and DLC Approved and offer excellent value for money.

For those that require durable garage lighting, these are a great option as they use a 20 gauge steel body housing that has been thermally painted.

Other features of the Prime Lights HighBay Light Fixture include:

  • 11,400 Lumens
  • 50,000 hours lifespan
  • 5,000K color temperature
  • 5 year warranty
  • 88 wattage
  • 15 x 48 x 3.5 inches
  • 4 LED T8 Tube
  • Steel housing with mirror reflection

The Prime Lights T8 LED HighBay units are excellent garage lights that produce a large amount of Lumens per watt. This means they are highly energy efficient and when compared to similar style LED lights, they are relatively affordable.

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6. French May Linkable LED Shop Lights

Another reasonably priced LED garage light is the French May Shop Light, which produce 4,800 Lumens at 40 watts. The brand claim that these commercial grade LED garage lights will last up to 22.8 years based upon 3 hour usage per day.

These garage lights use a pull chain mounting hardware and are linkable via a daisy chain, which are included with the complete kit.

Other features of the French May LED Shop Lights include:

  • 4,800 lumens
  • 40,000 hours lifespan
  • 5,000K color temperature
  • 44 inch pull chains
  • 5 year warranty
  • Easily linkable with built-in power cords
  • Uses 40 watts of electricity

The dimensions of the French May garage lights are 48 inches in length, 5 inches in width and 2.5 inches in height. You are able to mount each unit with pull chains and all the daisy chain hardware is included with the light itself.

They are excellent all-round garage lighting that is ideal for the majority of garages and are easily linkable with the built-in power cords.

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7. Barrina T8 LED Garage Lighting

The Barrina brand offer a wide variety of garage lighting and these LED lights are their most rated. Whilst using 40 watts of power, these LED garage lights are able to produce more than 5,000 Lumens per fixture, which is very impressive.

Included within this complete package are 6 LED garage lights with separate power cords, hard wires, connector cables and all other installation accessories.

Other features of the Barrina T8 LED Shop Lights include:

  • 4 foot integrated fixture with a “V-shape” design
  • Plug and play design for easy installation
  • Extendable design with 20 inch cords included
  • Dual row of LED chips for brighter light
  • 5,000K color temperature
  • 40,000 hour lifespan
  • 85 degree beam angle
  • Includes a three year warranty

Barina themselves claim that by using these efficient garage lights, you could potentially save up to 65% on your electricity bill.

By purchasing the Barina garage lighting in bulk, you are able to achieve the best bang for your buck. They will not leave you disappointed and will provide excellent lighting for the majority of standard sized garages.

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8. AntLux LED Shop Lights – Best For Ceiling


The AntLux garage lighting are low profile flush mount garage ceiling lights that produce a neutral white (4,000K) LED output. The brand claims that these lights will provide stable performance with no maintenance required whatsoever.

For those that want to link their garage lighting together, AntLux claim that 20 of these lights can be linked, which is great for large garages.

Other features of the AntLux LED Shop Lights include:

  • 5,500 Lumens output at 40 watts
  • Lifespan of 50,000 hours
  • Simple installation with no special tools required
  • ETL and DLC certified
  • Available in a 4 or 8 pack
  • Includes an impressive 5 year warranty

If you require more natural light output that consumes little power, the AntLux LED garage lights are the best option. At 48 x 7 x 2.8 inches in size, it’s a relatively large fixture but this does produce an excellent source of lighting.

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9. Hyperlite Hanging LED Garage Lighting

The Hyperlite LED garage lighting is available with a selection of wattage options to best suit your requirements. The more powerful lights come with a premium price tag but produce far higher Lumens, which may be very desirable to many people.

You are able to install the Hyperlite garage lighting to any ceiling within just 3 minutes according the manufacturer. It comes with everything you require to install the unit, which includes a 5 foot powered cord, ceiling hook and safety cable.

Other features of the Hyperlite LED Hanging Lights include:

  • Choice of 4,000 or 5,000K light output
  • Wattage options include 60, 100, 150, 200 and 250 watts
  • 33,750 Lumens using a 250 watt unit
  • UL IP65, DLC, and FCC approved
  • 120 degrees beam angle
  • 50,000 hour lifespan
  • Includes a 5 year warranty

They are excellent garage lighting alternatives for those requiring lights for the garage ceiling but cannot fit the long fixture or tubed units. However, they are fairly expensive per unit, which will not be ideal for those on a tight budget.

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10. GRG Motion Activated Hanging Garage Lights

An alternative to the standard garage lighting design is the “TriLight” construction, which provides a perfect light distribution curve. Unlike other cheaper alternatives, each wing of this light is able to adjust by 90 degrees.

Other features of the GRG Motion Activated Lights include:

  • 6,000 Lumens at 60 watts
  • Fluent air flow structure to reduce heat
  • Die-casting aluminum construction
  • 6,000K temperature color
  • 50,000 hour life span
  • Wide application with a E26/E27 base
  • Includes a 2 year warranty

In terms of the motion sensor, the GRG led garage lights can be triggered from 0.8 meters. It also has larger detecting angles compared with alternatives, which makes it far more reactive.

Overall, the GRG TriLights are excellent all-round LED garage lights that use an innovative design to produce impressive bright lighting.

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LED Garage Lights Buying Guide

When searching for garage lighting ideas, you are more than likely going to need to purchase many units. Therefore its crucial that you purchase the best garage lighting available. The last thing you will want to do is regret your buying decision.

Installing new LED garage lights is fairly straightforward and can be achieved in minutes. There is a larger upfront cost compared against the fluorescent alternative but the energy cost savings will make the LED lights a more cost effective solution.

To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced a comprehensive guide below regarding garage lighting.

best led garage lights

Light Brightness

It is not always the case that the brighter light is the best option. You may need a certain brightness for different situations. For example, if you want the light near the work area, you will not want anything over 8,000 lumens as the reflection may blind you and reduce your working efficiency.

There are many health warnings that excessive bright light can cause long term issues to your health. Therefore, you do not want too “crazy” with a large number of units in areas that you will be mostly working.

Brightness is measured in lumens and the higher the lumens, the brighter the light. 4,000 lumens of brightness is more than ideal for the majority of garages but some may have different setups such as the size or number of windows. Therefore finding the best garage lighting is dependent upon your specific garage setup.

If you want to go further and do some calculations to get the right amount of lighting for your garage, there are two measurements called Lux and Footcandle. To measure illumination, you will use the Lux measurement where 1 lux is equivalent to 1 lumen per square meter. Footcandle is very similar but uses square feet as opposed to square meter. Further information can be found at via this article.

Dimensions and Bulb Housing

The majority of garage lights will be under 50 inches in length, with some units having up to 4 bulbs within the housing. However, you will have to analyze your garage setup to determine what size lighting you require.

Depending upon where the windows or natural light sources are located, most people will have up to 3 or 4 lights near the car. Other areas to locate garage lighting would be near the tool chest, work bench and other locations.

Some premium garage lights may include housing that cover the bulb. This will act as protection and reflect light back down to the intended area. The housing is not an essential but if objects within your work space can find themselves hitting the light at any point, it may be best that you purchase garage lighting with housing.

Best Garage Lighting

Lifespan and Energy Efficiency

Paying a little extra for garage lighting that will last 10,000 hours or more should be seen as an investment. High quality garage lights such as the ones listed above can last at least 40,000 hours. You should avoid garage lighting that doesn’t last this long as you will be rewiring a new one much early than you expected.

LED’s are known to use 60% less energy compared with other forms of fluorescent lighting. This will save you a significant amount of money each year.

Although energy savings is probably not the first thing on your mind, it is certainly a notable reason to upgrade to LED garage lights.

Color Temperature

Kelvin is the dimension used to describe the color of the light from the bulb used in your garage lights. For those that have used a HID conversion kit before, you may be more familiar with the ratings such as 4,000K or 8,000K and others.

The most common range is between 1,000K and 10,000K, which provides a yellow to blue glow. Garage lighting is usually between 4,000K and 7,000K as its the most natural color lighting. Below is the Kelvin Temperature Chart for a visible representation of what to expect from your LED garage lights.

Kelvin Temperature Chart

Installation of Garage Lighting

Garage lighting can weigh slightly more than the average light as they use heavy duty steel for the housing. If you are planning on installing these lights yourself, you will want to ensure it is not too heavy. All the garage lights mentioned above are fairly lightweight and can be installed with a variety of hardware and mounting brackets.

Many of the lights are linkable and can run from the same power source. There is nothing worse than having multiple different brands of lighting providing different levels of lighting. Many include pull chains, which are very useful for those not wanting to wire the power to a light switch.

The switch types is a feature that is dependent on the garage owners preference with many preferring pull-down chains, while others prefer the plug that goes straight to the switch. Both are practically the same in terms of pricing and performance.

Garage Temperature

Mercury vapor gas found in fluorescent lighting is temperature sensitive, which can cause issues with the lighting. However, the LED alternative doesn’t use any form of gas to produce light and is completely unaffected by the temperature.

If you are working in cold conditions and still using fluorescent lighting, we strongly recommend you buy a garage heater to warm the lights up. This is not something to worry about if you are using LED garage lights and it is a big advantage for those working in cold environments.

best led workshop lights

Fluorescent vs LED Bulbs

Fluorescent lights have been around for many years and they will remain until the garage owner decides its time to upgrade. LED garage lighting used to be much more expensive than it is today, making it an out of reach option for many people.

However, these days they are far more affordable and can completely transform any garage using fluorescent alternatives.

Below are benefits of LED garage lights compared against fluorescent lights:

  • Approximately 30% more efficient in terms of lighting and brightness.
  • Directional at only point the light in one direction as opposed to 360 degrees like fluorescent lights.
  • LED lights use energy to produce light and not heat, which wastes a lot of energy.
  • Lifespan of fluorescent lights is only around 14,500 hours whereas LED’s will last up to 50,000 hours.
  • There is no Mercury and no UV emitted from LED bulbs unlike fluorescent lights.

As the years go past, more and more garages will begin to use LED garage lights. Fluorescent lights will be a thing of the past unless it is a specific requirement.

Industry Standard Certifications

You will notice that many of the LED lights listed within this article have either been Edison Testing Laboratory (ETL) or Underwriter Laboratory UL certified. All the major garage lighting brands will use these certifications to prove that they meet or exceed the electronic safety regulations.

Conclusion

Upgrading your garage lights will brighten up your work space and make working on your car that much easier. There are many garage lighting ideas but sticking to the recommendations within this article will ensure you have the best possible.

In my very own garage, I have installed 8 Hyperikon LED garage lights, which made a huge improvement. They are placed strategically with 4 being placed on the sides of the car lift and the others at the back where other cars are stored.

If you are still using the older fluorescent technology, you could even save money by upgrading to the latest LED garage lights, which is another reason to upgrade.

procarreviews author

Written By Dan

About the Author

Dan is an automotive journalist and owner of over 10 cars ranging from supercars, tuned cars, classics and your good old beater cars. He always likes to get his hands dirty with nut and bolt restorations or detailing sessions using the best products on the market.

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