9 Best Garage Lighting Styles

One of the most common problems homeowners face is a lack of light in their garage. Unfortunately, builders never seem to think about adding lights to the garage. It is like they assume you will park your car in the garage and never need any more light than necessary to make it to the door to get into the house.

Well, if you like spending time in your garage, you need to add some more light. The amount and type of light you add will depend on how you like to spend time in your garage.

These best garage lighting ideas will help you understand your options and how each light will work. Isn’t it time you were able to see better and actually use your garage?

Illuminate Your Space: Discover the 9 Best Garage Lighting Styles

1. Shop Lights

This simple, cost-effective lighting is perfect for your garage because it creates plenty of ambient lighting. It’s the next generation after traditional fluorescent lighting. That’s why you typically see them in commercial garages.

They are energy efficient, last longer than fluorescent bulbs, and have a balanced color to reduce the stress on your eyes. This general lighting is ideal if you plan to use your garage as a workshop.

You could even hook them up to a motion sensor and have them turn on and off by simply entering and leaving the garage.

What’s nice about these lights is that they are relatively easy to install with retrofit options. As a result, you can install them with minimal experience or electrical knowledge.

Commercial Electric Heavy Duty Utility LED Shop Light with Pull Chain

You are going to have some serious illumination with this shop light. It produces a cool white 4000K light at 7000 Lumens. It does this using only 80 watts of power.

The integrated LED design means you won’t have to worry about replacing bulbs. They have a useful life of 50,000 hours. There are two options for installation, flush-mounted or hanging from 36-inch extension chains.

The light measures four feet long and has four rows of lights. There is a five-foot power cord, and you can connect up to four lights together in a line. The housing is made from durable polycarbonate so that you never have to worry about it rusting or corroding.

This type of light is also suitable for all climates and can reliably turn on in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit. The drawback of these lights is that you cannot repair them, so if some of the LEDs do fail, you’ll need to replace the entire light.

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2. Flush Mount Lighting

Sometimes flush mount lights are referred to as surface mount lights. They are installed right up against the ceiling. This light style works well in a garage because they stay tucked up and out of the way.

You also don’t have to worry about these lighting fixtures interfering with the functioning of your garage door. These lights work well to provide plenty of ambient light. They may not be as bright as shop lights, but they will have a bigger impact when it comes to style.

This light style works best when you want to use your garage for storage and need the maximum amount of space or if you plan to use your garage as a man cave and want lighting that looks more like indoor lighting than commercial lighting.

Good Earth Lighting Smart LED Flush Mount Light Flat Panel

This flush mount light has an ultra-low-profile design that sits right up against your ceiling. The slim black square frame has crisp corners and no ornamentation. It is Wi-Fi compatible and doesn’t require a hub for operation.

Use any smart device to control its operation, which means you can control it from anywhere. Sync it with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa and have complete control over the amount of light you need with an adjustable brightness from 2700K to 6500K.

The long-lasting LED lights have a lifespan of 50,000 hours and only use 42 watts of energy. These lights are sure to last thanks to their durability and damp rating. Use the included wire chain and mounting hardware to install this light with ease.

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3. High Bay Lighting

If you have an unusually large garage, then high bay lights are the type of light fixture you need. These lights are incredibly bright and cover a large area. To install these lights, all you need to do is suspend them from the ceiling by chains and hooks.

The higher you mount them, the more area they can illuminate. This means they work best when your garage ceiling is higher than usual. While you can buy this light style with multiple types of bulbs, the LED varieties are the best.

You will mostly see high bay lights in industrial and commercial places, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them in your garage, especially if you are going for an industrial look.

ETI Solid State Lighting LED High Bay Light

These high bay lights use LEDs to illuminate large areas. They have a slim design, reducing the bulk hanging from your garage ceiling. They produce a cool light that is a nice balance between brightness and eye comfort.

Mounting hardware is included with the light fixture along with a controller that allows you to dim the lights with ease. You can feel confident with these lights, thanks to their ETL-listed certification. Unfortunately, you will need to have a professional install these high bay lights as the wiring is a little complicated.

These lights require you to hardwire install them. The lights come with a five-year warranty, and you can expect the LED to have a 50,000 LED useful life.

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4. Fluorescent Bulbs

Fluorescent fixtures are what you see commonly used in commercial spaces. They are incredibly efficient and effective at illuminating large spaces. The light is also friendly to the human eye, making them popular in commercial spaces.

Fluorescent lighting features long tube lights that are filled with mercury vapor. When the mercury atoms ionize, they produce light. They rely on a ballast to control the electricity to protect the circuitry.

When compared to incandescent bulbs, they are twice as efficient. The problem with fluorescent lights is that temperatures significantly impact the performance of the lights. If the temperature becomes too low, the mercury becomes a liquid instead of a vapor, which causes the bulbs to malfunction.

Metalux 40-Watt Two-Light White Four-Foot Fluorescent Strip Light

Make a big impact on your garage with this four-foot-long fluorescent light. It comes with a simple flip-up design that makes installation fast and simple. This makes installation a possible DIY project.

You can use this light for general ambient lighting or as task lighting for a specific area of your garage. While the housing is meant for installation that is flush against your ceiling, you can suspend these lights with hooks and chains.

The light housing is made from commercial-grade, die-formed, cold-rolled steel that is super durable. Maintenance and bulb replacement is simple and doesn’t require any tools.

The only drawback is that it doesn’t come with any bulbs, so you’ll need to buy a set before you can use your new light. The housing has a 120V ballast with a Class B rating. You cannot dim these lights.

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5. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL)

These lights are a type of fluorescent light bulb. They stand out because they are compact in size and are more energy-efficient. The goal of these lights is to provide a better version of traditional fluorescent light bulbs.

Unlike long straight fluorescent light bulbs, these have a curve or twist to them that allows them to fit in smaller spaces. This gives you more light with less bulk.

You’ll like the bright natural-hued light, making them less stressful on your eyes. These bulbs also last 10 times longer than traditional fluorescent bulbs.

The major drawback is that the purchase price is noticeably higher. However, the upfront investment does translate to long-term savings. There are two types of CFL bulbs., integrated and non-integrated.

There is a ballast that works with the bulb, so an integrated bulb has everything compactly built into one unit. A non-integrated bulb has the ballast installed on the luminaire.

Lithonia Lighting Gray Compact Fluorescent Outdoor Area Light

You need lights on the outside of your garage, and this light can give you the illumination you’re looking for. This arm-mounted security light uses photocell technology to turn the light on from dusk to dawn.

The housing is durable thanks to its aluminum construction. The outside of the light housing measures 12 x 12 x 17 inches. You can safely use CFL and halogen bulbs in this housing.

The bottom of the light is open, so you can reach up and quickly switch out the bulbs. It’s also UL-rated for wet locations and meets CSA standards.

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6. Halogen Bulbs

These bulbs work in a similar manner to incandescent bulbs. There is a filament that gets hot inside of the bulb. When this happens, it produces light.

The difference between these bulbs and incandescent is that they use a lot less energy. These bulbs get their name from the gas that’s inside of the bulb as it comes from the halogen gas group.

However, there is more to these bulbs. Tungsten vapor is also mixed in. Over time the heat from the bulb causes the tungsten vapor to deposit on the filament. You can expect your halogen bulbs to last about a year.

The typical light they produce is a bright, mid-day light. This makes them good for use in track lighting, pendant lights, and cabinet light fixtures. It also makes them good for use in your garage.

Lithonia Lighting White Halogen Outdoor Switch-Controlled Floodlight

This crisp white light will illuminate the area around your garage. It has a modern square shape with a tempered glass front. The pebble finish on the glass gives it a filtered effect that will disseminate the light across your property. The housing is made from rugged aluminum for corrosion resistance and durability.

Mounting the light is simple thanks to the ½-inch threaded knuckle that mounts directly onto the junction box. Unfortunately, you can only mount this light on a wall, which can limit where you can use it.

Once installed, you can adjust the head to direct the light precisely where you need it. A nice inclusion is the 65-watt triple-tube CFL bulb. However, you can also use halogen bulbs in it.

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7. LED Lights

Led garage lighting is the modern lighting option for your garage. There are LED bulbs and LED strips. The type you choose will depend on the type of light you’re trying to create. LED strips are good for accent lighting. You can add LED lighting under the shelves or strip lights in the ceiling.

For the easiest installation, look for LED garage ceiling lights that come as a complete unit. These LED garage lights are the easiest to install. They are also the smartest option because LED light bulbs are longer lasting and more energy-efficient than traditional bulb options.

The bulbs stay cool to the touch, meaning they are safer to run. They also don’t require any warm-up time, making them more reliable in cold temperatures.

The biggest problem with LED shop lights is that these bulbs are directional. This means you’ll need to be careful when installing them to ensure you get the light where you need it.

Amico Store Four-Pack LED Garage Lights

These durable LED lights are damp-rated, making them safe for installation in a garage. They have integrated LEDs that are low maintenance. All of the required mounting hardware comes with the lights.

The light produced is a cool light that looks and feels bright that remains comfortable to be around. These lights come with an impressive five-year warranty, and the LEDs have a useful life of 50,000 hours.

The housing unit measures 2.1 x 24 x 12.6 inches. The drawback of these lights is that they require hardwired installation. You will need to have a professional install the lights for you.

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8. Incandescent Light Bulbs

Incandescent bulbs are the most popular type of light bulb. You will see them used everywhere, from the bedroom to the bathroom and even the garage. They create light by heating a filament that’s located inside the bulb.

Incandescent lights are the oldest type of light bulb and the one we know Thomas Edison to have invented. These bulbs are the most affordable to produce, making them the cheapest option.

However, they are one of the most expensive in the long run because they are the least energy-efficient and require more frequent replacement. They also produce a light that is warm and yellow, which is often not as bright as other types of bulbs.

Designers Edge Incandescent Garage Work Light

Unlike the other lights on this list, this garage light isn’t meant for permanent installation. Instead, it plugs into an outlet and provides you with bright white light wherever you need it. The six-foot power cord gives you plenty of flexibility when it comes to how you want to use the light.

Around the bulb is a large metal guard that protects the bulb from breaking and protects you from accidentally bumping into it. A built-in swivel feature is nice to help you get light exactly where you need it. Unfortunately, a bulb isn’t included with this fixture.

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9. Recessed Lighting

If you are looking for a low-profile lighting solution, then recessed lights are the way to go. Also known as pot lights, the bulbs are sunk into holes in the ceiling.

You will need to use multiple lights to illuminate your entire space because these bulbs create a strong directed light that illuminates the space directly under them. They work well in your garage ceiling if you have a workbench area.

They also are nice to elevate the look of your garage and turn it into a showroom. If you plan your light placement carefully, you can have even coverage of light across your entire garage. This is a big advantage over other types of lights. You also get this coverage without having multiple light fixtures cluttering up your garage ceiling.

TORCHSTAR Ultra Slim LED Canless Recessed Lighting Kit

These ultra-slim recessed light housings are perfect for your garage because they don’t require a lot of clearance on the backside of your garage ceiling. You can install them on a flat or sloped ceiling and they do not require any additional housing. The trim size is four inches.

There are six lights in this set, which is plenty to illuminate a large area of your garage. However, it won’t be enough to effectively illuminate your entire garage.

Unlike interior-only lights, these are safe for your garage because they are IC-rated for insulated ceilings and are suitable for use in wet areas. The built-in LED lights produce a smoothly bright white, but you can install a dimmer and have full control over them.

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What Type of Light Is Best for a Garage?

The best garage light is a bright daylight color of light. This is light that is around 6500K daylight, which is right in the middle of the scale. It is the right balance between warm and color temperatures. The color isn’t too yellow or too blue. This will also give you plenty of brightness for anything you would want to do in your garage. You could work on your car, tinker with your motorcycle, or spend time at your workbench. The possibilities are endless with the right light.

Garage Lighting FAQs