Today's Best Amazon Deals – Up to 80% Off ×
all questions
Littl

Littl March 29, 2025, 1:54 p.m.

Need help choosing best led garage lights for my new workshop setup

Just finished clearing out our garage to turn it into a proper workshop space. Finally getting around to upgrading the ancient single bulb that barely lights half the area. The space is about 24x20ft with 9ft ceilings, and I'll be using it for woodworking, car maintenance, and general DIY projects.

Been looking at LED options since they seem most energy efficient, but completely overwhelmed by choices. So many different styles, brightness levels, and mounting options. Not sure if I should go with the flush mount panels, shop light style, or the newer fold-out adjustable head models.

Main priorities are good coverage without shadows, bright enough to see small details (especially when working on engines), and not needing to replace them for years. Would prefer something I can install myself without hiring an electrician.

Any recommendations from people who've actually upgraded their garage lighting? Budget is flexible for something that will last.

R83

R83 March 29, 2025, 9:27 p.m.

Basic 4ft LED shop lights from any big box store offer best bang for buck. I mounted six in my similar sized space in grid pattern, total cost under $200. Make sure they're linkable to minimize wire runs

↪ Reply
- ♥ +
ху+z

ху+z March 30, 2025, 12:23 a.m.

Buy once, cry once. After 3 rounds of "budget" garage lights that flickered/failed, bit the bullet on commercial grade. Spent $450 but haven't touched them in 5 years while my neighbor's replaced his twice. Look for die-cast aluminum housing and proper diffusers - these matter more than the LED chips themselves

↪ Reply
- ♥ 1 +
sinister_alfa

sinister_alfa March 30, 2025, 8:20 p.m.

Temperature matters WAY more than most realize. Those ultra-bright 6500K cool white lights will drive you insane after an hour. Go with 4000-5000K range for workshop - bright enough for detail work without the harsh operating room vibe. Made this mistake and had to replace everything

↪ Reply
- ♥ 2 +
if

if March 31, 2025, 11:38 a.m.

your ceiling height is the key factor. at 9ft, you need minimum 100 lumens per square foot for woodworking, 150+ for automotive work. calculate total space (24×20=480sqft) so aim for fixtures totaling 48,000-72,000 lumens combined. specs matter more than marketing names

↪ Reply
- ♥ 1 +
AYNEL

AYNEL March 31, 2025, 11:30 p.m.

Tried 3 different setups in my workshop before landing on the ontel beyond lights. Really solid brightness for detail work and the adjustable panels let me direct light exactly where needed. Surprisingly easy install for someone with basic DIY skills

↪ Reply
- ♥ 2 +
termiator

termiator April 1, 2025, 7:09 p.m.

SHADOWS are workshop enemy #1. Better to have more lower-lumen fixtures spaced properly than fewer ultra-bright ones creating harsh shadows. Test this: hold wrench under single bright light vs multiple less bright sources - difference is night and day for seeing details

↪ Reply
- ♥ 1 +
Fibanachi

Fibanachi April 2, 2025, 4:31 p.m.

Skip ceiling lights entirely and invest in portable task lighting instead. Ceiling fixtures always end up putting shadows exactly where you're working

My setup: modest ambient overhead lighting + quality task lights I can position directly on what I'm doing

↪ Reply
- ♥ 1 +
lex30

lex30 April 3, 2025, 8:02 p.m.

Game-changing advice! Switched to this approach last year - 4 basic overheads + 3 movable LED work lights. Finally no more shadows exactly where I'm trying to see tiny screws or read measurements

↪ Reply
- ♥ +
vampir

vampir April 4, 2025, 6:54 p.m.

Don't overlook the wiring! Many garages only have 1-2 outlets on a single 15A circuit. Adding several high-draw LED fixtures can overload. Check your panel before buying - may need electrician to add dedicated circuit which adds $200-400 to project cost

↪ Reply
- ♥ +