The garage isn’t just a place to park your vehicle, it’s often a workshop, storage area, hobby zone, and sometimes even a home gym. In my case my garage was primarily for working on my Jeeps. But whether you’re working on a vehicle, doing some woodworking, or just trying to find that box of holiday decorations, the right lighting can make all the difference. Here’s how to pick the best lighting setup for your garage.
Understand Your Garage’s Purpose
Before buying any lights, think about how you use your garage:
- Basic storage and parking? You can get by with general ambient lighting.
- DIY projects or detailed work? You’ll need brighter, task-focused lighting.
- Multi-purpose space (gym, studio, etc.)? A layered approach with different types of lights will work best.
Since my garage is heavily focused on my Jeep projects brighter lighting is needed. Enough light to see what’s being worked on without excess spot lighting. Of course there will still be a need for extra lighting when working in tight areas or under the vehicle. More on that to come.
Choose the Right Type of Lighting
Ambient Lighting
This is your main light source. It should illuminate the entire garage evenly.
- Best Options: LED shop lights, fluorescent tubes, or flush-mount ceiling fixtures.
- Recommended Brightness: Aim for 50–75 lumens per square foot.
- Type of Light Fixture: There are a few options here and often the height of the ceiling and even the type of ceiling will make a difference in the kind of light that is best.
Task Lighting
For workbenches or areas where detailed tasks are done some extra lighting is often needed.
- Best Options: LED workbench lights, under-cabinet lights, or clip-on lamps.
- Light Type: Lights that are softer and spread out can create a brighter area while spot style lights are good for precise lighting but can cause shadows. A mix of both can be very effective.
- Placement Tip: Position lights to avoid casting shadows on your work area.
The above image is a great example of lighting above a workspace that will not cause shadows. The light is in front of the area and can be turned on and off separately from the ceiling lighting.
Motion and Smart Lighting
When you walk into a dark space you can find yourself disoriented and possibly at some risk of injuring yourself or some of your stuff. Automating lighting can make things better.
- Motion Activated Lights: A motion activated light inside your garage helps lighting up the area especially when you have your hands full. There’s several options to achieve motion activation, most obvious being a motion activated sensor on a switch or fixture. With so many smart electronics items available motion can be from small motion sensors that can trigger smart plugs or switches. Many cameras can integrated with smart systems like Alexa or Apple Home, these cameras can detect motion which can turn on lighting.
- Smart Lighting: Smart garage lights can be controlled by apps, timers, or voice assistants. Smart plugs and switches can be easily installed and are really useful in so many situations. Personally I’ve found a routine I’ve created called “lights out” is very convenient. This routine turns off certain lights at 11:30pm, preventing the light on all night because I forgot to turn it off.
- Accent Lighting: Adding some lighting to add a little light to a dark area can be useful for getting inside without needing to turn on all of the main lighting. It can also just look nice. Beer signs, LED strips, etc.
Go with LED (Seriously)
LEDs are energy-efficient, last longer, and provide better brightness than old-school bulbs. Bonus: they work well in cold temperatures, ideal for garages that aren’t climate-controlled. Some LED lighting can cause RF interference, this seems to have become a less common issue but it’s something to be aware of.
Consider Color Temperature
Measured in Kelvin (K), color temperature affects the feel of the light:
- Warm white (2700K–3000K): Soft, cozy—better for living spaces.
- Cool white (4000K–5000K): Crisp and bright—perfect for garages and work areas.
- Daylight (5000K–6500K): Mimics natural sunlight—great for true color representation in detailed work.
Factor in Fixture Placement
- Ceiling height: Higher ceilings need brighter or more powerful lights.
- Light spread: Install fixtures to minimize shadows and dark spots.
- Natural light: If you have windows or a garage door with windows, consider how daylight affects your lighting needs.
Many lights come with specifications that indicate the minimum/maximum height of the light. Mounting a light that’s rated for 8 feet too high will cause dim spots and dull light. Mounting a light designed for a high ceiling too low will cause bright spots and excess shadows. Many tube style lights work best at 8-10 feet while high bay lights are best for 12-20 feet high.
Types of Light Fixtures
There’s a few main styles of light fixtures you will find in a garage. It really can be broken down into two simple categories. Tube style and canopy style lights are probably the most common type of fixture you will find. By far the tube style light is most common since they are usually inexpensive, easy to install and offer the most light.
Tube Lights
These lights are usually a fluorescent or LED tube that is 4-8 feet long. Some are bulbs that mount in a fixture while some LED lights are bulb and fixture in one. These style lights can come in many configurations and can be very flexible. Some are direct wire while some have plugs.
Tube lights work better in garages that don’t have high ceilings since their light tends to be more diffused. In the case of my garage I have ceilings that are 10 feet tall and are white. My really works well with tube lights that don’t have a deflector since I can get a lot of reflection from the white ceiling.
I found lights from Hykolity on Amazon. These were about 4′ dual LED tubes rated at 42W. They are 5000K in color, include a switch and plug and are linkable. The lights are very light and can be mounted in several ways. Short chains on the lights keep them a few inches from the ceiling to allow better reflection. Since the garage was wired with outlets in the ceiling the plugs on the lights were utilized. I didn’t really want to direct wire them so they could be changed out easily or added to.
I also used these lights above the work bench and in the shed area. They are very bright and so far have lasted with no failures. There are 11 lights on the ceiling, 1 over the work bench and 2 in the shed. There’s no shortage of light.
Canopy Lights
These can be known by a few names such as UFO lights or High Bay Lights. These are more of an integrated bulb with an optional diffusing canopy. These lights tend to have higher outputs for larger distanced. Many of these style mount on a single hook.
Final Thoughts
Good garage lighting is more than just flipping a switch—it’s about creating a space that’s safe, efficient, and suited to your needs. A well-lit garage saves time, prevents accidents, and makes any job easier. Whether you’re turning wrenches or just finding a place to store your stuff, don’t let poor lighting hold you back.
Smart Switches – Our info on smart switches
Hykolity on Amazon – I have no affiliation or get anything from this link.
